(Published September 15, 2008)
I was at a job fair the other day and when things weren't busy, I took the time to observe and listen. So I thought I'd share some of my slightly tongue-in-cheek thoughts with you. I know I'll keep them in mind the next time I'm presenting at one — maybe they'll help you, as well.
To the international hotel chain: I know that you're the host (if not the sponsor) of this event, but you really need to keep your target market in mind. Given that the advertising for the event said that applicants had to have a four-year degree to attend, and they were vetted for that at the door, you were probably okay with the General Accountant position, the Assistant Controller, and maybe even the Building Engineer. But you probably could have omitted the Housekeeper positions and the Laundry Expeditor. Generally a four-year degree is not needed for such jobs.
To the major university: I think it's terrific that your recruiter was willing to give applicants so much time. I really do. I wish more recruiters at job fairs could do that — I know I usually don't myself. But if you're going to give a full seven or eight minutes to each person who approaches your table, you should probably bring more than one recruiter. I mean, I counted as many as eight people in line waiting to talk to you at one point, and with eight minutes for each of those eight people, by the time the last person reaches you, they will have been waiting...well, you do the math.
To the utility company: Your giveaways were really cute. They really were. Very imaginative and unusual — not the usual pens, note pads, or pins. But each one was as big as the palm of my hand and was about four cubic inches square, as well as coming in two unconnected parts. I will grant you that I have small hands — I wear an extra small in gloves. But even someone with a larger hand would have had trouble carrying that around, as well as the giveaways they got from other booths and the handouts and business cards that they get everywhere in the room. So if you're going to give away something that can't be tucked in a pocket, or that has two parts that don't attach to each other, maybe a second giveaway should be a nice big plastic bag with your company name on it. Don't you think?
To the company that advertised themselves as participating and then didn't show up: I'm sure you had a very good reason, but it doesn't really leave a very good taste in the mouths of the applicants who might have been interested in working for you. First impressions work both ways!
To the nationally known manufacturing company: Your giveaways were small enough to tuck in a purse or a pocket; you had enough brochures on the company and the benefits; you gave each applicant enough time for both parties to get a good sense of each other, but you still kept the line moving; your recruiters knew not only what jobs were open but what jobs were coming up; you knew the procedures for applying; and you knew the answers to the questions you were asked. Your recruiters had obviously put a lot of work and preparation into getting ready for this event. Well done!
Catherine Bannon is an HR consultant in Marshfield, MA (catherine.bannon@gmail.com). Bannon worked for 10 years in HR management before starting her consulting practice.
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