Employers, prospective employees gather for job fair

WASILLA -- The fourth annual Mat-Su Job Fair brought nearly 50 employers to the Cottonwood Creek Mall on Thursday; the booths were bombarded with potential employees from the moment the fair began at 10 a.m.

"It's been pretty busy so far," said Debbie Robinson, the community work experience coordinator for the Mat-Su Job Center, and an employee at HRC Inc. "We've had young people, older people; the age range has varied."

While last year 35 people were hired on the spot at the fair and 1,135 applications suitable for consideration were turned in, Barb Moscibrocki, the Mat-Su Job Center manager, said this year's chances at a job are even greater.

"This year is even better than before because most of the employers here are looking to hire, instead of just handing out information like in years past," Moscibrocki said.

The booths ranged from Sears to the Alaska State Troopers; representatives from all over the state were at the fair.

"But the majority are looking to hire out here," Moscibrocki said.

Donations made by companies throughout the Valley made it possible for Moscibrocki and her staff to plan the fair in a month's time. The Cottonwood Creek Mall donated the space for the event, KMBQ matched the center for commercial air time and also broadcasted from the mall that afternoon, and the Mat-Su Job Corps whipped up a number of treats and desserts for fair workers to enjoy in the break space located in one corner of the mall. The decorations in the break space were so festive that mall management asked the center if they could leave them up to use during the Easter bunny pictures the following weekend. Moscibrocki said that without the help of the generous companies in the Valley, the fair wouldn't have been nearly as successful.

"The whole community pitched in," Moscibrocki said.

Contact Jen Ransom at jen.ransom@frontiersman.com.