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Avivo Career Fairs create intersection of employers, jobseekers, and career counselors

Staring down the modern job market can feel like needing to slay a dragon. And sometimes, you can feel underequipped. Maybe your sword is a little rusty, or your shield has a few dents around the edges.

While the real hiring process is a little less fantastical, it can be just as intimidating. Fortunately, Avivo has started offering regular Avivo Career Fairs (the next one is Tuesday, September 30), which link Avivo participants and community members seeking employment with employers and Avivo’s career counselors.

Sunny from Cassia and Joy from Marsden pose for a photo at a recent Avivo Career Fair.

Sunny from Cassia and Joy from Marsden pose for a photo at a recent Avivo Career Fair.

“It’s that intersection of people and services which helps jobseekers develop a network to find a job,” shares Brett Sietsma, recruitment and business development specialist with Avivo. “Career fairs can be stressful for people. Networking can be stressful … but we really try to make it as welcoming as possible.”

“It’s that intersection of people and services which helps jobseekers develop a network to find a job,” shares Brett Sietsma, recruitment and business development specialist with Avivo.

One of the reasons Brett helped start hosting regular Avivo Career Fairs two years ago was because he wanted more people and organizations to be aware of Avivo and the services Avivo offers. He also wanted to create a space for graduates from Avivo’s programs to find work within their desired career fields.

“It’s ingrained into Avivo itself that from where we’re at, we meet participants in our programs where they’re at,” Brett says. “So whatever they have going on, we want to meet those needs.”

Erin from Beacon Hill Staffing often tables at Avivo Career Fairs. She shares that the fairs are a much-needed hub in the battleground of the modern-day job hunt.

“Job hunts are so hard and so many people feel their resume just goes into a black hole,” she says.

But Erin says an applicant is more than their resume. She shows them techniques to help employers see more of their personality during the hiring process.

“The resume only tells one piece of the story – so how can I help them tell their stories to employers in their job search?” she says.

Ava from Aon says Avivo’s was the first career fair where she got to talk with so many candidates, and on top of that, her applicants were engaged and actively reached out to her throughout the application process.

Sunny from Cassia shares, “What I see in Avivo is that the people you serve are the people I was back then … Having resources to give that pathway people are looking for, that gives me an extra touch to my heart.”

Sunny from Cassia shares, “What I see in Avivo is that the people you serve are the people I was back then … Having resources to give that pathway people are looking for, that gives me an extra touch to my heart.”

Brett shares that many people coming to the career fair are recent graduates from the Avivo Institute of Career & Technical Education, who don’t have much work experience. He aims to structure career fairs so anyone from any background can find the kind of job they are looking for.

Ava shares, “Some people I spoke with had master’s degrees, or higher education from other countries. I think it also allows employers to have a finger on the pulse of the community.”

Brianna from Monarch says that Monarch welcomes people who haven’t worked in the role they’ve been hired for. She says it offers a unique opportunity for learning and growth.

“We like to start with them, grow with them, and give them other career opportunities with us,” Brianna says.

Brett says many people who walked through the doors had been nervous and wanted to turn around and walk right back out. Half an hour later, they would run up to him and excitedly show him all of the resources companies had offered them.

So regardless of how well your armor fits, or if your sword hasn’t been polished in a few years, Avivo is here to help you slay that dragon.

Learn more about next steps you can take:

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