On Wednesday, November 6, WFSDallas held the highly anticipated 13th annual Hiring Red, White, and You Job Fair, bringing together job seekers and employers for an exciting day full of opportunities. The job fair, the largest of the year, drew 1,105 job seekers and 136 employers with over 5,700 job openings, providing an abundance of opportunities to network and discover new career prospects.
The opening ceremony included Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Texas Veterans Commissioner Charles Wright, Texas Workforce Commission Chief Analytics Officer Adam Leonard, and Interim-President and CEO of WFSDallas Ashlee Verner. The ceremony kicked off the event with the ribbon cutting tradition and a moment to honor all our veterans in attendance. This event serves to honor our veterans by offering them priority access to thousands of skilled job opportunities, while also remaining open to all job seekers, fostering an inclusive environment for career growth.
“Most employers have been really forthcoming, their willingness to share detailed information has been incredibly beneficial in preparing me for the next steps in my job search”, said Emmanuel Munoz, a job seeker at the event.
Employers from all industries were present, including City of Dallas, City of Garland, Dallas ISD, DART, Carter BloodCare, Hyatt Regency Dallas, and many more. Interviews were held on the spot which resulted in 50 contingent offers and 4 on site hires.
Julian Castillo an HR Generalist from Prestonwood LLC left pleased with the event, “Job fairs hosted by Workforce Solutions are important for the employers, not only because they are an opportunity to meet great candidates, but it is also an opportunity to learn more about the grants, programs, and resources that Workforce Solutions offers to support businesses in their recruitment and workforce development efforts.
Everyone who attended the job fair walked away with something valuable, whether it was personalized resume advice, promising job leads, or valuable new connections.
We look forward to next year’s Hiring Red, White and You job fair! To help you make the most of the event, or any other job fair, here are some key steps to take prior to attending:
- Research of the companies in attendance before job fairs helps prioritize companies that align with your skills and career goals.
- Update your resume and customize it to highlight your skills and experience relevant to the roles you are pursuing.
- Prepare your elevator pitch, a brief introduction of yourself upselling your skills and emphasizing what you’re looking for.
- Dress for success, choose professional attire that aligns with the industry you are targeting.
- Bring necessary materials, this includes a notepad, pen, resume, business cards, and portfolio depending on what industry you are targeting.
As we look ahead, we encourage all attendees to stay engaged with the employers they met. Establishing connections is just the first step, maintaining those relationships is key to unlocking new opportunities. Even though the job fair has concluded, we remain dedicated to supporting your career goals. Our commitment to connecting job seekers with employers continues, and we offer a variety of resources to help you succeed. Job fairs are hosted regularly at our workforce centers, providing ongoing opportunities for networking, skill-building, and career growth. For more information on job fairs, workshops, or events to help your career goals you can view our events page here.
