Countywide Career Fair connects job seekers with 100+ employers

“I am looking for a career, not a job.”

That’s how Tim Wagner, a recent transplant to the area, summed up his mission at the Countywide Career Fair at Collin College’s Plano Campus on April 18.

Wagner said he was looking for a relationship-driven career in an area like marketing, sales, banking, or finance. As such, he concentrated on making an impression to stand out from the other job seekers by handing out résumés, filling out applications, and quizzing potential employers on the benefits of working for their companies.

Organizers estimated that more than 680 students, alums, and community members attended the fair which also drew more 121 companies, government organizations, and nonprofits to the Plano Campus for the fair’s third year.

“I was impressed with how many recruiters were here,” Wagner said. “I was actually surprised, to be frank.”

Jennifer Slagle, a Business Management student from Garland, agreed.

“It is bigger than I thought it was going to be, but the interactions are great,” Slagle said. “I feel like I have some great opportunities so far.”

While she is currently employed, she said she wants to find an organization that she can grow in and already had two interviews stemming from interactions at the career fair.

“I am just trying to find opportunities to get my foot in the door and start pursuing a career,” she said.

Anthony Tamayo, a service supervisor with Trane representing his company at the fair, said something similar. He said the company was looking for people eager to learn and grow with it. He said that while he was mainly looking for potential air conditioning technicians, Trane was also hiring sales personnel, engineers, automation specialists, and others as it expands throughout the country.

“There are opportunities everywhere,” Tamayo said. "The best thing is to get in the door, discover what you are good at, and train in that area."

Maria Jaramillo, district community liaison with Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy, said her interactions with job seekers were generally positive even though some were disappointed that Legacy was only taking teacher résumés at the event.

“For the most part, everyone has come very prepared,” Jaramillo said. “They know what they are looking for, which is good."

Jaramillo said the traffic at her booth had been exceptional and she collected several résumés that would be taken back to school principals in Plano and Mesquite. She also collected some information for herself at the fair – as a parent, not a job seeker.

Jaramillo’s son is graduating high school soon and she said she was heartened to hear from the students that Collin was a good college for recent high school graduates.

“Your students feel good about their experiences here – the welcoming environment, the interactions with teachers,” she said. “They feel comfortable here.”