Fair offers jobs, apprenticeships, opportunities

Parkrose Job Fair gives community a chance for better future

Last year, Mt. Hood’s Maywood Park campus held its first annual job fair for upwards of 500 people.

On Thursday, the branch campus will be hosting the Second Annual Parkrose Community Job Fair, a coalition between MHCC, WorkSource Portland Metro and the Historic Parkrose business organization.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MHCC hosts three job fairs yearly at the main Gresham campus, one each term. According to Bhaktirose Dawdy, Career and Academic Group advising coordinator, the job fairs in the fall and winter draw 300-to-500 community members and students. The spring job fair –coming April 14 this year – has had more than twice that, and averages 500 students.

Dawdy said the job fair isn’t just for students and community members who need a job: She feels that a lot of students settle with the wages they currently make, when they could be making more with an employer who provides grants towards schooling.

At Maywood, officials are ready for a crowd.

“This year, we’re more prepared,” said Lupe Pelayo, Maywood Park site coordinator. He said the campus aims to be prepared for at least 500 people again, and is planning to better address foot traffic during the event.

“We didn’t really know what to expect last year. We think that we have done better planning of where to put employers so that we can get less congestion,” said Pelayo.

He said he thinks the reason Maywood got such a high turnout is a mixture of things, including marketing, its location, and current unemployment rates.

Companies planning on attending the March 10 event will include Aflac, the City of Portland, Fred Meyer (Kroger) stores, Home Depot, Portland Police Bureau, Quantem Aviation Services, and others. Pelayo expects more than 30 businesses to attend.

Pelayo pointed out that the fair is not just for students, but also any job seekers from the local community.

Attendees should wear appropriate business attire and bring a resumé.

The Maywood Park campus is at Northeast 101st Ave. and Prescott Street in Portland.

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