Monday, October 27th, 2008
#Recruiting in Today’s Economy
I attended CCOB’s Communications Info Exchange on October 22rd in Boston. Accompanied by one of PAN’s Junior Associates, Michelle Pappas, we found ourselves meeting very eager Boston area students from many different backgrounds. By the looks on their faces, we could tell that many of them were unsure what direction they wanted to embark on within the Communications field, and more importantly IF there would be job opportunities for them in 7 months (when they graduate).
The event was set up as a round-table style, with eight 15-minute sessions. In this short time, Michelle and I met with people and we gave them as much information as possible about PAN and the PR Industry as a whole
As PAN’s HR Manager, this was my second year attending the event. While I enjoyed both experiences, I did find some differences between last year and this year's student crop. Last year, I felt students came prepared with questions about their resumes, asking questions about what a company like PAN looks for in young PR professionals or how to prepare for a first interview. This year, I felt that Michelle and I did most of the talking, while the students listened eagerly while we offered tips and advice. I’m accustomed to questions and lots of them, as this gives students the necessary direction to begin their career search, whether it be resumes or interview processes. But this year was different, students weren’t asking questions and the vibe wasn’t very upbeat. I also noticed the group to be wary of the economy and discouraged about job opportunities.
Michelle and I felt proud and fortunate that we were able to tell these students that PAN continues to thrive in this downward economy. We were happy to know that most of the students who sat at our table had heard of PAN and were aware of our strong reputation in the industry. They were very impressed with our client base and were excited about the types of roles they could potentially be assigned with. The turnout at this career event was great, we met many bright and enthusiastic students and I hope the insight we provided will help and guide them as they begin their search for the perfect job.
We would love to hear from you if you have any questions. Feel free to email me (lwarman@pancomm.com) or IM PANcommHR.