The short answer
An open day for technical professionals works when the visit is no-obligation, has a concrete agenda, and offers real project context. Candidates speak with the right contact person and decide for themselves on a next step. It's not a disguised free work day, nor a vague tour – it's an honest picture of what working at your organisation looks like in practice.
Bring your role, region and essential criteria. In 30 minutes, we explore how to reach technical people who are not actively looking and which approach could fit your vacancy.
Define the target audience and timing
An open day for project managers and engineers targets working professionals who are latently open to a move. Plan the visit at a time that suits their schedule – a Friday morning or an early start often works better than a weekday afternoon. Communicate the time investment upfront: two to three hours is realistic and respectful.
Build a concrete agenda
Give the day structure. For example: reception and a brief introduction to the organisation (30 min), a tour of an ongoing project with an explanation from a project manager (45 min), an informal chat with two or three colleagues from the field (30 min), and a concluding Q&A session without sales pressure (15 min). An agenda shows that you take the candidate's time seriously.
Ensure the right contact person
Let candidates speak with someone who truly knows the work – a senior project manager or technical director, not just HR. Technical questions deserve technical answers. That provides an honest picture and builds trust. Prepare the contact person for frequently asked questions about project scope, autonomy, and collaboration.
Voluntary next step, no implicit obligation
Conclude the day with a clear, no-obligation invitation: those interested can request a follow-up conversation. Those who don't will still have gained a good impression of the organisation – and that has value for your employer reputation. Send a short thank-you email within 48 hours, without sales copy.
Not a disguised free work day
An open day is not a trial day. Candidates observe, ask questions, and judge – they do not participate in an ongoing project. Make that distinction explicit in the invitation. A transparent setup protects both the candidate and the organisation. Curious how Red Rocket uses organisational context to attract technical professionals? Schedule a call. More background on candidate contact can be found in this UWV study on contact between job seekers and employers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you invite working professionals without seeming pushy?
Be concrete and honest: describe what they can expect, how much time it will take, and that no obligation follows. Professionals appreciate directness. A vague 'come visit us' invitation is more likely to arouse suspicion than interest.
What do you do if a candidate decides not to proceed after the day?
Respect that choice without further follow-up. At most, send a short thank-you email. A positive, pressure-free experience is valuable for your employer reputation – even if there's no match right now.
Can Red Rocket help reach latent technical professionals for such a day?
Red Rocket combines targeted campaigns with an AI recruiter that incorporates organisational context. We can discuss whether an open day fits into that and how to reach the right target audience in an exploratory conversation.
