Community Resource and Job Fair to be held March 17 at the Backus Community Center
Employers and job seekers may just meet their match at the 3rd Annual Community Resource and Job Fair.
On March 17 more than 30 businesses, colleges, service organizations and military representatives will gather to present information to job seekers and interested community members.
“This is one way to bring all of them together,” said Sheila Demenge, of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “The advantage for employers is they get to meet with job seekers face-to-face and job seekers get to make that networking contact face-to-face with that employer.”
Demenge works in the Minnesota WorkForce Center, located in Rainy River Community College, along with representatives from three other agencies. The WorkForce Center and the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering on the job fair, along with other local sponsors.
The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Backus Community Center auditorium stage and in adjacent rooms.
Janine Burtness, chamber administrative assistant, said that the job fair is a way to encourage young people to stay and find work in town, as well as to help local businesses find the seasonal and full-time help they need.
Some businesses scheduled to come to the fair have open positions for which they will accept applications, said WorkForce Center representatives. Other companies will attend so they can provide more information about their organization, and perhaps accept applications that could be used to recruit for positions available in the future.
Companies span many business sectors, including health care, hospitality, food service, retail, media and manufacturing.
Non-profit or service agencies may be recruiting volunteers, or simply want to educate the public on the services that they offer, especially to those in need.
Representatives from several Minnesota colleges, including Rainy, Hibbing and Vermilion community colleges, will attend to provide more information on programs both for upcoming high school graduates and those looking to advance or expand their skills, event organizers said.
New to the fair this year are an employer panel discussion on hiring procedures and business tours at two area companies offering employment opportunities.
With unemployment in Koochiching County at 9.2 percent in December 2009, Ginger Romosz reminds job seekers to look outside the type of job they had before, and that no job is beneath them. Romosz is an employment and training counselor for the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.
The state unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in December, and increased to 8.2 percent in January.
“People have also been unemployed longer,” Demenge noted. “It’s taking them longer to find employment.”
Mary Bacon from Boise Inc., Debra Jackson from TruStar Federal Credit Union, and Pele Ugboajah from Rainy Lake Medical Center, will comprise an employer panel leading a discussion on hiring procedures and the types of jobs available at their companies.
The panel is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. and last about 45 minutes. WorkForce Center members explained that these employers will discuss not only their company, but also the characteristics of successful employees and desired traits. This is the first such panel at the job fair.
Business tours will be given at Northland Fishing Tackle and Northland Distributing. Arrowhead Transit will provide free bus service from Backus to these companies. The bus will leave Backus at noon to Northland Fishing Tackle and at 1 p.m. to Northland Distributing.
The business tours will allow job seekers the chance to learn about the employers and possible opportunities they have available.
“It’s also a chance for the employer to let them know what they’re looking for — what it takes to work at one of these establishments,” Romosz said.
At 1:15 p.m., Pete Schultz, of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Julie Schumacher, of RRCC’s Customized Training and Continuing Education program, will hold a customer service workshop, detailing topics relevant to the many types of service-industry positions available in the community and nationwide.
At the job fair, WorkForce Center staff will offer critiques on resumes. They remind those who already have a resume completed to bring extra copies to hand out to prospective employers at the fair. For those without a resume, they recommend bringing work history information so that applications can be completed.
The WorkForce Center booth will also contain information on the www.minnesotaworks.net job bank Web site, where many local employment opportunities are posted.
The women representing the factions of the WorkForce Center had some sage advice for those attending the job fair.
“It’s good to come alone. For sure don’t bring your kids. Don’t come with your best friend. You look much more serious if you do it alone and you’re well dressed,” said Carol Stegmeir, employment and training counselor for the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training.
“It’s always good to have questions in mind that you want to ask employers,” Demenge added.
“Dress as if you were going into work or an interview,” Romosz advised.
In addition, staff in the WorkForce Center will offer Job Fair preparation workshops before the event. On Thursday from 10-11 a.m., WorkForce Center staff will discuss resume writing. On Tuesday from 10-11 a.m., information on employment applications will be presented.
At other times, employees in the WorkForce Center will help anyone interested with those and other aspects of the job search process, such as work ethic, interviewing tips and business attire.
Businesses that still wish to register to have a booth may do so before the event, even though the registration deadline has past, organizers note. They may call the Chamber to register.
For more information on the job fair, contact the Chamber at 283-9400 or the WorkForce Center at 283-9427.
Community Resource and Job Fair
WHAT: 3rd Annual Community Resource and Job Fair
WHEN: Wednesday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Backus Community Center auditorium and adjoining rooms
WHO: Those seeking a job, wanting to look for employment and education options, and those needing assistance; also, companies and service organizations wanting to reach those people
WHY: To link prospective employers, social service organizations and education options with those seeking a new job, assistance, or skill advancement
