Last week, metro Atlanta's unemployment rate rose to 8.7 percent, the highest it's been since 1983. And while there are glimmers of hope here and there, the bad news continues to outweigh the good.
Tomorrow evening, the state Department of Labor and WSBTV will sponsor a career expo and job fair at the Georgia World Congress Center. Department officials say 100 employers will be on hand, some of whom are hiring. The fair will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In addition to the companies, more than 100 service providers will be on hand to help attendees learn how to pick a career, conduct job interviews, manage finances after a job loss, and other skills. A resume coach and 100 computers for job searches and resume updates will also be available. Representatives from two-year and four-year private educational institutions and technical colleges will attend to offer information about their programs.
Department officials suggest job seekers bring updated resumes and wear professional attire for job interviews. To reach the Georgia World Congress Center by public transit, check out the A-TRAIN trip planner. The Atlanta Community Food Bank will be accepting canned food donations at the door, as well.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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This job fair was a joke. Only four employers were there to hire from attendees; the others were there to say, "Go to our web site." I was dressed professionally (coat and tie) with 100 resumes and came back with 95 resumes. The AJC rep basically told me I wasn't interested in his job and wouldn't look at my resume. It was a total waste of six hours. The worst part was having to sit through a video greeting from Gov. Sonny Perdue before we could enter the main area. WSB, which sponsored the event with the Georgia Department of Labor, stopped reporting on it right after the event began, I suppose because they didn't want to get ripped.
Lack of organization clearly marked this event considering the high unemployment rate. It should have been broken up into three days. Last names starting in A-I J-R and S-Z. Too overwhelming and discouraging for anyone looking for work and vice versa. God bless and good luck to all who are looking for work durring these turbulant times.