Elk Grove Village hopes to pair jobseekers with companies in need

Seeing all the "help wanted" and "now hiring" signs in storefront windows and throughout the Elk Grove Village industrial park - as well as temporarily shut down lobbies at some local fast food eateries - has prompted Mayor Craig Johnson to organize the municipality's first-ever job fair.

The event comes five weeks before COVID-19 related federal and state unemployment benefits are scheduled to run out, and many will be looking to re-enter the workforce.

"As we're coming out of this pandemic, businesses are feeling the effects of getting people to work," Johnson said. "We've been kind of despondent; looking around, no one seems to be having job fairs trying to connect businesses with employees."

The event is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, July 30, at Elk Grove High School, and is open to any and all jobseekers. Only businesses located in Elk Grove are eligible to participate, and can reserve a free booth by calling the village hall.

With the massive business park, there's 5,000 such businesses in town, and Johnson expects to secure a few hundred for the job fair.

Organizers plan to host breakout sessions on interviewing tips, updating resumes, and ways to maximize the job search experience.

Those who preregister at elkgrove.org/jobfair will also receive a free lunch.

To ensure a high jobseeker attendance, village officials plan to advertise the event on local radio, TV and in newspapers.

"It's not going to be hard getting the businesses there," Johnson said. "What's going to be hard is getting the people there to see the businesses."