QBP RICHARDS TO HOST VIRTUAL QUEENS JOBS RECRUITMENT FAIR
Thursday, March 18 at 2pm
(March 8, 2021 at 3:54pm)
QUEENS, NY – Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. today announced that the next edition of his monthly Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair will be held on March 18, 2021 at 2:00 PM.
Building Skills New York, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and Turning Point for Women and Families will be participating in the Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair series for the first time on March 18. They will be joining a group of 11 employers and recruiters that have participated in previous fairs: CAMBA, Inc., The Child Center of New York, Commonpoint Queens, the Council for Airport Opportunity, Empire Vets, Forest Hills Financial Group, New York Life, Queens Centers for Progress, WATCHGUARD 24/7 Westhab, Inc. and Workforce1 Career Center.
Held on the third Thursday of each month by the Queens Borough President’s Office, the Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair series connects Queens job seekers with a wide array of employment opportunities across a variety of industries.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has gone on for more than year and is still taking a devastating toll on the physical, emotional and economic health of our communities, especially our communities of color that have been hardest hit by the virus,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “Our series of Virtual Recruitment Fairs has been addressing the economic impact of the pandemic by connecting Queens residents with employers who are hiring right now for positions in critical sectors of the economy. We continue to be grateful to the employers and recruiters who have partnered with us in helping provide these employment opportunities to our borough’s hard-working residents.”
WPIX-TV (PIX11) will return as a media partner for the March 18 fair after promoting previous recruitment fairs in the fall and winter of 2020-21. The station will support the upcoming fair with promotional assistance over its airwaves and on its website at www.pix11.com.
The March 18 Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair will air online from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM and live streamed at www.queensbp.org. Prospective applicants interested in participating in the live interactive Q&A via Zoom Webinar must RSVP by Wednesday, March 17 at www.queensbp.org/rsvp. Instructions on how to participate will be emailed the day of the event to those who register.
Participants and viewers will hear brief presentations from employers and recruiters seeking to fill numerous positions in a variety of service fields, including aviation, transportation, developmental support, retail, finance and more.
Queens’ unemployment rate was at 10.7 percent as of December 2020. That’s down from a high of 21.6 percent in June 2020 — but still 7.7 percentage points higher than February 2020’s pre-pandemic low of 3.0 percent.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, 24,397 first-time claims for unemployment benefits were filed in New York City during the week ending February 27, 2021, an 81 percent increase compared to the same week the previous year. Between March 14, 2020 and February 27, 2021, more than 2.44 million unemployment claims were filed in New York City, a 655 percent increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
Launched by then-Acting Borough President Sharon Lee in April 2020, the Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair series has included 13 hiring events and more than three dozen participating employers. Over the course of the series, more than 1,400 connections have been made between job seekers who attended the virtual fairs and the participating employers.
“Building Skills New York is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to connecting members of underserved and underrepresented communities across the five boroughs with access to good-paying construction jobs,” said Building Skills NY senior recruiter CALVIN EDWARDS. “The pandemic has taken a significant toll on New York’s economy and its workforce. We are keenly aware that in order to realize a full and successful recovery, individuals need resources and skills to reenter the labor market and also to advance in their careers. We are proud to be working in partnership with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. to offer his constituents – as well as New Yorkers all across the City – opportunities to join the construction industry, which has long supported both individuals and families alike.”
“The Queens Chamber is excited to partner with Borough President Richards for his virtual recruitment fair and we look forward to this stellar opportunity to meet talented individuals and grow our team,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO TOM GRECH. “As Queens recovers from the pandemic, we are fortunate to have a Borough President who is deeply committed to connecting Queens residents with jobs and helping our economy bounce back.”
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards in presenting opportunities for work at our multi-service organization,” said CAMBA, Inc. President and CEO JOANNE M. OPLUSTIL. “CAMBA is a great place to work, serving 65,000 people in all five boroughs of New York City. We invest in our employees and provide opportunities for growth, and we know when you work here, you’re more than your job description.”
“At The Child Center of New York, we believe every child can thrive, given the right skills, education, counseling, and development programs — and we know that a dedicated staff is the key to making that happen,” said The Child Center of New York Recruitment Coordinator SHOSHANA CHEDDIE. “The Child Center prioritizes talent in the neighborhoods where we work — people genuinely interested in the strength of their community and the well-being of the families next door. It matters to us that candidates recognize the opportunities to support and build their communities.”
“During these difficult times with the pandemic, it is more important than ever to make sure that employers can connect with candidates remotely,” said GI Go Fund CEO and Co-Founder JAMES FANOUS. “Empire Vets has been working diligently over the past year to this end, connecting veterans in New York City with thousands of opportunities posted by companies for COVID-19 relief and recovery. We are proud to be a part of this event and are thankful to the Queens Borough President for putting it together.”
“As an Associate of FHFG and a Financial Representative with Guardian, you’re an entrepreneur. You can define your career, be your own boss, keep flexible hours and earn a highly competitive income. You’ll join a community of professionals and a company with a solid reputation. Best of all, you’ll be building a business for yourself, but not by yourself,” said Forest Hills Financial Group Director of Operations DIANE NEUSTADT. “When you become a financial representative with FHFG, you can have more than just the career you want. You can have the life you want while doing meaningful work.”
“Helping our community one resume at a time, one call at a time, one interview at a time,” said New York Life Partner WILLIAM CLEARE. “Now it’s your time! Let’s get Full-time!”
“Queens Centers for Progress has been an essential business throughout this pandemic and we have continued to provide quality services to our individuals with special needs,” said Queens Centers for Progress Human Resources Assistant Director MICHELLE JENKINS. “We are delighted to continue this partnership with the Queens Borough President’s Office to provide meaningful positions that offer great benefits and growth opportunities.”
“We are delighted to partner with Borough President Richards to promote jobs with WATCH GUARD 24/7,” said WATCH GUARD 24/7 CEO JOHN RAFFERTY. “Qualified individuals have an opportunity to have a rewarding career with excellent benefits and growth opportunities. We are an essential business providing service throughout this difficult time and beyond.”
“Westhab is transforming communities by developing quality affordable housing and delivering the services that people and neighborhoods need to thrive,” said Westhab Human Resources Coordinator RACHEL PIMBLE.
***PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR***
WHAT: Virtual Queens Jobs Recruitment Fair
WHEN: Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 2-3:30 PM
WHERE: Live stream: www.queensbp.org
Prospective applicants interested in participating via Zoom must RSVP by Wednesday, March 17 at www.queensbp.org/rsvp.
Follow the Office of the Queens Borough President via @QnsBPRichards on Twitter and @QueensBPRichards on Facebook and Instagram
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