The festivities to honor Hispanic Heritage month are well on their way. And, aside from free food and live music, there are hidden opportunities for job seekers looking to engage in the celebration while continuing to identify potential job leads.
Typically, two groups host events related to Hispanic Heritage month: Student organizations and Professional organizations. Let's look at each and the job seeking opportunities they offer.
Student organizations focus on social events to attract new members. On occasion they will invite a speaker to campus. I remember listening to actress and director Rosie Pérez give an impassioned talk at Babson College a few years back. In these types of events, your goal as a job seeker is to meet and build a network of peers and, perhaps, college professors and advisers who may share your area of interest. Another way to participate is to practice your leadership, organizing and event management skills by volunteering to help the planning committee.
Professional organizations offer a different experience. They usually attract sponsors (read companies looking to hire) and openly promote sharing resumes and business cards. This type of event is the optimal venue to find job leads. A job seeker would benefit the most by learning in advance what companies will be attending in order to research them ahead of time. Networking skills that go beyond exchanging information will be the most effective. For instance, you could ask the company representative for an informational interview or ask him about his experience with the organization. Volunteering is also another tactic that will give you an insiders view and possibly catch the eye of recruiter.
Hispanic Heritage month places the spotlight on Latinos. Organizations interested in learning about Hispanics--or Latinos--will make themselves available through sponsorships and hosting events. What a better forum for you to showcase your talents, skills and experience!
If you liked this post, you might like:
The 411 on informational interviews
The benefits of joining professional organizations
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