DuPagePads First Career Fair a Success
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“The Career Fair is an exciting, new format to introduce motivated community members to highly respected, local employers,” says Carol Simler, DuPagePads President & CEO.
On Friday, June 10th, 122 community members, including 30 DuPagePads program participants, attended the agency’s First Annual Career Fair. For DuPagePads Career Employment Solution participants, this was the culmination of weeks of preparation and anticipation.
Leading up to the Career Fair, DuPagePads held workshops teaching interview skills and job etiquette. Program participants were able to choose from a selection of suit jackets, dress shoes, button down shirts, slacks, ties, dresses and more to wear for the event. 
Volunteers assisted participants in updating their resumes and had quality resume paper on-hand. Hair-cuts were provided at the overnight sites and manicures were given.
“We wanted our participants to feel professional, prepared and confident. Our participants are highly motivated to start a new career and gain employment, so we wanted their appearance and demeanor to reflect their drive,” says Lutisha Jefferson, DuPagePads Career Employment Solutions Director.
Using all available space at DuPagePads Client Service Center and Career Employment Solutions building, 16 local employers looking to hire met with attendees, took resumes and some even scheduled interviews.
A diverse group of employers, this year’s Career Fair featured: Cintas, DRF Trusted Property Solutions, G4S Around the World, Georgia-Pacific, Grove Dental Associates, Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus, The Home Depot, Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), Job Corps, Lexington Health Network, State Farm, Swap.com, UPS, Walmart, WorkNet DuPage and Xerox.
Since the Career Fair, DuPagePads Career staff have heard from participants who have received correspondence and interviews from employers.
Georgia-Pacific’s Tom Coleman, one of the employers present shares, “It’s fulfilling for us to give someone employment. It’s mutually beneficial.”
