The Homer College, Career and Job Fair will be a one-stop shop for job seekers and employers to meet and greet each other.
The fair is for those people just entering the job market as well as experienced workers considering a career change.
It will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Kachemak Bay Campus, 533 E. Pioneer Ave. There is no charge.
In addition to information about potential jobs, the fair will feature education and training opportunities, highlight high-growth jobs and provide career information.
The fair is equipped to assist people of all ages, from high school students curious about education or job fields, to adults looking for work or more job training.
The Homer Job Center coordinated 18 local employers and other companies and organizations with jobs available in and near Homer to attend. Most of the attending employers have openings within their organizations and some are bringing staff to talk with job seekers about the positions, said Lisa Croft of the Homer Job Center.
“It’s a great way for people to actually talk to employers in person. A lot of employers have online applications,” Croft said. “It’s nice to put a name to a face and not just fill out an online application and wonder what happened to it.”
For an employer to attend the job fair, they needed to meet the requirements to be put on the Homer Job Center job bank, which means they have a state and federal tax ID number and workers compensation, Croft said. Fifteen of the participating employers have job openings in Homer.
“There’s a wide range of potential, a lot of these employers are looking for a wide range of people. There’s a little bit of everything: entry level and skilled, high level positions,” Croft said.
Advisors will be available to speak about the education and training necessary to enter a variety of fields, including art, business, accounting, biology, natural science, aviation, construction, project management, culinary arts, and health, said Kenai Peninsula College Students and Enrollment Services Coordinator Kim Frost.
There also will be information on how to fund education and training — financial aid opportunities, the Alaska Performance Scholarship, and veteran benefits.
For veterans who are unsure about their benefits earned during service or how to use them, the Kenai Peninsula College Veteran Services Coordinator Drew Baker will be available. Veterans should bring a copy of their DD214, a record of service, or be able to provide their separation date and length of service, Baker said. Veteran benefits under the post-9/11 GI Bill provide education benefits for those who served at least 18 months. In addition to veterans, dependents of veterans who are fully disabled or killed in action may qualify for educational benefits.
“If anybody’s curious about their eligibility, they need to come by and talk to me,” Baker said.
The job fair has run every other year for the last 15 years, Frost said. The variety of information and opportunities available make the event ideal for anyone looking for work or to make a life change. Job seekers should bring their resume, which can be reviewed by resume experts and writing specialists at the fair, and come dressed to interview for the job they want, Frost said.
“It’s a fantastic partnership of these organizations,” Frost said. “The college and Alaska Job Center work closely with Homer High School and KPBSD counselors. Project Grad is busing, boating and flying in seniors who want to participate. It makes sure the community has multiple needs met with one event.”
Anna Frost can be reached at anna.frost@homernews.com.
Homer College Career & Job Fair
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday
Where: Kachemak Bay Campus
533 E. Pioneer Ave
Cost: Free and open to public
List of attending employers:
ABC Apprenticeship program
Alaska Department of Corrections
Alaska Division of Forestry
Consumer Direct Health Care
Crowley Maritime
First Student Transportation
Homer Marine Trades Association
Homer News
Homer Senior Center
Homer Volunteer Fire Department
Land’s End Resort
ResCare
Safeway
South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services
South Peninsula Hospital
Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware
Wells Fargo
Youth Conservation Corp
The American Legion Service Officer also will participate.
