Hired on the Spot: DuPagePads 2nd Annual Career Fair Success
More than 200 job seekers attended DuPagePads 2nd Annual Career Fair on June 19th at College of DuPage, a 67% increase over last year’s inaugural event.
This year’s new venue provided space for 35 local employers looking to hire with free admission and free parking.
35 DuPagePads program participants attended the event and while results are still coming in:
- one DuPagePads client was hired on the spot,
- two more were hired as a result of attending the Career Fair and
- six clients have upcoming interviews.
Nickea, a DuPagePads client, shared, “This Career Fair provided wonderful opportunities for advancement. I’m now optimistic for my future.”
Read Angelina and Danielle’s Career Fair successes below.
Preparation:
To help prepare our participants for the Career Fair, DuPagePads hosted several workshops leading up to the event. These valuable workshops provided:
- Proper interview attire
- Makeup, manicures and hair styling
- Networking techniques
- Finishing touches on resumes
- Creative writing classes
- Mock interviews
This was volunteer Denise Andrews’s second year helping clients prepare for the Career Fair. Denise said, “I really enjoy helping the clients pick out interview attire. It is rewarding to see their confidence boost and I feel like a personal shopper!”
During the Event:
Through a partnership with College of DuPage, DuPagePads was fortunate to more than DOUBLE the number of employers at this year’s Career Fair.
From healthcare to manufacturing, tech support to retail and more, applicants had the opportunity to network with an even more diverse pool of employers.
“We have been fortunate to have developed a relationship with these well-respected and well known employers. They have become really invested in our mission. They also are familiar with the caliber of applicants we provide and have hired our clients in the past,” says Career Employment Solutions Director Lutisha Jefferson.
This year’s employers included:
- Advocate Health Care
- Best In-Home Service Inc.
- Chartwells
- CINTAS
- College of DuPage
- Conduent (formerly Xerox)
- DRF Trusted Property Solutions
- DuPage County Human Resources
- FedEx
- G4S Security
- Georgia-Pacific
- Grove Dental Associates
- Hyatt Lodge
- JD Norman Industries
- Jobs Corps
- Lexington Health
- Little Friends, Inc.
- Mariano’s – Kroger Co.
- McDonald’s
- MiraMed
- Monarch Landing
- NICOR
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Distribution Center
- Pace Bus
- RSA Medical
- Sears Appliance and Hardware
- Sodexo
- Speedway LLC
- State Farm
- SWD
- Symbol Training Institute
- The Home Depot RDC
- UPS – Human Resources
- Walmart Supercenter
- workNet DuPage
Positive Feedback:
Angelina – I was so Excited I Forgot to Say ‘Yes!’
Angelina had been working temp jobs when she and her 17-year-old son moved in with friends after losing their housing. Knowing she wanted to get back on her feet, she visited DuPagePads for resources and began working with the Career Employment Solutions program this spring.
She shares, “DuPagePads helped me obtain clothes to wear for the Career Fair and my interview, update my resume and shared valuable job readiness skills. Everyone at DuPagePads has been so friendly and helpful, especially Lutisha Jefferson, Career Employment Solutions Director. She is always encouraging me and her bubbly personality is contagious.
As a result of DuPagePads Career Fair, I had three interviews in one day at the same company. I had customer service experience and I was excited about the possibility of a full-time career in that field again.
Later that day, I got a call from the company saying I got the job. I was so excited and jumping up and down, that I forgot to say ‘yes’ at first. I even stuttered for a moment, and I never stutter! I was just so full of joy in that moment. It is exciting to see something that you have been praying about come true.
Now that I have a full-time job lined up, I’m starting to look at housing options so my son and I can get our own place. As he is looking for a job, I’ve been passing on some of the same advice and encouragement that DuPagePads gave me. I would recommend anyone to come to DuPagePads Career Fair and their Career Employment Solutions program. Everything about the event was on point.”
Danielle – I was hired on the spot!
“As a 19-year-old, I had only ever had two other jobs and didn’t know how to put together a resume. I came to DuPagePads hoping to get a career in the food service industry and didn’t know how to get started. I sat down with one of their volunteers who helped me create a professional resume and I printed it out on quality paper.
I was just going to wear jeans to the Career Fair, but instead DuPagePads helped me find a beautiful outfit with a great pair of slacks and nice heels. Having this assistance helped boost my confidence a lot.
At the Career Fair, I attended a workshop which was super resourceful about where to single out jobs in a specific field and location online. It was fascinating to see that you can find the starting pay and qualifications.
I had a very nice conversation with one of the employers at the Career Fair, who called me the next day and asked if I wanted to swing by. When I arrived, she introduced me to their food service manager and we had a spontaneous interview.
I was hired on the spot! It felt amazing!
I don’t know how to put into words how tremendously grateful I am for DuPagePads for providing these opportunities. They have helped me and my family with everything from a place to stay to helping me get a new social security card to now thinking about options for housing.”
What our Employers are saying:
In addition to the positive feedback we’ve received from attendees, employers who have hired DuPagePads clients in the past also had some positive remarks.
“We recently hired someone from DuPagePads who is doing great and very reliable.”
Patti – Sears Appliance & Hardware Store Downers Grove
“The candidates we have seen from DuPagePads have been well prepared and very excited to work. One in particular has been super punctual, even arriving early for shifts. DuPagePads Career Staff follow up regularly to make sure their clients are doing well.”
Karina – FedEx Ground
“We have interviewed and selected several qualified candidates from DuPagePads. It is always a pleasure to see these individuals prosper with Georgia-Pacific and we look forward to our continued partnership with DuPagePads.”
Betty – Georgia-Pacific