Above is Isaac Marquez-Diaz with Workforce Solutions mascot Job Fair-Con.
A job fair in a water park? It may seem unconventional; but, pairing fun and family friendly with a job fair drew nearly 600 job seekers, including families; plus, 74 vendors to TVC’s Job Fair-Con at Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center in Round Rock in July.
The event was conceptualized and coordinated by TVC Veteran Employer Liaison and Army veteran Isaac Marquez-Diaz.
“I’m a comic guy, so I wanted to make it a fun event for everyone,” said Marquez-Diaz.
“Isaac recalled that when he was a job seeker, many of the job fairs he attended were intimidating and unwelcoming, especially for parents who had to bring their children along. These memories inspired him to create a fun, unintimidating and family friendly job fair for the central Texas community,” said Paul Julio, Army veteran and TVC Veteran Employment Services Central Texas District Outreach Coordinator.
Marquez-Diaz successfully pitched the idea to Kalahari management, who “were initially unsure if they could accommodate Isaac’s vision,” said Julio. Kalahari provided their large venue and services at no cost. From there, Marquez-Diaz recruited Indeed Flex management to assist with marketing the event and provide staff to review veterans’ resumes at the event. He also got TVC partner Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area to bring along their mascot to add to the fun and the friendly atmosphere he wanted to create. He emphasized to participating employers and those marketing the event that he “wanted it to be a welcoming and family friendly event.”
“Job seekers raved to TVC staff that it was one the best job fairs they had ever attended,” said Julio. “This was also echoed by vendors who were just as excited as the job seekers. Unlike other traditional job fairs, many job seekers brought along their entire families to include grandparents pushing strollers and even teenagers who experienced first-hand what a job fair is like for the first time in their lives.”
The TVC Job Fair-Con was successful beyond attracting hundreds of enthusiastic attendees and over 70 vendors. “Thirty-seven employers stated that they plan on hiring job seekers from the event,” said Julio. “Additionally, employers reported receiving an average of 250 resumes from job seekers, which is significantly more than what they typically receive at most other jobs fairs. The Indeed Flex team assisted over 200 job seekers with their resumes while also having over 100 job seekers inquire about their career opportunities, resulting in over 50 on the spot interviews.”
As for the outstanding success of the event attracting so many and the resulting hires, interviews and job search assistance, Marquez-Diaz credits to it being welcoming, family friendly and “a great TVC team and community partners supporting the event such as the Kalahari Resorts and Indeed Flex.”
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