Job Fair Showcases Need In Local Workforce

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Approximately 30 employers and other enterprises set up tables at the Mesquite Recreation Center Gym on Friday morning, Oct. 7 for the Mesquite Works “Job Fair” event. The establishments were there to offer job opportunities with their companies and/or help with creating resumes and job placement for those seeking employment in the community.

The College of Southern Nevada’s, Site Coordinator, Darlene Montague and CSN staffer Chantile McAllister were the main force in organizing the event for Mesquite Works, a nonprofit workforce development organization in the community.
“Approximately 100 persons attended the Job Fair,” Montague said. “We did everything we could in the way of advertising to get the word out.”

Within the first 90 minutes many of the companies already had applicants.

There were resource organizations present also. The Salvation Army was looking for volunteers. The Mesquite STEAM Center was looking for helpers in the community. Sunrise Children’s Foundation was looking for child care providers and are willing to help get independent providers certified. Montague was there to point out that CSN offers free child care classes as well.

Dairy Farmers of America (Meadow Gold Ice Cream factory) in St George Utah, was happy with the interest the attendees were giving their job offerings. The Do it Best table was quite busy throughout the fair as well.

Most of the job seekers come to get one-on-one information about the job opportunities and then go online to apply. That is the preferred method used by most of the companies.
“Overall the event went well,” Montague said. “We passed out surveys to job seekers and a different survey to the business offering jobs, we will go through the surveys next week and gather suggestions for enhancement of our job fairs.”

The next job fair is being planned for March 2023. Mesquite Works is looking for a different venue and will be holding it in a different time slot to accommodate various schedules.