job fair 2009

Wednesday Sept 16, 2009 DECATUR CIVIC CENTER 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

A Suppliment of the

2 JOB FAIR Sunday, September 13, 2009 | Herald & Review | www. herald-review.com

Herald & Review | www. herald-review.com | Sunday, September 13, 2009 JOB FAIR 3

By STEPHANIE LANE

For the Herald & Review

DECATUR – With the changing economictides, many people are finding themselvesback on the job front searching for a newcareer path. The Job Fair offers prospectiveemployees the chance to get to know localCentral Illinois businesses and get vital face-to-face time with prospective employers.

Prospective employees aren’t the only onesthat benefit from Job Fairs, though. Many localcompanies use the fair as a great resource tofind quality, dependable employees.

Decatur Public Schools have had greatsuccess in matching-up open positions andemployees from the booth at the Job Fair.

“The Job Fair has always been verysuccessful. Last Spring we saw an increasednumber of applicants stop at the booth. Wehad so many people stop by we barely hadtime to grab lunch,” Dr. Prisilla Palmer,director of human resources of Decatur PublicSchools said.

Decatur Public Schools uses the job fair as away to seek out qualified teachers, substituteteachers and teaching assistants. In the threeyears of participating in the Job Fair,applications have increased tremendously.

“Not only are we seeing a lot moreapplicants, but due to the economy, we’re

seeing a different type of applicant. Morepeople with degrees are applying, and thosethat have been laid off are looking for a careerchange,” Palmer said of the increase in theapplicant pool.

Palmer offered some tips for prospectiveemployees to come to the Job Fair preparedwith a resume on hand and to dressappropriately as if the applicant is already ona job interview. Given the number ofapplicants, she also noted to not expect tospend more than five minutes with eachemployer. Employers meet a lot of prospectiveemployees and don’t have a lot of face time tospend. It’s important to know beforehandwhat to say and be prepared.

StarTek, a telecommunications customerservice business, knows the importance ofmaking a presence at Job Fairs also.Participating in the Job Fair for six years,many of the employees hired are referralsfrom the Job Fair.

“The job fair is really about getting ourname out there, getting a feel for the personand how we can help them with their career,”Anastasia Lingle, recruiting manager forStarTek, said of the importance of the Job Fairand meeting new applicants.

StarTek looks for applicants with a strongdesire to work in customer service with theability to be on the phone and handle

customer service related issues. With morethan 110 applicants last year, StarTek was ableto hire-on about 40 employees from the JobFair referrals.

Terri Chance, district sales manager forAvon Products, has had similar success withthe Job Fair. Having been with Avon for morethan 13 years, Chance knows what to look forin prospective employees. This is the fifth yearfor Avon to recruit new sales representatives.

“Our main goal is to recruit individuals tobecome Avon Independent SalesRepresentatives and to communicate to themand assist them to build a successful directsales business. In these tough economic times,with unemployment so high, Avon is offeringa wonderful opportunity to earn, withoutworry of being laid-off or losing your job. TheJob Fair offers us the opportunity to reach outto those looking for work in a professionalenvironment that allows us to showcase Avonand the resources that we have available forthem,” Chance said of her success with usingthe Job Fair.

Whether looking for a career change orgetting back into the working world, areabusinesses and people have found a winningmatch with the Job Fair.

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A Product of TheCentral Illinois

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Decatur, Illinois62523

Phone:217.421.6983

Fax:217.421.7965

PUBLISHERTodd Nelson

EDITORGary Sawyer

SPECIALPROJECTS EDITOR

Ralf Pansch

ADVERTISINGDIRECTOR

Joel Fletcher

LAYOUT / DESIGNLeslie Smith

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JOB FAIR 2009 Face TimeJob Fair brings job seekers and employers together

© 2009

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Lee Enterprises, Incorporated

Job Fair Overview

For More Information Call 421-6961

WhatThis is the ultimate hook-up for jobseekers and employers. With more than25 employers on site the Herald &Review’s Job Fair 2009 is central Illinois’best one-stop-shop for employment.Whether you’re looking for a newcareer or a better paying job, it’ll beworth your time to visit Job Fair 2009.

WhenWednesday, September 16, 20091 to 5:30 p.m.

WhereDecatur Civic Center Arena

CostFREE

ParkingFREE in the Civic Center parking lot

SponsorHerald & Review

Apply OnlineA booth will be available for jobseekers to input their resumes onYahoo! Hot Jobs and apply directlyto employers. (Resumes need to bein electronic form.)

Extra Resume PrintingMichael Brettl, of Capitol BusinessSystems, will be on hand to providefree copier service to those whoneed extra resumes.

By STEPHANIE LANE

For the Herald & Review

DECATUR – With the abundance of layoffsand changes in the economy, many adults arerefocusing their career goals with a fresh startin education.

Richland Community College has been acornerstone for the Central Illinois communityin providing affordable and quality educationto further students’ careers and educationalgoals. Especially in tough economic times,community colleges are an asset to studentsand their pocketbooks.

One of the programs focusing on helpingstudents get back on track in the workforce isthe Adult Education Program. Richland’sAdult Education Program includes GeneralEducation Diploma preparation, English as aSecond Language and Basic Skills. Thesecourses are offered to not only develop astudent’s skills, but also to help give a boost tohis or her career path. Classes are availableboth on and off campus at various dates andtimes for convenience, and an online GEDprogram is also available.

Dr. Gayle Saunders, President of RichlandCommunity College, explains the importance

of the Adult Education Programs when facinga difficult economy, “The economy influencesattendance of all programs in Richland’sdistrict. When jobs are not available, adultswill seek opportunities to advance their skillsso they can re-enter the workforce at a futuredate. The state funding for adult educationhas deteriorated over the last several yearsand classes have been less available. However,we have seen an increase in attendance thissummer over a year ago.”

Richland’s Adult Education Program helpsgive students a leg up in developingimportant job skills and focusing on primarywork skills needed once he or she enters theworkforce. Students have the opportunities tolearn skills from everything from dentalhygienists to electricians to firefighters.

In order to enroll in Richland’s AdultEducation Program, a student must be at least16 years old and not enrolled or required toenroll in secondary school under state law.Other criteria for admission to the AdultEducation Programs include a lack ofsufficient mastery of basic educational skills toenable the individual to function effectively insociety, lack of a secondary school diploma orthe inability to speak, read or write the

English language.Success of the program is measured through

retention of students, number of GEDcredentials, citizenship attainment, obtainingemployment, transitioning to postsecondaryeducation and an improvement in assessmentlevels.

“We also support our students by assistingthem in transitioning to other opportunitiesafter program completion through jobattainment or advancement, as well asthrough enrollment at community college.Adult education programs work – we have aproven track record of success with ourstudents. We are also one of the few suchprograms that can provide a return oninvestment to the state’s economy through thecreation of tax payers and reduction of public-aid dependence,” Dr. Saunders said of thesuccess of adult education programs.

While any transition is difficult, Richlandoffers some tips for students returning to theeducational environment:

• Make a heartfelt commitment to completethe course before enrolling.

• Allow space in your busy life to study for

the course. Practice good discipline inexercising time management.

• Don’t be afraid to contact course instructorsif there are any questions about the courseobjectives, expectations or assignments. It’sokay to request feedback on yourperformance.

While returning to school may seem like adaunting task, Richland is available to helpease students into the transition. Educationprograms like the ones provided by Richlandare there to help build and strengthenstudents in whatever career path he or shedecides to embark upon.

[email protected]

Richland Community College offers classes for adults returning to schoolPrograms for Success

For more information:Contact Richland Community

College’s Adult Education Program,

call 875-7211, ext. 355.

Registration sessions

are held on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

and Thursday at 3 p.m.


Infor mationEntrance

BOOTH MAPJOB FAIR 2009BOOTH LOCATIONS

6 JOB FAIR Sunday, September 13, 2009 | Herald & Review | www. herald-review.com Herald & Review | www. herald-review.com | Sunday, September 13, 2009 JOB FAIR 7

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Decatur Civic Center Arena

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1 Free Copier Service

2 Apply Online

3 Herald & Review

4 Memorial Health System

5 Comcast

6 Jenner Sales

7 Von Maur

8 Aramark

9 Illinois WorkNet Center

10 Workforce Investment Solutions

11 Star Tek

12 Marvin Keller Trucking Inc.

13 Decatur Public Schools

14 U.S. Army

15 Aspen Ridge/McKinley Court

16 St. Mary’s Hospital

17 Barton Manufacturing

18 NECA-IBEW Union Electrical Apprentice

19 Prudential

20 Avon

21 ADM

22 Veolia ES Solid Waste

23 Volt Workforce Solutions

24 Peerless Cleaners, Inc.

25 Liberty Village of Clinton

26 Conklin

27 Community Health Improvement

28 Richland Community College

job fair 2009

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new applicants