EL CAJONEL CAJON — Grossmont College’s 43rd annual Career Expo will be held online again this year via a virtual conference platform because of continuing concerts about COVID-19.
The free public event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27. Grossmont and co-hosts San Diego Workforce Partnership and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce are offering the event.
Grossmont will be using the digital conferencing platform “Remo,” which will allow job seekers to visit “tables” and be interviewed one-on-one in real time by potential employers. Attendees can also browse digital rooms that will have tables for six where they can listen to presentations and take part in chat and networking sessions. Attendees get a bird’s-eye view of the room to identify who is there and find empty seats. There will also be virtual waiting rooms until stations empty out.
Grossmont College Career Services Supervisor Renee Nasori said there has been “a lot of buzz among employers looking for people to hire as the economy recovers from pandemic closures” but that getting potential workers to respond has been challenging because of COVID mandates as well as “people who are rethinking job options to better suit their own needs.”
“The demand for workers is there. It’s just getting people to apply for jobs,” Nasori said.
Attendees are encouraged to present themselves professionally and have their resumes ready since the Remo platform is so interactive, Grossmont College spokeswoman Della Elliott said. Attendees have the option of ing their resumes and LinkedIn profiles as part of the event.
Organizers will also be raffling off a free drone in hopes of boosting interest among potential workers.
Students, alumni, and job- and career- seekers can at https://tinyurl.com/VirtualCareerExpo2021 while employers can for free at https://tinyurl.com/5ctu4xyb. A Remo will be emailed upon registration.
Companies participating this year include Scripps-owned television stations KERO in Bakersfield, KSBY in San Louis Obispo and KGTV in San Diego; the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; McDonald’s and Jack-in-the-Box restaurants; Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club; Waterworks Aquatics; Custom Cutting Tools, Inc.; and GAP Intelligence, Inc.
Nonprofits including AmeriCorps and the Arc of San Diego will have tables, as well as health providers and senior care groups, including San Ysidro Health; VITAS Healthcare (hospice); American United Home Care; and St. Paul’s Senior Services.
Representatives from public-sector entities such as the County of San Diego; San Diego County Office of Education; the El Cajon Police Department and the Chula Vista Police Department are also scheduled to participate.
In advance of the fair, Grossmont’s career center is offering a series of free virtual workshops available to anyone to continue a successful job search afterward:
- Resume Writing: 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 5
- Entrepreneurial Mindset: 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, Nov. 5
- Social and Diversity Awareness: 4 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 10.
RSVP for the workshops at https://tinyurl.com/56av5fsw
