Employment connections being made through job fairs, services
Employers and job seekers were connected at a job fair in Barrington on March 4.
Eleven businesses took part in the event, organized by Southwest Employment Services/Nova Scotia Works Employment Services Centre.
Charlotte Scott, employer engagement specialist, said there were a number of job seekers who got jobs on the spot.
“There are many jobs available for sure,” said Scott. “We just need to find the people to fill them.”
Scott said the low turnout of job seekers was a little disappointing, but overall, the event – a first for Barrington – was a great experience.
“In the future we would love to do it again,” she said, adding they received a lot of feedback from employers and job seekers that will be reviewed.
Another first in the works as a pilot project is a small job fair in May for high school students in Shelburne, said Scott.
Meanwhile, Southwest Employment Services is planning their fourth job fair at NSCC Burridge Campus, slated for April 15 from 3 to 7 p.m.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of students there,” said Rhonda Zasitko, executive director. “We’re also trying to get busing for other schools to come.”
A job fair held last year attracted 38 employers and more than 300 job seekers.
“We couldn’t do it without volunteers,” she said, adding there are quite a few community partners on the organizing committee.
Employers wanting to register for this year’s job fair can do so online at yarmouthjobfair.ca.
“Job seekers can go on there as well,” Zasitko said, noting there are tips and information about two workshops being held prior to the job fair to help job seekers be better prepared.
With a total of two fulltime and two part-time offices in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties, Southwest Employment Services provides high quality and inclusive employment services, said Zasitko, saying they deliver individualized services to meet the client’s needs.
“Basically, we try to help everyone the best we can.”
Case managers, employment support practitioners, job developers and information resource specialists are among staff who help job seekers, while employer engagement specialists work with employers with their HR needs.
Southwest Employment Services also offers various programing, including a wage subsidy program as well as a variety of workshops, which are posted on their Facebook page when scheduled.
Zasitko said Southwest Employment Services keeps very busy.
"Every day of the week we have two to three intakes, sometimes up to four,” she said, estimating they probably average 20 new clients a week, and sometimes more.
“Demand sometimes goes with the season,” she said, noting some people work for one employer one season and another in a different season and in a different industry.
“I feel there are many jobs out there," said Zasitko. "We just have to make the connection between the job seeker and the employer.”
Southwest Employment Services has offices open Monday through Friday in Yarmouth at the Pier One Complex and in Shelburne at King’s Corner.
In Barrington, the office located at the Barrington Municipal Library is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays. In Lockeport, Southwest Employment Services has office hours on Friday at the town hall.