N.S. job fair highlights importance of in-person networking during employment search

Many Maritimers are struggling to find jobs in the current market.

Finding a job in today’s market isn’t an easy task, but visitors to the annual Cumberland County spring job fair in Amherst, N.S., are still hopeful.

“I have been searching for a job that I want for a few months, around seven months, but no luck yet,” said 21-year-old Sanjane Virdee.

As an international student, Virdee is looking for a job to help with her permanent residency and she’s hopeful that switching from online applications to an in-person job fair will be her golden ticket.

“Applying online it’s a way more complicated process, but over here you interact with the hiring managers and their teams so that’s way more interacting and you can also showcase your skills, like communication skills,” she said.

Across Canada the unemployment rate increased slightly in April to 6.9 per cent and in Nova Scotia it was slightly higher coming in at 7.2 per cent for the month.

While it’s a relatively high number overall, local markets don’t paint that bad of a picture when it comes to opportunities.

“People are still hiring. Employers are still hiring. There’s still things going on,” said Brent Noiles, a Nova Scotia Works Employment engagement specialist.

“I think there might be pauses in some areas or sectors for different pieces because of the global situation, but I think things are still moving ahead.”

On Wednesday, 48 different booths were set up, including in-demand markets such as trades and health care, as well as community supports and educational resources.

“We are growing our operations and it’s important for me to meet people, have a conversation, educate people now and for future,” said Precise Design president Bruce Stover.

“You’re meeting students that don’t know what they want to do and then you’re also meeting people that are moving back to the area, that are trying to figure out a new path, we can educate on what we do and maybe there’s a fit.”

Stover was representing two companies on Wednesday – Precise Designs based out of Dartmouth, N.S., and Bradean’s Tool & Die, an Amherst based company they acquired three-and-a-half years ago.

In a digital world, he says it’s days like this that can help make a difference when it comes to hiring.

“We have at least one success story from every career fair from the last three and a half years,” he said.

Right now, Stover says the company is focusing on growth with plans to develop a full medical assembly line and, down the line, that will mean multiple employment opportunities in the Amherst area.

“A lot of what we’re doing today is giving business cards and saying ‘Please send me a note online and follow up information,’” he said.

Nova Scotia Works says around 400 people typically walk through the doors for the in-person job fairs, which take place every spring and fall.

“It’s a really good old fashion way for people to connect with a real person, at a place that they’re interested in, and the other side of the coin is that they’re getting resources about places that they might not know about, so it really is showcasing the opportunities,” said Noiles.

Overall, he adds that people should be combining both online and in-person opportunities when it comes to seeking employment in order to get the best results.

“Neither one is the perfect route, but I think blended together and people knowing that, I think that’s how you get to the ultimate goal of finding what you want,” he said.

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