Seasonal job fair at St. Lawrence

Apr 14, 2016

Staff at St. Lawrence College Employment Services in Sharbot Lake were pleased when over 40 job seekers turned out for their seasonal job fair on April 7.

According to Amanda Kendall, employer liaison at the center, the fair was one of their biggest to date with over six local employers taking part. “In the past we generally have put on single employer job fairs, but this time around we decided to bring a number of different employers together so that job seekers have more options and have a chance to network with several employers at once”, Kendall said.

Employers at the event included Ontario Parks; The Canadian Armed Forces; the owners of two local restaurants, Subway and The Fall River Restaurant; Seed to Sausage; and Hubby's House Cleaning and Care Partners, a local home care business.

The event was timed to bring potential employees into contact with employers gearing up for the upcoming tourist season. The job seekers were of all ages and backgrounds, including students looking for summer employment, laborers, retired seniors and more.

“We tried to cover a lot of bases with the employers here today so there are not only seasonal work opportunities available but also part-time and full-time jobs,” Kendall said.

Prior to the event, job seekers were given assistance in updating their resumes, which is another free-of-charge service that the center offers.

Staff member, Lesley Pickard, stressed that having a professional, second set of eyes look over a resume is always beneficial. “The staff here at the center are well-trained and we know a lot about resumes and what employers are looking for. These days, the job of a resume is to get the job seeker an interview with the employer and is not so much about listing all of your experience, but letting the employer know 'This is what I can do for you',” Pickard said.

Staff at the center also offer mock interviews for job seekers, which she said is good preparation for the real thing. People looking for information about possible careers or career paths are also offered services at the center.

Nearing the end of the job fair, Kendall said that she had a strong inkling that many who attended did acquire employment, and she encourages anyone who missed the fair to drop in to the center and speak with staff. “We are here to assist job seekers; we have made close connections with many local employers and can pass their information on to them.” For more information call St. Lawrence Employment Services at 613-545-3949.