The OH•Zone Virtual Career Fair slated for Thursday, Feb. 4, will offer area job seekers with the chance to explore a number of local employment openings from the comfort of their home computers or smart phones, potentially opening up new opportunities for a variety of individuals, including those who stepped away from the workforce during the pandemic and high school students who are looking forward to their future careers.
The free online event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day featuring more than 20 companies from Logan, Union and Madison counties is made possible through joint efforts of the Chambers of Commerce in Logan, Madison and Union Counties, OhioMeansJobs in Logan, Madison and Union Counties and One Columbus.
Pre-registration is currently under way for the career fair. Interested individuals are urged to sign up early through a link on the Logan County Chamber’s website, www.logancountyohio.com/careerfair.html, with the chance to upload their resumes and qualifications, explore companies and open positions before the career fair, and sign up to receive alerts and reminders leading up to and throughout the event.
Logan County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ben Vollrath said this virtual event follows a similar successful online style career fair piloted by OhioMeansJobs in the Cleveland area, with support from OhioMeansJobs to initiate this local effort. It also builds on existing partnerships with Union County through the Smart 33 Corridor and recent joint efforts with Madison County as well.
As the economy bounces back from the challenges of 2020, one of the goals for the OH•Zone Virtual Career Fair is to assist area residents with potential new career opportunities, including those who might have their lost jobs during the COVID-19 crisis or left their employment for a variety of reasons, from helping care for loved ones or assisting their children with online schooling.
“While our local unemployment numbers have reached their pre-pandemic levels and are looking so much better, the labor force participation rate still is not quite where it is before, probably for a variety of reasons, including those individuals who stepped away to help out their families during a difficult time,” Vollrath said.
“We wanted to find a way to help our regional employers as well, some who have struggled to maintain staffing during the pandemic, to build a qualified and motivated workforce.”
At the same time, the Logan County Chamber is working with area high schools to encourage their students, especially seniors, to consider participating Feb. 4 to potentially secure their future employment. The message continues the chamber’s work to promote the “3E campaign” for students’ paths after high school — standing for employ, enlist and enroll.
Vollrath said the Logan County employers participating in the virtual event include: Midwest Express Inc. and One World Logistics of America; NEX; World Class Plastics Inc.; AGC Automotive, Belletech Corporation; Thermoid; NK Parts Industries Inc.; Honda of America; and Transportation Research Center. The companies are seeking a variety of positions and experience levels in manufacturing, light industrial and various divisions.
The day of the event, job seekers will enter a “virtual lobby” and be able to pick the employer booths they want to visit, where they can simply collect information, or have a conversation with business representatives also present at the online booth.
“The companies that have signed up are excited to meet with potential new employees and to share with them all of the opportunities that they can provide,” the Logan County Chamber president/CEO said.
“There are amazing career opportunities here, and I know through my recent years at the chamber, I have been blown away with the variety of businesses here locally. We have great businesses, both private and corporate organizations, who treat their employees like family.”
For further registration assistance and questions regarding the event, job seekers are encouraged to contact Stacey Swanson at sswanson.
Tips for Job Seekers
The Logan County Chamber of Commerce offers the following tips for how to prepare for the online career fair:
• Give yourself ample time ahead of the fair and make sure you have everything in order so you can put your best foot forward.
• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile (if you have one).
• Review the employers who are attending so you know who you want to connect with. It also helps to think of questions and conversation points you may want to ask when you speak with an employer one-on-one.
• The employers that you meet with want to learn more about you. Think of a short overview about your background, studies, and career goals. Practice so you’re ready when it’s time to introduce yourself to a recruiter.
• Dress nicely and professionally. This helps to make a good first impression with recruiters and employees. Plus, wearing something that makes you feel good will boost your confidence.
• Plan where you will be sitting during the event ahead of time. Try and find a quiet place with a clean background behind you.
• Check your technology. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection and your video and audio are working correctly.