Town of Hempstead job fair draws nearly 2,000 job seekers at Freeport Recreation Center

The Town of Hempstead job fair at the Freeport Recreation Center on Sept. 19 was bustling with activity, as nearly 2,000 job seekers packed the venue in search of new employment opportunities.

Hosted by Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy and the Village of Freeport, the event featured close to 100 employers with jobs in a wide range of industries, including civil service, construction, health care, banking, emergency services, solar energy and publishing.

HempsteadWorks, part of the town’s Department of Occupational Resources, which has been organizing job fairs since 2021, has seen significant growth in attendance, with this year’s turnout rivaling an event last March. The fair was well-organized, with a time slot-based registration system to cut down on wait times — a system that has proven effective at previous events. Job seekers without time slots were still welcome to attend, and in the afternoon, the line of applicants stretched down the sidewalk outside the building.

For many attendees, the fair offered a rare chance to meet employers face to face, something that is becoming less common in today’s largely online job-search environment.

“I feel like it gives you a better chance of getting the job,” Steven Kaegen, a 23-year-old from East Meadow, said. Kaegen came to the fair looking for opportunities in the U.S. Postal Service and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry, and he appreciated the personal interaction. “I don’t like sitting behind a desk or working with other people too much,” he added, noting that some of the “hands-on” jobs at the fair were more appealing to him.

Barbara Florence, representing Harbor Child Care, shared the sentiment that events like this one connect job seekers and employers in ways that the online application process simply can’t. Harbor Child Care, a program that supports early-childhood education, has taken part in the Hempstead job fair for the past five years.

Florence described it as an opportunity to make meaningful connections with potential hires, many of whom have gone on to work for the organization. “We receive a lot of resumes to follow up and get people from job fairs,” she said. “It’s great to be able to support the community, so we’re happy to be here.”

One of the main attractions of the fair was the diversity of opportunities that were available. Attendees could explore careers ranging from public safety positions with the Nassau County Police Department to educational roles with Soccer Shots, which hires coaches to teach children the fundamentals of soccer.

Herman Franco, a representative of Soccer Shots, said the organization is always looking for enthusiastic applicants who enjoy working with children. “We teach kids soccer from the ages of 2 to 8, so we’re always looking for coaches that are very good with kids, patient and outgoing,” Franco explained.

The fair gave Jose Melendez a chance to explore government-related jobs. “I was looking more government-wise, like NYPD or Nassau County P.D.,” the 18-year-old Hempstead resident said.

Melendez said he appreciated the ease of attending the fair, noting that it was better than applying online.

“You just come in person and talk to people,” he said, adding that he received valuable advice about the NCPD’s hiring process.

Fern Summer, who works with Long Island Cares’ veterans program, was on hand not only to promote job opportunities, but also to share information about support services. “I work with veterans, but most of the people who come through are civilians,” Summer said. “We collect information and give out information, so it’s whatever they want.”

The job fair has become an essential part of many job seekers’ search for employment. Nene Alameda, a business representative for HempsteadWorks, previously noted that the rapid growth of the event reflects the increasing need for such opportunities, particularly as pandemic-related financial assistance dwindles and more people enter the job market.

Despite the challenges, Alameda remains optimistic about the job market. “For every job seeker that’s out there, there (are) two positions,” she said.