Mat-Su Employment Expo draws scores of job seekers

PALMER—The 18th annual Mat-Su Employment Expo saw about 800 people come through the doors of the Mat-Su College on Wednesday, March 8. This event seemed to prove that despite the 7.3% state unemployment rate, the Mat-Su Valley has plenty to work with.

“There’s so many great resources in the Valley, it’s just a matter of finding them,” said Mat-Su Regional Adult Basic Education at Nine Star Education and Employment Services Director, Anna Plant.

Over 100 employers were strewn around the halls of the college, spanning from the front entrance to the back of the Snodgrass Building; many of them reported to have another stellar year after connecting with plenty of promising candidates.

“They’re impressed with how many people are coming for jobs instead of swag,” said Diane Forster, Employment Counselor for the Mat-Su Job Center.

Fortner greeted job seekers at the door. She reported a positive response from both employers and applicants. Many people did carry their courtesy bags to stock up on goodies, but many more seemed to be stuffing them with business cards, pamphlets with earnest engagement. A majority of these job seekers were sharply dressed. This crowd contained many walks of life from the community, varying in age and interests. Young men and women could be seen talking to military recruiters. Seasoned adults came in droves to get back in the workforce.

In a recent press release, Mat-Su Job Center Supervisor, Joe Knowles said that this expo has been an essential element to building the Mat-Su Valley’s workforce, and they matched 96 employers with over 670 applicants last year.

The Nine Star Education and Employment Services booth had a fairly positive turnout this year, according to Plant. She said that she had numerous in depth conversations with these job seekers. Nine Star provides assistance for the community with a range of classes, certifications, and other resources.

“So they can set up the job, keep the job and even advance in the job,” Plant said.

Breaking into the workforce can seem daunting to job seekers, be it a bright eyed senior wondering what to do with their life or a high school dropout who may needs to bolster up their credentials. Keeping up with technology and building an essential skill set is absolutely crucial- now more than ever Plant explained. Nine Star helps people get their GEDs and provides guidance for the steps after that. They offer a range of training programs like computer courses designed to “bridge the gap.” Younger or older, Plant said that there’s a lot of people who come in to establish those essential computer skills- which includes resume writing and formatting skills. There are a lot of people taking Nine Star’s English as a Second Language (ESL) course, according to Plant.

“So they can assimilate and have a higher chance of finding a job,” Plant said.

Nine Star frequently works with teens and young adults who are unsure which career path to pursue or where to go for education after high school. Guidance from places like Nine Star can help them explore their options by matching their interests, skills and budget to free community resources like the Alaska Career Information System (AKCIS). Established through a partnership between the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), AKCIS helps job seekers build their Personal Learning and Career Plan (PLCP). They can create a customized portfolio and find potential matches in employment. They can also learn about the assorted positons available on the market and how to go after them- be it through an apprenticeship program or a university, a certification or a workshop. There’s no one size fits all when planning a life.

“Not everyone knows what to do after they graduate,” Plant said.

It’s been 7 years since Tanya Nickoli graduated from Valley Pathways High School. She’s a single mom and her six-month, temporary position with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council ended back in January. She has a lot of experience with office administration so that’s what’s she’s aiming towards for her next job, but she is always keeping her options open and “taking everything in stride.”

“I try to have a positive attitude,” Nickoli said.

Knowing which way she wants to go is certainly helpful, especially since she has a solid background in what she’s pursuing. She said it feels like there’s a lot of pressure on job-seekers, especially when they have mouths to feed. For her, taking care of her 2 year old son is her number one priority and that fuels her fire, yearning and burning for a nice office job with benefits.

“It’s easy for me because I know what I want,” Nickoli said.

This is the first time she’s ever been to the Mat-Su Employee Expo and the second total job fair ever. She admitted that going through the gauntlet and breaking the ice can be a little daunting, but she’s able to fall back on her calm and affable demeanor when networking. It’s just a matter of going for it, she said.

“That’s what it’s all about- whether or not you really want it,” Nickoli said.