RecruitmentQueen to host first Bucks County Career Night at Neshaminy Mall on March 22
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Since its inception in 2014, the digital job board RecruitmentQueen has boasted one sole purpose — to help as many Bucks County residents as possible find meaningful employment.
At various career fairs scheduled throughout the year, including annual events at New Year’s and in the spring, job seekers can speak directly with employers in a slew of fields, ultimately bypassing the seemingly endless portals of Indeed and Monster.
But, according to RecruitmentQueen founder and CEO Jennifer Schultz, a large group of candidates has been neglected thus far — those who currently have a job, but wish to land a different or better position. Due to scheduling conflicts with employers, who are often unable to send recruiters out after normal business hours, Schultz has been forced to host all career fairs during the afternoon.
That is, until now.
On Friday, March 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Macy’s court of the Neshaminy Mall, RecruitmentQueen is hosting the first Bucks County Career Night for locals who are either underemployed, or seeking new opportunities.
“We wanted to do it for years because job seekers had been asking us for a while now. They’ll call or email or put a message on a Facebook post saying, I have a job and I’d like to look for a better job, but I’m working,” Schultz said. “For years I haven’t pursued it because for the most part, when I spoke with employers, they really didn’t want to come out after hours.”
This time around, a number of area businesses are on board to assist Schultz in her quest to reach a new population of job seekers. To date, Sykes, TMA Bucks, Salute2Service and Traffic Plan have committed to attend, and more employers will be added before the event.
Schultz said she anticipates 25 to 30 organizations to exhibit, all from various industries. Though it varies by employer, full- and part-time positions will be available for a range of experience levels, including entry and management.
“What job seekers should know is that it’s not just employers from the mall. There may be a few, but typically it’s from all over the county,” Schultz said. “There could be housecare, sales positions, trade roles, manufacturing, customer service, call centers. Really a myriad of different types of jobs.”
For those planning to attend Bucks County Career Night, Schultz stressed the importance of familiarizing themselves with the companies beforehand. A strong candidate will be able to knowledgeably discuss the organization, and explain how their background can be of use in its mission.
“We always have a list on our website of all the employers that are going to be there, so they should do their homework,” she said.
Schultz also encouraged job seekers to go into the event with an open mind.
“Talk to every employer. Don’t judge them based on the type of employer they are, that they don’t have the type of job you’re looking for,” she said. “For instance, if it’s a hospital, they’re not just hiring for clinical positions. They’re hiring for non-clinical as well. So if you’re looking for a job in accounting, there’s still a good chance they’re going to have something.”
Not only does speaking to a higher volume of recruiters give job seekers a better chance at finding that dream job, it strengthens their confidence and ability to introduce themselves.
“That’s an area some struggle with, especially if they’ve never been to a job fair,” Schultz said. “They don’t really know what to do. I try and tell people, it’s like going to a party and introducing yourself to other people that are there. You’re kind of doing the same thing, obviously it’s a different environment. You’re asking the employer what types of jobs they have available, you’re talking to them about your career history.”
Despite Career Night taking place in a mall, attendees are expected to dress as if they are going on a normal interview. Since job seekers will already look the part of a professional candidate, Schultz has partnered with a photographer, who will offer free headshots for use in LinkedIn profiles.
“Putting your best face forward is integral in expanding your professional network and ultimately landing that new job. Recruiters often screen applicants on LinkedIn. Having a profile with a professionally shot photo will help you stand out,” she said. “I’ve seen some pretty crazy photos. They think they can have a photo of them and their dog. If you’re in an industry that’s super fun, that works fine. But for the most part, they’re looking for a more professional shot, and a lot of people just don’t have the funds to go out and get a headshot done.”
Career Night attendees are asked to bring multiple copies of their resume. One will be collected upon arrival to be uploaded to the RecruitmentQueen website, recruitmentqueen.com.
“This allows other employers that aren’t going to the job fair to be able to look at them as a candidate,” Schultz said, adding that job seekers can also upload their own resume to save time in line. ••
If you go…
RecruitmentQueen’s Bucks County Career Night will take place on Friday, March 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Macy’s court at the Neshaminy Mall, 707 Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem.
To learn more or to register, job seekers can visit eventbrite.com/e/bucks-county-career-night-job-seeker-registration-tickets-56610497522?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR1TPIewEC9UxaRqBx7RPJDC2bq4TsR9gx9zCkFlxx5DYp59F4ICglD9qqg.
Employers interested in attending can call Jennifer Schultz at 267–981–5976.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
