Over 600 Searching for Work at the Biggert Job Fair

Mary Brachle has not given up.

The Aurora resident is a graphic designer who, after 15 years on the job, was laid off. That was over two years ago. She was able to get by on temporary work for a while, but she said that's been drying up lately.

"I have a lot to offer," Brachle said. "That's why I go to job fairs even though they mostly look for people in sales and manufacturing. I just walk right up and ask what design needs they have, even if that's not the type of help they are looking for."

Brachle was among over 600 job seekers who on Tuesday attended the Road to Employment Job Fair at the Orland Park Sportsplex. U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R- Ill) sponsored the fair, along with Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.

The event featured 67 area businesses and organizations that are looking for potential employees. National businesses with area outposts such as Best Buy, NAPA Auto Parts and Avon were on hand, as well as government offices such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, financial services such as Primerica and the soon-to-be-opened Chick-fil-A restaurant.

"We bring employers who are looking to fill jobs," Biggert said of the fair. "It's not a situation where people leave their resumés behind and maybe they'll get a call back weeks or months later. We've done this before, and people have called us to say they ended up getting a job."

Supplemental to the potential job leads at the fair were clinics designed to help beef up résumés and help job seekers in the interview process. There also were tips on gaining federal employment.

Vicki Hensley, regional manager for DeVry University, suggested writing a short bio as one of the first steps toward producing an effective resumé.

"It will help you tremendously in clarifying your thoughts," Hensley said. "But if you have the word 'objectives' on your resumé, take it off. That's more about what you want as opposed to what your employer may want."

A group of 18- to 22-year-olds, several with disabilities, were particularly engaged in the resumé writing clinic. The young adults were from the Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association for Special Education, a vocational support office that helps people with disabilities find steady employment.

Marybeth Enright, vocational educator with the SWCCCASE, said the job fair was a fruitful experience for her students, who often have an especially tough time finding work in a down economy.

"A lot of it depends upon the employer," Enright said. "It's about finding the right employer who's willing to take the chance and take on a student. Part of what we do is take them to functions like this so they can see what's out there and get used to talking to employers."

One potential employer at the fair who was receptive to Enright's students was Trevelle Harvey, general manager of the upcoming Chick-fil-A restaurant. Harvey said he came to the fair with 75 applications and had 10 left with an hour to go in the fair.

And for a fast food restaurant, Chick-fil-A has a rigorous hiring process, with applicants facing three to four interviews for a position, Harvey said.

"We are looking for front counter, marketing, a little bit of everything," he said. "My application is for all jobs, and if we see someone we like, we set up an interview. We want quality people so we screen well."