Newcomers marketing their skills

Published Tuesday March 25th, 2008

Two Reverse Job Fairs are being held in Carleton County this week

Newcomers to Carleton County will have an opportunity to enter the work world with the help of the local multicultural association.

The Multicultural Association of Carleton County (MACC) is hosting two events, which focus on the concept of a traditional job fair, but with a reversed purpose.

Instead of unemployed people coming to the fair to find work, area business officials are invited to stop by to find skilled workers for their companies.

The first event will be held at St. Gertrude’s Parish Hall in Woodstock at 117 St. Gertrude’s Street on Wednesday, March 26, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The second Reverse Job Fair will be held at St. Leo’s Church Hall in Florenceville at 60 Perkins Way on Friday, March 28, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information call (506) 392-6011.

MACC’s project co-ordinator Rita Ebbett McIntosh said employers can recruit skilled professionals who have arrived to the area from a foreign country, whether they have come because their spouse is working in the area or if they ventured to Canada on their own. Ebbett McIntosh said some of the many potential employees attending the Reverse Job Fairs include graphic designers, nurses, computer technicians, people working in human resources and marketing, a psychologist and newcomers specializing in advertising and fashion design.

“The highest concentration of immigrants per capita is in Carleton County... one (reason) being McCains, who have recruited so heavily for their data centre and their other operations,” she explained. “And the other is the trucking industry is desperate for truck drivers, and they are bringing them in from Eastern Europe.”

Ebbett McIntosh said when people are employed and are bringing in a steady income, “they’re much happier, they’re going to stay.”

“We need the numbers,” she added. “Our population is declining. This is an untapped resource for a pool of employees.”

Please Log In or Register FREE

You are currently not logged into this site. Please log in or register for a FREE ONE Account.

Logged in visitors may comment on articles, enter contests, manage home delivery holds and much more online. Your ONE Account grants you access to features and content across the entire CanadaEast Network of sites.