Employers at job fair hiring to fill 300 positions

Area residents looking for a new or better job just might find what they ’re looking for at the second annual CK Works Community Job Fair.

More than 40 employers have registered for the free event and are looking to fill more than 300 jobs from entry level to highskilled positions.

The job fair, organized by the Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board, is being held on Oct. 23 from 2-7 p.m. at the John D. Bradley Centre in Chatham. “Last year, it was successful enough for our board to say, ‘Let’s do it again,’ ” said Kristy Jacobs, CKWPB project manager. The event received great reviews last year, she said, adding employers “found it as a very great community building opportunity,” she said.

Jacobs said a lot of smaller employers can’t put together a job fair, due to the cost and time involved, adding employers liked the fact “we can just show up and meet people.”

The availability of more than 300 jobs may surprise many. Jacobs said there was no formal announcements made about 500 jobs available through one employer, adding, “our workforce is pretty fluid, there are always positions open.”

Bringing 40 employers together helps attract many more people than if only two or three employers are holding a job fair, she said. “The community responded with over 400 jobs seekers coming through and registering last year.” So far, more than 300 people have registered for the job fair. Jacobs said those registering to attend get “insider information” including a weekly email leading up to the event, including if new employers come on board. “For some people, they have never attended a job fair before, so we’ve got some information going to them,” she said.

This includes how to prepare, places where they can get help updating their resume, and updating their interview skills, she said. You don’t have to be unemployed to attend the job fair, Jacobs said. “It’s not just for people who are not working. It’s for people who are open to expanding their career opportunities.”