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More job seekers, fewer recruiters at ACCC job fair
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MAYS LANDING - The trend at the Atlantic Cape Community College job fair is fewer recruiters and a number of older job seekers mixed in with the student crowd.
Fifteen employers - including casinos, restaurants and health care companies - visited the college during lunch Tuesday looking to fill a variety of jobs such as cooks, dietitians and summer help. Representatives from the U.S. Army, Marines and Secret Service were also on hand.
Cynthia Correa, the college's assistant director of student development, said last year's job fair drew 25 employers and she believes the decrease is linked to the recession. At the same time, Correa noted the turnout was higher with about 100 students and several people from outside the college. "It's smaller, but there's a lot more interest in this one," she said.
Michael Loder, a 49-year-old Egg Harbor Township resident, was one of the older job seekers who strolled by the recruitment tables.
Loder previously worked as a lead cashier at Caesars Atlantic City before he decided to switch careers last year and enroll in data entry and computer courses.
Loder, who wore a black suede suit, felt a little strange walking among - and possibly competing against - the younger people. "Hopefully, there are job opportunities for everyone," he said. "I feel some experience in a job, working for 29 years, should say something. I stayed at one job, didn't jump around (and) was a good employee."
Siomara Cortes, a 20-year-old from Pleasantville, came to the fair looking for waitress or hostess job.
But the recent Atlantic County Special Services graduate said the Army perked her interest, too, especially since her stepfather served in Iraq during the Gulf War. "I want to do something for a change and protect the people," she said. "I'm on a mission."
Enthusiasm ran high among some of the recruiters as well.
Army Sgt. George Johnson said the public exposure has been good. Johnson said the Army recruited three people at last year's fair and he spoke with 15 possible applicants this year.
Johnson said the Army has many perks, including a sign-up bonus of as much as $40,000, funds for school and the ability to travel around the world. "Our goal is to break the ice. A lot of people think all military is the same, and it's not," he said. "We guarantee jobs. What you pick is what you do."
U.S. Secret Service Agent Darrin Seles said this was the agency's first time at the job fair. They were hiring police officers to protect the White House.
Seles, who spoke with 40 job seekers, said the police jobs are often stepping stones to becoming special agents. He also dispelled the popular myth that the service only protects the president. "We do quite a lot: identity theft, counterfeit money, credit card and bank fraud," Seles said. "We have the dual objectives of protection."
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Future job fairs
Atlantic Cape Community College will have two more job fairs: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 at the school's Atlantic City campus, 1535 Bacharach Blvd., and April 16 at its Cape May County campus, 341 Courthouse-South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House. For more information, call 609-343-4907.
Posted in Atlantic on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:00 pm
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