Putting job seekers on track to employment

A torrential downpour didn’t stop 40 eager job-seekers from attending Catholic Charities’ 2017 Job Fair on Jan. 17.

“I was laid off from my last job I had as a sales associate,” said one Audubon resident, waiting in the Camden office lobby as he wiped the rain off of his pants. “I’m a single dad. I have two kids to take care of. And trying to find a job is like having a full-time job.”

The lobby was full by 9 a.m. — one hour before the start of the job fair. Some attendees were referred by Catholic Charities’ case managers from the agency’s Welfare to Work program. Many were a part of the Veterans Assistance program. Some were refugees. Others had heard about the fair through word-of-mouth.

All had one thing in common: to get to work as soon as possible.

“A lot of them say, ‘I want to find a job, but I don’t even know where to start.’ Or ‘I don’t know where to go.’ Or, ‘I don’t know who’s going to hire me,’” said Moustafa Aldouri, one of the organizers of the fair. “This is sort of a one-stop, come on through the door, and you’re going to meet people that are wanting to hire you,” he explained.

In addition to Catholic Charities clients, the job fair catered to others with significant barriers to employment such as those with a poor job history, lack of education or training, criminal records or difficulties with mental illness or substance abuse.

Vendors such as Wal-Mart, Accu-Staffing and Weston Hotel set up their tables, while Catholic Charities staff welcomed job seekers and helped them prepare for the event.

“A lot of times I think there’s an assumption that if someone is unemployed, it’s because they don’t want employment or they’re not willing to work,” one vendor said. “I don’t think that’s the case here. I see people who are very hungry for jobs, who have skills to offer.”

Rita Colton never envisioned herself needing to seek work at a job fair.

“I’ve had a steady full-time job for most of my life. But when my husband got sick, I stopped working to take care of him for the past three years,” she said, “and many employers are turned off by the fact that I haven’t been to work for such a long time. That’s why I’m here. And knowing that there are employers here that want to hire people like me is so relieving,” she added.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., applicants flocked to the various employer tables, filled out job applications, gathered information about potential positions, and inquired about work hours.

For many, the difficulty for finding a job goes beyond the search itself. There are logistical hurdles to be overcome, such as lacking reliable transportation or appropriate business clothes for interviews. The Catholic Charities staff assist people with these challenges, as well as provide help with resume-writing and interview tips.

“This is a great opportunity for job seekers to meet face-to-face with employers rather than just filling out an application online or dropping it off in an office,” said Kisanna Owens, one of the event organizers. “I think the direct communication at a job fair improves the odds of getting a good match between the company and the potential new hire.”

Job seekers left the office with folders of paperwork, smiles, and a new sense of hope.