Sprint to Success: Adult Employment Fair
Scottsdale Public Library, Ariz.
Innovation Synopsis
In coordination with the city’s Human Services department and the Career Center, SPL offered its first coordinated one-day job seekers event for adults called Sprint to Success which included a half-day employment seminar on resume writing, interviewing and online applications followed by a half-day job fair with employers from various industries.
Challenge/Opportunity
The library receives daily requests for help with job assistance that range from writing resumes to completing online job applications. In order to better serve these patrons and others, SPL worked with the city’s Vista Career Center, eight workforce development specialists, community volunteers and various employers to offer this one-day event.
Key Elements of Innovation
The event took place in the Loft of the main library and featured seminars on How to Master Your Interview Skills, Understanding Online Applications and Perfecting Your Resume. Employers who attended were from various industries with a variety of positions including health, insurance, security, hotel and government. The event was free and included continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, raffles and giveaways.
Achieved Outcomes
Among the 14 employers were the 2020 Census, State Farm, Marriott International, Vanguard and many local and state businesses. In attendance were 30 at the seminars and 80 at the job fair. One participant said "I have two interviews scheduled for tomorrow and a third scheduled for later this week. Thanks!" Since the pandemic has made in-person job fairs untenable, the library is now coordinating one-on-one phone and video job counseling with volunteer career coaches, offering daily appointments and follow-up training.
