The eighth annual Eastman Employment Job Fair was held at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre in Steinbach Tuesday evening.

Organizer Marina Klassen says there were 29 registered exhibitors and about 450 people attended the event. "We were pleased to see how many employers came out and also how many job seekers were here. I hope many people made connections with employers and gained a few skills."

Klassen says it can take a while for people to become confident in talking with employers, so the job fair is a great opportunity for them to find out what an employer is looking for, and which companies are hiring. "Awareness is a great thing when you are looking for a job because sometimes we can get stuck in our own little world and we don't know who is out there."

Constable Christopher Jovin with the RCMP recruiting division, says he attends many job fairs and schools, and has been in Steinbach several times. He notes, a job fair has students and adults coming through so it's a great place to advertise and gain exposure. "We are trying to recruit 900 people across Canada this year. There are some basic requirements to apply with the RCMP, and here in Steinbach there are quite a few applicants that would be suitable to come to our academy." 

Bothwell Cheese was represented at the job fair for the first time this year. Joanne Roberts, H-R Manager says the company has grown exponentially and they are currently hiring. "We have had a lot of applications and a lot of interest. We have found a few key applicants here that we will look into."

Roberts says they highlighted all of the areas they are currently hiring for, as well as future positions, but were focused on people who were able to work an evening shift.