Job fair is a real eye-opener.
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
March 12, 2010 2:24pm CST
We just had a job fair for government positions in our State. Not long after this event (March 8th), I received an email from one of our Senators saying that this experience was a real eye-opener for him, a slap in the face.
Over 7,000 people showed up for this job fair, most of whom were unemployed (or recently under-employed) people looking for any kind of work. They were nowhere near prepared for this big a turnout and said they were just accepting resumes from people after noon because there simply was not enough room for everyone.
It showed our local representatives just how bad the job market is; it was shoved right in their faces. Because of that, our Senator said that their top priority at this point is to create more jobs to ease the unemployment rate. He said that he knew there was a problem but it just didn't seem as urgent until it slapped him in the face at this job fair.
I hope that there are many more of these job fairs all across the country and that the representatives of each State take note of just how bad the economy is and, most importantly, do something about it!
Have there been anything like our job fair in your State recently? Has anything been mentioned about doing something about it? If not, steer your representatives this way, Virginia, so they can see how it gave our representatives a HUGE wake-up call.
Let's hope this truly does help and is not just idle chatter.
7 people like this
16 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
12 Mar 10
hi mentalward. The situation in my country is not very good either. Many jobs have been lost during last year because of recession. The government is giving concessions and helps several companies so that they don't sack any employees. My wife works for big international bank. Her job has been hanging for the past 2 years. She has been moving from one department to another and at the same time teaching international bank workers especially from India that are going to take her job. I wish that the situation in your country will be a lot better in the coming future.
2 people like this
@joseline0568 (355)
• Philippines
13 Mar 10
The Philippines is no different from yours. Both the government and private entities holds job fairs every month. Most of the vacancies here are looking for more experience
As a participant (as an HR Practitioner and a job seeker) I am very overwhelmed by the number of job seekers viz-a-viz employers. It is a bit frustrating to note that a few would qualify for vacancies.
Government, despite all the effort, can not fill up the number of unemployed. The challenge here is job creation.
1 person likes this
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
29 Mar 10
Yea also a good chance for thoese jobless yea all the best !
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
12 Mar 10
We've had a few job fairs within my area and thousands attend. King's Island, an amusement park, began accepting resumes via email and I'm sure it's because they were being overwhelmed with applicants.
I'm glad you have representatives that finally realize the gravity of the situation. These politicians don't get out among the people enough, they are insulated and don't understand the desperation and misery that they have caused.
1 person likes this
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
12 Mar 10
Yes, because of the present situation of our economy, I'm also glad there are job fairs conducted in our country. Before just on special occasions example during Labor Day, Independence and other significant days, now however job fairs are being conducted in every municipality. Mayors conducted such activity, knowing and seeing how his constituents suffered as numerous are jobless.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Hi, mentalward.
The federal job fair held in Stafford was not far from where I live. By noon, 4000 people had already showed up and traffic was so backed up, the sheriff department had to be called in to help with the traffic and crowd control. News alerts were advising people who were not already there to turn back. People who had even registered complained they could not get in. Yes, they estimated about 7000 people showed up and the wait in lines extended for hours.
It sure was...IS...a wake-up call. This area with its close proximity to Quantico, Fort Belvoir, and Washington, DC has always been a sort of mecca for those seeking federal employment, but the jobs just aren't there anymore.
Tomorrow, the outdoor concert venue I work at in Bristow is having their annual job fair. I'll be there, and I won't be surprised if the turn-out will be like any sold-out concert crowd.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 10
Hi Marti that is a great Idea and maybe they should do something like that in the UK as well
It is terrible here
My Son is a Painter and Decorator, he got laid of again at Christmas, he is again desperately looking for a new Job, every year he has that problem because over Christmas and after there is no jobs
I hope it works for you all to as something needs to be done
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I agree that unemployment is a big problem, but at this point I do not have confidence that that Government alone can solve it. In fact, I think that Federal and State governments are doing more to hurt the economy than help. Business can invest if they do not know what sort of taxes or fines the government will impose. The very fact that the Federal government is picking winners and losers in the economy should also be worrisome to business owners. I know I would be. I think the best think that the government can do is to stop trying to help and get out of the way.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
15 Mar 10
i have seen some of the television networks cooperating with some government agencies to conduct job fairs. i feel glad that after the recession, there are now some companies who are hiring new personnel. about a month ago, i got tired writing and issuing receipts for applicants who came to our office to secure clearances. they come in bulk and it really made my fingers tired. when i ask them why they need the clearances, they told me that they were applying to the job in the ecozone. i told myself, at least the companies are now back into hiring new people. that only means that economy is getting back.
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
14 Mar 10
We have had similar job fairs here in Toronto, however...NO jobs mentioned, were about any governmental positions being made available.
Apparently those ones...were already filled.
Just a thought though.....
When they say ("they", being the government) that they are going to create jobs, or that they have created jobs...why is it that I haven't heard of any jobs being created, say for...Burger King, or McDonald's, or ANYTHING that the AVERAGE person would, might, or even be WILLING to accept, for minimum wage? How come they don't mention anything about "those jobs" being created or made available? Not everyone is an engineer, and is merely concerned with the building of roads, highways, and/or infrastructure.
What about those "lesser-type" jobs?
Don't they count too?
cdrxo
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Mar 10
I would like to see something like that here too. Our unemployment rate is not supposed to be too high so they say but there are many people struggling. It would be interesting to see how many would turn up if such a fair was set up in each state here…I hope that concrete results come out of the exercise in your area. I am not sure but for us it is a case of people wanting jobs that pay more so they don’t lose their homes due to regular interest rate hikes and electricity costs going through the roof.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
14 Mar 10
There was a job fair here that resulted in very few employers setting up booths. Hundreds of people showed up and there was hardly anything to offer them. I think the employers that did show up was so overwelmed by the turn out that they didn't even have enough material. There were people that didn't even get in the door.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
Hello mental ward,
I have actually went to the MALL job fair yeterday because i really need to get a job. unfortunately, the companies that I saw aren't the ones i liked. am not choosry or anything it's just that i couldn't afford to invest more money as i am already lacking some funds. for the moment, i have decided to save a lot, so that i use more funds for transport expensive. yeah, i know it's kinda lame excuse, but what if i don't pass the interview? so much fro travelling miles from home just to get busted, this has happened to me before.
@kaylachan (71773)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Mar 10
The officals here in florida need a huge wake-up call. Florida is one of the states with the highest unemployment rates. And, according to a recent news report, the numbers will stay in the double digits for the next two years. A lot of good people are out of jobs and a lot of homes are in forclosure. And, yet those who have a coshy job don't stop to think of the people like us.
And, florida is one huge tourist state, so you can imagine how much we're hurting right now.
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Hi Marti!
How are you and hubby doing? We have been working on moving into our little 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment for 10 days now and we are finally seeing parts of the floor. So much work and so much pain.
Anyway, we have had many job fairs with even larger numbers and still we have one of the highest unemployment percentages!! Hubby is still out of work. How can the leaders of this Country be so blind to it? It's because it doesn't benefit them. Now they are waking up to find that THEIR jobs are in jeapordy because they haven't been working for the people. Even our own Families don't realize the seriousness unless they are in the same or similar boat. Comments like, oh just go get a job at McDonalds or a gas station as if those jobs are just sitting there waiting for someone to just happen by and see the sign. Our families have been the most critical of us since all of these things have happened to us. And yet we have seen them once or twice in the past year. People need to wake up and see what is really happening around them.
Love Ya,
Leenie
@Cutie18f (9546)
• Philippines
13 Mar 10
The creation of more jobs to absorb the many who are unemployed is one big problem. The government should encourage and support big and small business ventures for these will provide employment to a lot of people. As it is now in our locality it seems like those wanting to start business are having a hard time getting their papers approved. There are just too many requirements that this sometimes discourages future businesses.
