Job Fair planned at NMCC

     At a time when layoffs are making local and regional headlines, 50 businesses currently looking to expand their workforce and hire Aroostook County people to fill vacancies within their organizations will be under one roof at Northern Maine Community College.     The public is invited and encouraged to attend the largest job fair held in “The County” in the gymnasium at NMCC Thursday, March 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Hiring representatives from businesses, organizations and government entities from throughout New England – more than 90 percent of which are located in Maine – will be on hand for the 11th annual event.
    “With the mills closing, layoffs here and there, why wouldn’t people come to see what is available? It is also a great opportunity to see if you need to update your skills to become a stronger candidate in the workplace,” said Ruth White, regional director for the Early College for ME program, which has been involved in the organization of the job fair for the past four years. “It really is a win for the employers looking for people, a win for future graduates to secure a job before graduation, a win for those who have been laid off, a win for other individuals looking to make a change in their career path, and a win for NMCC to be able to host such an event.”
    According to White, 52 employers will be present at the fair with an additional eight unable to attend but accepting resumes at the event.
    “All of the businesses anticipate hiring within the year and over 50 are seeking people to fill immediate openings. Since the business people speak with so many people, it is encouraged by them that attendees looking for work bring resumes with them they can leave behind,” said White. “There is also an interview area available to the businesses that some plan to take advantage of, so be ready for a possible interview that day also.”
    Businesses represented at the Job Fair cover a wide spectrum of occupations from office and retail to health care and industrial. Several government agencies, including the Defense Finance and Accounting Center in Limestone and military recruiters will be present, as well as representatives from businesses which provide job placement assistance, such as the Career Center and Tempo Employment Services.
    The organizer is hoping that area residents take advantage of having such a large number of employers in one location to learn about the job opportunities available to them.
    “I hope that people in Aroostook County realize this job fair is for them, as well as for future graduates of NMCC, UMPI, UMFK, Husson and Loring Job Corps,” said White. “Some of the positions the employers are looking for do not require a college degree and others provide the opportunity for their employees to continue their education.