Berkshire Career Fair Draws Hundreds of Job Seekers
 Photos by Tammy Daniels
 Above, Lindsay Errichetto discusses her resume with a Northern Berkshire Healthcare representative; left, Bernie Shambo of LTI Smart Glass take information from a job seeker. |
The 30-year-old Pittsfield resident was easily chatting up potential employers at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's spring Career Fair on Thursday and passing out resumes. She was upbeat, despite abruptly losing her job at a small museum last week.
"I'm hoping that my skill sets and experience will translate into something sooner or later," said Errichetto, who holds a master's degree with a focus on nonprofit management. There's always a silver lining, she said, "I'm not afraid to make myself over."
Errichetto was just one of more than 400 people from around the region who made their way to the Berkshire Hills Country Club to check out some 40 employers and job-placement opportunities ranging from local cultural venues to self-employment to — and by far the most dominant — opportunities in health care services.
The number of employer tables was down slightly from last year; the numbers of job-seekers definitely up. Not surprising in light of the economy.
But Christine Hoyt, director of programs and events for the chamber, said employers are hiring. "We could have had about the same number as last year," she said, but the calls came too late to fit them in. Three more had contacted her just this morning, she said.
LTI Smart Glass was filling slots in departments from production to shipping and recieving as it prepares to move into its new facility in Pittsfield; Mass Relay, contracted by the state to provide translation services for the deaf, was in need of typists for audio transcription.
Columbia Pictures needed some 200 motorists — and their late-model cars — for a casting call at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, N.Y., on Saturday. The unnamed film was being set in New York City and Washington, D.C., but some action shots are being planned on a highway in Albany, said Shaun Duffy.
Interprint Inc. was accepting applications for a few anticipated hirings later this year, but decor printing company didn't expect to find anyone with experience.
 Lauren Ziemek, human resource manager, and Peter Garlington, design manager, during a quiet moment at the Interprint Inc. booth. |
The Interprint group, along with several other employers, said they were impressed with job seekers' "solid skills."
Hoyt said that had been mentioned to her as well. "They're really impressed by the quality of the candidates."
A hundred people had signed in within the first hour of the event; at around 2, the number was 325. It was unknown how many entered without signing in. Between 11 and 1, said one exhibitor, the country club hall was so packed you could barely move.
Hoyt said at least one job-seeker had tried to stand out from the crowd by dressing in a Easter rabbit costume complete with a sign that said "I'm Creative."
The chamber was crunching the data to see how many of those attending were actually out of work or just checking possibilities.
Judith Rweyemamu of Pittsfield, a nurse, was one of the browsers.
"I have a job," she said, her hands full of brochures. "But maybe there's a better opportunity out there."
