Events critical for fruitful employment acquisitions
In the realm of public service recruitment, participating in career fairs can be a valuable strategy for attracting and hiring qualified candidates. Nora Buhrkle, referent for event organization and marketing at the Staatsanzeiger for Baden-Württemberg, emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation, starting three to six months before the event.
When planning for a career fair, the first step is to identify the right event. Focus on career fairs focused on public service or government roles, such as the Public Service Corps Hiring Expo or virtual fairs featuring state and local government opportunities scheduled by organisations like the Partnership for Public Service.
Setting clear objectives is crucial. Define recruitment goals, such as the number and type of candidates you want to engage (e.g., interns, entry-level, experienced professionals) and the roles available. Prepare recruitment materials that are clear, appealing, and highlight the mission and benefits of public service careers.
Training your team is also essential. Brief recruiters on key messages, how to engage candidates effectively, and how to capture candidate information for follow-up. Promote your participation using social media, email campaigns, and partnerships with universities or public service organisations to attract candidates to your booth or virtual platform.
During the event, actively approach and interact with candidates, answer questions about public service, and highlight unique opportunities like internships, fellowships, and overseas postings. Use digital forms or apps to collect resumes and contact data efficiently to facilitate post-event communication. Where possible, offer mini-presentations or virtual breakouts to provide deeper insights into public service careers and roles.
After the event, reach out to interested candidates promptly with thank-you notes, additional resources, or invitations for interviews or further assessment. Assess candidates’ fit based on the interactions and materials collected. Keep a database to monitor progress and conversion from the fair to application and hiring stages. Collect feedback from both candidates and recruitment staff regarding the event to improve future participation. Maintain engagement by adding suitable candidates to talent networks or mailing lists to keep them informed about upcoming opportunities and maintain their interest in public service careers.
Nora Buhrkle, a seasoned expert in event organisation and marketing, gives tips on planning, executing, and following up on trade fair appearances in seminars and webinars of the Staatsanzeiger Academy. She advises bringing in another colleague for peak times and recommends a quick follow-up in social media and a brief feedback to the organizer after the fair.
Stefanie Paprotka from the Stuttgart Regional Council confirms that young people highly value personal contact, with training/job fairs being very popular. Authenticity is key when interacting with fair visitors, and addressing shy visitors with an opening sentence can be beneficial if a promotional effect like a wheel of fortune doesn't attract visitors.
The Staatsanzeiger is represented at career fairs in Kehl and Ludwigsburg with several colleagues, and employees receive very positive feedback, according to Paprotka. Two career fairs are offered by Staatsanzeiger this year, on September 23rd at the Forum Ludwigsburg and on October 1st at the Stadthalle in Kehl.
[1] Public Service Corps Hiring Expo: https://www.publicservicecareers.gov/hiring-expo/ [2] Partnership for Public Service: https://ourpublicservice.org/ [3] Virtual career fairs: https://www.jobfairsource.com/ [4] Job fair follow-up best practices: https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/job-search/networking/job-fair-follow-up-tips [5] Public service career resources: https://www.usajobs.gov/careers/resources/career-exploration/public-service-careers
The following education-and-self-development opportunities can significantly benefit individuals aiming to pursue careers in public service: attending career fairs focused on public service or government roles, such as the Public Service Corps Hiring Expo, events scheduled by organizations like the Partnership for Public Service, or virtual fairs offering state and local government opportunities.
In the process of preparing for a career fair, it's crucial to set clear objectives and identify the type of candidates and roles you aim to engage with, and to prepare recruitment materials that showcase the mission and benefits of public service careers, as well as unique opportunities like internships, fellowships, and overseas postings.
