If You Go
* What: Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Spring Job Fair* Where: Brainerd Crossroads (BX), 4011 Austin St., in Chattanooga* When: May 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.* Who: Jobseekers and companies such as CHI Memorial, McKee Foods, HomeServe and others.No registration required for job seekers; interested employers may contact mmoran@chattanoogachamber.com
Carol McCutcheon craved a new challenge when she attended the Chattanooga Chamber's annual Spring Job Fair last year. Now Accounting and Wire Specialist at Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU), she says she's happy to be a job fair success story.
"I took 13 years off to focus on being a mom, and it's hard applying cold to positions online when your most recent experience is from years ago," McCutcheon says. "Connecting face to face with companies at the job fair helped me tell my story more broadly than my resume, and I could interview companies to get a feel for what I wanted."
McCutcheon wanted to "get her feet wet" with working in an office again, a perfect fit for TVFCU, who needed a full-time temp to fill in for a maternity leave in their accounting and payroll department.
After several months, McCutcheon eagerly accepted a permanent full-time position at TVFCU.
"Before they even made the offer, I realized this was a great company I wanted to stay at," McCutcheon says. "It's a wonderful environment, I have great benefits and I love my hours. A consistent schedule and weekends off are ideal for spending time with my family."
The Spring Job Fair has gained a reputation as the premier job fair event in the region. Last year's event attracted more than 800 job seekers and engaged 84 regional employers, educational institutions and service providers.
"We always leave the Chamber job fair with great hiring leads," says Janet Leamon, Human Resources Manager at TVFCU. "Not only is it well-attended by great candidates, but it's held at a great time when we're gearing up to hire."
The 2018 Spring Job Fair, a partnership between the Chamber and the American Job Center, is slated for Thursday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brainerd Crossroads. Participating companies include CHI Memorial, McKee Foods, HomeServe and others representing advanced manufacturing, finance, call centers, health care, transportation and more.
Employers who exhibited at last year's job fair hired 45 job seekers based on interviews conducted at the event and identified 161 potential candidates for future hire.
Are you our next job fair success story? Whether you're looking for a new employer or new employees, the Spring Job Fair is the place to be.