Employers around the country are beginning to embrace virtual job fairs to replace in person events. Hospitals to lending companies are going full steam ahead with virtual hiring.

Recently thousands of candidates attended the virtual job fair of loadDepot, one of the leading retail mortgage lenders in the U.S. which is hiring 3,000 people.

Their hiring event, which was simulcast across the company’s LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube channels, garnered the interest of thousands of prospective applicants. On the company’s LinkedIn page alone, loanDepot recruiters were rapidly responding to more than 1,200 comments—the majority of which were eager applicants desiring to learn more about the company’s openings.

The experience was similar on Facebook and YouTube, where viewers offered comments of interest as well as queries about the company as they listened to the livestream. By the end of the day, loanDepot’s recruiting team had fielded thousands of inquiries and were in the process of following up with several hundred applicants. The event itself racked up more than 10,000 total views, 1,600-plus comments and hundreds of shares.

“The enthusiastic response we received to today’s event is truly unprecedented,” said Kevin Tackaberry, EVP, Human Resources. “In today’s new ‘normal’ where most people are safely sheltering in place, what better way for our recruiters to meet thousands of amazing candidates than through this virtual experience. And that’s the other great story here—we met so many individuals who are eager and excited to help their fellow Americans—and also be a part of the loanDepot story.”

Kevin Tackaberry

Mercy, a hospital system in the midwest, reintroduced the virtual career fairs for non-provider positions in February and has hosted 15 events since. Virtual fairs cast a wider net, so those who are looking for a position at Mercy can be several states away and still feel like they’re able to fully investigate open positions.

When it comes to finding new physicians and advanced practice clinicians, Mercy has a team of recruiters who used to travel across the country to attend career fairs. Now, they’re finding virtual options are easier, more effective and a cost saver. “Attendance at those in-person fairs was 150 candidates, at the most,” said Tammy Hager, executive director of Mercy’s talent selection. “Now, more than 250 people are attending each virtual fair. Our talent scouts can chat with up to four candidates at a time, and as the selection process progresses, we’re also doing virtual interviews.”

Another advantage is that health care professionals often work odd hours, and Mercy’s platform enables them to easily self-schedule an appointment on a recruiter’s calendar. “A candidate texts some basic pre-screening answers and then provides us with a phone number, so we can complete the interview,” said Paul Kinsey, Mercy director of talent selection innovation. “That prompts a call. We get a recorded interview they can respond to when they have time.”

While Mercy may eventually begin in-person job fairs again, Mercy also plans to continue virtual options.

See also: 15 Virtual Job Fair Platforms