Hempstead Job Fair draws large crowd to rec center

Thousands of job seekers flocked to the Freeport Recreation Center for the annual Hempstead Job Fair on April 20, eager to connect with a variety of Long Island employers.

Organized by Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and the Hempstead Town Board, in partnership with the Village of Freeport the event attract over 2,000 residents of the largest township in America.

“The Town of Hempstead has always been committed to providing an environment for job creation and economic growth, and this job fair is a great way for local residents and employers to get together,” Clavin said. “I thank all of the employers and job seekers for attending this great event, and I am confident that all parties came away with new information, resources and business relationships.”

Among those local leaders supporting the job fair were, from the town council, Dennis Dunne Sr., Thomas Muscarella, Christopher Carini, Melissa Miller, and Laura Ryder. Also taking part were town clerk Kate Murray, receiver of taxes Jeanine Driscoll, and Freeport village mayor Robert Kennedy and deputy supervisor Dorothy Goosby.

“I thank Supervisor Don Clavin for bringing this job fair to our village,” Kennedy said. “It has been a very successful event in the past and I expect this one will be another great success.”

The job fair offered opportunities for residents to meet with numerous participating companies and complete face-to-face interviews and applications, which may be better than doing it online for some individuals. It provided exposure and ease of access for those who may not be tech savvy.

“Eighty applications for open employment positions were received by the Village of Freeport alone,” Kennedy said. “The job fair had over 2,000 attendees, and the recreation director, Vicki Donnelly, along with her staff, did an excellent job of accommodating all visitors to the rec center.”

The event provided the opportunity for people to interact with a diverse range of Long Island employers, ranging from large corporations, such as Amazon, to local civil services, such as the Nassau County Police Department. 

“There are many local businesses that are seeking dedicated and hard-working men and women, and I know we have no shortage of such individuals here in the Town of Hempstead,” Goosby said. “This job fair is the perfect place for job seekers and employers to connect, and I am happy that we were able to create such an environment for success.”

MTA-Long Island Rail Road, Northwell, Canon USA, UPS and NYU Langone also took part.

“We believe that we made a lot of successful job matches at the fair, and plan to host more in the future,” Carini said. “We have a close partnership with the Village of Freeport and Mayor Kennedy, and we chose the Freeport Recreation Center due to its central location and easy access off the Meadowbrook Parkway.”

The Town of Hempstead usually holds two job fairs annually and considering having a two-day event scheduled for either September or October.

“There’s always people struggling to find jobs, and sometimes it’s hard to find the employers that match with those jobs.” Carini said. “Job fairs provide a great opportunity for job seekers to network, hand in their resumes, and speak to employers.”

Residents looking for job opportunities and employment support are can explore the range of services provided by the HempsteadWorks program. From career planning and counseling to vocational training programs and computer skills workshops, HempsteadWorks offers a suite of resources for job seekers. It also provides access to online job banks, referrals to partner agencies, and career development literature and computers.