Yesterday morning, Philadelphians seeking employment gathered at the Marriott Hotel for the 2004 Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.
The event, which is scheduled to run until 4 p.m. today, offers job-seekers a variety of options from entry-level to senior executive positions.
One of the main goals of the job fair is to combat the mass exodus of college students out of Philadelphia, a majority of whom leave the city after graduating to pursue employment in other areas of the country.
Organizers of the job fair said that they have had success in the past, and hope to build on that in the future.
"For 38 years, we've been drawing great crowds," said Chamber of Commerce Communications Manager Richard Barnes. "Thousands have been finding their careers right here at the Chamber of Commerce Job Fair."
Every year, the fair draws over 100 recruiters. Participating organizations, such as the Internal Revenue Service and Aramark, offer potential employees positions in hundreds of different professions from public service to telecommunications.
With the economy currently on the rise, fair organizers are predicting a successful turnout of job-seekers, many of whom will be graduating college students. "We expect somewhere in the neighborhood of five to six thousand," Barnes said.
Broadview Networks Senior Journalist Julie Lefkowitz confirmed the variety of those looking for work.
"It was a pretty decent turnout," Lefkowitz said. "There are people here looking for positions straight out of school, and a general mix of people either looking for employment or currently employed."
"A lot of people are also looking for career changes," added Denise Liburd of Mitchell and Titus, LLP, an accounting firm.
Also at the job fair, the Emerging Professionals Network began its second-ever campaign in the afternoon.
The EPN, which was established in 2002, promotes Greater Philadelphia as a premier job market in hopes of retaining graduating college seniors.
After a selection process that gauges academic achievement, community involvement and problem-solving skills, students are exposed to professional guidance through social events and partnerships.
Of the students who participated in last year's program, 93 percent said EPN was effective in exposing the values of a Philadelphia career.
While the fair is held primarily for the purpose of filling jobs, employers described the event as more of an information exchange.
"You're not going to fill a position, but you're going to get your name out there," said Cynthia Wade of Commerce Bank.
Liburd agreed, explaining that "it's more about getting information out on both sides."
Liburd also noted the prevalence of advanced degree holders at the fair, and said that this event has exposed qualified accountants to her organization.
"Auditors are a dying breed of people. It's hard to find professionals with that kind of background," she said. "But we've gotten a good 30 to 50 resum‚s. Some of them look pretty good for what we're looking for."
