Take the Fast-Track to Great Employees
How Job Fairs Can Streamline the Process
by Judy Blanchard
Job fairs, both on-site and virtual, create a focus on your company, while maximizing your marketing dollars and building your company’s reputation in the community, as well as within your industry sector. They are a great way to fast-track the process of finding, meeting and selecting the right job seekers, while promoting the success of your organization. Companies that hold job fairs often, have recently won contracts, are launching new business or are relocating to the area, as was the case with AAR Corp.
AAR Corp., an Illinois-based global aerospace company, announced in November 2010 it would expand to Melbourne and potentially fill more than 225 new positions – a big win for the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast and the organizations that partner with it like Brevard Workforce.
Brevard Workforce brought On-The-Job Training funds to the table which helped enhance the deal, and assisted ARR Corp. after announcing its Brevard site location by co-hosting a job fair targeted to resident aerospace and aviation talent.
Brevard’s Supply Meets Demand
AAR Corp.’s job fair in December brought out more than 600 skilled prospects with connections and experience in fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft and in quality, safety, logistics and other special areas of expertise. The task for AAR Corp. was to staff up for the expansion of the company’s Government Defense Services in Melbourne and to ensure that hiring and training ramp up expeditiously to meet the demands of AAR customers.
Greg Dellinger, AAR Corp. Director of Recruiting, was excited about the cooperation to develop the event so quickly, and was especially satisfied with targeted promotions resulting in a very high quality of candidates attending the job fair, along with programs Brevard Workforce uses to prepare those AAR Corp. eventually hires. On-The-Job Training will provide much-needed funding to underwrite a portion of eligible new employees’ salaries for the first three months of their new jobs.
“Recessions end, so for companies that are in the right place with the right kind of people, the sky is the limit,” Mr. Dellinger said.
Clearly, AAR Corp. sees a boundless future in Brevard.
Job Seekers Make Connections
Gregory J. Weiner, CED, Senior Director Business Development for the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, had another perspective on the job fair. He led the team of local and state organizations to pursue and eventually win the AAR Corp. site location at Melbourne International Airport. Weiner appreciates the importance of the local workforce as well as the state and local programs available that support business. “It’s good to see all these folks coming out. Knowing that the EDC played a role in bringing these jobs is the ultimate payback in economic development,” said Mr. Weiner.
The job fair was also an important event for job seeker Allison Wavra, a 2010 Florida Tech graduate in aviation management. She was thrilled to see an event recruiting people with skills, talent and passion for aviation. After attending the fair and meeting the AAR representatives, she felt even more confident in Brevard’s future along with her own. Yet, Allison was prepared for this moment, having accessed Brevard Workforce after graduation and has this advice for other job seekers: “You need to come here…everybody (at Brevard Workforce) is going to help you find your starting point. It’s a smooth transition and helpful. You don’t have to do it alone. It’s comforting to know that somebody has your back.”
Desire Meets Opportunity
Joanna Rigney, who also attended the job fair, found comfort in the growth of local industry and the assistance available to businesses and professionals through Brevard Workforce. Her 20 years of experience in aviation helped connect her to the job fair through her professional network. Workforce representatives at the event put her in touch with the right people to discuss her skills and aspirations, which include staying local.
A job fair is just one way Brevard Workforce can assist businesses with recruiting, hiring and training. Businesses looking to staff up now or in the future should contact Brevard Business Services Liaison Jennifer Lasser at 504-7600 (toll free in Brevard) to learn more about job fairs and the many other programs that are in place to help their job creation efforts.
