Origin of MPACT JobFair
The MPACT JobFair was created because of a July 4th, 2005 news report stating that the Triad area lost over 5,600 jobs from January to July of that year. At MPACT, we encountered numerous companies that stated that they were frustrated with the quality of applicants for their high paying Skilled Maintenance jobs. Many stated they needed to begin restocking their workforce to be ready for pending retirements of the baby boomer generation.
We realized that we could no longer sit on the sideline and watch. Therefore on July 20th, 2005 MPACT hosted the first ever Skilled Maintenance/Facilities Engineering Job Fair. In just 3 weeks we uncovered 22 participating companies looking to fill more than 110 jobs paying from $15-$25/hour.
Then on January 5th, 2006, MPACT hosted another job fair that 36 employers attended. They were looking to fill over 340 jobs in the Skilled Maintenance/Facilities Engineering profession. For example, Washington/Dulles and Reagan National Airports offered $2500 signing bonuses for qualified applicants willing to relocate.
Many attendees and employers stated that the MPACT JobFair is not your normal job fair.
Below are some of the reasons why the MPACT JOBFAIR is different:
- MPACT JobFairs are held at a technical training center in a variety of small rooms with sample technical equipment on display.
- MPACT JobFairs are easy for employers to participate. Tabletops are FREE and the event runs from 4 -7 p.m. Employers can still address needs at work and then attend the Jobfair.
- MPACT JobFairs focus only on skilled maintenance and facilities engineering positions.
- The Jobfair sets up a "Treasure Hunt" environment for attendees. You have to wander through our facility to find all the employers you want to meet. MPACT does not publish a directory or map of employers. Why? We realize there is may be concern over applicants prejudging employers and only visiting employers that they knew their business names-meanwhile industrial or regional based companies who compensate equal if not better wages are overlooked.
- Only a few temporary agencies are invited to participate at MPACT JobFairs. At most public job fairs, candidates only have a few real employers to speak to while the majority of exhibitors represent temporary agencies. At the MPACT JobFair, the majority of exhibitors are actual employers.
- MPACT serves as a Job Clearinghouse. During the MPACT Jobfair, candidates are asked to provide a resume to MPACT. After the event, MPACT shares the resumes with employers who could not attend. Over 40 companies have received the MPACT JobFair resumes and numerous positions have been filled.
- MPACT JobFairs generate results. Employers have been escatic about the quality of attendees of the MPACT JobFair. Conservative estimates over 200 jobs have been filled as a result of the MPACT JobFair
- MPACT Offers the MPACT JobFairs as a community service. MPACT does not generate any revenues from employers or candidates.
