Job fair works for employers, job seekers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Employers and job seekers had the chance to talk one-on-one Tuesday during an Reverse Job Fair held in the commons area of Vantage Career Center.

Caitlin Jones, community development program coordinator, said there were more than 50 employers signed up, with several other employers showing up on Tuesday, to get a look at, and interview, 30 job seekers.

Both employers and job seekers said they liked the reverse job fair format, which allowed employers the freedom to view booths that included resumes and other information on job seekers’ educational and career backgrounds, and to interview any job seeker they felt might fit into their job needs, while job seekers were able to talk with employers and have the chance to market themselves in person, rather than just send in resumes and hope for an interview.

Prior to the job fair, those participants looking for work underwent a “boot camp” workshop that helped them with resume writing and communication skills, as well as providing mock interviews with staff members from Ohio Means Jobs and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to hone their interview skills and receive tips on how to best prepare for employer interviews.

Jones said the boot camp also helped job seekers select the type of job they were looking for, which is a big advantage in being able to better focus on a specific category in the workforce.

“If they know what job they really want, it will be better for them and for employers,” she said.

Jones added that employers were impressed with the quality of job seekers, adding that some of the applicants had more than one bachelor’s degree, as well as marketable job skills in the areas of healthcare, quality engineering and a number of other fields.

She noted that a survey of job seekers following the boot camp showed that participants felt they had learned a number of new tips and skills that would help them find a job, either from employers on Tuesday or down the road.

Zoe Longstreth, whose background is quality engineering, said she hadn’t thought about adding her role as president of the Van Wert Peony Festival Committee to her resume, until a mock interviewee pointed out the leadership and organizational skills the position required.

Several other job seekers — including some who had been out of the workforce for several years — were pleased with the help they received from reserve job fair organizers, which included the Van Wert City Economic Development Office, Ohio Means Jobs and the ODJFS, with job seeker Rose Mary Wilson stating she felt organizers were “down to earth” and provided lots of helpful and practical job search advice.