March 29, 2024

DMACC to host job fair Thursday

For those looking for a job, Des Moines Area Community College will be hosting a free career job fair Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in room 210.

“We have 39 employers that will be showing up,” said Newton Development Corporation Director Frank Liebl.

Unlike some career fairs held at colleges, the DMACC job fair is open to the public. Liebl said attendees do not have to be students at DMACC, and the fair is open to the public.

“It’s open to anyone really,” he said. “If you are unemployed, or whether you’re underemployed, or you’re just looking at a career change, (everyone is invited to come).”

“(It covers) all levels of education,” Newton Development Corporation Administrative Assistant Jenny Michael said.

“We’ve got such a (diverse group),” said Liebl. “We’ve got advanced manufacturing, manufacturing, medical, office help and restaurant help. There is every type of possible job out here I think. (We have) insurance industry, professional work, sales and marketing (jobs).”

Liebl is not the only one excited for the job fair as Provost of the Newton DMACC Campus Mary Entz said the job fair is a great opportunity for students, as well.

“As we work to best serve our students and help them reach their educational and career goals, we’d also like to serve our employers,” she said. “Hopefully, this job fair will help employers find new talent. It will also provide an opportunity for employers to speak directly with job seekers about specific skill sets required for certain types of employment.”

One of the reasons the job fair has so many employers attending is because the fair will not cost the employers anything.

“We are not charging these employers to come in and put on the job fair,” Liebl said. “Again, it’s all free to them. Some job fairs charge; we don’t do that. The four sponsors just share the cost and we go ahead and hold the job fair for folks.”

Liebl said some of the participants are from the area, and he is happy to help all companies attending the fair find the workforce they need in the Newton.

According to Libel, this will be the second job fair the city has held in the past six months.

“We did a survey after that initial job fair and a lot of people aid, ‘We would really like to do this in the spring,” Michael said. ‘In fact, some people who couldn’t attend in the fall are attending this time.”

Even though it id possible for anyone attending the job fair to receive a job offer, Liebl had one tip for jobseekers.

“Anyone who is looking for a job can just walk in,” he said. “They are encouraged to dress appropriately for the job they’re seeking because the appropriate attire is very impressionable. People take that into consideration.”

Staff writer Matthew Shepard may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at mshepard@newtondailynews.com.