The first-ever Jefferson County Job Fair hopes to bring together job seekers and prospective employers. The event, slated for 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, will be held at the Fox C-6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. Organizers include Leader Publications, the city of Arnold, the Arnold Chamber of Commerce, the Fox C-6 School District and Jefferson College.
Arnold Mayor Ron Counts initially proposed the idea of a job fair to the chamber earlier this year, at about the same time Leader staffers were formulating a job fair plan of their own.
After some networking and discussion, the five local agencies decided to pool their resources and do a combined event.
“I think it will be the biggest job fair that has ever hit Jefferson County,” Counts said.
More than 40 businesses have registered for the fair.
Arnold chamber members received a discount on registration fees, a portion of which will go back to the chamber to support its various community programs and projects.
Why a job fair, in an age where job applications and resumes flood the internet?
Lora Warner, employment specialist with Jefferson College, said there’s no substitute for the human touch.
“So much of the hiring process is automated these days; it’s done online or through email,” she said. “At the fair, you will get to talk to a real person, ask questions you wouldn’t get to online.”
Warner said personal interaction beats the internet when it comes to making connections, another vital piece of the employment puzzle.
“Employers all hire for multiple positions within their company,” she said. “The HR person for a manufacturer might be there looking for people to fill a certain warehouse job – but that person is also responsible for hiring office staff, salespeople, even the cleaning crew. You don’t know until you go what connections you might make that could help you in the future.”
Warner and two other Jefferson College staffers will offer on-the-spot resume help.
“Basically, you give it to me and I give critical feedback,” she said. “My goal is to help you make the most competitive presentation possible.”
She said she can help those who are seeking a very specific kind of job, as well as those who aren’t sure just what they’re looking for.
“Resumes are different these days,” she said. “It used to be you had one pretty generic resume you sent out to every place you applied to.
“Now it’s more specific; people are crafting their resumes to be more tailored to the job they’re seeking.”
Most of the businesses at the fair will have recruiters on hand to interview and take applications.
Ron and Lisa Rigdon of RW Rigdon Images in Fenton will be on hand to take headshots for job seekers to use in resumes and on social media.
In addition, fair attendees will have the chance to win prizes at the event.
The five organizers each have a distinct responsibility in putting on the event.
The Leader has assisted in advertising the event and has organized registration, while the Fox School District will provide use of the service center free of charge.
The chamber has reached out to businesses throughout the area to participate, and the city of Arnold has helped promote the fair. Jefferson College has shared information gleaned from experience on how to set up a job fair and attract exhibitors and job seekers.
Arnold Chamber of Commerce board member Margie Sammons is chairwoman for the event.
“I think it is an incredible group of five entities that work well together, and it will do some good for businesses that are in need of employees,” Sammons said.
For more information about the Jefferson County Job Fair, contact the Leader at 636-931-7560 or email news@leaderpublications.biz.