According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, while national unemployment rates have risen approximately 3% — from roughly 3.4% to 6.5% — amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona’s rates are already more than 7.3%. This number is likely to grow even more in the coming months as the state’s thousands of soon-to-be college and trade school graduates enter the job market in earnest.
Enter UNMET Jobs. UNMET Jobs, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, is hosting a virtual, month-long hiring event for both employers and jobseekers across the state. And it will be an ongoing yearly event that is positioned to help Arizona job seekers across the state by providing them access to localized employment opportunities and helping Arizona employers find talent locally. After April 15th, when the current event ends, UNMET Jobs’ platform Largely will remain open for job seekers to connect with employers.
“Job hunting has never been easy, and COVID-19 has made it even more difficult to find employment,” says Emily Ahrens, chief marketing officer of UNMET Jobs. “During UNMET Jobs Arizona 2021, jobseekers will have access to hundreds of employers and thousands of local job postings. Companies will have the opportunity to review resumes from candidates that have recently graduated as well as more seasoned professionals.
UNMET Jobs is powered by Largely©, which is a job matchmaking platform focused on improving the job search experience. Largely humanizes the hiring process by combining the traditional resume with personal videos, highlighting human traits that a resume can never provide: a job seeker’s personality, energy and uniqueness. For employers, Largely makes it easy to engage with the candidate by showcasing their most valuable asset: their team. Employers can invite their team to post authentic and simple videos to tell stories about their company culture, values and more.
The first step in the process is the job seeker’s. Job seekers will upload video introductions and answer a questionnaire that explores their personal and professional attributes, together acting as a virtual resume. (This allows for compatibility to be at the forefront of the hiring process, as well as humanizing the experience for both parties. Recruiters will see each applicant as a unique individual, rather than another resume or boring cover letter.)
Employers are able to filter from the pool of applicants by selecting various criteria while also being able to browse through recommended lists of applicants. Employers may then use the platform to contact job seekers directly and set up virtual interviews and invite them to webinars or info sessions.
The platform also offers advice, tools and insight on developing an online resume, virtual interview hacks and answers to frequently asked questions for both employers and job seekers.
UNMET Jobs Arizona 2021
The event, which is free for both employers and job seekers, is taking place through April 15, 2021. The goal of this first-time event is to maximize the hiring experience for all attendees by providing a personalized, yet virtual, networking experience for jobseekers and recruiters amid COVID-19.
“Arizona’s educational institutions are producing the workforce of the future, and we’re proud to partner with UNMET Jobs to highlight our state’s impressive talent pool through this virtual event,” says Sandra Watson, ACA president and CEO. “By leveraging technology, we’re able to facilitate a greater number of meaningful connections between Arizona job seekers and job creators.”
According to Ahrens, the platform is inclusive to all levels of experience and features internships as well as entry-, mid- and senior-level positions. Just some of the 40-plus businesses signed on and taking part include Amazon, HonorHealth, Liberty Mutual, Rank for Local, Agero, Arizona Masonry Council, Arizona Children’s Association, Nesco Resource, Allbound, RDS Electric Inc., Mind Quest, One Step Beyond, AdviNow, eVisit, Carvana, No Traffic, Windom Security Strategies Today, Dovely, My Little Mascara Club, VincentBenjamin, Quicken Loans, Stout Street Capital, Father and Son Masonry, Inc. and Hacienda Healthcare.
