Greenheart had the pleasure of hosting an impactful job fair in Cluj-Napoca, Romania recently. The event brought together our dedicated hosts, our valued partner USTravel, and a group of enthusiastic participants. It is noteworthy that every season, Greenheart organizes international job fairs in locations around the world so that our host organizations can travel to meet candidates in-person and get to experience their culture, firsthand. As a result, our Host Organizations gain memorable experiences as well as complete their seasonal hiring in just four days.
Helen Tam, Work and Travel Coordinator, Placement Services at Greenheart shared a recap of the event with us.
Greenheart Travels with Host Organizations Internationally to Hire Seasonal Staff
In early February, Greenheart Exchange staff and two of our Host Organizations met in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Cluj-Napoca is the historic capital of Transylvania and one of the largest cities in central Romania. It is often associated with the legends of Dracula due to the famous Vlad the Impaler. It’s a city rich in history and culture, showcasing its beauty through the architecture and cobblestone streets.
A Unique Opportunity to Give Back
The day before the job fair, our USTravel partners took us to a volunteer activity in the early morning. We met with a small chapter of a local sorority to speak and provide career and interview advice to college students entering professional fields for the first time. They were very eager to speak with employers to get insight on how to interview, what employers are looking for, and to refine their elevator pitches. We ended that session with a fun Kahoot game that had a blend of Romanian and American pop culture trivia.
A Remarkable Immersion in the Romanian New Culture
That same day, we went to the National Museum of History of Transylvania. There were many different exhibits. The Roman history exhibit showcased statues and pieces of monuments that illustrated the life of the inhabitants of Roman Dacia, encompassing present-day Romania. There was also a medieval and pre-modern exhibit composed of relics from the Baroque, Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque monuments during their various movements in Romania. We also visited the beautiful St. Michael’s Church. It is a breathtaking Gothic-style Roman Catholic church in the middle of Piața Unirii. One of us arrived a little later than expected due to the ice storms in the Midwest delaying her flights. Undeterred by her long journey, she immediately met up with us during our Cultural Day and explored the city with us. We climbed the Firefighter’s Tower, a historical landmark now transformed into an urban observatory. Afterward, we went to the hilltop Cetățuia Park and took in the panoramic city views.
Exhilarating Job Fair in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The next day, USTravel arranged everything for our job fair in the Grand Hotel. University students from all over Romania arrived for their interviews. Some traveled 8 to 10 hours via train or even flew into the small airport for their interview. Jess introduced Grand Geneva and Evelyn Hill and both hosts had the opportunity to present and answer questions. The hosts requested individual interviews so each participant would have one-on-one conversations. Grand Geneva even brought little swag items for participants to choose from on her table. Of the 52 interviews conducted, we had a great 92% hire rate. The employers were impressed with the determination and eagerness for the program. Some participants stayed the whole duration to ask additional questions and to find out the results.
Relaxing Time and Bidding Romania Goodbye until Next Time!
After the long day of interviews, we had a bit of free time before dinner. I took the host employers around the city to take in sights and do last-minute souvenir shopping. For dinner, USTravel took us to a cozy traditional Romanian restaurant to end the day. We rounded out that night with profound satisfaction and excitement for the upcoming summer season.
Are you a U.S.-based business and would like to host international seasonal staff for a cultural exchange? Please visit HirewithGreenheart.org to learn more.