CUYAMACA COLLEGE CAREER FAIR DRAWS RECORD CROWD

Employer representatives say sizable attendance a reflection of the times

May 13, 2009 (EL CAJON) – Jobless figures topping 9 percent in San Diego County – 12 percent in El Cajon, according to the most recent state employment numbers – resulted in record attendance of about 500 people at this year’s career fair at Cuyamaca College, organizers say. In addition to a higher turnout, the 15th annual fair was also remarkable for the noticeably large share of attendees from the community at large.

So

say employer representatives like Tristan Turk with Wells Fargo Bank and Darrin Schwabe with the San Diego County Water Authority, two of some 60 companies and organizations which set up tables at the May 5 event.

“I was surprised at the number of people I spoke with who weren’t students,” Turk said. “The college provided a valuable community service by putting on an event with such a good setup and a lot of participation.”

Even though the current economic crisis has meant fewer job openings overall at Wells Fargo, Turk said the bank is always in need of people to fill entry-level teller positions. However, with the current slowdown in hiring for the higher-level jobs, Turk said people aren’t advancing as quickly and are remaining longer at teller positions. Turk said in the face of the tough economy, job fairs like Cuyamaca’s are a good way to keep a finger on the pulse of the current job market.

It also bodes well for job-seekers to attend fairs because increased competition for jobs means only the most aggressive and active are likely to succeed, said Laure Brown, Cuyamaca College Career Services coordinator.

Schwabe, a senior human resources analyst with the San Diego County Water Authority, said he was looking to recruit for an internship program offered through the Cuyamaca College Water/Wastewater Technology program. The 33-week internship program requires participants to work 20 hours per week at a wage of $10 per hour and is an excellent training opportunity. Applications are being accepted through this month for the fall semester.

”We aren’t currently hiring for full-time positions, but we have been working in concert with Cuyamaca College for about the past three years in providing this internship,” Schwabe said. “In addition, we wanted to participate in the career fair because of the importance of community involvement and outreach”

Schwabe added that the demand for people with technical skills is expected to grow due to a large wave of retirements on the part of the current workforce.

“The career fair at Cuyamaca College continues to draw employers because we are an excellent source of well-prepared, motivated workers looking to get a foothold in the job market,” said Dr. Cristina Chiriboga, interim college president. “Community colleges continue to produce a steady stream of workers ready and eager to accept the challenge of an increasingly competitive and technology-driven workplace.”

Governing Board President Bill Garrett said that it’s important to understand that the Cuyamaca College event is more than a job fair and provides exposure to careers that students and other fair-goers may have never even thought of.

“In addition to job interviews, attendees benefit enormously by gathering information about a variety of career fields and gain insight into the local job market,” he said. “Plus, for those considering a career change, or who are seeing signs that their current jobs are at risk, the fair is a great way to scope out new possibilities.”

Cuyamaca student Sharon Jacobs, who lost her job earlier this year as a retail sales clerk, expressed amazement at the variety of job fields represented at last week’s fair.
“After I was let go from my last job, I decided I needed to return to school to train for a more dependable career,” she said. “I want to get into the healthcare field because I’m also hearing about the demand for people in that field. I’m really glad I came here to the career fair – it’s made me see there are lots of avenues to explore.”

Cuyamaca programs, including computer and information science, or CIS, and Grossmont College programs such as occupational therapy assistant and respiratory therapy, had tables set up at the fair to provide a peek into what the careers entail. The East County Career Center was also in attendance, providing an additional resource for fair-goers to tap for insight into the job market.

Brown, the Cuyamaca College Career Services coordinator, said this year’s event drew more industry involvement than she had anticipated, given the economic climate. Other colleges sponsoring job and career fairs have been reporting about a 20-30 percent reduction in the number of participating employers, she said, so the continuing strong interest in Cuyamaca’s fair is heartening.

Career fairs such as Cuyamaca’s have long been regarded as a valuable recruiting tool among public-sector employers who tend to cast their nets wide for a diversity of workers. Local, state and federal entities were all well represented: the California Highway Patrol, the FBI, Helix Water District, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the Social Security Administration, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, San Miguel Fire Department, the state National Guard, and military recruiters from the U.S. Army and Navy.

For employment information and help in career assessment or building a resume, contact the Career Center at (619) 660-4450 or visit www.cuyamaca.net/careerserv/.

Registration is currently available for summer-session classes beginning June 8 at Cuyamaca College and June 15 at Grossmont College. Online registration and college applications are available through the college Web sites, www.cuyamaca.edu and www.grossmont.edu