Jacksonville Job Fair draws more than 300 - Jacksonville Daily Progress

Only in its second year, a Jacksonville Job Fair held Thursday at the Norman Activity Center is posting some pretty impressive figures.

According to Workforce Solutions of East Texas development specialist Mary Beeler, approximately 350 job-seekers attended the event, where 37 employers set up information booths.

"It was absolutely amazing," Beeler said. "It was definitely more (who showed up) than at the one held last year."

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce's economic development division chairman Nathan Jones said in 2015, a total of 32 employers participated in the inaugural event, which drew 226 attendees.

"This was a huge success," he said about the 2016 job fair, which is a collaborative effort among the Chamber, Workforce Solutions and the Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation.

"I think it speaks of the teamwork and the caring of our community," Jones said. "It really is a wonderful thing."

Officials used a variety of means to promote the event.

"We really promoted our job fair on social media, we had yard signs, and we ran ads with (radio station) KYYK and in the Jacksonville Progress. But I also think that when you do something year to year, the word gets out," Jones said.

Doors opened at 9 a.m. Thursday, and "they were already lined up to get in," and by 11 a.m., 300 people had already been inside to visit with prospective employers, said Byron Underwood, 2016 Chamber board chairman. "That's great. The job fair is one of the greatest events we can do for our town."

Jones agreed, calling the fair a "win-win" opportunity.

"There's nothing more important than the dignity of a job and in helping job-seekers find employment while at the same time helping employers find qualified employees. It's a win-win situation."

Jones said this year, coordinators helped streamline the search process by having a single application that would be disseminated to employers set up at the fair, allowing job-seekers and prospective employers a better opportunity to visit with each other.

"We had everybody come in and talking to people, and it seemed to be a comfortable thing," he said. "I visited with a lot of employers, and everybody was happy – I think they'll do it a third year."

The job fair gives community leaders a chance to help others, "and that's what people need to see: Our community is doing something to help one another. I just want people to know we've got a great community."

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