Nearly 400 Job Seekers and Over 40 Businesses Take Part in Aberdeen Economic Business Council Job Fair

The Aberdeen Economic Business Council’s Third Annual Job Fair on June 11 attracted nearly 400 job seekers and over 400 businesses.

The event, which took place at Matawan Regional High School, attracted a record 42 employers in a variety of fields, including administrative, clerical, campaign organizing, construction/remodeling, counseling, customer service, education, financial advisory, foodservice, homecare, home remodeling, housekeeping, human services, information technology, insurance, janitorial, maintenance, marketing, market research, national security, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, retail, sales, and theme parks.

Aberdeen businesses that participated included Quality 1st Basement Systems, Abigail Consulting Solutions, Mountain Energy Solutions, and The Tutoring Center.  They were joined by private and public sector employers from across New Jersey, including Aflac, AXA Advisors, Six Flags Great Adventure, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Bath Fitter, Seabrook, Preferred Home Healthcare & Nursing Solutions, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Wells Fargo, Meridian at Home/JFK at Home, The New Jersey Institute for Disabilities, RPM Development, The International Planning Alliance, Alcoeur Gardens, and First Financial Federal Credit Union.

Indicative of the Job Fair’s success, an exit poll of the employers found that 89% expected to hire candidates that applied for positions that evening, with 57% saying they are “likely” to hire and 32% “very likely.”  additionally, 75% of the employers felt the turnout of job-seekers was acceptable and 97% expect to attend next year’s event, with 61% “very likely” and 36% “likely”.

“I would like to thank everyone who played a role in making the job fair such a positive experience for all involved,” said EBC Chairman Carmine Visone.  “Based on the positive feedback we received from both exhibitors and participants, I feel that we achieved our goal of bringing highly-qualified candidates together with top-notch companies.  It was especially gratifying to see a record number of employers participate.”

For the second year in a row, students from Matawan Regional High School’s Business Academy, under the direction of teacher Dan Bernstein, took part in planning and implementing the event including marketing, setting up, escorting exhibitors to their locations, and handing out guidebooks to job seekers.  “We cannot say enough about the efforts of the Business Academy students,” said Visone.  “We look forward to working with Dan and his students next year.”

“I would like to congratulate EBC Chairman Carmine Visone, Planning/Zoning Board Secretary and Business Liaison Maxine Rescorl, EBC member Bill Parness, and the students for creating another successful job fair,” said Mayor Fred Tagliarini on behalf of the Aberdeen Township Council, which supports the event.  “Events like this help not only job seekers and employers, but the entire community.”

Visone, Rescorl and Parness were assisted at the fair by fellow business council members David Shah of Dunkin Donuts and Eugene DeMarco of DeMarco’s Catering and Gourmet Deli, who provided complimentary refreshments.  Flowers by Melanie supplied identifier balloons for the vendor tables.

Mayor Tagliarini and Council members Connie Kelley, Joseph Martucci, Margaret Montone and Ro