Upwards of 40 employers will be on hand tomorrow at the Kamloops Spring Hiring Fair and most will be actively recruiting, looking to fill both permanent and seasonal positions.
Organized by Open Door Group and Work BC, it is the largest free hiring fair for employers said Devon Mah, employment relations coordinator at Open Door Group. He said many job seekers will find work.
“The most important reason to go to a job fair is to be able to speak to employers directly without being filtered through an interview process,” he said. “And it might not even be the job you are applying for at the moment. It might be something you are interested in down the line.
“You have the chance to speak directly with the person making the decision and that’s where you can really learn a lot about what you need to know.”
Mah said most employers are recruiting for specific positions and, though employers aren’t required to provide Open Door with hiring stats, surveying them has shown many people do find work through the event.
The Spring Hiring Fair is April 19th from noon to 4 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton. We’ve got some tips from Mah on how to prepare and a list of employers who will be there:
Perfect your elevator pitch:
One of the most important things to do is practise your elevator pitch, Mah said. Make sure you can describe in a very concise manner why you should be hired, why you are a good fit for the position and what your skillsets are. It should be under a minute long.
Tailor your resume:
Understand the industry you are interested in. Mah said to tailor your resume specifically for the employer you are targeting.
Dress the part:
Treat the job fair like an interview, because it is one. Mah said to be dressed and prepared for a job interview because when you have the chance to speak to an employer, it is an interview.
“You really want to make a good first impression,” he said.
Prepare questions:
Interviews are a two-way process, Mah said, so come prepared with questions for employers that interest you.
“You want to know who you are going to be working for as well as they want to know you,” Mah said. “You want to make sure you are a good fit with that organization because you spend a lot of time at work and you want to make sure you have the same values the employer does. You want to go in with your eyes open.”
Employers:
Hub International
We Care Home Health Services
BC Corrections
Starbucks
Sears
Excel Personnel
Big Horn Security
Cascades Casino
iTel Networks
PHI Hotel Hotel Group
Home Hardware
Dominos Pizza
People Ready
Paladin Security
Horizon North
A&W
Doubletree by Hilton
NRI Distribution
Arrow Transportation
Sunlife Financial
The Plaza Hotel Kamloops
Chimera Construction
Investors Group
Riverfres Wild BC Seafood
Ratio Group
Milestones
Primerica Financial Services
Treetop Flyers
Kal Tire
Sutton Place Revelstoke
Combined Insurance
Sureus Pipleline Inc.
Scotts Inn and Restaurant
Seasons Consulting
Sprott Shaw Community College
Thompson Okanagan Co-operative
Interior Community Services
Open Door Group
Work BC
Axis Family Resources
