“Meet Your Next Employer” Regional Job Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N 83rd Ave, in Peoria. 

Opportunities for job seekers include meeting with representatives from a variety of industries; obtaining information about starting a business from the SBA, SBDC, Greater Phoenix SCORE, and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA); and participating in workshops covering such topics as writing a great resume, dressing for success, interviewing techniques, and how to “work” a job fair.

Registration is required at http://www.peoriaed.com/jobfair.asp.  If you have questions about the Fair contact Karen Keith at 623-330-1083 or karen@la-kreme.com or Landis Elliott at 623-308-0722 or landis@la-kreme.com.

HIRING EVENT

When: Thursday, September 1 -  9:00am-2:00pm
Where: Goodyear Ball Park located at 1933 S Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ 85338

Must have HS Diploma or GED, pass drug & background

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered or spoke at our first LaidOffCamp SW Valley.  We hope that the inforamtion presented was useful and valuable to our attendees.  If you attended and have any feedback, let us know so we can make the next Camp even better.

Check out the final version of the session schedule for Camp.  Figure out which sessions you want to attend!

Session Schedule

Welcome to the first LaidOffCamp SW Valley!  If this is your first time, I hope you’ll find it unlike any event you’ve ever attended.  If you’re an alum, welcome back!  Even though the great recession was claimed to be “over” last year, it is still painfully obvious how desperately people are still searching for work.  The Committee organizing the Camp have worked hard to make sure we offer you value for the morning you’ll spend with us.

LaidOffCamp SW Valley wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of Susan Baier, organizer of LaidOffCamp Phoenix.  She put together the some of the following suggestions for the most recent Phoenix Camp and it’s so great I wanted to share it with you to help you prepare for next Saturday (August 13):

1. LaidOffCamp SW Valley is not your typical suit-and-tie event, and it’s not a job fair, and nobody will be judging you based on what you’re wearing.  Dress casually — most of the speakers will be dressed casually too. If you feel more comfortable in a suit or tie, please feel free — just don’t get dressed up if you don’t want to.
2. Take a few moments to review the session schedule before you arrive. It describes each of the sessions and speakers.  Our sessions are roughly organized into six different tracks just to help you figure out the kind of information that’s available to you, but you’re free to attend any session you’d like, in any track — you don’t have to sign up or anything.  You’ll notice that a few of the sessions are given twice, but most are only happening once.  We are hoping to record a few of the sessions and will post a link on the LaidOffCamp SW Valley website once the videos have been uploaded.
3. Estrella Mountain Community College is excited to share with you all the resources the College has to offer.  Instructors and staff from EMCC will be conducting sessions during the day and the EMCC Resource Center will be open during the event for you to stop in and use the KUDER system.  KUDER is great because it can help you figure out your strengths and what next steps might be for you.  Because we are having this Camp on the EMCC campus, the College is required to have you fill out a basic Student Information form.  Please return the form to Leslie Keefer (Leslie.Keefer@estrellamountain.edu) by August 11 or bring this form filled out with you to the Camp!  Don’t worry this information is kept confidential and won’t be used for marketing.  View the EMCC Campus Map and Mariposa Hall Map (where all the sessions will be held).
4. You don’t need to print your ticket.  Save a tree — we know who you are.
5. We will be serving a light breakfast (coffee, juice, pastries, etc.) and lunch (pizza and salads) thanks to our wonderful sponsors Adecco Staffing, West Valley National Bank, and organizing committee members.  If you’re really picky or have particular needs, you might want to pack your own lunch.  We encourage attendees to stay on-site for lunch (which is why we serve one) because it’s a great opportunity to chat with speakers, volunteers and other attendees.  Trust me — you never know who is going to connect you to that next opportunity, and it might be the person sitting next to you at lunch!
6. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. with the opening session beginning promptly at 7:30 a.m. since we have so much to cover in a half day.  Please do your best to arrive in time for opening session. We’ll be covering general information about how to make the most of the day and sharing other important information, so I’d hate for you to miss it.
7. Utilize the Resource Room located in the Plaza Gallery.    Available will be resume experts, job coaches, small business development info, and EMCC recruiters.  A “first come first served” sign up for avatar photos will be available if you would like.
8. Stay afterwards to continue networking and forging relationships.  Adecco Staffing will be available after the Camp to share their job information with you.

Most of all, I want you to know that we all get it. We know you’re angry, you’re stressed, and you’re dispirited, maybe even losing hope.  On this day, at this event, you are among friends.  And we are here to help.

Due to the overwhelming interest in our first event, Camp registration is full.  A waitlist has been created on our event registration website (laidoffcampswvalley.eventbrite.com).  If you are unable to attend this first event, please continue to check back as we will have updates and information about Camps to be held across the Valley in the coming months.

A big thank you to West Valley National Bank for sponsoring the luncheon! West Valley National Bank is the West Valley’s first locally owned and operated community bank. Founded by local business leaders, the Bank fills a much needed niche.  Find out more about West Valley National Bank by visiting their website (http://www.wvnb.net/index.htm).

FireStar Community Collaborative is hosting a Career Fair on Friday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at HOPE VI, 1150 South 7th Ave, Phoenix 85007.  See the flyer for more information.

LaidOffCamp SW Valley was featured in an editorial in The Arizona Republic over the weekend!  View the editorial here!