AT OU JOB FAIR, SUN SHINES ON A GLOOMY JOB MARKET

15 Sep 2010

SEVEN CANDIDATES ARE HIRED ON THE SPOT: OU JOB BOARD MAKES 364 PEOPLE HAPPIER AND MORE HOPEFUL FROM ONE DAY AT JOB FAIR

In a burst of sunshine penetrating a gloomy job market, seven people were hired on the spot and another 11 percent were requested to come for a second interview at the Brooklyn Job Fair presented by the OU Job Board last month. The event produced the largest turn-out for a Job Fair hosted by the OU Job Board in the United States, with more than 700 unemployed or underemployed people being interviewed by 40 employers seeking to fill 300 job vacancies.

In addition, an overall, 52 percent of the job seekers were asked to leave their resumé to be contacted by a recruiter from individual companies.

Michael Rosner, International Director of the OU Job Board, declared, “The OU Job Board is so happy to have provided an opportunity in this difficult economy linking the talents of those looking for work with quality sources of employment. At the Job Board, we continuously strive to enhance the job search experience to make it as beneficial as possible for all parties involved. The dramatic results from the Fair speak for themselves.”

The OU Job Board, in its continued pursuit to help improve employment opportunities, recently surveyed those who attended the Brooklyn Job Fair as employers and job seekers.

Declared a job candidate, “I want to thank you for not only for all of the time and effort that went into the Job Fair, but just for the fact that you did something to help those of us looking for jobs. You are the only Orthodox organization that has made this much effort to help job seekers and I wanted to let you know it is appreciated.”

According to another job seeker, “Thank you for putting together an important event that will hopefully lead to jobs for many of us in the community. It was especially noteworthy that the magnitude of the unemployment problem was reflected in the fact that the venue was changed twice in order to accommodate the many who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.”

The Hillel building at Brooklyn College was the third location site chosen, to accommodate the demand of registrants which outgrew the limits of the previous locations.

Of the candidates who registered, 69 percent were unemployed and 29 percent considered themselves underemployed. Job seekers were greeted and wished well at registration tables and given a personal list of the employers at the Fair, along with the available employment positions. The jobs had been posted on the OU Job Board website leading up to the Fair.

Experienced professionals from various fields provided resumé editing for 130 eager job seekers who arrived before the Fair to receive constructive advice.

A grateful participant wrote, “I want to thank you very much for your hard work and welcoming touch. When I first walked into the Fair, a lot of time was spent to help improve my resumé. As I walked into the room and someone greeted me with a smile and wished me luck, it helped so much more than words can convey.” Another wrote, “Thank you for the wonderful Job Fair and resumé review. It was evident that you put so much effort into it. It is greatly appreciated.”

Declared one of the resumé writers, “It was a fantastic experience for a career counselor, like myself, to have turned out resumé after resumé. It was truly rewarding to be of service to the OU Job Fair.”

Tables of employers lined the spacious auditorium, allowing employers and job seekers to sit down together and get down to business with a sense of privacy. Large signs displayed company names over each table station, along with the jobs available at those companies. Eighty-four percent of the job seekers responded that they were very pleased with the selection of employers. Of the employers at the Fair, 71 percent were already members of the OU Job Board, using it as a regular tool to hire.

Another job seeker declared, “I took the opportunity to network with a number of organizations at the Job Fair, and have made some valuable connections.”

Immediately following the Fair, a note was received from a candidate stating, “I sent my resumé and cover letter to a vendor at the Fair, and within a few hours, I received an invitation to interview with them for the receptionist position they advertised in a flyer at their table. May all of our efforts bear fruit!”

More than 700 job seekers attended the Brooklyn Job Fair held at Brooklyn College Hillel by the OU Job Board.

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