More than 800 job-seekers turn out for fair in Brantford

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Organizers of a job fair held Wednesday, who expected to attract several hundred job-seekers to meet with more than 30 firms looking for workers, were surprised when more than 800 people turned up.

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The fair, held at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre, drew double what organizers expected, said Malcolm Whyte, the director of employment services at St. Leonard’s Community Services.

“It was one of the biggest job fairs ever held in the Brantford area,” Whyte said. “The employers were really happy.”

Companies were heavily weighted toward manufacturing but the John Noble Home, Brantford Police and several community services were also represented.

Some employers offered on-the-spot interviews and others simply took resumes and had a chance to ask a few questions, but it was difficult to move and talk in the room filled with hopeful job-seekers, many of them college students.

“It’s almost frightening,” said Kyle McGregor, who had a folder of resumes and was dressed for an interview in information technology.

“I only found two businesses here that have jobs in my field and one told me she had 800 applications already. But it’s good to see people looking for jobs because my previous employer was strapped for people who would show up. I hope this means people are ready to work.”

Whyte said employers or potential employees who missed the event can still connect with the organizations behind it.

“Call an Employment Ontario location – us at St. Leonard’s, the Workforce Planning Board, Community Resource Service centre or CareerLink, get connected and let us help.

“We all have individual job boards.”

Whyte said there is already talk of a similar spring job fair.

“Maybe in a bigger room.”

SGamble@postmedia.com

@EXPSGamble