April 15, 2009

Socialize first, ask job-search questions later

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Those who approached Lincoln Square's The Parlor billiards hall in Bellevue last night at 6 p.m. didn't have to read the news reports to learn about the recent dismal unemployment report released by the state that same day. A line of about 20 people, portfolios and resumes in hand, extended past the entrance as they paid the $5 cover for the latest Seattle Job Social networking event.

Within minutes, the reserved room in The Parlor was filled with job seekers looking for new contacts among the 25 participating companies. About 200 people were in attendance at the event's high point, but judging by the energy and noise level of the crowd, it felt like half of the state's 344,000 out-of-work job seekers had shown up.

This was not your typical dirge-like job fair. The enthusiastic attendees were certainly on a mission, but it wasn't necessarily to nail an interview--they were seeking out the many HR personnel in the crowd to try and get to know them first. Resumes were doled out by the fistful, but most of them were deposited in unmanned letter trays bearing different company logos from a wide array of job placement, technology, social networking, finance and accounting firms. The focus was on the candidates themselves.

This lack of formality was what attracted some of the Job Social sponsors, such as Redmond-based Xtreme Consulting Group. "I like that you can just put your resume over there and then come talk to us," said Dale Johns, director of recruiting for Xtreme. "It's a relaxed, more comfortable atmosphere, where people are not constantly selling themselves 30 seconds at a time."

Matt Allen, principal recruiter with Vertical Move, another event co-sponsor, said he felt drawn to the Job Social's commitment to community responsibility. "There are a lot of other networking groups out there, but none of them are doing anything focusing on the greater good," he said. "There's just a small entrance fee to cover basic costs and then we're ready to help them out with resumes and give some interview advice."

Mark Alkhazov, co-founder and programs director for Seattle Job Social, says the goal of the event is to create a more casual, positive environment in which both corporate managers and qualified job hunters can build relationships over time. "Back in January, a lot of my friends were getting laid off," says Alkhazov, a principal with RM Consulting and staffing manager for Cobalt. "They said, 'You're a recruiter, see if you can get everyone together and try and make everyone feel better with an event.'"

Alkhazov, along with the two other Job Social co-founders Michael Michaels and Geoff Tucker, pooled their own money to fund the first two events at Seattle's 13 Coins in January and February. However, the event quickly outgrew that 1960s time capsule due to overwhelming response. "It's getting hard to find a lot of places that will hold 200 people and include free parking," Alkhazov added. The Parlor, he said, fit the bill and opened the event up to the Eastside crowd.

But the Job Socials have done more than just brighten job-seekers' mood, they have provided results. According to Alkhazov, at least 70 people have found jobs directly through contacts made at the first two Job Socials. The event series now has its own Facebook page that now has about 1,000 members, he said.

For now, the Job Socials will be held about once a month, with the next installment returning to Seattle proper on May 21 at Belltown's Twist. Currently, the Job Socials are on a shoestring budget, but if the events become self-sustaining, Alkhazov told me he plans to donate any profits to charity. "We hope to work ourselves out of business," he added with a smile.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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1 Comments

Rod Mattson on April 17, 2009 11:24 PM | Reply

Hi there,

These socials sound like a good idea; however, HR usually doesn't do the actual hiring. They screen and send applicants to the hiring manager. I try to help people find the hiring manager first before the contact HR. That way they eliminate the competition by getting there before an opening is posted. It is always nicer to have the hiring manager pulling someone through HR rather than a person trying to find the manager through HR, don't you think?

Rod Mattson

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