Several hundred people showed up on Tuesday for the annual Sunflower County Area Job Fair at the Capps Technology Center.
Adam Todd, state director of the Governor’s Job Fair Network of Mississippi was pleased with Tuesday’s turnout. “There has been a lot of interaction between those who were seeking jobs and those who are giving the jobs,” he said.
Within the first two hours of the start of the event, Todd reported more than 300 persons had signed in at the job fair and by day’s end they counted over 450 job seekers.
“A lot of attention has been paid to everyone walking in and out. There have been a lot of people who have walked out with very high hopes. Some walked out with job offers and some have additional interviews to take place,” added Todd.
He praised Shelia Waldrup of the Sunflower County Economic Development District for her efforts, noting that the job fair would not be successful without local interaction. “Shelia Waldrup is awesome, she is the boots on the ground.” Todd said the true strength of these type events comes from the community where they are held.
A total of 24 different businesses were represented. Some were from a state level, but the majority were local employers, “That wouldn’t happen without the community help here at home,” Todd said.
The job vendors were given survey cards to collect statistical data in four categories and based on their combined tally, they received 2,772 visits, conducted 403 actual interviews, made 176 provisional/conditional offers and estimate that 287 persons could be hired within the next 6 to 12 months.
Waldrup surmised that the difference in the total of offers and estimated hires was due to the fact that some of the employers accepted resumes but did not conduct interviews. Although many of the representatives were able to make an offer on site, some were not. Todd was confident, “Some really good things are going to happen as a result of this event here today.”
Waldrup said that based on previous job seeker events, this was the best group. She said Tuesday’s crowd came ready to find work. “The employers were impressed,” she said.
According to Todd, they conduct more than 30 job fairs statewide during a calendar year and so far they have done about 15 for 2018.
The Governor’s Job Fair Network of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Economic Security, the WIN Job Center and the Sunflower County Economic Development District coordinated the job fair.
