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People often receive tips on how to market themselves to potential employers at a job fair. But it is also helpful to know what facilities can do to attract future employees. What essential information does a facility's representative need to tell a booth visitor about the laboratory? Are booths with bold colors and free giveaways really more attractive?
ADVANCE spoke with three panelists about how labs can promote their workplace at a job fair. They are:
- Alaina G. Levine, president, Quantum Success Solutions, a public speaking, public relations and corporate comedy enterprise providing expertise, consulting and training in public relations, branding, career success, leadership, teambuilding and injecting humor in the workplace.
- Victor P. Gaines, II, MS, CIR, lead senior recruiter, McKesson Health Solutions, Malvern, PA.
- Linda L. Williford Pifer, PhD, SM(ASCP), GS(ABB), professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis.
ADVANCE: Why do facilities send representatives to job fairs?
Levine: It is always a good idea for any organization to have as much visible presence as possible at trade shows. Job fairs present an invaluable opportunity to promote your lab to talented people in the industry. Your lab's presence at a job fair demonstrates you are a major player in the field and you are interested in recruiting the best employees possible.
The people who attend job fairs looking for work, as well as the other companies and labs setting up booths at job fairs, should see you, recognize your brand and realize your strategic role in the industry. Going to a job fair can truly impact your brand awareness to vital stakeholders.
Gaines: Facilities go to job fairs to find people for immediate needs, and to establish a presence and perpetuate an employment brand with the population served by the job fair (e.g., healthcare, new grads, diversity, MBA students) to generate future interest in their company and jobs.
Dr. Pifer: Facilities go to job fairs to meet a wide variety of applicants with varied backgrounds. Advertising alone may not be sufficient, especially in non-urban areas. It is much more efficient to do "mass interviews" on 1 or 2 days.
ADVANCE: How do job fairs benefit the lab?
Levine: First and foremost, you are able to recruit top talent in an environment that attracts the maximum amount of skilled workers looking for jobs. It is also important to attend to promote your lab to important stakeholders, and movers and shakers in the industry. Your presence at the fair can help to promote, advance and solidify your brand in the minds of vital publics who make decisions that can impact your profitability.
Gaines: Labs professionals can generate interest and excitement in their field by attending job fairs and talking with students. They can discuss careers in the lab to students who may not have thought about that avenue.
Dr. Pifer: It's no secret labs need more professional, certified and well-trained medical technologists. Again, recruiting at job fairs is efficient and time-saving in the long run.
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