Annual fair takes work out of job hunting

Web site sejobsonline.com is trying to make good help easier for area employers to find.

That's why the site and its parent company, the Southeast Missourian, are putting on the third annual Career Fair at the Show Me Center Oct. 26. There, companies of all types and sizes from St. Louis to Memphis can set up shop and reach out to the current crop of prospective employees.

Nancy Grand, recruitment specialist for the Southeast Missourian, said companies will get an opportunity to meet with anywhere from one to 600 candidates and prospective employees.

"They'll get to meet them face to face, schedule interviews and accept applications and resumes from a wide variety of applicants," Grand said.

She added that about 675 job seekers came out to the Career Fair in 2003, more than doubling the number from the inaugural year. Grand anticipates an even larger response this year.

"To my knowledge, this is the only career fair in the area that's targeted for both students and community members throughout the region," Grand said. "They'll get blue-collar, white-collar and no-collar workers."

Allen Mauk, human resources manager with Pepsi in Sikeston, Mo., said that in addition to the sheer volume of people that attend these fairs, the diversity of applicants is one of the primary reasons his company is coming back to the fair again this year.

He said last year he met with an array of applicants, ranging from 19-year olds looking for entry-level work to workers with 20 years of experience interested in executive level management positions. He also said he got inquiries about everything from sales and office administration jobs to shift work and factory positions.

"No matter what type of position you're looking to fill, there will be people at the fair looking for those jobs," Mauk said.

Mauk added that last year over 50 people picked up applications or information regarding employment at his company. He said he ended up interviewing about 10 of them.

In addition to the diverse group of prospective employees, marketing director Robin Godwin of Rainsoft said that employers also benefit from the personal contact with applicants.

"Face to face, you can better communicate your company's job opportunities to them," Godwin said. "It really helps you reach people that wouldn't normally respond to an ad in the paper."

Her company participated in the first fair and will renew its interest by joining this year's event.

Grand said that 35 companies have already signed up for this year's event. Like the job seekers, the participating businesses represent a wide range of company profiles, from Avon Products Inc. and Cape Girardeau School of Real Estate to Wells Fargo Financial and Youth Villages. Employers can register until Friday.

Companies participating will be provided with an eight-foot skirted table, around which they can set up their display. They can also be provided with a private, screened-off interviewing area if necessary. They will also get the chance to meet with candidates for virtually any job opening they may have.

"There's a bit of something for everyone," Grand said.

trehagen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

Want to participate?

What: Third annual Career Fair

Where: Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26

Info: Call Nancy Grand at 335-6611, ext. 113. Deadline for businesses to register is Friday.