Norton Job Fair Attracts Record Number of Employers (6/10/08)

Norton Job Fair Attracts Record Number of Employers

New Workshops Geared to Surviving Tough Job Market

Workshops: 10:00 A.M.

Washington, D.C. î º Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will bring a record 120 employers to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, beginning with workshops featuring a "Dress for the Interview Fashion Show." Following Friday's report of the largest one-month increase in unemployment in more than two decades, an eager crowd is expected when doors open for workshops at the 11th Annual Job Fair at 9:30 A.M. The Job Fair itself is 11:00 - 4:00 PM and is free and open to D.C. residents only. The Job Fair will be broadcast live from 10 AM to 2 PM, an indication of its importance in the midst of near-recession conditions, when jobs are scarce across the board. Last year's event brought more than 3,300 job seekers to the Convention Center.. The Job Fair itself is 11:00 - 4:00 PM and is free and open to D.C. residents only. The Job Fair will be broadcast live from 10 AM to 2 PM, an indication of its importance in the midst of near-recession conditions, when jobs are scarce across the board. Last year's event brought more than 3,300 job seekers to the Convention Center.

"This year's Fair comes at a time when the country is experiencing the highest level of unemployment in the ten years," Norton said. "Beyond immediate job openings, the Job Fair provides a one-stop job shopping center. It offers many opportunities for residents to speak directly with employers without having to travel all over the city and region merely to get information or to have only information on openings on-line. Time and again many residents have let us know that they got a job at our Fair. Others say that they particularly value the opportunity to actually speak with employer representatives in person and to get a better sense of the job market and the jobs for which they are best suited."

Private and non-profit employers and government employers from federal, D.C., state and county agencies, from throughout the region, will be recruiting for a wide range of jobs at every level, among them Target, U.S. Secret Service, Sports 4 Kids, 1st Choice Staffing, Sanz College, Pepco, Amtrak, Bank of America, D.C. Department of Corrections, NPR, Prince Georges County Human Resources, and D.C. Department of Public Works.

This year's workshops beginning at 10:00 AM are tailored to help residents compete in today's economic downturn. Instead of a discussion of dressing for success, a dressing for the interview and fashion show with commentary will spotlight the attire employers offering various types of jobs might expect job seekers to wear to an interview. Instead of merely describing the interview process, a simulated, actual interview will be presented. A presentation about temporary positions as an option will be made. "The point this year, Norton said, is to use the well attended workshops not only to make the point but to drive home the point about sparing no detail to get a job, in a downturn market."