Career and Education Career Options
Buzz on Biz Career Expo puts right people with right jobs By Gary Kauffman Whether you’ve always dreamed of being a vice president of operations or a forklift driver, or you’re a company looking for those people, the chances are good that you’ll find what you’re looking for at Buzz on Biz’s Second Annual Career Expo on Feb. 12 at the Legends Club. “The Buzz on Biz job fair is by far the best job fair to find your skilled candidates and hard-to-find people,” said Isaac Kelly, business development/safety coordinator for Augusta Staffing Associates, which had a booth at the first expo in 2014. “This isn’t your average job fair – it’s where the best companies can really shake hands with the best applicants.” That’s exactly what Buzz on Biz founder Neil Gordon was hoping for when he launched the inaugural Career Expo last year. “We wanted to connect the right people with the right jobs,” Gordon said. “What better way than to let them all meet in person in one venue.” The first Career Expo didn’t go off without a hitch. It was originally scheduled for Feb. 13, 2014 – the day Ice Storm Pax dumped 2 inches of ice on the Augusta area. The Expo was rescheduled for the following Monday and was still deemed a success.
“Despite the change in plans, we still had a good turnout of high-quality job applicants,” Gordon said. The event is sponsored by Augusta Staffing Associates, GRU Talent Acquisition and WRDW Channel 12. A number of staffing agencies will be onhand seeking qualified candidates, including Augusta Staffing Associates, Accustaff, Acrux Staffing, Employment Express and GRU Talent Acquisition. A number of schools will also be onhand, with both job openings and education opportunities. Among those are Troy State Univerity, Southern Wesleyan University, Georgia Military College and Brenau University. Other companies with booths who are looking to fill job openings are Carole Fabrics, Advanced Services for Pest Control, Meybohm Realty, Jan-Pro, Comfort Inn and Suites, the Richmond County Board of Education, the U.S. Army and WRDW Channel 12. In addition to mingling with potential employers, job applicants will also have the opportunity to attend two seminars during the day. GRU Talent Acquisition will conduct a seminar on resume preparation and Augusta Staffing Associates will talk
Staffing agencies seek wide range of workers What positions are local staffing agencies looking to fill at Buzz on Biz’s Second Annual Career Expo? They are many and varied. “Skilled talent will be in demand but competition will also continue to be strong,” said Tom Moody, owner of Accustaff in Augusta. “Persons with STEM-related education will be in high demand, especially with the continued skills gap in the available workforce pool.” Isaac Kelly of Augusta Staffing Associates has seen strong hiring in the area the past three years, and expects 2015 to continue that trend. He sees a continued demand for management positions. “We’re constantly hiring for middle and upper management,” Kelly said. “The ones we see getting the jobs do come to the plate with the experience (sometimes not in that company’s specific industry) and have a positive, people-friendly, and balanced personality. Companies are hiring for 60 percent for who you are and 40 percent for what you’ve done.” Both hourly and salaried positions are available. Hourly positions tend to range from $10-$20 an hour and salaried positions from $50,000-$90,000. Some positions staffing companies are currently looking for: • Mechanical Assembly
20 Buzz on Biz Jan. 15-Feb. 18, 2015
• Warehouse/Machine Operator • Medical Administration • Contact Center • V.P. of Operations • Commercial Insurance Representative • Senior Accountant • Collections Analyst • Field Structural Engineer • Weld Program Coordinator • Inventory Planning Leader • Quality Safety Trainer • Inventory Plan & Demand Analyst • Design Engineer • Bilingual Customer Support (Medical Environment) • Production MIG Welder • Production Supervisor • Faculty • Administration • Management • Nurses • Health-related positions • Forklift operators • Machine Operators • Non-skilled Laborers (Local carpentry/ construction) • CDL Class A Drivers • Residential Plumbing Tech • Administrative Assistant (with Quickbooks and/or SAP exp) • Kitchen Stewards for a golf club • Customer Service
Robert Kelly of Augusta Staffing talks with an attendee at the 2014 Expo.
about the growing world of online job applications. “There are right ways and wrong ways on how to submit a resume document,” Kelly said. “I’m going to tell you what no one else will take the time to tell you
about the online application process and how to master online forms.” For more information about the Buzz on Biz Career Expo, visit buzzon. biz or call Neil Gordon at 706-589-6727 or Janine Garropy at 803-480-2800.
Three tips that will make your resume grab attention If you are one of the many hoping to get a career boost this year, Julie Goley, Director of Career Services at Georgia Regents University, suggests the following makeover tips for your resume: Know your audience. Consider studying the work environment of your potential employer first to avoid having your resume completely rejected. Write about what you bring to the table that makes you the best candidate for that environment. So, while there is nothing wrong with having a creative resume, focus more on the content. Furthermore, many companies today prefer applicants to submit their resumes online, eliminating the need for special trends and tricks on a printed resume. Tell your story. No one can tell your story better than you, and the cover
letter is still the best place to share accomplishments that will show how you will add value to the company. Target the section reserved for your professional experience to not only list your work history, but add in a few sentences highlighting those roles that are unique to your skill set. Be sure to also include buzzwords that your next employer values. This will help highlight the impact of your work. Never stop updating. As you reflect on your career accomplishments this year, be sure to add this new information to your resume. Even if you are not actively searching for a new position, keep your resume current. This will not only help you focus on the work that is getting you results, but it is a great way to keep track of your successes.
Education opportunities at Expo The Buzz on Biz Career Expo isn’t just for those looking for work. There will also be plenty of opportunities for those who want to further their education. “We are recruiting for graduate and undergraduate programs,” said Jason Norton, exhibitor and Regional Director for Southern Wesleyan University in North Augusta.
He said SWU offers degrees in Business Administration, Human Services and General Studies. In addition, they have graduate programs in business (MBA and MSM) and for teachers (MEd). In addition to SWU, Troy State University, Brenau University and Georgia Military College will also be represented at the Expo.