Piedmont Tech and SC Works Host Regional Job Fair March 21

On-the-spot, face-to-face job interviews are guaranteed to everyone who attends the Upper Savannah Regional Job Fair on Thursday, March 21, in Greenwood. That is the very nature of a job fair and the biggest networking advantage for participants.

“People skills are important to secure the interview, get the job, do your job well and advance your career,” said Lorie Burgess, human resources manager at participating employer Enviva. “Interpersonal skills are among the most important of all soft skills needed in the job market and could put you ahead of other candidates when employers are selecting the right person to fill a role.”

Self Regional Healthcare Human Resources Generalist Joseph Bender concurred.

“For us, someone can be the best nurse, lab tech, x-ray tech, whatever, but if they do not have a good personality, they will not be hired or kept as an employee,” he said, adding that job seekers should research companies online so their discussions can be on point.

Hosted by Piedmont Technical College (PTC) and the Upper Savannah SC Works System, the event will feature more than 70 employers on site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Medford Family Event Center on PTC’s Lex Walters Campus, 620 N. Emerald Road in Greenwood.

“The Upper Savannah Workforce Development Board thanks Piedmont Technical College for making this opportunity available for the public,” said Ann Skinner, workforce development administrator for the Upper Savannah Council of Governments. “Not only can people find out about jobs, they can learn about free and low-cost options to get additional training. Having employers and training professionals under one roof allows job seekers to plan their next move.”

“This job fair is one of our most highly anticipated events,” said Joshua Black, vice president for student affairs and communications. “We encourage job-seekers to come out dressed for an interview and to bring extra resumes.”

Companies represented at the job fair come from a diverse range of industries, including advanced manufacturing, law enforcement, health care and engineering.

In preparation, Upper Savannah SC Works suggests that job-seekers:

• review the list of employers in advance to determine their focus;
• research companies they are interested in approaching;
• update their resumes and bring plenty of copies to share; and
• dress professionally.

“March is the perfect time for high school and college students to start planning for summer jobs and beyond,” Skinner said. “Many of the companies at the event are looking for long-term hires. They want to bring people on who can continue to learn on the job and possibly get more training.”

The event is open to the public. Participating companies include Enviva, Self Regional Healthcare, Teijin Carbon Fibers, Lonza, FujiFilm, Prisma Health, Wesley Commons, Samsung and ZF Transmissions. A full list of participating employers can be viewed online at www.ptc.edu/jobfair. 

For further details, contact the Upper Savannah Council of Governments at 864-941-8050, 1-800-922-7729, or send an email to work@uppersavannah.com.

PHOTO CAPTION

• An SC Works job fair last fall drew hundreds.
• A potential job-seeker meets a representative from Lonza at job fair last year.