Naperville-based KidsMatter planning Student Job Fair

When Erik Mackey walked into the KidsMatter Student Job Fair last year, his job goals were a little fuzzy.

"I was just looking for some kind of job I could work," the 17-year-old Naperville North High School senior said.

He knew he wanted something part-time that offered a different experience from his past work in retail.

Within just a few minutes, he found himself talking with a representative of That Pickle Guy, a local company founded in 2003 by entrepreneur Greg Frederick that makes specialty pickles and an olive-based concoction known as muffalata.

Mackey was hired that day and has since been selling the products at Chicago-area farmers markets and, in the off-season, at area food stores.

That's just one of the kinds of jobs young people can interview for at this year's free fair from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the North Central College Residence Hall/Recreation Center, 440 S. Brainard St., Naperville.

Representatives from more than 60 businesses are expected to attend, offering part-time and seasonal jobs, said Bridget Hatch, marketing and event director for KidsMatter, a Naperville-based nonprofit that supports initiatives aimed at helping kids channel their energies in positive ways.

Hatch said the fair is primarily focused on matching jobs with people ages 15 through 23 and typically draws 800 to 1,000 people.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to meet one-on-one with 60-plus employers," she said. "We help kids who have never sought employment get more comfortable with the process."

Participants don't need resumes and can dress comfortably.

"But if possible," Hatch said, "dress as if you want to make a good impression."

Volunteers from a variety of industries will do mock interviews with jobseekers and real interviews will be conducted with the potential for on-the-spot hiring.

Among the employers expected to attend are Jewel-Osco, Mariano's, Target, the Bolingbrook and Fox Valley park districts and the Kane County Cougars. In all, between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs will be available.

"The fair helped a lot," said Mackey, of his successful job search.

As he gears up for another spring and summer of farmers market sales experiences, he reflected on working part-time as a high school student.

"It was real useful for college applications," said Mackey, who plans to major in finance. "It taught me different skills needed to be successful in business. I learned business-applicable skills - how to keep track of your money, how to talk to people, how to negotiate. It was an awesome deal."

For details on the fair, visit www.kidsmatter2us.org.