Asian Diversity Career Expo 2007
New York City, May 4, 2007

By Joanne Lee for AIA, April 2007

Jobseekers prepare to meet prospective employers at the Career Expo.

Asian Diversity, Inc. is proud to present the Sixth Annual Asian Diversity Career Expo on Friday, May 4, 2007, in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Asian Diversity Career Expo is the largest and fastest growing recruiting event for Asian Americans in the nation, featuring a wide range of firms and career opportunities. These events are designed to help job seekers meet one-on-one with recruiters and for companies to connect with the unique Asian American talent pool. The success of Asian Diversity's Career Expos is illustrated by the overwhelming support they receive from the Asian American community as well as federal, state, and local government agencies.

In addition to the larger Career expo, ADI is simultaneously hosting the 2007 Global Korean, Indian, and Chinese Job Fair Series.

Diana Lee of Asian Diversity, Inc. was kind enough to answer our questions about the upcoming Career Expo.

As the Career Expo continues its growth and success, do you feel that companies are recognizing the value of targeting and recruiting Asian Americans into their workforce?

We think so. We believe that the increasing success of the Asian Diversity Career Expos reflects the growing awareness of companies and organizations of the Asian American talent pool, and the need to be proactive in reaching this population. Many of the companies and organizations at the Career Expo are returning exhibitors (some have regularly attended every event since 2002), who realize how important it is to reach out to Asian Americans as an integral part of their diversity efforts.

How do you feel your organization and/or these Career Expos have facilitated that relationship/dialogue with companies?

We strive to provide a welcoming space for companies and applicants to meet and form connections. We try to ensure a wide spectrum of companies and organizations, offering career paths across nearly every field imaginable. We also try to reach out to a diverse group of attendees with a range of skill-sets, backgrounds, levels of experience, and professional goals.

Have you noticed an overall change or trend in the kind of career opportunities being offered by recruiting?

One reason we introduced the Global Asian Job Fairs is to support the demand for international positions. We have noticed more and more multinational companies seeking bilingual, bicultural candidates to work in Asia, as well as globally-minded candidates who are looking for overseas positions. Even for U.S.-based positions, however, the demand for bilingual and bicultural skills remains high.

From a jobseeker perspective, have these conferences been successful in the past? Have you been able to track any data from past Expos of jobs filled or referrals made?

We have tried to track this data. Unfortunately, so many organizations have extended hiring processes (some government agencies, for example, can take over a year to hire a candidate because their screening processes are so intensive), that it has been difficult to measure the results. We do occasionally get calls from companies who say they have hired Expo attendees, and e-mails from job seekers letting us know that they've found jobs at the event. We also believe that the high return rate of Career Expo exhibitors shows that they continue to be impressed with the strong qualifications of the attendees.

Do you have any helpful hints for Expo attendees?

• The first point is to pre-register! It's free, and will guarantee admission. (On-site registration is $10 and must be closed when venue capacity is reached.) Also, it will allow your resume to be found by recruiters, who can contact you to schedule interviews right on the Expo day.
  
• We publicize the list of attending organizations on www.aDiversity.com and in promotional materials. Research the organizations you may be interested in by exploring their websites and searching news and press releases to learn about where they are going, and to start thinking about the role you could play.
  
• Some companies will be listing the specific positions they are recruiting for on the official list at www.adiversity.com and in the job board. That's one good place to start prioritizing the booths you want to visit. Prepare informed questions to ask the recruiters, and practice answering interview questions succinctly (Tell me about yourself, What are your long-term career goals? etc.). And while making your list of companies to target, do keep an open mind. The Career Expo is a great opportunity to speak with recruiters from many different organizations, and to learn about career paths that you may not have considered.
  
• Keep in mind that you will sometimes only have a few minutes to make your impression on a recruiter. Dress in business attire, smile and shake hands, and speak confidently about your qualifications and interest in their organization. Make sure to update and proofread your resume, and bring plenty of copies!
  
• After the Career Expo, it is a good idea to follow up with the companies you are interested in. (One good way is to ask recruiters for business cards.) Let them know afterwards that you appreciated the opportunity to speak to them, reference something specific you discussed, and remind them why you are interested in their organization.

About Asian Diversity, Inc.
Asian Diversity, Inc. (ADI) was established in 1987 to promote and empower Asian Americans in the workforce. Since its inception, ADI has assisted many organizations in incorporating Asian Americans into their diversity initiatives. ADI is engaged in three main areas of business: 1) AsianDiversity.com, 2) Asian Diversity's Career Events, and 3) AD Search & Staffing.

Sixth Annual Asian Diversity Career Expo
Friday, May 4, 2007
Madison Square Garden, New York
(Located on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets)
To register, please go to: http://www.AsianDiversity.com