As regional and provincial unemployment remain near record lows, next weekB次元官网网址檚 Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair could be your best bet to connect with your next employer.
The fair, organized by Black Press, publisher of your local community newspaper, offers attendees access to a wide range of companies and organizations from both the private and public sector.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of recruitment being done in the area and thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of opportunities for people to follow their passion,B次元官网网址� says Brittney Prentice, events marketing co-ordinator for Black Press. B次元官网网址淭his is about making the greater community in Victoria aware of whatB次元官网网址檚 available to them.B次元官网网址�
The show itself runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at The Q Centre at West Shore Parks and Recreation, 1767 Island Hwy. in Colwood.
One of the companies present will be Slegg Building Materials, a Sidney-based building supplier, with locations and deep ties across Vancouver Island, including Saanich.
B次元官网网址淲e are participating because we are a growing business that continues to look for talented people,B次元官网网址� said Julie Adams.
While it is difficult to say what percentage share of the companyB次元官网网址檚 employees comes from job fairs, such events offer at least three advantages, she said.
First, it exposes the company. B次元官网网址淚t gives us an opportunity to interact with potential employees, and a chance to demonstrate that we are more than just a lumber company,B次元官网网址� said Adams. B次元官网网址淚t gives us an opportunity to show the kind of careers that we offer.B次元官网网址�
Second, job fairs gives an interested audience a chance to learn about the company, she said. B次元官网网址淚t is also educational,B次元官网网址� she said. While the fair might not lead to a match, attendees will have learned more about the company, information which they can share with others in their network.
Third, it also gives the chance the company to interact with representatives from employment services centre, employment counsellors and the representatives of educational institution, said Adams.
Overall, Adams said the quality of these jobs fairs have always pleased her. Over the years, the company has used job fairs to hire four managers and numerous employees outside that category.
Exhibitors range from public sector employers such as B.C. Corrections, ICBC, B.C. Ferries, the University of Victoria and the Canadian Armed Forces, to private companies including Thrifty Foods, Country Grocer, Elements Casino in View Royal, Black Press and others.
The fair is targeting not only unemployed people, Prentice said, but students and B次元官网网址渢hose that are looking to change careers and get a fresh start on something.B次元官网网址� It follows successful career fairs hosted in the Comox Valley and Langley earlier this year and ties in with the regular LocalWorkBC.ca jobs feature seen on all Black Press community newspaper websites.
Next weekB次元官网网址檚 job fair happens against the backdrop of a rosy job picture. While regional unemployment has ticked up in recent months, it remains among the lowest in the country with 4.5 per cent in September 2017. That is lower than the unemployment rate across British Columbia, whose rate of 4.9 per cent ranks below the national figure of 6.2 per cent.
