JobLink searching for workers at Fort Myers job fair

Reporter: Taylor Wirtz Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:
People at a job fair. Credit: WINK News

Businesses desperate to find workers hope Thursday is the day they will find help at a job fair Florida JobLink is hosting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Drury Inn and Conference Center on 9950 University Plaza Drive in Fort Myers. The plan is to fill at least 100 positions.

More than 20 employers will be there, representing all career paths, from the medical field to construction. Some of the groups looking to hire include Cypress Living, Mister Sparky Electricians, the School District of Lee County, Waste Pro, Alta Resources, and many more. They’ll be hiring for hundreds of jobs, with many employers looking to hire on the spot. Some of the companies WINK News spoke to said they are seeing an increase in job interviews now that federal benefits are ending, but not much of an increase in staff despite those interviews.

One employer who will actually be at the job fair spoke about why he thinks companies in his field are struggling to hire at the moment.

“I honestly believe that it’s due to the younger generation not getting involved in the trades,” said Paul Hauck, quality assurance manager for Mister Sparky Electricians. “It’s been an ongoing thing where you know, parents always [say] ‘Go to college, go to college, go to college, avoid the trades.’ The trades are great, make people a great living.”

Whether you’re new to a field you’re interested in or a seasoned veteran, there’s going to be a fit for everyone. These employers are hungry to hire people, and they’re pulling out all the stops to get potential employees through the door. One employer says his company is having to reschedule 20 to 30 calls a day because they just don’t have the physical bodies to get to every customer right now. To sweeten the deal for potential employees, they’re offering $1,000 signing bonuses, and you’ll be able to interview with them at the fair today.

“We are looking for people that are great with people,” Hauck said. “People with a great work ethic. Ethical, honest, great personality. We deal with customers every day. So we want somebody that, you know, is going to make that customer feel at ease while we’re there.”

You are encouraged to bring a resume, but it is not a requirement. Pre-registration is recommended but also not required.

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