COUNTYWIDE : Women’s Seminar Features Ann Jillian

Actress Ann Jillian packed the ballroom at the Irvine Marriott on Monday night for the Orange County Women’s Conference.

A crowd of 400 gathered for the second annual session of seminars and workshops on health, motherhood, careers, job hunting and other issues.

During the dinner address, billed as “A Conversation with Ann Jillian,” the actress--a breast cancer survivor--spoke of the importance of early cancer detection and regular medical examinations, and took questions from the audience.

“This is part of my ongoing campaign of the importance of early detection for breast cancer and any other illnesses,” Jillian said at a press conference before the dinner. “If I had not (been) detected early--at age 35--I would not be standing here today.”

The conference, sponsored by the Irvine Medical Center’s Women’s Health Choice Pavilion, featured a day of seminars on job-search strategies, working within the corporate environment and succeeding as an entrepreneur. The conference concludes today.

Most of the participants flocked to the job fair, where some of the county’s largest employers had gathered.

“For people really looking for a job, this is the place to come,” said Rosina Tarlo, chairwoman of the job fair. “It gives women the chance for an informal interview with employers and to see what is out there.”

Sue Case, an assistant to the manager of a federal office who is looking for a career change, said the conference fit the bill for her. She said she attended seminars on writing a strong resume, business networking and job-interview strategies.

“I just came to see what it was like,” Case said. “There are a lot of women here looking for work, and I think this gives us a better understanding of what skills are needed” for a job search.