Employers looking to lure school leavers and jobseekers at local careers expo

Whether you’re a recent school leaver just entering the workforce, or already employed and dallying with the idea of a career change, there will be job opportunities aplenty at the Orange Careers Expo and Trade Experience 2022 held at the Orange Function Centre on Wednesday, November 9.

With official unemployment rates falling to the lowest level in decades, jobseekers have been spoilt for choice as employers in many industries are struggling to fill vacancies.

The tightening job market has translated into strong interest from employers in the Orange Careers Expo and Trade Experience, according to Expo organiser and Regional Industry Education Partnership Officer, Jacquie Smith. 

The Expo will have representatives from about 60 local businesses and industries keen to promote and showcase the job opportunities they have to offer.

“There's a lot of interest from employers,” Jacquie said. “Employers, in the past, I think they've felt these types of events were a bit of… giving back to the community, but I think a lot of them are seeing it as their opportunity to advertise their positions and actually talk to people that they normally wouldn't.

“Now they're all looking at different alternatives on how they can advertise their positions and advertise their apprenticeships and the career pathways with their business, because everyone’s sort of fighting for the same sort of group of people.”

The 60 organisations range from local employers with apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities to larger employers and government departments.

“Our major sponsors are the Orange Council and Verto and Training Services NSW,” Jacquie said.

“TAFE will have a great presence there as well. TAFE is another big supporter. There will be universities and registered training organisations, apprenticeship centres, disability support agencies. So it's a big variety of industries that will be there.”

The Expo is open to school students, recent school leavers or any other job seeker, Jacquie said.

“I’ve been liaising with the career advisors at the schools, so it looks like we'll have a thousand students across the Orange–Bathurst area and schools from Parkes and Cowra,” she said. “But it is open to anybody that's interested.”

There will be a jobs board on-site at the Expo, which means interested job candidates have the opportunity to talk directly with employers on the day.

There will also be people on hand to offer assistance and advice on preparing resumes, Jacquie said.

“So they possibly could even submit the resume straight away to some of these people that are looking for people to work,” she added.

The Orange Careers Expo and Trade Experience 2022 will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 9–3pm at the Orange Function Centre. Admission is free.