The Northwest Michigan Works! job fair was a chance for people to meet with potential employers.
CHARLEVOIX -- For Bonnie Williams, being unemployed for the past nine months has taken a toll on her family life. So the Michigan Works! job fair in Charlevoix is something she's been looking forward to.
"I have been waiting three weeks. I've called everybody. There are no jobs available and it's been a real struggle on our family," says Williams.
She's not alone. Close to 500 people attended the event viewing the jobs that were available, talking to potential employers and hoping to find a job.
The event even offered educational opportunities including teaching people how to write resumes.
"They're going to teach me, I've never done one of those before so I'm really excited about learning how to do that," says Williams.
It's these resources along with the personal connections that Michigan Works! hopes will help people find employment.
"It makes it easier for the job seeker to meet up with employers in a one time frame and see several different businesses, see what's available...We've got folks here in the hospitality side of things, we've got some light manufacturing, some office type work," says Angie Ross, a business liaison with Northwest Michigan Works!
"I think it's important so people can see what's out there and what's available," says Deborah Waters, an employer at the fair.
That is exactly what job seekers spent the afternoon doing, seeing what was available and then presenting their skills and desire to work for those employers.
"I'm going to get a job today. Somebody's got a job out there for me, that's why we're here," says Williams.
For people like Bonnie Williams the job fair means more than just learning how to write a resume, for her it means, hope.
"I'm just really encouraged that there's so many people here and this is available to us, to be able to reach out and find jobs, because we get lost. You go around your communities and nothing works and this really helps us get more encouraged so we don't lose our hope," says Williams.
If you missed the job fair in Charlevoix here is a list of upcoming Michigan Works! job fairs:
April 2nd at the Eagles in Cheboygan
April 7th at the Emmet County Fairgrounds in Petoskey from 1 to 4 p.m.
April 8th in Gaylord from 1 to 4 p.m.
For more information check out the Northwest Michigan Works! website: http://www.nwm.org/miworks.asp
