After several northern Idaho employers expressed a need for keeping their employee pipeline primed with potential candidates, Kootenai County’s local office employment services team had the perfect answer:

Meet the Employer, an informal way for local businesses to discuss openings and talk with job seekers about working for their firms. The event will be held in the Kootenai County local office from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Wednesday of each month.

Job seekers were actively engaged with employers at the first Monthly Hiring Event at the Kootenai office of the Idaho Department of Labor.

The first event, held in June, was attended by 300 job seekers and 15 businesses, including Xaact Products, Life Care Center of Post Falls and Silverwood Theme Park.

Darby Sumner attended looking for an entry level job. “I was excited to see Safeway and the Coeur d’Alene Resort,” she said.

Darby Sumner, an active job seeker at the time of the event, dressed for success.

Darby visited every booth, shaking hands and discussing job openings.

“I believe the job fair was a great asset to helping me find a job,” Darby wrote in an email back to Labor personnel. “I am glad I attended. I had an interview with Safeway and was hired that day!”

Area employers also were pleased.

“I’ve been looking for a sushi chef for quite some time,” said Sara LaPresta, Coeur d’Alene Resort personnel manager. “I met one at the hiring event.”

Employers who attended the June event were generous with their feedback and advice for job seekers.

“Dress like you would for an interview,” said Cindy McGinty, a Humanix recruiter. “The first impression is very important.”

Sara LaPresta agreed. “Dress appropriately, don’t be too pushy when speaking with a business representative. When given an application to complete, don’t write ‘See Resume.’ If you are unwilling to complete an application, you appear lazy and unwilling to follow directions.”

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This hiring event is open to all local businesses that currently have current job listings. If you are a business and wish to attend the next event on Aug. 14, please call Stacey Hanlon (208) 457-8789, Ext. 3947, or email at stacey.hanlon@labor.idaho.gov

— Vicki Kunz, workforce consultant,
Kootenai County Local Office