Does Your Next Hire Really Know What You Do?

By Scott Costa, Publisher, tED magazine

How prepared are you for your next college career fair? Did you plan your space, build your signs, and fine-tune your branding?

And after all that, does your next hire really know what you do?

The truth is, we aren’t just competing with each other to find top talent to join us in electrical distribution. We’re competing with some popular companies in job categories like sales, marketing, supply chain, and IT.

I took a quick cruise around the Internet recently because I wanted to know about those “other” companies at the same career fair. I picked three specifically:

• Campbell’s (they are changing their name from Campbell’s Soup)
• United Airlines
• Nvidia

On September 13, 2024, Campbell’s has 50 openings under “Supply Chain”, 49 under “Sales”, and 8 under “Marketing”.

United Airlines has 146 “corporate” openings, which includes IT, Marketing, Project Development, and Digital Compliance. Plus, it has another 51 openings in what it calls “Early Career”.

An Nvidia, which, frankly, I just wanted to check out because they are a trillion-dollar company, has 1,023 openings in “Sales”, 234 in “Marketing”, and 321 in “Operations”.

The point is, there are thousands of career opportunities at reputable companies that are hanging out at the same job fairs as you.

You need an advantage.

We have one.

Turns out, Generation Z wants to improve the planet. A recent Pew Research poll found 67% of Generation Z believes there is a need for action on climate change. We make and sell the products that are going to re-electrify the world. Our jobs give the next generation the opportunity to have a fulfilling career in an industry that they passionately believe in.

Do they know that? How can we get them to look away from the bright lights created by big brands? Certainly, there has to be a way to teach them about Electrification and the multiple ways we are going to re-wire America for decades. And there is.

NAED created “Powering Your Possibilities”, a video you can show career fair attendees so they understand the work we do and the value they will receive by joining us. Real people who are working in our supply chain are in the video and explain how their careers are not only rewarding, but make them proud to be a part of the communities where they live.

This is our advantage. Take advantage of our advantage.

NAED is making the video available to you for free. You can customize the end to include your branding and internet address for your careers page. You can do what Rexel USA has done and place the video on its careers page.

To date, dozens of NAED companies have received the video. You can join them and get the help you need to boost your profile at the next career fair.

To obtain a copy, email NAED’s Member Engagement Team at memberengagement@naed.org.