It is easy to meet volunteers and start that first conversation, but building and maintaining a friendship takes works, unless you have a leader, such as Kim Caruthers, the PMI South Florida Job Fair Director. Kim takes the time to create a sincere interest with the volunteers of the Job Fair Committee, which results in conversational and interpersonal synergy. During the annual kick-off meetings, Kim establishes the atmosphere for the Job Fair project tasks with a simple statement “Let’s have some fun.”

Having fun does not indicate that the Job Fair responsibilities and assigned tasks for Job Fair Committee members are pushed aside. Rather, this statement creates an atmosphere of fun that provides valuable contributions by aiding productivity, launching a greater sense of teamwork, offering a “sounding board” for ideas from Job Fair Committee members, and helping these special volunteers feel as if they are a part of a “family” within the PMI community.

Such professional-related friendships make PMI work more fun; these relationships foster creativity, enthusiasm, and occasional laughs. It is common for Job Fair Committee members to share job contacts, and inform fellow committee members of new job opportunities. Considering that many new hires obtain positions as a result of a referral, the friendships developed by Job Fair Committee members’ serves as an excellent tool for networking.

It is interesting how a simple statement, such as “Let’s have some fun” can result in building personal relationships, and maintaining open communications. Thanks to Kim, I can celebrate, along with the Job Fair Committee members, over the last three years, the consistently and extraordinary efforts of PMI Job Fair volunteers working together to produce significant results for the Job Fair.

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