Job seekers were out, but not in overwhelming numbers at a job fair held at the arena here Oct. 24.
Companies set up booths to promote themselves and garner potential resumes from those seeking work or looking to change jobs at the job fair hosted by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin, as well as Chambers of Commerce from Minto, Arthur and Mount Forest, and economic development committees from Minto and Wellington North.
The chambers also unveiled a new joint initiative – North Wellington Young Professionals – a program aimed at assisting entrepreneurs and businesses through networking with others.
Carol Simpson, executive director of the planning board, said the event was intended to highlight job opportunities in north Wellington for young people considering staying and working closer to home after finishing their education.
“It’s a career exploration event,” she said.
Simpson said the booths showed the diversity of employment opportunities with companies ranging from telecommunications to automotive, health care, manufacturing and retail.
“There’s a lot of opportunities and there are employers looking for people,” she said. “There are all types of employment.”
“People can work in a rural community and have global reach,” she said of accessibility to the internet in rural parts of the county.
Katrina Musselman, of Elora, visited the job fair looking for a job in accounting and ended up handing over a resume to human resources employee Justine Cummings of auto parts manufacturing company TG Minto in Palmerston.
“I like anything to do with numbers,” Musselman, who is looking to upgrade from her current position with a farm product company, said in looking into the potential for a job to her liking with TG Minto.
Cummings said she has worked at TG Minto for five years, moving from the paint department on the shop floor to the human resources department. She has previously worked at Tim Horton’s and the No Frills gas bar in Mount Forest as a student before landing a position with TG Minto.
“I was involved in the paint department for three years and then there was a front desk job,” she said.
When the human resources position was posted, she decided to apply, got the job and has been taking human resources courses to upgrade her skills.
Mike and Carol Armstrong of the Foodland grocery store in Mount Forest also had a booth showing positions in the store and taking resumes in case any job becomes vacant. There are about 65 people working full and part time at Foodland and according to Mike, he always wants to be prepared with resumes for potential employees to fill any vacancies that might come up.
Arthur Chamber president Mary Schmidt, long time owner of Arthur Travel, said the chamber’s young professional program is meant to help established and upstart businesses. She said business people need a network of businesses to assist them to set up shop or operate their current businesses.
“We’re hoping to work together with young professionals and entrepreneurs and help them come together,” she said.
The chamber group handed out surveys for business people to answer in a bid to determine interest in the program and establish meeting times.
“It’s a good fit with the chamber,” Schmidt added, referring to advice enterpreneurs and established businesses are seeking.
Mount Forest chamber business manager Crystal Seifried said networking is essential for existing businesses and those considering opening a business.
“Young professionals would be considered to be 20 to 40 years of age who own their own business, manage a business, have professional careers or are executives in a business or corporation,” Seifried said.
For more information on the program, contact one of the chamber offices.
