How to Plan a Diversity Job Fair

Build a long-term relationship with your participants.

A diversity job fair offers employers and job seekers an opportunity to engage in human resource activities that emphasize acceptance and unity. Increase diversity attendance through specialized networks, university recruitment and marketing to unrepresented groups. Incorporate payment tiers for any participating employers who require more or less support. Choose an event space where employers have access to electricity for laptops or other equipment in their stations. Special presentations at the diversity job fair serve both employer and job seekers by sponsoring recruitment of highly qualified individuals, and providing a service to the community.

Things You'll Need

• Event space
• Promotional materials
• Staff schedule

Instructions

Reward Job Seekers

1. 

   Childcare activities should be well supervised at your job fair event.

   Meet the needs of job seekers. For example, build into the budget an allotment for childcare staff. Childcare attracts a wider range of people and makes visiting the job fair a possibility for those with young children who cannot afford to pay a sitter. Market the job fair as an opportunity for family members of any age. Designate space where the youth can be supervised with access to playground equipment, art supplies or other toys. Mention in the diversity job fair announcements that there is free childcare for job seekers.

2. Create a theme for the diversity job fair, such as collaboration, and ask employers to emphasize the fair theme at their stations.

3. Research your area's diversity networks. Diversity job fairs prepare both employers and job seekers for changing needs of the workplace. Put theory into action and invite minority groups to participate at all levels. Create an atmosphere that supports the exchange of ideas and stories.

4. Develop a schedule of events at the job fair event space for advertising purposes. Allow the employers to input their opinions for a schedule of events including speakers, music and meals. Plan at least one presentation or entertainment group during the job fair. Increase the engagement of the community by asking for referrals. Invite local entertainers or educational leaders for public speaking during the fair.

5. Market the job fair in communities of color. Ask to have your announcements included in newsletters at colleges, but also use religious organizations and government agencies. Remember to ask questions about what your participating employers are looking for at the job fair. Honor their requests, or continue to ask how the changes can be adapted to best serve both your employer and their job seekers. Contact the administrators of specialized groups working with immigrants, individuals with disabilities, or the unemployed. Consider the tone of your requests when presenting the opportunity of supporting the fair. Cultivate understanding by linking the fair's marketing to social networking websites that directly support diverse employees.

Tips & Warnings

• Promote unity and acceptance at the diversity job fair. Consider offering childcare, sponsoring meals or snacks, and providing educational activities at your job fair to increase the feasibility of attendance by diverse employees. Promotional materials include print advertising, email and website listings, radio interviews and television news announcements.

• Plan for last-minute changes and assign responsibility to individuals to supervise all the activities at the job fair. Maintenance and security are important responsibilities that need to be addressed both the day of the fair and during set-up and break-down hours.

References

• National Institutes of Health: Office of Extramural Research: Frequently Asked Questions: Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity
• The Center for Association Leadership: Getting People in the Pool: Diversity Recruitment That Works

Resources

• Youth Maritime Training Association: Planning a Successful Career Fair