Community members look for opportunities at E&T Career Fair

November 4, 2016

Christopher Lomahquahu

Gila River Indian News

For individuals wanting a career or job, the Employment & Training Department hosted an annual job/career fair on Oct. 28.

Under rows of white tents representatives from local universities, colleges, trade schools and businesses met with the over 300 Community members that participated in the job/career fair looking to expand their horizons.

Gila River Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said, “There are great opportunities [here] today for [our] Community members that will put them in a good position to do great things.”

He encouraged them to continue striving for a better quality of life and to find ways of preparing for college or a job by looking to financial advice from banks and credit unions.  

“It is important that [we] understand how to manage our finances while [you] pursue a college education and in post-graduation when [you] are establishing your career,” said Gov. Lewis.

E&T Director Lana Chanda said, “This year I think was a really good one. We have 21 job offers from one of the employers.”

She said that a lot of colleges, universities, technical schools and departments came out to the career fair and that an emphasis was placed on services for veterans looking to find a career post-military service.

“It’s all about work readiness and getting people ready for the job or school, because we have ‘dress for success,’ we have plenty of schools that will give out information for students to apply for school,” said Chanda.

Gov. Lewis said it is important to have job opportunities for veterans that will allow them to continue using the critical skills gained in the military and that there are organizations like the “Honoring, Hiring, Helping Our Heroes,” who visit locations in the Community and Pinal County with their Eagle One mobile unit.

District 4 Community member Ofelia Gabaldon said, “I was curious to see how many representatives were going to be at the job fair, because I want to broaden my options for employment.”

At one of the tables setup for attendees, Gabaldon filled applications and talked about her interest in attending Universal Technical Institutes to become a mechanic.

She said, “I am currently employed, but I really want to expand my options, because there are so many opportunities for Community members available [here]…it’s empowering to know the Community is hiring and is able to help with financial assistance to attend school.”

For individuals like Gabaldon, she said regardless if someone is a first timer or wanting to get back into school like herself, it is important to check out these kinds of events to get a “foot in the door.”