Job seekers in Kern County had a chance to connect face-to-face with employers at the annual Job Fest at Dignity Health Convention Center in downtown Bakersfield, where more than 100 companies were expected to be hiring across a wide range of industries.<\/p>\n
The event, organized by Kern County Human Services<\/a>, was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and run until noon. Organizers said job seekers should arrive prepared with resumes and plan to spend time visiting multiple booths.<\/p>\n KBAK DVR_WINDOW<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Frank Cabrera, an organizer with Job Fest, said the event was shaping up to be one of the largest yet.<\/p>\n Cabrera said the event had grown to about 140 employers, adding that organizers \u201chad to actually add extra booths because of the excitement and the need for, you know, job opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n Employers represented a broad mix of fields, including agriculture, warehousing, retail and medical, according to organizers. Job developers also said the event included positions ranging from entry-level to skilled jobs, including health care roles.<\/p>\n Josh Connor, one of the job developers, encouraged job seekers who feel nervous about approaching employers to take the chance to speak directly with hiring representatives, while also being ready to apply online if required.<\/p>\n KBAK DVR_WINDOW<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nerve wracking to be here. There\u2019s a lot of employers, a lot of people, you\u2019re into the competition of getting to their booth and stealing that manager and talking to them, but if you don\u2019t do it, what\u2019s going to happen, you know?\u201d Connor said.<\/p>\n Connor also pointed job seekers to apply for positions ahead of time, then follow up in person with employers at the event.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always said you\u2019re never fully dressed unless you have a smile on your face,\u201d Connor said, adding that attendees should plan to stay and explore the full range of employers instead of visiting only a few booths.<\/p>\n