Job fair helps dispel gloom

By Tim Johnson

March 31, 2009

Maybe it takes a job fair to dispel the popular notion that there aren't any openings out there.

Just days after Vermont's unemployment rate rose to 7 percent, the highest level in 17 years, more than 90 employers turned out for Champlain College's spring job fair Monday, and many of them -- from Kmart to Northwestern Medical Center to Dealer.com -- are hiring.

Depending on who's doing the job-hunting, though, prospects aren't uniformly bright. A software-savvy college senior might come away from an event like this full of optimism, while a middle-aged out-of-work salesman might draw less encouragement.

Both were welcome at Monday's expo, which took up the Argosy Gym. The college organized the event not just for students -- many of whom came with resumes -- but for the public at large.

"Our students this year are nervous," said Dolly Shaw, director of career services. "We've been working a lot with students on their resumes, cover letters -- busier than ever. Our advice is that students have to be flexible in terms of where they go."

Megan Mettin, 22, a senior majoring in communications, said she wants to stay in Burlington after she graduates.

"I'm overwhelmed," she said, surveying the busy scene. "There are a lot of jobs here."

Some graduating students are in such an enviable position that they didn't even have to make an appearance. Many accounting majors have had solid jobs lined up since the winter.

What was the accounting firm Gallagher, Flynn doing at this fair? Reaching out to underclassmen, for one thing. The class of 2010 will be interviewed next fall.

"Accounting is one of the fastest growing fields in today's economy," said David Mona, program director for the college's Division of Business.

So is health care. At the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, which normally has about 40 openings of various kinds, imaging is one of the growing fields. Brenna Gates, the center's recruiter, was hoping some of Champlain's radiology students would drop by her table.

Some high-tech firms are in a growth mode, too, and eager to engage students coming out of college who know their way around the Web. Allscripts (a medical software company), Dealer.com (which helps auto dealers capitalize on the Internet), and Vermont Information Processing (software for beverage distributors) all had openings.

Vermont has 250 software companies, said David Parker, operations director for Dealer.com and a founder of Vermont Software Developers Alliance. Apart from Vermont's cow-and-maple-syrup stereotype, Parker said, "There's so much software, so many opportunities."

That apparently rang true to Lauren Nishikawa, a senior majoring in game design. With her skills, job prospects in Burlington "are definitely good," she said, although probably not in the game field. Montreal is the closest hotbed for that.

Openings are one thing; getting hired is something else when more people compete for fewer jobs. Kmart has some openings in South Burlington, said Christine Sheftic, human resources manager, but also has more applicants than usual.

Two men from Colchester came to the fair with somewhat different perspectives.

Robert Ready, 48, was standing in front of the Mount Mansfield Media table, half hoping he'd see himself in one of the sample TV commercials being screened. He's a part-time actor but was recently laid off from his main job, at Vermont Public Television. Now he hopes to find something in communications, but he's keeping an open mind. He has even considered the Peace Corps.

"It might be time to take a break in life," he said with a smile. "I'm optimistic."

Budd Getch, 63, was laid off from his job as a food broker in July. Since August, he's been looking for work pretty much full time. Now he's nearing the end of his unemployment benefits.

Getch said he's handy and willing "to swing a hammer all day" but meets skepticism because of his age. He sometimes leaves his master's degree off his resume so he won't be perceived as overqualified.

"They say you have to reinvent yourself," he said. "I've tried everything."

Contact Tim Johnson at 660-1808 or tjohnson@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com. To get Free Press headlines delivered free to your e-mail, sign up at www.burlingtonfreepress.com/newsletters.