OSHKOSH (NBC 26) -- The search for work drew hundreds of people to a drive-thru job fair in Oshkosh on Wednesday.
Leaders at the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, which hosted the fair, said they ran out of the 300 packets given to job seekers. They then referred an additional 100 people to find the information online.
Inside the packets was job openings at 70 area companies. Job seekers simply had to drive up in their car and get a packet. Many were in and out in just a few minutes.
“We just think it’s a great way to keep everyone safe but still promote the great jobs that are available in our area," Bobbi Miller with the workforce development board said. “It’s a contactless way of giving them that information. Let’s kick start some job searches.”
Miller said there are local job opportunities ranging from the healthcare industry, customer service, manufacturing, and more. One of the companies involved in the fair was Great Northern Corporation. Officials there said the pandemic has brought on new recruitment challenges. They saw the drive-thru job fair as a way to connect with prospective employees.
“We’re pretty excited," Great Northern HR recruiter Lauren Basler said. "This is the first time that they’ve ever really done something like this before, so we definitely wanted to get in there and get this information out and see what this will do or change for our recruiting.”
Miller said many people may soon extend their job searches as the extra $600 unemployment benefits from the federal CARES Act is set to run out soon. After Wednesday's effort, hundreds of job seekers now have a head start.
