Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

On Tuesday afternoon the doors opened, and candidates immediately started to file in. Dozens of people, all looking for careers came by the Knoxville Area Urban League’s (KAUL) fall hiring fair.

The KAUL hiring fair is an annual event, that holds a little extra weight this year.  Both nationwide and locally, there is a worker shortage – and no industry is immune to it.

“We look at companies that are currently hiring because we know there is a deficit in Knoxville with workers. Some people want to work, and some don’t, but the people who come through our doors want to go to work,” said Jackie Robinson, who is the Workforce Development Specialist.

Twelve companies showed up with the intent to hire. Employers in health care, banking, facility services, manufacturing, energy, and education reviewed resumes and offered job- interviews onsite.

Some of those companies included Knoxville Utility Board (KUB), the Sertoma Center, and the CAC.

“The companies get to see the candidate’s face,” Robinson said. “As opposed to sitting down at a computer, filling out an application, attaching your resume, and hoping you hear back. There is no personal touch to that, and most people don’t hear back.”

Robinson has witnessed hundreds of people, with all different skill sets, come through the doors at KAUL. She hopes more companies decide to participate in upcoming hiring events.

“I would like the businesses to know that we have quality people with degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs,” Robinson said.

She said she wants jobseekers and employers to know that KAUL caters to every ethnic group, race, and diversity.

“I want people to know, and I want companies to know that they can work with us. Please reach out to us with your job opportunities, come to some of the events that we have, and talk to those people who are looking for employment,” she said.

If you want to learn more about KAUL’s initiatives, click here.

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