Bring your resume, big job fair today

Quoted from http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/jobs/tampa_bay_job_fair_072009

TAMPA - Umbrellas and resumes seemed to be the theme outside the St. Pete Times Forum today.

Hundreds braved the stormy weather with hopes of getting a job.

More than 40 vendors filled the Forum for the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair— some offered resume writing tips and education opportunities. Others offered what you might call the golden ticket these days— a job.

"I'm trying to avail myself to every opportunity. I'm trying to learn another language," Alison Parker said. "I'm doing all kinds of volunteer opportunities, any way to flesh out my resume and network."

Parker graduated from Stetson Law in December of 2007 and is still job seeking.

"It's really hard but keeping yourself busy and volunteering and coming to events like this really help you stay sane," she said.

The latest unemployment numbers show Florida well above the 10 percent mark— the highest level in 34 years.

"We've seen a lot of people that were recently laid off recently due to downsizing," said Lisa Woodrum with Connect Wise, a local software company.

Maybe that's why free career fairs are now as popular as a Friday night concert. James McEwen is looking for part-time work while studying business at USF.

"It's an awesome opportunity to meet your possible employers face to face," McEwen said.

But some Bay Area businesses are hiring, including Connect Wise.

"We're very fortunate to have a job in an industry that is booming and looking for lots of new people to hire because we can't handle the growth that we have," Woodrum said.

Employers stress patience and optimism.

"I'm always looking for opportunities so I'm not going to let it get me down or anything," McEwen said.

These days it's about keeping your head high and resume ready.

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I suppose it wouldn't really hurt preparing a pretty good resume before even going to the job fair. Many tend to do so by seeking guidance or help from freelance resume writers or at least professioinals that provide such services and tips to people who are experiencing a resume-writing slump.