Yo! I need to find a job

"Yo, you guys hiring anyone, or what?" asked a teen in ratty jeans, a torn T-shirt and a dirty baseball cap.

"Not anyone with that approach," came the reply from one potential employer at the Mat-Su Job Fair last Thursday in the Cottonwood Creek Mall.

Appearance and tact were obviously lost on one job-seeker, but hundreds more took to the mall for the Mat-Su Job Fair, in hopes of finding employment and making themselves marketable in the business community.

The fair featured more than 55 retailers and other businesses and agencies, giving people looking for a job a place to go and talk to prospective employers. It came just in time for some people.

"I've been trying to find a job for a while. Hopefully, I can talk to people today and find a decent job that I can be proud of," said Wendy Halik. "Times are tough right now. I've been looking for a while, and I can't find something other than a minimum-wage job. You can't support a family working a minimum-wage job."

Dennis Nabbilo said he found the fair to be a great place to develop ties to the business world.

"Today, it seems like you have to know someone to get your foot in the door anymore," Nabbilo said. "If I come out and talk to a lot of people today, maybe they will recognize my face and remember that I'm eager when I go to interview with them. I'm looking for every little advantage in getting a great job."

People came to the job fair for a number of reasons. While some were there to find a job, others were there to find out how to better prepare themselves for the changing workplace of the future.

Christian Certly of Anchorage came to the Mat-Su Job Fair because, as a student, he isn't sure what employers are looking for right now. He is studying computers and is eager to start his career next year, but he said he wanted to find out exactly what he needs to get into an entry-level position in that field.

"I've done the book work and the hands-on stuff, but I need to know how to present that when I apply and interview for positions," Certly said. "I know what I'm doing, but next year, when I'm out of school and ready to get into the business, I need to know how to tell a future employer I know what I'm doing and what I can do for them."

Certly said he has gone to job fairs in Anchorage before, and said he liked the Mat-Su Job Fair because getting information was easy.

"The fairs I've been to in Anchorage are so crowded that talking to the people at the booths is tough," he said. "They don't have the time to spend with you to talk about your personal situation. This fair is big enough to have a lot of different companies, but small enough to make it worth my while."

Companies and agencies at the fair ranged from the FBI to McDonald's. Utilities, school districts, retailers and financial advisors were all represented at the fair, as were branches of the military. Some were taking applications, while others were informing potential employees about open positions and what they expect from applicants.

"It's good to have this many different companies here, because there is such a variety," Halik said. "I'm getting a lot of good information. Hopefully, it will pay off for me."

It did pay off for many people looking for a job Thursday.

"I think I've got a good lead on one or two jobs already. And it's only noon. I've got four more hours," said Donnie Walters as he passed out copies of his rŽsumŽ. "Maybe by 5 o'clock, I'll have a full-time job lined up. That's what I'm shooting for."