The line of eager job seekers snaked up the stairs of the Croatian Cultural Centre and down Commercial Drive, as MOSAIC opened the doors to their 2nd Annual Vancouver Employment Fair. In the wake of last year’s successful employment fair, organizers wanted to create an event that far exceeded attendee’s expectations. The goal was to have more high-profile employers and create greater opportunities to help people find meaningful employment. In total, 2,871 people attended the job fair, a 45 percent increase over last year’s numbers. The fair also featured more employers, including a health authority, two banks, a national grocery chain, a credit union and luxury hotel chain. Eyob Naizghi, MOSAIC’s Executive Director, was delighted with the turnout. “This is a credit to the hard work of MOSAIC’s staff and volunteers and the strong relationships we’ve built with employers. We see events such as this as a valuable opportunity to assist immigrants in obtaining long-term employment,” Naizghi said. Several employers reported they were very impressed with the calibre of candidates, noting that individuals were dressed professionally, understood their organization and were very specific about their career goals. Recognizing that healthcare is emerging as a sector with tremendous potential, MOSAIC set aside an entire room to feature employers which included: Vancouver Coastal Health, Health Match BC and Bayshore Home Health. Having now exceeded their goals, organizers at MOSAIC are excited about the prospects for future employment fairs.
