Herald Neighbors

Freeport job fair welcomes potential employees

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Grabbing a brochure, Susana Escobar, a DoTerra Essential Oils representative, explained how to launch a small business selling essential oil products to Baldwinite Odelcia Martinez at the annual Job and Career Fair held at the Freeport Recreation Center in Freeport on May 9.

Throughout the Recreation Center’s gymnasium a number of companies and organizations like — Hempstead Works, United Health Care, the United States Marine Corps, a couple of real estate agencies and others, were busily handing out job applications and conducting on the spot interviews.

This is the third year Senator John Brooks hosts the job fair in an effort to promote the Long Island workforce to companies.

“Events like these are really about pooling resources so that we can offer better access to opportunity for those who seek it,” Brooks said.

The job fair has always been held in Freeport and supported by other local elected officials including Mayor Robert Kennedy.

Though she is presently employed, Martinez said attending the job fair is providing her with the space to consider other employment options. Before attending she said she’d been tossing around the idea of switching careers.

“This is helpful information,” Martinez said in her native Spanish. “I like the [employment] options [available] and I can take this information and share with my family and friends too.”

Nassau Community College student, Kimberly Mejia, 19, from Hempstead walked through the gymnasium until she found a seat to fill out some of the applications she’d been given.

“I need a change,” Mejia shared. “I need a job that I can use my skills and help more people.”

Mejia has been working in retail for short period of time and though she’s going to take on a hefty load of school work in the fall, she said she hoped to have found a new job through the event.

According to Brooks, “not knowing what’s out there is the biggest obstacle to a successful and fulfilling career.” Mejia agreed. Though she could spend a lot of screen time looking for a job online,” the in-person approach may be more effective,” she said.