Some Trends as Revelaed from the 9-21 Job Expo

By Tim Sardano, Employment Times LLC

Yesterday's Augusta (ME) Area Job Expo, produced by Employment Times and MyJobWave.com, and supported by News 8's Project Economy, presented approximately 500 job seekers with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with 30 employers and organizations. Here are some trends I noticed while observing the crowd:

Companies and Organizations

• They ARE hiring! In my rounds I did not hear any speak of accepting applications for potential future openings.

• Some prioritize an apply online process, but they are also including other options, such as T-Mobile who schedules on-site visits to fill out applications and to interview. Most exhibitors accepted paper resumes or had applications to fill out at the fair.

• Health care and support services are high-need industries, and some local colleges such as Andover College and Southern New Hampshire University offer training in these fields.

• The Recovery Act is leading to openings in the construction industry

Job Seekers

• Layoffs and downsizing are leading to a wide range of abilities in the job seeker crowd.

• Job seekers need to understand their transferable skills and have confidence that they can use them in other industries. A construction foreman doesn't need to only look for work in the construction industry. Their skills, such as leadership, communication, mechanical knowledge, and structure and organization, are desirable for such positions as supervisor or management in other industries.

• Many jobs out there right now are health care or human services related, but think about the company who is hiring not the industry. They also have technical, maintenance, administrative, housekeeping, dietary and management needs. Ask yourself how your transferrable skills would relate to these openings in a new industry.

Education

• Many local colleges offer programs or certificates for a variety of industries. It may be easier than you think to obtain certification in transportation or health care. Check in with Andover College, Hesser College, Southern New Hampshire University, Northeast Technical Institute and others.

• The Maine CareerCenter offers free career counseling, workshops and computer usage. If computers aren't available when you go there, try your local library or ask a CareerCenter representative if they know of other free computer usage outlets. Capital Computers in Augusta, ME has free computer training on a registration basis.

Overall yesterday's Job Expo was a success. Foot traffic was constant, companies and organizations spent the entire time speaking with job seekers, and if job seekers didn't walk out with an interview or applying for an opening, they were given a path to follow to enhance their job search.

The next Job Expo will be October 19 at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston. We expect similar success and hope you can join us: http://www.myjobwave.com/JobSeekerX/ViewEvent.asp?EventID=127