Members of DNSSAB and community volunteers strike a pose during a 'dress for success on a budget' fashion show at the Get Job Ready event. Photo by Dennis Chippa.
Getting a job can be a job in itself.
Tuesday, over 125 job seekers received some help towards that goal, as the Labour Market Group and a number of community partners held a Get Job Ready fair.
The idea was to provide some practical tips for job seekers as they get ready to meet potential employers at upcoming job fairs.
Stacie Fiddler, from the Labour market Group, says the idea actually came from employers.
“Over the past few years we’ve heard from local employers that when there have been job fairs the job seekers that are coming in just aren’t quite prepared enough for the job fair. They’re not quite as polished, there’s just some brushing up that they need to do. They’re just not ready at the time of the job fair to actually gain employment.”
So to help provide that polish, the group brought together community partners, employment experts and some service providers to give job seekers some practical tips during a day long session at the Best Western.
Fiddler says the tips are simple and straight forward.
“Topics include how to polish that resume to different things about social media, on-line job searches, networking. We also had an employer panel that was fantastic, right from the horse’s mouth. What are they looking for in an interview, during an interview before and after, that type of thing. Then just the service providers themselves talking about different types of services they offer. And the fashion show, which is key, how to dress on a budget.”
The idea of the Get Job Ready fair was not just window dressing. In fact, Fiddler echoed the mayor’s opening remarks in saying there is an actual job gap in North Bay, something many people are simply unaware of.
“There is a gap. Lots of employers are looking to hire, and lots of people that are out of work. So there’s something missing there. So how can we work together with some of the local resources we have to address that gap?”
Tuesday’s fair is just the appetizer.
The real meat of the matter comes when employers and employees sit down to talk.
