Thousands of Hopeful DC Job Seekers Arrive Early for Norton's Job Fair (7/16/09)
Thousands of Hopeful D.C. Job Seekers Arrive Early for Norton's Job Fair, Some Offered Jobs on the Spot
July 16, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 12th Annual Job and Opportunity Fair by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today allowed about 5,000 residents, many of whom stood in lines that stretched out into the streets, to meet one-on-one with 100 businesses and government agencies. The heavy turn-out, restricted to D.C. residents, reflected hopes for the extra stimulus jobs that are available and the opportunity to meet directly with recruiters. Job offers were made on the spot from the D.C. Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services and MC Dean Intelligence Building, Inc. Recruiters from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield scheduled several interviews for next week; and recruiters from the U.S. Social Security Administration, currently in a major recruiting campaign to fill positions in 18 of its offices in the Washington area, collected resumes to later match candidates with openings and arrange interviews. The administration has hired applicants from Norton's previous job fairs. PEPCO, with 50 positions open, directed job seekers to its website. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was on hand to help residents close to age 50 learn how to conduct effective job searches on line.
Norton said, "We made sure that residents were aware in advance of the big bonus of stimulus jobs I had been able to get for D.C. and the presence of public and private companies from across the region at the Fair. We were pleased that so many residents came and patiently shopped for jobs."
The 5000 job seekers who arrived early enough for the workshops learned about jobs that will be available at the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters on the west campus of Saint Elizabeths hospital, and were encouraged to check online at https://www.stelizabethswestcampus.com/ for job openings that will be posted soon for the DHS construction. "GSA intends wholeheartedly to include D.C. residents in the DHS construction. This is the ground from which the federal government will build its bridge with the D.C. community," Bonnie Echoles, of the General Services Administration, told morning workshop participants. They heard tips for making their resumes stand-out, and for "branding" themselves for success, especially in a downturn economy when competition for fewer jobs is particularly stiffer.
Jobs at the DHS site will be offered through contractors, but GSA will monitor the process from temporary facilities at the site, and assist applicants as they apply for jobs and for pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships made available through stimulus funds the Congresswoman secured. A groundbreaking is scheduled for September at the DHS site, where jobs clearing the site will be available even sooner. The Brotherhood of Electric workers currently is accepting apprenticeship applications for classes that will begin next year.
The early-morning crowd-swell forced lines around two blocks and through two halls in the Convention Center. There were so many people waiting to get in that the Congresswoman's "Dress for Success" fashion show following the workshops had to be cut short to allow job seekers into the job fair hall earlier. The Congresswoman commended fire marshals and security personnel for managing a smooth crowd flow.