Jobs fairs offer hope for area seekers (photos)

Two local jobs fairs in two days offered a diversity of opportunities for the local unemployed or those seeking career changes. Both events attracted a large number of people representing a broad demographic cross section of north county residents.

On Tuesday, scores of job seekers visited the fellowship hall of the House of Restoration Full Gospel Church on Texas Parkway to apply for oil spill cleanup positions. GAC Contractors, a Panama City-based site work and construction firm, was conducting the job search.

Serving as a subcontractor for two environmental firms contracted by BP, GAC facilitated its application process by offering on-the-spot background checks, drug testing and pulmonary function tests for the prospective coast cleaners.

“We like to make it convenient,” explained GAC human resources administrator Angela Brooks. “We are trying to hire 300 people from Okaloosa County.”

By noon nearly 80 applicants had submitted applications and undergone testing, hoping to be among those to be called to the 4-day, 40-hour training program that began Thursday.

Then on Wednesday, 14 employers manned booths at Northwest Florida State College’s Crestview campus for the school career center’s summer job fair. Last year, 58 companies seeking employees attended the job fair.

“This year we didn’t have as many companies hiring,” lamented NWFSC career adviser Edna Washington. “I’m thankful for the number of companies that are here today, considering the economy.”

Even before the doors officially opened at 9 a.m., hopefuls were streaming into the building. More than 40 people visited within the first half hour.

Among the job seekers was Jennifer Heaton, who hoped to supplement her husband’s job with income of her own.

“I’m looking for clerical work, hopefully, or retail,” she said.

 Employers included government agencies such as the Crestview Police Department, the Department of Corrections, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army and Navy. The military recruiters were of particular interest to many young attendees.

Three regional educational institutions — NWFSC, Troy University and the University of West Florida — offered both employment and educational opportunities.

“We need faculty and we need students,” said Charlotte Ridgell, site coordinator for Troy University’s Crestview campus.

That appealed to Kelly Wilson, a recently laid off Brewton, Ala., high school English teacher, who was interested in applying her experience at the collegiate level and stopped by all three higher education institutions’ tables.

“I thought if I could get an adjunct position, that might be the way to go,” Wilson said.

Bruce French is anticipating retiring from a 20-year career with the U.S. Air Force in November. With 17 years of security forces experience, he is already starting work on a master’s degree in management to supplement his bachelor’s in sports and health sciences and an associate degree in security administration.

“I checked with the Fish and Wildlife service and the Department of Corrections,” he said. “I’ll have 80 days to find work or go to school” after retirement, he added.

Landing a job these days is more often a matter of being in the right place at the right time, several employers said. Michelle Kay, a recruiter with the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center human resources department said companies’ websites are often good starting places.

“We take pride in keeping ours up-to-date,” she said. “So, if you see a position, apply right away. It’s all a matter of timing.”