Coleman said these job expos are being presented in all parts of the city to connect employers with job seekers. The first of these expos occurred on September 28.

By IKE MGBATOGU

Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS – It is bold and unique.

But most importantly, it is an innovative initiative that seeks to show job seekers precisely where employers are hiring. And then bring those employers to a center near them.  It certainly sounds like a great deal.

The plan is a collaborative initiative recently announced by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Suzanne Coleman-Tolbert, President & CEO of Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) and Michael Dalby, president of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, to help land jobs for 1,000 unemployed residents of the city by the end of the year.

“We wanted to make sure that no matter where they live, Columbus’ job seekers had an opportunity to go after these jobs,” said Coleman, who last week, along with Coleman-Tolbert and Dalby created ‘Hire1000 Initiative’ to identify Columbus companies that have openings and are “hiring right now.”

The goal of the initiative is to help 1,000 jobless Columbus residents get back to work immediately. To that end, leaders of this effort have already identified companies that are hiring in Central Ohio and are now spreading the news by holding free series of job expos where job seekers are being encouraged to go and apply for these open vacancies, which include permanent, part-time and seasonal jobs.

Coleman said these job expos are being presented in all parts of the city to connect employers with job seekers. The first of these expos occurred on September 28.

COWIC and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce are heavily involved in this effort, teaming up last month to send hundreds of letters to companies in Central Ohio that are hiring. These companies were invited to these job expos and more than thirty of them expressed interest in bringing their combined 1,000 job openings to the job seminars.

COWIC leader decried the pain that job seekers are feeling.

“These are some of the most difficult times we have seen for the many job seekers who come into our Work Place Central One-Stop,” said Coleman-Tolbert. “We see an average of 1200 new people every month. We also hear from employers looking to hire. In this time, when online applications are the first and most common option, the opportunity to sell yourself face-to-face to an employer even before an interview is almost unheard of. At Hire 1000, job seekers will have that opportunity.”

The dates and venues for the upcoming job expos are:

• November 10 – Westgate Community Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• November 17 – St. Stephen’s Community House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Employers wishing to participate in the ‘Hire1000’ job expo series should contact COWIC Business Solutions Project Manager Jo Youngs at (614) 583-1333 or email jayoungs@hotmail.com.  For more information, visit www.cowic.org.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at Onumbamedia@yahoo.com.