Job Fair Boot Camp

Having analyzed the results of the ShareFest 2012 Job Fair, which drew a crowd of more than 400 last month at Village Hall, village staff and others asked themselves how they could grow the program into something bigger?

Nancy Hoehn, village economic development director, told Patch that there is an ongoing need to assist job seekers. Together with Kate Hall, director of the New Lenox Public Library, and the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce, and others who helped to coordinate the ShareFest 2012 Job Fair, a concerted effort is planned for sometime in November or December.

The parameters of the program are still in the works, said Hoehn. What's certain though is an immediate need to for individualized assistance in resume writing. "What worked five years ago (for resumes) is outdated today."

She's coordinating the resume writing program with human resource experts, including Village of New Lenox Human Resource Director Debbi Smetana. The job fair held in September featured the expertise of presenter Michele Jakubowski, executive coach at Kensington International, an Oak Brook-based talent management corporation.

Jakubowski shared the secret of interview preparedness. First and foremost, she told a group of about 20 attendees to keep in mind that the interview is a two-way conversation between equals. It's a chance to get to know each other. .

While the details of the program have not yet been hammered out, it's certain that the labor market would appreciate an opportunity for individualized interviewing skills and the like.

The program is planned to be held at the library, added Hoehn.

Illinois Development Counsel Seeks New Lenox input on Job Webinar

Another outgrowth of the ShareFest 2012 Job Fair is a webinar request by the Illinois Development Counsel. In a meeting last week in Springfield, Hoehn said she shared information about the ShareFest 2012 job fair. The group of economic development directors from around the state was impressed by the scope of the program held in New Lenox.

Hoehn said they requested a webinar for training purposes. The goal is to discuss the partnerships needed for a successful job fair such as participating employers and assisting organizations.

It's a workforce issue that has plagued the nation since the economy tanked in 2008. "We're trying to bridge the gap between industry and the workforce," she said. It's unusual that a municipality would take the lead in that type of program, but the ShareFest model proved effective.

"We'll be presenting the webinar," which to be effective, has to integrate some of the video that was shot at the ShareFest 2012 event on Sept. 7. Of particular importance was the one-on-one resume review sessions along with the featured presenters, she said.

The webinar, too, is slated for sometime in November, said Hoehn.