‘It is still really tough’: Folks needing work advance on annual Job Fair

April 25--MEBANE -- After 30 years with the same company, Owen Stokes Jr. is currently looking for work after being laid off in March.

"I am looking for a job," said the Yanceyville resident. "I need one bad. There's no jobs anywhere."

Stokes was one of the individuals who attended an annual job fair, sponsored by The Times-News and Monster.com, at the Mebane Arts and Community Center Thursday.

"The economy may be improving, but it is still really rough," Stokes said. "You can't go anywhere. Unemployment doesn't cut it when you have bills to pay."

There were 33 employer vendors at the job fair that varied from fast food restaurants to medical service professionals.

Liz Adams, division manager of Greensboro-based Advanced Personnel Resources, said the turnout was lower than previous years, but they were able to review some good candidates for her staffing organization.

"We are looking for people who have good skills and good tenure," she said.

Debbie's Staffing Branch Manager Tammy Beck said this was her first year participating in the job fair, and said she'd seen a variety of job candidates from all walks of life Thursday.

"Having a resumé is key," she said. "And being prepared to talk about themselves is important."

Claudia Arzola, who works in the Human Resources department for Sports Endeavor, which has a facility on Mebane, echoed Beck, and said an individual searching for employment needs a resumé regardless of where they were previously employed.

"A resumé is a great first impression," Arzola said. "And be sure to dress appropriately when attending a job fair."

The crowds vary each year, said Times-News General Manager and Advertising Director Mike Little, but he expected there were at least 300 people who attended the fair within the first two hours.

"I've talked to some vendors who've said they've received some good applicants," he said.

Danielle Holt, of Mebane, has been unemployed since November, and said she's had to work hard just to get a phone call returned or an interview from a prospective employer.

"You're able to find jobs," she said. "It's just difficult to find a good match."

Latorria Munford, of Professional Health Services, said her company has been able to fill entry-level positions but high-end or skilled jobs are often difficult to hire for.

"Dress professionally, bring a resumé and research a company before attending the job fair," Munford said.

According to the most recent state data, Alamance County's unemployment rate fell from 6.7 percent in January to 6.4 in February, meaning there were 4,540 individuals searching for work. In February 2013, Alamance County's unemployment rate was 9.3 percent.

The 33 vendors included: Adecco, Advanced Personnel, AKG of America, Amerilife & Health Services, AVON, Beauti Control, Bojangles, Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, Carolina Meadows, Chick-fil-A, Combined Insurance, Conduit Global, Coldwell Banker Triad Realtors, Debbie's Staffing, Games Workshop, GCB Staffing, Goodwill, Kelly Services, LabCorp, Management Recruiters, Maxim Healthcare, Piedmont Health Services, PSA Healthcare, The Resource, Royal Park USA, Sports Endeavor, Talent Force, The Times-News, Time Warner Cable, TRC Staffing, U.S. Army and U.S Home Exteriors.

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