SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. – From a sea of job seekers some people emerged from the job fair in Robertson County as employed citizens.
Gwen Barnes was like millions of people right now just trying to find her way back into the work force, so to be successful at the job fair at the Robertson County Career Center, Barnes was going to have to stand out.
The county's unemployment rate is above 9% and within the first three hours, 400 people, with different levels of work experience, walked through the doors looking for a job.
Barnes says jobs fairs are better for her. "You meet one on one, so it's kind of like it's back to the day when I started looking for a job. It's really hard to apply online."
Nearly 30 employers were there ready to hire, and many were some of the biggest employers in Robertson County.
Susan Wiser with Golden Living Nursing Home said they will be doing some conditional offering of employment Thursday morning at their facility. Wiser adds that the job fair is very cost effective her company because she's able to come out and interview people rather than spending those hours on the clock.
Job seeker Waylon Grizzard walked away with something everyone in the building wishes they could say. "I've been looking for a job. I recently moved back from Gulf Port, Mississippi, back to Springfield."
"I thought I was going to be calling and bugging people for about a week or two. Maybe get a job, but I had no idea I was going to get a job today," said Grizzard.
"That's what we're here for," said Dan Dorris with the Tennessee Department of Labor. "We're here to help the community. Help the individual seeking a job, so if we can get one person hired at the end of the day, it makes our day worthwhile."
While there were some successes stories, Barnes says she's going to keep on trying.
"I think following up is very important because it lets the employer know you are interested," said Barnes. "You are not just a number out there."
