Job and Career fair showcases opportunities

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College brought together employers, educators and job seekers Thursday with its 15th annual Job and Career Fair.

The event featured booths from 75 employers, assistance from the Employment Resource Center, and several workshops, said Career Advising & Outreach/Tech Prep Director Mary Shannon.

"We usually get about 1,000 visitors," Shannon said.

Vendors were in fields including government, manufacturing and technology, professional services, education and training, health care and medical, sales, transportation, and other areas.

"Today it's very, very eventful. We're recruiting a lot of people," said Tiffany Huckins, who provided information about Columbia Basin Job Corps. "A lot of people are stopping by. A of them seem interested."

"It's going perfect," echoed Casi McClane, another Job Corps student.

Tucker Reiley, a high school student in the Big Bend Community College Auto Tech program, said his teacher prompted him to go to the job fair. Reiley said he attended last year as well.

"It looks pretty busy like last year," he said.

Chemi-Con Materials representatives said they collected at least 40 resumes from visitors.

Human Resource Coordinator Stela Heuschkel said she handed out nearly 200 job opening fliers and had to make copies.

Production and Quality Assurance Manager Joel Sand said it appeared more high school students attended the job fair this year compared with last year. Teachers obtained information about the company for interested students.

The Big Bend Community College Industrial Electrical Technology and Maintenance Mechanic Technology programs shared a booth at the job fair.

"It's bigger this year," said Industrial Electrical Technology instructor Steve Matern.

Matern noted it appeared some schools bused students to the event earlier in the day.

"They can see careers here that they might not see in their counseling center," said Maintenance Mechanic Technology instructor Bill Autry.

Job Corps student Danielle Richards, who visited a booth about becoming a chiropractor, said she was interested in becoming a chiropractor for the lower back.

Job Corps students Nancy Sanders and Chris Coates said they signed up to play paintball through the National Guard.

"I love shooting paintball guns," Sanders said.

She said she used to play in paintball tournaments with her cousin. Coates said he used to be involved with back-yard role-playing paintball games.

Moses Lake resident Tom Bauerle said it is challenging to find a job because he has been unemployed for a year.

"Not a lot of people like to hire somebody that got hurt on the job," Bauerle said.

He added many employers require employees to be able to lift at least 50 pounds.

Some employers at the job fair that interested him were J.R. Simplot and The Home Depot.