By Adam Hilliard, Placement Center Committee chair
Spring is upon us, and with the recent switch to daylight savings time, I know that SIOP is right around the corner. This conference hasn’t snuck up on me quite as much as the conferences in the past, because I was one of the fortunate few who were selected to chair a conference committee. My committee, placement, is near and dear to my heart, and in my mind one of the best offerings SIOP has for its members….but I’m biased.
That said, let me attempt to convince you why using SIOP's Placement Center is definitely worth your time.
- It’s Cost Effective – Flight = $400; 2-Night Hotel Stay = $250; Food/Entertainment = $200 (including the hiring managers); A fraction of that cost for one individual to have access to over 200 candidates = Priceless. I won’t deny SIOP is extremely busy as is, but there is no better place to find a qualified I-O Psychologist for less cost than at the meeting of our field’s greatest minds. Historically, placement has catered to the recent graduate, but starting this year we will be suggesting more “passive” job seekers with more discretionary interview locations outside the current room.
- It’s Time Well Spent – As an individual looking for an I-O job, how hard is it to tell if organizations even have open postings? Your advisors know the names, and every organization has some type of “send us your resume” on their website, but if they aren’t
hiring, isn’t that frustrating? When you sign up for Placement, you know who is hiring and for what positions. Candidates also get the chance to boost their stock. You interviewed with Joe Manager from “Company X” earlier in the day, and just walked past him for an interview with Susie Director from “Company Y” later in the day. It may be a bit awkward, but it shows you’re in demand, and nobody should penalize you for evaluating your options. Kudos to you.
- It Establishes a Presence – Much like having a booth in the exhibitor hall, it establishes a presence. “Yes we are at SIOP, and yes we are interviewing in placement center.” See above for note about being in demand. Positioned the right way, you can market yourself as an employer of choice, and one that is stable in our industry, which can create extra desire in candidates. At the absolute worst, you just networked you and your organization to a great group of our field’s young talent. Don’t underestimate the value of having such a strong network, especially in such a tight-knit field where connections have a tendency to come back around.
Organizations and candidates are making connections through Placement Center already, and now is the optimal time to join. The cost is $200 for an organization. $45 for an applicant. Sold yet? If not, come find me at this year’s placement center and I’ll show you.
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