In today’s fiercely competitive job market, finding and attracting top talent is more challenging than ever. Traditional recruitment methods are time-consuming and often fail to connect employers with the best candidates. If you’re tired of staring at a screen and pages and pages of text, come meet your next employee in person at Santa Cruz Launchpad on May 29! Santa Cruz Launchpad is a two-part event with a student pitch competition from 1-4pm and a community job fair from 5-7pm. This event presents a unique opportunity for your business to efficiently scout, screen, and secure the talent you've been searching for.

Efficient Recruitment Process

Imagine having access to a concentrated pool of qualified applicants, all in one place, ready and eager to join your team. That's exactly what Santa Cruz Launchpad’s job fair offers. Instead of sifting through hundreds of applications online, you can meet a vast array of candidates face-to-face, conduct quick interviews, and gather a shortlist of promising talent for further evaluation—all in one day. This direct approach not only saves time but significantly accelerates your recruitment process by allowing you to meet with your potential employees in person and truly get a feel for how they would click with you and your team.

Connect with Targeted Talent

What sets this job fair apart is its ability to attract participants from a wide variety industries, backgrounds, particular skill sets, and a range of experience. This focus ensures that you're not just meeting interested applicants—but interested applicants who are a perfect fit for your open positions. It's a targeted recruitment strategy without the need for extensive search efforts on your part.

The Power of Face-to-Face Interaction

While resumes and cover letters provide a snapshot of a candidate’s experience, nothing beats the insights gained from a face-to-face conversation. Meeting potential hires in person allows you to gauge their personality, communication skills, and overall fit with your company culture. These intangible qualities are often the key differentiator between a good employee and a great one.

Boost Your Employer Brand

Participating in the job fair is not just about the candidates you might hire; it's also about the impression you make. Showcasing your company at such events raises your profile among potential hires. It's an opportunity to highlight your company culture, mission, and values, and attract individuals who resonate with what you stand for. This kind of visibility can be invaluable in positioning your company as an employer of choice.

Building a Future Talent Pipeline

The benefits of attending job fair extend beyond immediate recruitment needs. If you ever feel like you can never get ahead or have employees when you need them, you need to build a pipeline. Engaging with participants helps you build a network of potential candidates for future roles, creating a talent pipeline that can streamline your hiring process down the road. Even brief interactions can leave lasting impressions, making candidates more likely to consider your company when looking for new opportunities.

Networking with Industry Peers

It's not all about the job seekers. The job fair is also an excellent venue for networking with other businesses in your industry. Establishing connections with fellow employers can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and even friendly exchanges of ideas and best practices. It's a rare chance to build your professional network in a dynamic, industry-focused environment.

Calling Employers

Santa Cruz Launchpad is back and we expect hundreds of job seekers to be in attendance. If you are an employer trying to hire, or if you are building your hiring pipeline, this is the one event you won’t want to miss. Open to employers of all industries with all types of openings (internships, part time, full time, etc.)

Click on the link below to secure your spot as an Employer and find your next employee! Company registration is FREE for Santa Cruz Works Partners aka Businesses. For all other companies, the price is $250. For non-profits, contact us to discuss reduced or waived fee.

Employer registration closes on Friday, May 17. Space is limited so we strongly encourage employers to register sooner rather than later.

Want more reasons for why you should participate in a job fair or to find out how you can BETTER prep for them? Check out our upcoming CEO Works Luncheon event in April all about hiring, and building your dream team.