MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis Job Fair brought out dozens of companies looking for workers.
On Thursday, they all gathered into the Pipkin Building on the Old Fairgrounds to speak with those seeking employment.
“This year is our biggest year,” said Roby Johnston, the Memphis Public Library JobLINC Services Manager. “Last year we had 35 companies. This year we have 120 companies.”
She told WREG she expected to greet more than 3,000 job seekers Thursday, all who would be able to speak with a representative one-on-one.
Recent college graduate, Tiffany Mays, was one of them.
“I just graduated with my bachelor’s degree, so I’m looking for something in the human resources field.”
It’s a daunting task, but one that Pat Myers, the training coordinator with the Workforce Investment Network, has an optimistic outlook on.
“A lot of people are still out there looking for their jobs. And we also see that the number of hiring employers has grown. So that means the economy’s improving because they’re looking for people. They’re looking to add people.”
To capitalize on that, job seekers need to be prepared.
“They should be prepared to tell any employer that they speak with what kind of job they can do, what kind of jobs they’re really good at, and what kind of jobs they do best.”
“Always come prepared, professionally dressed with your resume. All the time there might not be a hiring manager here but the recruiters may be here. And they have influential relationships with those hiring managers. And so we’re able to go back and say, ‘Hey, I found great candidate for your position.’ And we go from there,” said Lavant Mitchell, Senior Recruiter for Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co.
Do that, they said, and you’ll be in good shape like Mays.
“It’s been going great. I’ve got some great prospects and so, I’m excited.”
