Thousands Take High Hopes to Ventura Job Fair

Carrying resumes and high hopes, thousands of students and non-students descended on Ventura College’s 15th annual job fair Wednesday, and employers were impressed.

“The applicants this year are really intense,” said Maggie Subic, recruitment coordinator for the Buenaventura Medical Clinic, as she riffled through a thick stack of curricula vitae. “Everyone wants to give me their resume.”

Last year, Subic gave out 200 job packets. By noon Wednesday, eager applicants had snapped up twice as many of the glossy folders filled with information on open positions at the clinic.

Ventura College junior Jody Gibbons, 24, checked out the clinic’s clerical and nursing openings and decided not to apply.

“These are all female jobs,” he said, walking away from the table. “I don’t really need to work, because I just live at home and mooch off my parents.”

Gibbons was one of the few job-seekers who could afford to be choosy.

“I’m looking for anything where I can get my life back on the right track,” said Dave Hassler, 43, who lost his warehouse management job two years ago and has been unemployed since.

By 11 a.m., Hassler had already surveyed the fair’s offerings, which were heavy on government, law enforcement, the military, retail and self-employment ventures such as Avon and Tupperware.

He had already filled out half a dozen applications. He was most enthusiastic about a management position at Pizza Hut. “It’s not exactly the dream job,” he said, “But hey, I’m past the point of being picky.”

Hoping to try out some of the skills she’s learning as she works toward a degree in business, Midory Bealderrama, 22, applied for a clerical job with Apple One Employment Services.

“I’d like to work in an office,” she said. “But if that doesn’t work out, I’m flexible.”

The 7.9% countywide jobless rate for March was down markedly from the 1992 peak of 10.2% in November.

But many of those who are unemployed have been looking longer and are more willing to work outside their field of interest, said Rheeda Gomberg, who has coordinated the fair since its inception. And job-seekers are vying for a smaller pool of positions, she said.

“Right now, they’re just looking for jobs,” Gomberg said. “They’re not that selective. You get 40 people applying for a $5.50-an-hour clerical job.”

Alejandra Ornelis, 18, came to the fair to seek a bank teller’s job at Wells Fargo. She was disappointed when she learned that the bank, which came to last year’s fair, did not participate in Wednesday’s event.

“It’s too bad,” she said. “I was counting on them to be here.”

After peaking at 109 three years ago, the number of employers attending the fair has held steady at about 70 the past couple of years, Gomberg said.

“We’re relieved to see this many,” she said. “I think things are beginning to pick up.”

The open-air fair also attracted some not-so-serious attendees: college students who happened upon the event and wandered from table to table, entering free makeup and jewelry sweepstakes and scooping up freebies.

Angelique Abel, 21, proudly displayed her collection of pens, posters, key chains, magnets and a Marines bumper sticker.

“I’m not looking to find a job,” the college freshman said. “I’m here to socialize.”