Job fair attendance up this year


Thursday, March 12, 2009
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Job fair attendance up this year

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photos by Sue Watson

Visiting WIN booth

Sophomore Angelica Briggs picks up literature on jobs available at the Mississippi WIN desk. Looking on are Gary Mills and Geneva Hodge with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

More than 800 job seekers turned out for the annual Marshall/Benton Area Job Fair Tuesday, March 3.

In the current economic slump, turnout was better than last year when about 450 people were there looking for jobs, according to Joe Buckner with Gov. Haley Barbour’s Job Fair Network.

Forty-two employers registered for the event held at Rust College. The jobs available varied and prospective employees had their choice among many professions including education, law enforcement, the military, health care and companies like FedEX Air and Ground.

All totaled, job seekers made 3,844 visits to employers’ booths, according to survey results of 38 reporting employers. Five-hundred and sixty-five resumes were submitted and 157 on-site interviews conducted. Some 119 job offers were made the day of the fair, according to a report from the Job Fair Network.

The projected number of hires from this job fair during the rest of the year is 122.

Local high schools did not bus their juniors and seniors to the fair this year, but school districts allowed students to attend the fair on their own.

Swayze Cheatham, with Human Resources Development at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, said attendance at this fair is the best he’s seen in a while and he crosses the state going to the Governor’s Job Fairs, to colleges and visits states next door.

“It’s been a good turnout,” he said. “I go to all the Governor’s Job Fairs and colleges, too. This has been a good turnout, so far. Everywhere I’ve been, vendors (employers) had cut down on coming. This one is the best in a while.”

Lots of activity
Job seekers and employers were plentiful during this year’s event held at Rust College.

Exit interviews with employers resulted in many positive comments including - outstanding, well organized; great event, huge turnout, great food; good location, good traffic flow, everyone helpful and friendly- good attendance, good attitudes.

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