by Amanda Theisen
On April 22, hundreds of job seekers attended the People of Color Career Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There, they connected with dozens of Minnesota companies, nonprofits and government agencies, in hopes of finding their next career opportunity.
Sunrise Banks was one of the companies featured at the POC Career Fair. Several employees and company leaders spent the day sharing their own work experience, highlighting open job positions and accepting resumes from job seekers.
Attendees could apply for jobs, and even interview with some companies on the spot. They could even pose for a professional headshot.
New Way to Recruit Talent
“Meeting potential employees where they're at aligns closely with the work we are doing at Sunrise Banks,” says Kathleen Brenk, Chief People Officer and co-chair of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. “We're able to show how our values, culture and commitment to our JEDI work can be a huge benefit to future candidates.”
This was not only the first time Sunrise Banks participated in the POC Career Fair, but also the first time the company took part in any type of career fair. It is just one way the company is working to grow and diversify its workforce and talent pipelines.
“Participating in the People of Color Career fair was a fantastic experience,” says Joel Johnson, EVP and Director of Human Resources. “We met many talented professionals who could, potentially, join Sunrise Banks in the near future. We are looking forward to finding great talent at future POC Career Fairs and other similar events.”
A Positive Experience for Employees
“I had a really great experience at the POC Career Fair,” says Marwa Mohamed, a Monitoring Services Analyst. “It was a great opportunity to share my experience at Sunrise Banks and learn more about so many great people. It is a great way to network, and I received such positive feedback from potential candidates.”
Denise Toussaint, a senior vice president and regional retail manager, described the atmosphere at the fair as fun and energetic.
“I was honored to share my story and the history of Sunrise Banks with so many new people,” she says. “I am so proud of Sunrise for participating and being a part of this amazing opportunity.”
Sharing Sunrise Values
“Our presence at the People of Color Career Fair demonstrates that we value having an inclusive and diverse workforce. That helps attract diverse thoughts and perspectives, which is critical to success,” says Bea Vue, a Monitoring Services Supervisor. “I was proud to represent Sunrise and share our unique culture and core values with the attendees.”
“The importance of Sunrise Banks being at the event allows us to create a diverse workforce,” adds Rick Vasquez, a Mortgage Loan Officer. “When we work together and value what makes us different, opportunities and success can flourish.”
Click here to view a list of open job positions at Sunrise Banks.
Amanda Theisen Off Site Link is the communications manager at Sunrise Banks.