Fresno City College brought more to offer with a smaller budget in the job fair that was held on campus September 29. While the event showed a slightly lower turnout than last year’s, an estimated 738 students turned out for the event in which 28 employers who participated were all hiring,

“They have to be in a state of hiring this year,” said Dale Ross, the coordinator of this year’s event. In the past, the two concepts of career and job awareness were combined, but this year, the job fair was strictly focused on getting people employed.

Many students who visited employers’ booths said they were unemployed and searching for jobs. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, California has the second highest unemployment rate in the U.S. staying at 12 percent since August of 2009. For many students at FCC, a job fair is a door full of opportunities during tough times.

“We want to bring out awareness and opportunity to students in their busy schedules,” said Ross who said that the cost to participate was reduced from $100 last year to $35 for employers who wanted to participate. Because of the lower cost, however, the employers were required to come with job openings, said Anne Adams of FCC’s Employment Resource Center. The ERC gave out brochures and a booklet of guidelines and samples for resume, cover and thank you letters.  

Students met multiple employers and filled out applications. American Eagle Outfitters was the only retail store that participated and one of the few handing out paper applications. “You don’t get to see who you want; it’s not as useful as face to face,” Corina Custodio, store manager at American Eagle in Fashion Fair, said.

Jem Restaurant Management, a corporation that owns Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken, participates in the college sponsored job fair every year to recruit possible employees. “We give out applications and those who bring them back today will get an interview,” said Human Resources Manager, Lorean Haupt.  The district and regional managers of Radio Shack also participated and were hoping to hire 20 people in the next week.  

Rashim Bledsaw said the job fair helpful. “They gave a lot of information about the positions which is helpful before going to the actual interview,” said Bledsaw, who was dressed in business attire and armed with both a resume and a cover letter.

“I advice students to come with a portfolio of certificate and letters; this will boost your chances of getting a job,” Dale Ross advised those who would participate in job fairs. The next job fair on the FCC campus is in April. A job fair focusing on health sciences that will bring eight local hospitals is scheduled for Nov. 4 as well.

Dell Ross encourages students to be conversant with computer technology and to use it to complete much of the job search process.  He said, “12 years ago, this job fair was a winter seasonal retail industry job fair, but because of technology, you can now go online and find a job for yourself.”