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Career Fairs from the HR Perspective written by: Laura Labovich, CARW, CFRW, published in the December, 2006 Career Directors, International Newsletter
Have you ever wondered why companies participate in career fairs? What value is in it for them? What happens to all of the candidates they meet and resumes they capture? Is it even worth a job seeker’s time and effort to attend a career fair?
The short answer is yes, but not all companies have the same goals when they sign up for a career fair. It is important to point out the two most common agendas companies consider before committing to participate in a career fair.
Agenda #1: Exposure, Awareness and Visibility!
In my 12 years in Human Resources for two Fortune 100 companies, I have attended more career fairs than I care to count. A few fell into this category. These job fairs were the ones that often gave us pause to consider why we were at that job fair at all! Perhaps we didn’t have any jobs to offer. Or, we were in the middle of a layoff. Or, we were targeting a market that just didn’t appear to make sense.
We participated in many of these puzzling job fairs in an effort to gain public awareness, visibility and exposure. First we would ask some of the following questions: Do we want to be viewed as an employer who hires a diverse population of candidates? Do we want to be seen as an expert in the technical field? Do we have any part time or entry-level jobs to offer? Depending on our company and departmental vision, we targeted the unique job fairs that met those criteria, such as diversity, technical and summer internship job fairs. Occasionally, we participated in the same technical job fairs year after year out of a desire to be viewed as a technology employer, even if we were not hiring at the time.
Often, these companies refer candidates to their corporate website to apply for a job. They do not conduct onsite interviews and typically do not schedule in person interviews as follow up to the event. Since the main goal of these companies is to gain exposure, not necessarily make hires, an active job seeker may be better off pursuing the other employers at the career fair.
Agenda #2: Making Hires!
More often than not, I attended job fairs with a very specific goal in mind: making hires! We would carve out the specific jobs before we headed to the career fair. Throughout the event, we were certain to keep track of specific statistics. How many candidates did we speak to? How many resumes did we capture? Were there any “hot” candidates, ones with whom we needed to follow up immediately?
Many of my colleagues and I took notes on the back of the resumes to remind us of the candidates who piqued our interest, or, ones who sent up red flags! We were diligent with our commentary on the resumes. Without thoughtful and detailed notes, we could find ourselves with up to 500 resumes and no earthly idea whom to contact. What a mess! I recall spending upwards of thirty minutes with many of my top candidates, and closing the day with a weeks worth of interviews. If we were unable to schedule something on the spot, you could be certain they would be getting a call as early as the next day. Since our “goal” from these fairs was to hire approximately 3-20 candidates (depending on our initial estimate) we would immediately follow up with the candidates within one week. We were realistic about these people as well. They had just spent their free time meeting with an entire room of employers, and if we liked them, chances are other recruiters did too! We had to move fast!!
So, what happened to the resumes of the others? Those candidates who didn’t necessarily make the top of the list? We took those resumes and entered them into our HR resume database (Brass Ring, Resumix or something similar) with an attached “job fair code” such as National Black MBA Association (NBMBA) or Washington Post Job fair (POST). This simplified the future process of searching for candidates we liked, but had nothing for at the time of the job fair. In truth, however, the vast majority of these candidates did not receive any further contact, and ultimately, did not get hired. Prior to closing the book on a specific job fair, we were sure to send all candidates a job fair specific, but otherwise generic, “thank you” letter.
How does a Job Seeker determine which Agenda it is? There are several ways for a job seeker to tell which category their “employer of choice” falls into. Are they interviewing on site, or scheduling interviews for later in the week? Do they have a list of positions posted at their table? Do they have their strong candidates speak with more than one person on site (one of whom is not in HR)? Is there anyone at the fair who is not in HR? If the answers to these questions are yes, there is a good chance this employer is in it to make hires.
If the employer is referring job seekers to their website to “see what is available,” there may be a good reason to question the company’s hiring goals at that event. After all, how will the employer know that they met this candidate at this job fair? Will they remember talking to this candidate? Will his/her resume go into a “black hole”? As you can probably guess, this approach may indicate a lack of urgency on their part to make hires from the event.
A job seeker should not hesitate to ask specific questions of the employer? And, remember, the employers who have made a commitment to hire from the event will have answers to these questions. Some of my favorites include:
• “How does this job fair fit into your overall hiring strategy?”
• “How many hires do you expect to make from this event?”
• “For your top candidates, what is the next step in the process?”
Lastly, as a self-proclaimed career fair “aficionado” and an HR practitioner, I strongly recommend career fairs as a supplement to any strong job search. But remember, be attentive and always differentiate the companies who are in it to make hires, from those who are just there to get through the day!
Applying the Tenants of Public Speaking to the Interview
written by: Laura Labovich, CARW, CFRW
Delivering a great speech and going on a job interview are more similar experiences than you may think. Both incite feelings of fear, anticipation and anxiety. Prior to a presentation or interview, you may stay up all night hoping to persuade, engage, impress and delight your audience. Will they like you? Will you succeed?
You prepare your attire for the occasion. You want to present the desired image to your audience. You must remember to be enthusiastic, confident and proud, but not arrogant. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Show dynamic emotion and feeling at the appropriate points in your presentation. Vary the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary. Project your voice. Establish rapport with your audience.
We have all heard these familiar points about delivering a great speech, and this advice works surprisingly well for the interview too. But, there are more similarities than what meets the eye. Use the 7 tenants outlined below in your next interview, and you can’t go wrong.
1. Do your Research.
An effective public speaker is committed to the topic. Often, this is the result of extensive research and life experience. To be considered a strong candidate, apply this same commitment to the pre-interview research. Scour the company website. Read the most recent and relevant press releases, and then read a few more from the past to understand the company’s timeline. Don’t forget to acquaint yourself with the company’s competitors as well. The more you know about what is going on at the company, the greater your chances are to be viewed as an “insider.”
2. Tell a Story.
Stories bring your experiences to life. They make you a more relatable person. Always use specific and personal experiences to bring your value proposition to life. Use your unique experience to demonstrate your skills and capabilities to illustrate points in addition to telling the story. Always make your story relevant to the job at hand. Space stories at intervals to provide a change of pace and to reemphasize your message. Another important part of telling a story, is telling a concise story. Always stay on message. Figure out what the top 3-5 things you want this employer to know about you, and continue to drive it back to the topic at hand. When you leave, you want them to associate you with these things. Make them good.
3. Practice! Practice! Practice!
Any great public speaker will tell you that he has spent time in front of a mirror or family practicing a speech. These practice sessions rarely consist of covering the entire presentation from beginning to end; rather, simply practicing a piece will allow for a general indication of flow, usefulness and overall enjoyment. A “mock” interview provides the same opportunity for development. Go through some common interview questions with your spouse, children or friends, and see if your “story” makes sense. Would they hire you if it were their decision to make? Practice makes perfect, so use this as a chance to work out some of the bugs.
4. Speak with Passion and Enthusiasm.
In many ways, an interview is a show. You must try to speak loudly, clearly and with confidence. Do not mumble. Speak with conviction to demonstrate that you truly believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively. You must be one with your achievements, not withdrawn from them. If you are nervous, simply recognize it. Harness it. Then transform it into vitality, enthusiasm and confidence. Passion and enthusiasm are contagious. Share yours.
5. Throw in Some Humor.
An interesting and engaging speech makes the time fly by, but a speech of similar length can be insufferable if the speaker is drab and boring. Some of the best public speakers are also known for having a great sense of humor. In an interview, well-placed humor that is in good taste can go a long way toward lightening the mood and establishing rapport with the interviewer. If you have fun, the interviewer will too.
6. Use Props, but Limit them.
A “prop” is any physical item that is on stage with you during a public speaking engagement. Your flipchart is a prop. Your overhead projector is also a prop. Props can be very useful in the interview setting as well. The most commonly used prop in an interview is a resume. Never leave home without it. In fact, you should always have several copies of your resume with you. Other props in an interview include your list of references, portfolios, published articles and any material that demonstrates your value to the organization. They help to support your qualifications for the job, just as a Powerpoint presentation aids in the delivery of the speech. Be cautious, however, not to rely too heavily on interview props. Overuse of props may indicate that you lack self-confidence. When you use them, be sure that they add value to your “case.”
7. Act like a Consultant.
A confident, experienced public speaker has something the audience wants. He knows that they want to be thrilled, engaged, stimulated and inspired, and he is there to make that happen! In an interview, your audience is the employer, and they want you to succeed, if only to fill a position, or take the company to the next level. They have a goal and a gap or you wouldn’t be there in the first place. A great public speaker is always audience centric. He leaves the audience with answers. He offers solutions to their problems, much in the same way a consultant does. He finds a way to get out of his own head and into the minds of the audience members. In an interview, always be focused on the company. Ask yourself: What problem can I solve for them? How will bringing me on board turn this department around? Determine the need that you can meet and you will remain one step ahead of your competitors.
Getting the Job!
When used effectively, these 7 tenants have the power to help you transform the interview setting. So, the next time you find yourself going on an interview, remember these lesser-known tenants of public speaking, and apply them without fear. Give them a memorable presentation and you will go a long way toward getting the job you desire!
The Secret - Putting the Law of Attraction to Work in your Life! written by: Laura Labovich, CARW, CFRW, published in the February, 2007 Career Directors, International Newsletter His name was Darren and he was perfect. My peer at a Fortune 100 company, I was immediately drawn to him, as one would be to the popular kid in high school, or a math teacher with an uncanny ability to make you crave algebra! Success seemed to follow him like a loyal puppy dog, weaving a cloak around everything he touched. He would set a goal, any goal, and make achieving it look effortless. Promotion – no problem. More money – consider it done. You name it, and you guessed it. He did it. I was mystified!
I wanted what Darren had. What I didn't know was that I already had it.
We have all experienced that euphoric feeling while in the presence of someone who is innately positive; someone who inspires us to be calmer, happier and more at ease with life. Many times in my life I have wondered how Darren achieved everything he wanted in his life. Why was he so adept at deliberately attracting and consciously creating a life of fulfillment, a life he loved? Of one thing I was absolutely certain – it had nothing to do with luck.
Fortunately for all of us, the answer is more achievable than luck. Anyone can have it. It is as simple as this: successful people deliberately create their lives. They do so through their mastery of the most powerful force in the universe: The Law of Attraction.
The Law of Attraction states that you attract into your life whatever you give your attention, energy, and focus to, whether wanted or unwanted, consciously or unconsciously. You see, the Law of Attraction is always working in our lives, and has been for as long as we have been able to think. The good news is that we can learn to master it to attract more of what we want, and less of what we don't!
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford
Currently circulating in spiritual circles nationwide is perhaps the greatest movie made about this Law. "The Secret" is a must see for those of us who want to learn to unleash the power and attract more of what we desire in our lives. For those who have yet to see the movie, here are some key ways to positively activate this law in your life.
Checking in. The Law of Attraction is always listening, checking in, on our thoughts and moods. When we are upset about something at work or at home, with friends or with family, and find ourselves feeling low, the Law of Attraction checks in and gives us more of these low feelings. The same is true of positive and excited feelings. In the simplest terms – "like attracts like." We have the power to recognize our moods and transform them, giving us the ultimate tool for creating success and happiness, putting despair and hopelessness out of business for good.
Expressing Gratitude. A very simple cause and effect equation for you (and me) to remember is this: Feel more gratitude and you will manifest more in your life to be grateful for! Gratitude reminds us that "yes, we love this!" thereby activating the Laws of Attraction and giving us more of what we are grateful for, simply by focusing on it!
Visualization. Like other tools of creation, we use visualization to create our experience of reality. Businesses train their employees to use visualization to improve performance and production. Coaches impart visualization exercises to aid in mental rehearsal before a big game. Students use visualization to improve test scores and therapists use imagery to decrease the level of stress in the lives of their clients. Unfortunately, we often use visualization to imagine negative experiences, such as a robbery or a car accident. What we often don't think about is the power of our thoughts – they can bring more of what it is we think about into our lives. The important thing about this part of the exercise is that it is not simply wishful thinking! If what you desire is a better job, you must visualize that you already have it! Experience the excitement of accepting the new job, look around the office – how does it feel? If what you want is a new car, visualize yourself in that car! Smell the new car smell, feel the wheel beneath your fingertips. Imagine the wind in your hair as you zoom past your ex-boyfriend (or girlfriend) on the road! Ahhh.....Behold the power of visualization!
"When you have inspired thought, trust it, and act on it!" It may not show up immediately in your life, but if you feel gratitude and visualize what you want for your life, you too will have inspired thoughts. Don't judge them; act on them. They will lead you in the direction of that which you are thinking about.
If you are wondering about my friend Darren, well, he made just under $500,000 this past year, and still manages to play tennis regularly and tuck his kids into bed every night! The simple but powerful truth revealed in "The Secret" allows us all to unlock the potential in of our lives, giving us more of what we want, and less of what we don't! Isn't it time you put the Law of Attraction to work in your own life?
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