Creating strong employer connections through regular job seeker events

Helping employers now September is Workforce Development Month CareerForce #MNWorkforce

Leading CareerForce Partner Anoka County Job Training Center hosts regular hiring events and employer of the day panels on the first and third Wednesday of every month at CareerForce in Blaine.

This regular cadence helps both job seekers and employers know how to plan for opportunities to connect with one another. Both employers and job seekers participate in these events at no cost.

Photo of many people standing in a large room looking at the camera — Anoka County Job Training Center staff and local employer repre-
sentatives before a recent hiring event at CareerForce in Blaine

Since 2023, 8,858 job seekers have participated in hiring events and employer of the day panels, meeting with an average of 12 employers at the hiring events to learn about employment opportunities. Due to this consistent outreach with area employers, more than 900 local employers are part of the Anoka County Job Training Center network. This extensive network means area staff can help connect job seekers and employers directly even outside of events.

When an employer participates on the employer of the day panel, they stay for the hiring event so job seekers who learned generally about opportunities at the employer’s organization during the panel can stop by their table and ask questions one-on-one to learn more about specific employment opportunities that may be right for them. This provides jobs seekers with direct access to hiring managers and the potential for same-day hiring. It also offers job seekers a safe space to ask questions about their company and jobs in a learning and coaching environment.

backs of three people in chairs who are looking at three people sitting at a table at the front of the room — Job seekers listen to local employer representatives
on a recent Employer of the Day panel

Anoka County Job Training Center sometimes hosts special themed panels in alignment with the CareerForce system’s monthly themes. For example, this past year they held panels on the Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career theme in July and Green Careers in August. They have a manufacturing employer panel planned for October 21, during Manufacturing Month.

When job seekers come to the Anoka County Job Training Center for the panel and hiring events, they also learn about the career exploration and job search services available at no cost at CareerForce in Blaine such as the career lab, resume review, interview preparation, workshops and other activities. Anoka County Job Training Center staff and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development staff serve customers at CareerForce in Blaine.

Anoka County Job Training Center aims for continuous improvement of the employer of the day panel and hiring events and evaluates results from employer surveys and job seeker attendance to plan future events. They plan to hold future events focused on job seeker audiences with unique needs like English language learners, young people and job seekers who are older than 55.