The 11th Annual Central Minnesota Area Job Fair had a bigger turnout than expected, with about 75 businesses attending.

 

“It was up significantly from last year’s 38,” said Tim Zipoy.

 

Just a week ago, Zipoy was figuring there might be as many as 60 companies. But that changed in the last few days when about 20 more signed up. It worked out well for all of them.

 

“I talked with a number of businesses and they were very happy with the experience,” said Zipoy. “There were no negative comments at all.”

 

There were no official statistics on the number of job seekers attending, but Zipoy said based on hand-click counters at the door, at least 550 passed through, and maybe more. That was up from the past few years.

 

Businesses had a steady stream of seekers asking questions, filling out applications and setting up interview appointments.

 

“We not only have some employment candidates. We also have some potential customers,” said Laura Nystedt of Industrial Molded Rubber Products in Big Lake. “How can you beat that?”

 

Located in the Big Lake Industrial Park, the company manufactures rubber components and rubber covered rollers. They had a number of jobs available, including a second shift production position, production janitor and part-time summer production jobs for students.

 

“We’re hiring students for summer jobs,” said Nystedt. “A lot of times if they live locally, we’ll offer them a part-time job in the fall.”

 

Telcom Construction, a national underground utility contractor in Clearwater was hiring laborers, aerial linemen and utility locators.

 

“We have positions open throughout the season,” said Holly Wieneke, recruiter with Telcom. “We’re very busy and growing.”

 

Just about every business had positions available, and visitors were given a 26-page directory when they passed through the entry door. The directory listed all the businesses, a description of their company and all the positions available.

 

And there were well over 100 positions.

 

Zipoy said it was a much bigger directory than ever before. 

 

“We’ve always made a brochure or directory, however this year we made a concerted effort to have as much detail as we could,” he said. “It got bigger because the numbers got big. It doesn’t take as many pages to cover the details when you have 30 businesses.”

 

One of the big changes this year was the time slot - from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. That made it easier for commuters to get there before the job fair ended.

 

Zipoy said it made a difference.

 

“It was a good call to go til seven. It may have been busier earlier in the afternoon,” he said. “But at the same time we had folks coming in as late as 6:30 and a little beyond.”

 

One of his staff said she was talking with a woman who had just left her job in the Metro and was happy that she had a chance to get in once she got back from work.

 

“So by design, we accomplished what we wanted to,” he said. “And in talking with business and industry leaders, they said some, if not many of the applicants they’d gotten were already working, whether they were looking for a next job, a better job  or a closer job. We reached out not only to those folks who were unemployed but maybe people who are underemployed or looking for something in Wright or Sherburne County.

 

Zipoy didn’t have an opportunity to meet with all the businesses at the end of the job fair, but chances are many of the positions are still available.

 

Some of those jobs can be found online at www.minnesotaworks.net, or stop by the Workforce Center at 406 East 7th Street in Monticello, MN 55362, or call (763) 271-3700 for more information.