Job Fair in Visalia, Overqualified Job Applicants | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Visalia, CA Sandi Miller with the Workforce Investment Board said, "This is the first year we've had a lot of manufacturers. Usually we have more clerical support."

Right now, Tulare County has a startling 17% unemployment rate which translates to about 35,000 people without jobs. Esther Merguia, Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino said, "There are quite a few job. Not as much as we usually have but we are still hiring."

This year, the Workforce Investment Board added a new feature – speed interviewing. People can practice their interviewing skills and get feedback. Sandi Miller said, "It may be, well, you didn't look me in the eye, you didn't shake my hand or you speak too soft."

While many employers had booths, not all were interviewing or hiring on site. Kathy Sauermilch from Tulare said, "I was looking for more people that were actually looking to hire people today."

One man who did hire on the spot had a blunt message for those inquiring about the jobs he had available. Trent Pollack, Hanford Mall, said, "They want to know about the benefits and I tell them we've got great benefits. You get a check, you deposit it in your bank account and it clears."

Pollack is hiring maintenance and janitorial workers for the Hanford Mall. He hired three people at the job fair. Pollack said, "I had a guy with 25 years of experience in construction come up, a big burly guy, you could tell he's perfect. He's going to work tomorrow."

Many employers say most job seekers were overqualified. At the end of the day, SunTree packing had collected hundreds of applications and resumes for just 25 openings. Linda Cortez, SunTree, said, "The one I just got the guy was an engineer from India willing to take anything."

Other big companies like /*Ruiz Foods*/ and /*Land O' Lakes*/ were at the job fair but they each only had two or three openings.