In search of ‘real jobs’ at East Meadow H.S.

News blurbs and fliers announced that there would be “real jobs” available at East Meadow High School on Aug. 26.
   
The job fair advertisement were answered — to put it mildly. A line of well-dressed adults stretched from the EMHS gym along the fence adjacent to the athletic fields.
   
Nearly 600 people registered in advance for the job fair, sponsored by Sen. Kemp Hannon, a Republican from Garden City. More were expected to show up at the door. Event organizers said the crowd eventually grew to around 700.
   
Job seekers were given a map to navigate around the gym, where 90 tables were set up, staffed by employers, recruiters and career information experts.
   
A Herald reporter spent some time with four people, each of whom had a different reason for attending the fair.

The seeker
   
Diann Forquignon of West Hempstead has been down this road before. Job fairs are not a new concept to her.
   
“I just recently became unemployed again,” she said. “I’ll pass out my resume and see what opportunities are available.”
   
Forquignon didn’t expect to stay long. She really only planned to see two companies. When she walked into the EMHS hallway at about 6:30 p.m., people were waiting on line, most dressed smartly, with folders or binders in hand. Some nervously checked their watches or reread their resumes. Others struck up casual conversations with friends or people they had just met while looking over the map or swapping stories about past employment.
   
Forquignon, who stood on line by the entrance, was constantly nudged by people trying to get a sneak peak up front before returning to their spot in the parking lot. “It’s intimidating to look and see a line that goes back past the fence over there,” she said, “and to see all these people going for the same 90 companies in there.”
   
As she looked at the gym map, she circled two tables she intended to visit. Though she has had a variety of jobs, mostly clerical and administrative work, Forquignon wanted something different this time. She sought out nonprofits, like Red Cross and Island Harvest, with the hope that she could land a paid position at an organization that she once volunteered for.
  
Forquignon soon learned that the nonprofits on hand were offering mostly volunteer positions. “It’s great to look for another organization to volunteer for,” she said, “but now it’s more important for me to get a job and then look for something else to volunteer for.”

The resource
   
Bruce Massie’s table was filled with brochures and pamphlets. But he wasn’t taking resumes. Massie represented one of 10 career resource centers that accepted the invitation to Hannon’s job fair. A reference librarian and Job Information Center coordinator at the Hempstead Public Library, Massie was there to help job seekers learn about the free resources available in their communities.
   
“I’m hoping to let people [know] what’s available to them in the Nassau County Library System,” Massie said. “There are resources at their disposal.”
   
All of the county libraries offer assistance to job seekers in one way or another, Massie explained. They may make computers available for job searches, or offer reference material on resume building and job interview skills. There are also workshops hosted by career experts, who give hands-on instruction. Some libraries, including the East Meadow Public Library, sponsor job clubs.
  
“Many of the people who are searching for jobs feel that they’re alone,” Massie said. “The libraries are an excellent resource that they may not be aware of, and that’s why we’re here. We’re here for them.”

The employer
   
Bonnie Amitrano, a human resources manager for the Coffee Distributing Corp., set up her table with items illustrating what her company does. Coffee Distributing Corp., based in Garden City Park, provides “office refreshment services” to companies, including gourmet coffees, bottled water, soda, juices, teas, paper goods, snacks and vending services.
   
Naturally, Amitrano stationed a one-cup coffee maker at the table as well as a variety of coffee flavors. Her company was looking for sales and public relations people.
   
“Personality is important for that position,” she said. “You don’t get that from a resume.”
   
Amitrano explained that in a job fair setting, it’s crucial for a job seeker to inquire about specific positions and explain how well he or she would fit them. It’s also important for job seekers to ask questions about the company and to get to know the job description.
   
While it’s prudent to take every encounter with a potential employer seriously, Amitrano expects applicants to be on their A-games. She has a photographic memory, she said: “I’ll remember an interview I had four years ago.”

The organizers
   
When Hannon hosted Career Night in March at EMHS, participants got valuable advice from experts on resume building, networking and job seeking. Some thanked the senator and his staff for organizing the event.
   
But something was missing. Hannon recalled the responses. “They said, ‘Look, we need work,’” he said.
   
Hannon, members of his staff and a group of summer interns worked the phones and the Internet to persuade employers to appear at a job fair. Not just any employers, though. Only companies with openings. That was what Hannon meant by “real jobs.”
   
“This is definitely a job fair,” he said. “We want people to be employed.”
   
About 70 employers, representing a range of industries, and 10 career resource centers attended the fair. “These are not jobs for CEOs,” Hannon said. “These are jobs for people who need the money to pay for a mortgage, or need the money for car insurance. That’s what our aim is.”

The East Meadow Job Club will meet every other Tuesday in September and October — on Sept. 7 and 21 and Oct. 5 and Oct. 19 — at 11 a.m. at the East Meadow Public Library. Call (516) 794-2570 to reserve a seat.