Career Connection: 6th Annual Job Expo
By Lauren Macias-Cervantes

Job seekers and employers should mark their calendars now for the 6th annual Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande fall job expo, Career Connection.

The event, scheduled for Sept. 30, 2008 at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, will allow businesses and those looking for a job the opportunity to meet. For one day – it’s the premier spot for both employers and job seekers.

More than two-thousand people walked through the doors of the massive job fair in 2007 looking to be hired for the full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary positions that were offered from a myriad of employers. More than two dozen job seekers were hired on-the-spot and many more secured interviews and later made a career connection.

One of those successful job seekers was Oscar Arriaga, now working for the University of Phoenix as a Corporate Education Liaison. “I attended the job expo last year and talked with many employers,” he says “The University of Phoenix was just the perfect match.” Smiling, Arriaga adds, “I want to thank Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande for the opportunity.”

The massive job fair, now in its sixth year, is just one way the regional workforce board works to match employers and job seekers. The event eases the job hunt and increases recruiting, by creating a one-stop shop. Both take much time and effort, but are maximized when thousands of job seekers and dozens of employers all gather at the Downtown location every year.

“This is one event we look forward to each year,” says Workforce Solutions CEO Lorenzo Reyes, “The expo provides an invaluable opportunity for our two core customers.”

Though the economy may be taking a hit in other parts of the United States, the local economy and job outlook is promising. The region keeps bucking the national trend.

“While the U.S. keeps losing jobs, we keep gaining jobs month after month,” says Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Labor Market Analyst David Coronado. “There are many events; like Base Realignment and Closure, Downtown Redevelopment and the opening of the Paul Foster Four-Year Medical School, contributing to our growth.”

Health care and construction are just two industries that are booming in the region, but others include leisure and hospitality and business services. “West Corporation looks forward to the Job Expo very much because it brings a large contingency of job seekers to one centralized location and provides the employer and applicant opportunities to interact,” says Emilio Velez, Jr., Divisional Director Employment, Human Resources, West Corporation.

Employer GC Services is also looking forward to the expo. Last year they were able to hire over 70 employees through the job expo, with over 35 on the spot offers and selections of qualified candidates.

“We look forward to even better results this coming year. Workforce Solutions and the partnership with the El Paso Times is a great combination to enhance exposure to our organization and provide us with the applicant flow to meet our new hire requirements. I do not know of a reason why every employer in town that has hiring requirements will not be there on that day,” says Richard Gutierrez, Human Resources Director, El Paso Operations, GC Services.