THE JOB MARKET: (L) Last year’s Business Expo & Career Fair brought over 40 employers together with job-seekers. —photo by Kris Lindblad

Last year, Kootenay Business teamed up with the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce and College of the Rockies (COTR) to give employers and potential employees a chance to network at the first-ever Business Expo & Career Fair. The event proved such a success that that the co-sponsors are not only planning a repeat of last year’s event at COTR, but are expanding it to the communities of Invermere and Fernie as well, making Business Expo & Career Fair one of the easiest ways Kootenay businesses can connect with a wide range of potential employees in an increasingly tight job market.

“With a shrinking workforce population, it’s hugely important for companies to network,” said COTR career and placement officer Charlotte Heppner. “We always tell our students that they need to network to get jobs, but now it’s the businesses that need to network to get employees.”

Last year, over 40 employers participated in Business Expo & Career Fair, including major businesses and community services such as Interior Health, Elk Valley Coal and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The event brought companies into contact with COTR students as well as regional high school students, offering businesses a chance to get young people interested in their industry.

“I think it’s a real benefit for businesses, not only to meet the students that are being trained at COTR, but to get some of the high school kids who attend interested in their fields,” said Heppner.

This has particular relevance for industries like health care that need to fill positions requiring post-secondary training, such as registered nurses or lab technicians. However, other sectors such as tourism—which has been having trouble finding employees to sustain its growth in the Kootenay region—may want to connect with students who are studying everything from business administration to culinary arts.
From the perspective of COTR students and other potential employees, Business Expo & Career Fair offers a chance to explore the many career possibilities of the Kootenay labour market.

“I think that it’s a great benefit for them,” said Heppner. “Our college students who are already in a programme can meet up with potential employers in their fields, while those who are in general studies and anyone who isn’t quite sure about what they want to do can get some ideas about what kind of careers are out there.”

Business Expo 2008
• When: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 11:30 am - 6 PM
• Where: College of the Rockies in Cranbrook
• Contact: Charlotte Heppner, career and placement officer at College of the Rockies, heppner@cotr.bc.ca • Keith Powell, publisher of Kootenay Business, keith@kpimedia.com