Career fair brings community together

I was happy to get an e-mail from Jim, a minister at a church in St. Paul, Minn., asking for advice on hosting a job fair.

As he notes, “Like any of the churches, many of our members are experiencing job losses and cut backs. What do you think about the ‘old’ idea of having a job fair for both our parishioners and those who live in our community? I know jobs are scarce but do you think it could be helpful if we sponsored a gathering to look at employment in our area?”

Yes, I do think it would be helpful! Although job fairs vary in their results for different job seekers (and employers), it’s hard to downplay the emotional boost the event could provide for people who wonder if their community will be there for them in difficult times. Keeping the fair open to everyone, and non-sectarian in its nature, is a good way to answer that question.

AMY LINDGREN

WORKING STRATEGIES

I’ve helped plan quite a few of these events. While not quite an expert, I do have some advice for smaller community organizations, clubs or places of worship that want to take this on.

First, you’ll want a committee so you can share responsibilities and get things off the ground quickly.

Then I would advise a change in title from “job fair” to “career fair.” This is a subtle distinction linguistically, but it can make a difference in setting everyone’s expectations for success. While a person might reasonably expect good employment opportunities at a job fair, the broader title of career fair gives leeway for booths featuring training programs, dress-for-success advisers, computer classes, etc.

Next, look at your coffers. You’ll need some money, but maybe not as much as you’d expect. The main costs are usually space and marketing, so if you can cover those from your group’s current resources you might get by on a small budget. Another option is to seek targeted donations of materials or cash from businesses or members of your organization.

Now decide the purpose of your event. In the case of Jim’s church, it might be to show support, provide resources and connect people to each other, while also bringing forward whatever job opportunities might be possible. It’s not that there won’t be jobs at the fair — there probably will be. But again, to make that the primary purpose is to hang one’s hat on something that is not easy to control.

Once you have decided the basic structure, as well as the date and location, it’s time to hit the phones. When the hosting group is a member-based organization such as a church, you can begin by contacting the people in your circle, followed by those close by geographically. Your request should be straightforward: “Would someone from your company staff a table for a few hours to answer questions about the work you do and to discuss job openings, if you have any?” In this situation, I would emphasize the goodwill generated when people see their local businesses at the event.

Whatever you do, don’t charge people for any aspect of your fair. Most organizers wouldn’t dream of asking job seekers for entrance fees, but it’s relatively common to charge the employers for booth space. The big job fairs in downtown conference centers can still get away with that in this economy; a community group probably can’t.

Once you’ve got a handle on your theme, and you have some booths reserved, you can move into the fun part of the planning. Would you like to hold workshops on different topics? Moderate a panel of employers? Maybe do demonstrations? My company once organized a trades fair where we had people demonstrate skills ranging from wiring to laying pipe; we also gave away tools donated by local hardware stores, which was a big hit.

Speaking of giveaways — if you want to boost job seekers’ spirits, it’s relatively easy to find useful items to give out at the entrance.

I don’t want to downplay the work involved in a project like this, as it will take far more time than you’d expect. But even a small event that provides hope and demonstrates caring can be well worth the effort. And there’s always next time to do it better.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.