By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Youth Building at the Crawford County Fairgrounds was teeming with potential employers and employees Wednesday afternoon. The Crawford County Hiring Fair was in full swing as participants handed over resumes` and completed job applications in the search for the right job.
Michael Kelly of Bucyrus and Sheldon Lynn of Nevada were both dressed to impress and make the right connections as recent high school graduates.
“I went to Pioneer for two years and I have my cosmetology license,” explained Kelly. “Anything that could help me in that job field or, like, I’m OSHA-trained too, so that helps a lot.”
Lynn is also a recent Pioneer Career and Technology Center graduate. She was looking for a job in the criminal justice field, which she studied at Pioneer. Lynn added that she was also CPR-certified.
Both girls felt the hiring fair was beneficial to those people looking for jobs in the area.
“I think it helps a lot, it like gets us out there. You don’t realize how many opportunities there are until you get here,” Kelly said.
“It’s easier to drive to one place and have a lot more opportunities than to waste gas money and go everywhere to search for a job,” added Lynn.
The Hiring Fair filled the Youth Building to capacity with rows of stalls filled with local businesses looking to hire.
Carolina Hartsock, a representative from Tramec Sloan, formerly Crawford Machine Inc., noted that she had been approached by a number of women looking for a job, which she found encouraging.
“I think it has been really good,” Hartsock said about the Hiring Fair. “I was surprised to see that many people coming through.”
Hartsock said the Hiring Fair was not only good for the community but also gives local businesses a chance to make connections with their counterparts in their industries.
The businesses on hand Tuesday afternoon ranged from Carter Machine Company and Cardington Yutaka Technologies to Transformation Network, Orchard Park Assisted Living, Heartland of Bucyrus, and Schilling Graphics. The fair also featured a training session for business representatives to brush up on recruiting skills.