DWD Pilots Digital Job Fairs in Three Cities Nov. 15-16
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 7, 2017) —
The Indiana
Department of Workforce Development and three local partners announce three
trial digital job fairs on Nov. 15 and 16. Two programs will be held on Nov. 15
for the cities of Jasper and Warsaw, while the third will be on Nov. 16 and
serve the city of Elkhart. Those three Indiana communities were chosen due to
their immediate workforce needs.
If
successful, DWD will look to expand digital job fairs to other communities
throughout the state. The concept is to use an online format to lessen time,
scheduling and travel conflicts for all participants (both job seekers and
employers). Using the Go To Webinar platform, the job fairs will be live and
also recorded so job seekers who are not able to participate live can still
register and receive a link to view the job fair at a later time.
“Jasper,
Warsaw and Elkhart are three areas in the state with significant, immediate
workforce needs,” said DWD Chief Communications Officer
Bob Birge. “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
Jasper Digital Job Fair is co-hosted by the Jasper Chamber of Commerce and will
be held from 11 a.m. to noon EST on Nov. 15. Participating employers will
include Jasper Engines and Transmissions, Kimball Electronics Jasper, Kimball
International and Meyer Distributing. Vincennes University-Jasper Campus will
also participate to discuss their training programs. The registration link for
the Jasper Digital Job Fair is https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2082937204364434689.
“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 will follow
from 2-3 p.m. EST on Nov. 15. It is co-hosted by OrthoWorx, Inc. Participating
employers will be Zimmer Biomet, Paragon Medical and Precision Medical
Technology. Training opportunities will be presented by Ivy Tech Orthopedic and
Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. The Warsaw Digital Job Fair’s
registration link is https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1990268165352576001.
“Warsaw is known for its biomed
companies, but what may not be as well-known is the current hiring needs of
these companies,” said OrthoWorx, Inc. Executive Director Brad Bishop. “We are pleased to help coordinate a
responsive and innovative event such as this digital job fair to bring job
seekers and employers together.”
The pilot concludes with the Elkhart
Digital Job Fair on Nov. 16 from 10-11 a.m. EST. WorkOne Northern Indiana is
the co-host. Elkhart area employers participating are scheduled to be Alexander
Dennis, THOR Motor Coach and Patrick Industries. Again, an educational
institution – Ivy Tech – will also be online to tell job seekers about its
training programs. Job seekers interested in the Elkhart opportunities can
register by going to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6693826076706847489.
“Bringing workers to Elkhart is a high
priority for our local businesses and our workforce offices,” said Northern Indiana
Workforce Board Investment Board President & CEO Greg Vollmer. “Our hope is that this new twist on job fairs
reaches new job seekers and re-engages others so that by partnering with DWD we
can effectively address the critical workforce needs in the Elkhart area.”
Each
employer for all three digital job fairs will have approximately five to 10 minutes
each to share information about their company, current job openings and their
job application process. Questions from job seekers can be submitted, and some
follow up may be done offline after the conclusion of the job fair.
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About the Indiana Department of
Workforce Development
DWD
serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is
committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing
WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information,
Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these
services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana
employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate
to Indiana.
For
additional information, contact:
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