It's A Fair Chance To Get A New Job

By LENORA LAKE Tribune correspondent

Published: May 7, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - A free job fair will offer opportunities for job seekers to interview for positions with about 70 employers.

The Career Connections Job Fair on May 15 at the University Area Community Center is sponsored by the Hillsborough County Health and Social Services Department's Employment Opportunity Program. The 5-year-old program helps low-income residents find employment or better employment.

This is the third year for the fair, which has attracted more than 400 people each year.

Program manager Audrey Eonda said she expects at least that many this year "because the people are out there, and they are definitely looking for work."

Most positions are entry-level jobs in customer service, retail, food service and child care from throughout the county, she said. Representatives from tourist attractions and banks also will interview those seeking employment.

Laura Faulkner-Rodahaver, an accounts manager with the staffing and recruiting business Aerotek, said her company usually participates in three such fairs a year "and this is the largest fair and the most successful."

Eonda said six social service agencies also will have booths with information about job training programs, low-cost health-care plans and dressing for interviews.

Dress for Success will provide business interview clothes to those who need them, and information about workshops for preparing for interviews will be available.

Katie McGill of Let's Talk Consulting Group teaches such workshops through the Employment Opportunity Program and is volunteering with Dress for Success during the fair.

"A lot of times, people just haven't had an opportunity to learn how to conduct themselves in business situations," McGill said. "Also, I see people who have been fired from jobs, and they don't have a clue why. They never ask, and they keep repeating their mistakes."

For the first time, transportation will be provided to the fair from the Lee Davis Neighborhood Services Center, 3402 N. 22nd St., and the West Tampa Neighborhood Services Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave. Reservations are required.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Career Connections Job Fair

WHEN: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 15

WHERE: University Area Community Center, 14013 N. 22nd St.

HOW MUCH: Free

INFORMATION: Call Audrey Eonda at (813) 272-5074, Ext. 216

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.