Can we Learn about Branding from the UK?
The site says:
What is the Jobs Bus?
The Jobs Bus can offer support, encouragement and inspiration for people at every stage of their working life, from recent school leavers and graduates to the unemployed and those in work looking to take the next step in their career.
Who can benefit?
There will be workshops, informal advice giving sessions and fact-sheets on CVs, interview skills, training and using social media as well as tips on how to find and secure a job. With careers specialists and employers in attendance, the Roadshow promises to be an exciting opportunity to learn, share experiences and get questions that you felt afraid to ask answered.
It seems to be quite successful too. One story from the bus tour was about a man named Paul Davis, 48, who, until now, had never been unemployed. Davis had been struggling to find employment for the past two months, yet after hopping on the double-decker Jobs Bus to attend workshops, he met with a company and landed an interview.
Davis said, “The Jobs Bus is fantastic. I received lots of useful advice I can apply to my job search and I have secured an interview with HSS Hire which is brilliant.”
The bus has attracted hundreds of visitors all seeking advice on CVs, interviewing and, hopefully, job interviews.
After seeing this, the first thing that popped into my mind was branding. Well, really that was second after what a great idea the Jobs Bus is.
Think about it: A bus rolling all around the country offering job advice and possible career opportunities. It’s a brilliant idea in an area that’s much in demand right now. Then, the company and sponsor logos are plastered all over the bus. And I’m sure visitors also receive information about these companies, which probably leads them back to the company websites. Talk about effective mass marketing and brand promotion!
The Jobs Bus could be a great marketing and branding tool for companies everywhere to use. Here are a few examples:
Jobs Bus for talent acquisition
We all know about the current skills gaps and that companies are always seeking top talent. Why not take your talent search on the road? You could use the Jobs Bus model to search for local talent in your community. Stop at universities and busy areas of town and conduct on-the-spot interviews. This could also be a great way to increase your candidate pool as you add more and more applicants to the pile.
Jobs Bus for new initiatives
Perhaps your company just started a new and exciting initiative and wants to get the word out. You could use the Jobs Bus approach for this purpose too. It will not only promote the new program, product or service, it’s also a great way to change things up a bit and get employees out of the office for a day (or few days).
Jobs Bus for relocation
Maybe you’re a fairly new company or have relocated or opened a new office. Using this Jobs Bus approach, you can quickly and easily get the word out about your business. Sure, social media is a great (and free) tool for marketing, but talking with people face-to-face humanizes your company by offering a more personal connection. I mean, if I saw a double-decker riding around through my neighborhood, I’d give it a second glance, wouldn’t you? And I’d most certainly be interested in finding out more about the company “behind the wheel.”