DWD Testing Digital Job Fairs
Workforce Development is one of several state departments to collaborate on the plan
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Department of Workforce Development will Wednesday kick off the first two trial digital job fairs in Jasper and Warsaw. The department says it is looking to use an online format that will lessen time, scheduling and travel conflicts for both job seekers and employers.
A third digital job fair will take place Thursday in Elkhart. The DWD says the three communities were chosen for a specific reason.
"Jasper, Warsaw and Elkhart are three areas in the state with significant, immediate workforce needs," said Bob Birge, chief communications officer for the DWD. "We hope that by using online communications we can engage today’s job seekers in ways a traditional job fair wouldn’t, and help these local employers find workers they so desperately need."
The job fairs will use the Go To Webinar platform and will be live but also recorded for job seekers who cannot participate live. Each employer at the job fairs will have 5-10 minutes to provide information on the company, current job openings and their job application process. Job seekers can also submit questions.
The Jasper Digital Job Fair, co-hosted by the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Some of the employers taking part in the job fair include Jasper Engines and Transmissions, Kimball Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq: KE), Kimball International Inc. (Nasdaq: KBAL) and Meyer Distributing. You can register for the job fair by clicking here.
"Manufacturing businesses in Jasper are in need of workers," said Jasper Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Eckerle. "In-person job fairs don’t always work due to schedules, family commitments and transportation issues. This digital job fair provides a new avenue for disseminating information and interaction."
The Warsaw Digital Job Fair, co-hosted by OrthoWorx Inc., will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will feature Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ZBH), Paragon Medical and Precision Medical Technology as the participating employers. The Ivy Tech Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center will also detail training opportunities. You can register for the job fair by clicking here.
Finally, the Elkhart Digital Job Fair, co-hosted by WorkOne Northern Indiana, will take place Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Local employers taking part in the job fair include Alexander Dennis, Thor Motor Coach and Patrick Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: PATK). Ivy Tech will also detail its training programs for job seekers. You can register for the job fair by clicking here.
The DWD says if the trial digital job fairs are successful, it will look to expand the concept to other communities throughout the state.