Comment by Valentino Martinez on March 15, 2011 at 11:08am

As a Professional Recruitment and University Relations Facilitator/Consultant - I often track "Recruitment Impact" impressions I capture on film at various JOB FAIRS I attend and offer companies like Sara Lee and others my take on how effective they were in the moment --how effective their recruitment booth and recruitment team were in the moment I took the photo.

Naturally, things change from moment to moment--but when I take such a photo, I try to capture the general fluidity, or lack there in--IN THE RECRUITMENT MOMENT. 

From this VISUAL STATEMENT I ferret out the competitive advantages/disadvantages and offer suggestions on the GOOD, BAD AND UGLY and how they can improve their RECRUITMENT IMPACT.

In this picture of the SARA LEE Recruitment Team in action at a National Hispanic MBA Career Conference - I see 3-4 positive recruitment impact indicators for such an event; and 2-3 needs improvement indicators.

Your thoughts?

Comment by Slouch on March 15, 2011 at 11:15am

I don't see anyone eating chocolate cake. That would bring in some extra people I think.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on March 15, 2011 at 12:34pm

 

Slouch...you have a grasp of what does work.

 

Actually, many employers do present giveaways to include pens, mugs, candy, food & beverages. 

Whirlpool once had their stoves on and were cooking chocolate chip cookies at their expansive recruitment booth and were truly attracting people with an appetite.  The problem this presents, however, is a long line for cookies and not necessarily for a career opportunity.

Comment by Thomas Patrick Chuna on March 15, 2011 at 5:56pm

It looks like a convention of people who hand out food samples at costco.. being sarah lee, was that the desired effect? Must be the aprons.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on March 15, 2011 at 7:11pm

Yes, Thomas--the aproned recruiters was definitely pushing the cooking motif for a food company...for what it was worth.

 

My interest is what you think more from the tactical recruitment positioning of recruiters, the look and effectiveness of the recruitment booth--and their duel purpose--which is to engage candidates at a Job Fair and hopefully find talent worthy of an interview(s) and ideally a job offer if they match the particular openings SARA LEE might have at the time.

Like I shared earlier--I see 3-4 positive recruitment impact indicators for such an event; and 2-3 needs improvement indicators. 

What do you see?

Comment by Julie Closter on March 16, 2011 at 9:36am

How can they possibly engage candidates when they are talking amongst themselves and the first thing I see is the woman with the bored, non smiling expression on her face. Also, where are some tasty treats they should be passing out?

Comment by Valentino Martinez on March 16, 2011 at 1:30pm

Julie,

 

You are wise beyond words.  YES, you must have Job Fair scar tissue because the absolute worst thing for a recruitment team to do in the eyes of the job applicant is to be engaged in chit-chat while they stand in line waiting for their turn to impress.

 

The "bored, non smiling..." women is classic, "Do not approach me because I don't want to be here and my unhappy posture with folded arms and grim stare should tell you to beware!"  Applicants can read this type of body language from 50 paces...and they walk on by.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on March 19, 2011 at 3:24am

• Plus factor #1...SaraLee did bring a big team to handle the large crowds of students that attend such career conferences.
• Plus factor #2...Rather than plastic bags or no bags--Sara Lee did bring cloth bag giveaways which is very "green" of them.  Some college students do notice and appreciate "green" oriented employers
• Plus factor #3...the SaraLee Recruitment Booth is large, open (somewhat inviting but a little crowded), colorful, and full of product ads and handout info on jobs and company.  Giveaways are pens, mugs and other stuff that has their brand logo on it.  Some of that is trashed and some is kept in dorms to show they belong

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