Coming in August, job seekers will have an opportunity to attend a different kind of job fair.
Called the 3E Fair, for employment, education and entrepreneurship, the event will offer job seekers a chance to improve skills to better prepare themselves for a job interview, to meet with prospective employers and, for those thinking of being their own boss, advice on how to get into business.
The event comes about as a direct response to formal and informal polling of residents living on the northern end of Kalamazoo conducted by New Genesis Education Center as well as ISAAC several times in recent years. "Jobs" kept ranking high as a concern among those surveyed, says Earlene McMichael, of the Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship Fair and Director of Kalamazoo Crossroads Career Network.
In May 2012, 11,700 people were unemployed in the Kalamazoo/Portage metropolitan statistical area covering Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, she adds.
"Some of the trends we are seeing are not pretty," McMichael says. "A proliferation of part-time positions with no benefits is among them. Another is long-term unemployment. It's sad because many individuals in our career-transition classes are highly motivated workers with good attitudes and work ethics, plus experience. Some are forced to accept work far below their skill set or a part-time job for a season, even accept a full-time one that doesn't offer benefits."
For them,
Crossroads Career Network provides a supportive, upbeat, hopeful atmosphere as job seekers navigate this difficult time in their lives. "We focus on what is in their control, and that is getting them in touch with their skills and talents, identifying suitable career alternatives, imparting the latest job-search techniques and teach them how to 'sell' themselves in an engaging fashion in interviews, via networking and in their resume," McMichael says. "The wonderful thing is some of our former participants pay it forward and volunteer with us. Some are currently volunteering with the 3E Fair."
The job fair will be distinctive in it will help job seekers navigate through two difficult life changes they may be considering -- going back to school to retrain for another career or starting their own business.
In a portion of the event called College Fair, attendees can meet face-to-face with college and career school admissions representatives to learn which degree, certificate and training programs may best help them whether they are considering starting or switching fields.
Also planned are job-search-skills workshops. Michigan Works! personnel will be delivering in-depth workshops on interview skills and on networking techniques, including using social media to find work. Throughout the day on Saturday, job seekers may also visit the Resume Writing and Mock Interview Clinic operated by Chamber of Commerce staff.
"Some jobless find that switching careers may be a necessary step in their reinvention process," McMichael says. "For others, unemployment will be the catalyst to dust off dreams of entrepreneurship."
There also will be a Mini Entrepreneurship Symposium at the Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship Fair taking place at the Christian Life Center, 1225 W. Paterson St. in Kalamazoo. Business plans, marketing/advertising, funding and accounting to licensing all will be covered.
Another unusual feature of the event is it serves youth and adults.
The 3E Fair will take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11. Friday will focus on youth, while Saturday’s programming is devoted to adult job seekers. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the job fair taking place from 1-4 p.m. Activities will occur hourly.
Crossroads is co-sponsoring the career fair with New Genesis Education Center and Christian Life Center, and in partnership with the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Michigan First, Michigan Works! and Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Also assisting is Midwest Communications Inc. as a media and corporate sponsor.
Organizers expect hundreds will attend Saturday, based on attendance at other events at the venue. The site’s auditorium has seating for 2,000 people. The career fair is open to the public. Admission is free, and pre-registration is not required.
"Our programming is very purposeful," says McMichael. "It reflects what we have found to be the greatest employment needs of the participants who've taken our seven-week career training on job-search techniques and career transitions."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Earlene McMichael, Kalamazoo Crossroads Career Network
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