Job seekers flock to job fair at college

Hundreds of job hunters mingled with company recruiters at the spring career fair at Western Nevada Community College on Saturday.

"There's been a good mix of people," said Gail Powell-Acosta, regional advertising director for Tahoe-Carson Area Newspapers, which partners with WNCC and Citadel Broadcasting every year to put on the event. "It's not just the younger kids that you sometimes expect."

Some came to take advantage of free seminars like Dan Neverett's, "Building a Better Résumé" and Claire Yurochk's, "Interviewing Techniques."

Deputy Chris Miller of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department was looking to fill department positions to keep up with the county's status as the seventh-fastest growing county in the United States.

Between the high growth and losing deputies to other areas of Nevada, Miller said it's a tough job to meet recruitment goals.

Tom Crawford, Carson City Sheriff's Department reserve commander, said he would ideally like to have about 40 members of the reserves. He currently has four.

While it's a volunteer position, Crawford said it's the fast track to a career with the Carson City Sheriff's Department.

"When he's looking to fill new positions in the department, the sheriff is very loyal and tends to hire reserves first," he said.

Chef Claude Goode, manager of Food Nutrition Services for Carson-Tahoe Hospital, said the medical field is one of the fastest growing and most stable career paths in the local area.

"We're looking for people who think about the patient with the ultimate goal being complete patient satisfaction," he said.

Representatives from the State of Nevada Department of Corrections were on hand to look for new applicants and to dispel some rumors about working inside the walls of a prison.

"It's not anything like you see in the movies," said recruiter Valary Kottke, who said she's worked in the prison system for more than 10 years and only had to raise her voice one time.

"Plus, there are many career paths available," said Sherri Vondrak, personnel analyst. "You can be a case worker, work in custody programs, be a nurse in the infirmary - and it's a state job so the pay is good and there are great benefits."

Job hunter Maggie Baesman of Carson City said she filled out about five applications at the fair and was hoping for the best.

The young, single mom said she's currently only working 18 hours a week at a drugstore and needs to find a full-time job desperately.

She sat down with Robert Mills of Greater Nevada Credit Union and filled out an application.

"Hopefully, something good will come from all of this," she said, as her 1-year-old daughter looked on.

n Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.