Dozens Seek General RV Jobs

Michigan-based General RV, which is opening a dealership in Huntley’s Auto Mall, held a job fair this week attracting about 125 applicants for 33 sales, office and service positions.

Operations Manager Keith Lessner said he was pleased with the turn out and General RV had seen many qualified applicants at Thursday’s and Friday’s job fair held at a West Dundee hotel.

“We are doing a lot of the hiring on the spot,” Lessner said.

Applicants have ranged from those who have been unemployed for a while to those with jobs who are looking for a better opportunity, Lessner said.

General RV’s job fair comes at a time when unemployment in McHenry County has continued to increase. Pam Cumpata, president of the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, said the county’s unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in December and increased to 9.4 percent in January, she said.

MCED has co-hosted job fairs with Illinois Worknet Center in Woodstock. The center offers assistance to the unemployed but has so many people calling its phone lines get overloaded, she said.

There were many people applying with General RV who had excellent credentials, but the company just didn’t have a position open for their skills, Lessner said.

General RV is the first Auto Mall development, located off of Route 47, in 10 years and it's the company’s first Illinois dealership. The building is under construction.