Job fair results show hiring for some

ASHWAUBENON - Months after an invitation only job fair in the Green Bay area, we're learning it paid off for some. Some of the companies. Some of the people looking for work.

The state sponsored the Bay Area Career Expo in October.

Companies came with 1,300 job openings.

And since then, they've hired 100 of the people looking for work.

Hundreds of people came to Shopko Hall with resumes in hand for employers who said they were ready to hire.

But who got an interview, and who got a job?

The very first Bay Area Career Expo was an opportunity for job seekers and employers.

Sara Oettinger ran the booth for Imperial Supplies in Ashwaubenon.  

"We needed several sales people, customer service is always a large department for us to recruit for," said Oettinger, Imperial Supplies recruiter.

Oettinger says job seekers were serious.

"Much more professionally dressed. Much more prepared with resumes, we had a lot of success," said Oettinger.

The Department of Workforce Development sponsored the fair.

Officials say a post-expo survey of 88 of the 101 businesses showed:

• 84% said pre-screening of candidates was beneficial
• 77% said they interviewed candidates as of mid-December
• 42% said they made hires during that same time period

"At least 96 individuals were hired, and again that was as of mid-December, given that the recruitment and hiring process can take several weeks to several months," said John Dipko, Dept. of Workforce Development communications director.

At Imperial Supplies, Oettinger is happy with the results.

"I think we had over 65 or so, applicants. We probably interviewed 1/3 of those people, and made two offers," said Oettinger.

The Green Bay Job Center offers classes in resume writing and more. Officials say there is always room for improvement.

"The skills set matter, but also again, how an individual approaches an employer, and even get in front of an employer based on your resume, cover letter and what happens to you once you do get that interview," said Jim Golembeski, Bay Area Workforce Development executive director.

"We're taking all of that input, and taking it into consideration, serious consideration as we fine tune and improve the career expo concept, as one piece of a comprehensive strategy to address the skills gap in our state," said Dipko.

The Department of Workforce Development will take this data and apply it in the near future.

More Career Expos are planned for other parts of the state in the coming months.