Headless Horseman Campaign Leaps to Libraries

The Headless Horseman will continue hunting for workplace talent among miles of bookshelves and job search kiosks thanks to a new partnership between The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) and the Westchester Library System (WLS) that geographically extends the BCW’s workplace talent attraction to a potential audience of thousands of individuals with the hope of connecting them to a variety of area businesses and organizations seeking skilled workers in a competitive hiring environment.

The campaign’s mascot — the Headless Horseman, Westchester’s “Ultimate Headhunter” — will appear in posters at all of WLS’ public libraries with additional placements and outreach opportunities using individual libraries’ digital communications platforms.

“This exciting new partnership allows us to carry the talent-search program county wide to all four corners of Westchester with special artwork created specifically for the libraries,” said BCW president and CEO Marsha Gordon.

Among their many purposes, public libraries play an especially critical role in helping patrons search for employment openings by providing computers, Internet connectivity, and job-search assistance.

“WLS already offers career coaching services, job postings, interview training classes and unemployment support, among other services. Offering the Headless Horseman campaign and artwork to our members will complement the significant role that public libraries play in helping Westchester residents find jobs,” said Terry Kirchner, executive director of WLS.

With historically low unemployment levels across the nation, attracting workers to Westchester County has been challenging for area businesses owners.

In September, the BCW and Historic Hudson Valley joined forces and recruited the legendary Headless Horseman – the Ultimate Headhunter – in a search for talent to fill thousands of open positions. The groups placed eye-catching signage at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze event grounds featuring the Horseman as a “silent spokesperson” to encourage would-be applicants to scan a special QR code or go directly to a new web portal www.westchesterwantsyou.com.

Last month, The Picture House in Bronxville and Pelham, as well as LOOK Dine-in Cinema in Dobbs Ferry, joined the effort by displaying the ads on their theaters’ screens, and this holiday season, the Horseman will continue his ride at Winter Wonderland in Valhalla.

The campaign’s website allows visitors to explore open positions with several of the area’s most prestigious companies who are piloting a concept that will eventually become an on-going talent attraction and cultivation initiative.

For the initial launch, companies including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Maier Markey and Justic, LLP, Cuddy & Feder, LLP, Tompkins Excavating and Pace University agreed to participate in the pilot.