For hundreds of job seekers in the tri-state area, Thursday’s “ComeBack Job Fair” in Hopkinsville’s Bruce Convention Center held rife opportunity — more than 80 various businesses and a veritable mix of jobs up for grabs.
For vendors, it was a near-emotional experience, as applications, resumes and eye-to-eye contact — something that’s been missing during the pandemic — turned what used to a be a run-of-the-mill scenario into anything but.
Joquela Smalls, a human resource generalist for Jennie Stuart Hospital in Hopkinsville and native of Guthrie, said she collected more than 40 resumes and phone numbers in 2 1/2 hours for a myriad of positions within the facility.
Autumn Thomas, a human resource generalist for Stanley in Hopkinsville, had the same luck, too — receiving at least 20 applications for six open positions over a 90-minute span.
Nathan Dean, a human resources agent for Hankook Atlas BX of Clarksville, picked up 11 resumes and eight email addresses before lunchtime. More than 20 jobs are available inside of the startup company, which is responsible for the assembly of lead acid batteries designed for original equipment and the aftermarket.
And it was the personal, human interaction that made all the difference. Vanessa Taggart, training manager for Continental Mills of Hopkinsville, noted a handshake — paired with an online application — helped put two-and-two together for one memorable imprint.
With nearly 60 positions available at Metalsa of Hopkinsville — a manufacturer of chassis structures for light and commercial combustion engine, hybrid and battery electric vehicles — Human Development Manager Sharon Chilton noted there have been concerns in the area about people failing to return to work.
After snagging more than 20 applications and resumes in the first half of Thursday’s job fair, however, she’s feeling a little more comfortable about the future of the area job sector.
Of the 86 scheduled vendors and organizations on site for the job fair, 43 of them were second-chance employers — meaning applicants had an equal opportunity for employment following prior incarceration.
Those who explored new job opportunities on Thursday need to follow up on any leads in the coming weeks — as general commerce and business returns to normal following the reopening of Kentucky on June 11.
For many businesses, Thursday was only the beginning of replenishing the local workforce. While prospective hires and second interviews took shape, hundreds of the jobs will remain open in the coming weeks.
And at some point, they’ll need to be filled.
Vendors/Organizations
- Douglas Autotech
- BedWood and Parts
- T.RAD North America
- Lake Barkley & Pennyrile State Resort Parks
- Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, L.P.
- Kentucky Moving and Storage
- BGB Trucking Inc.
- Hankook AtlasBX
- Wabash National/Transcraft
- Huhtamaki Inc.
- Metalsa Structural Products
- Stanley Engineered Fastening
- US Staffing Agency of West Michigan, LLC
- Manpower Hopkinsville
- Novelis
- LG Electronics
- Martinrea Hopkinsville LLC
- Riken Elastomers Corp
- Wyndham Garden Hopkinsville
- Luttrell Staffing Group
- Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel
- LafargeHolcim
- Crown Services
- Plymouth Engineered Shapes
- Elwood Staffing
- Wise Staffing Group
- Crown Staffing Services
- Green River Correctional Complex
- Shady Lawn Nursing and Rehab
- WoodmenLife
- Christian Care Center of Kuttawa
- Digital Works
- Christian Heights Nursing and Rehab
- PACS Transportation
- Christian County Jail
- Holiday Inn & Suites Hopkinsville, and Holiday Inn Express Oak Grove
- Hopkinsville U.S. Army Recruiting Station
- Comefri USA
- Morrison Health Care
- Barkley Plantation Assisted Living
- Chick-fil-A Hopkinsville
- Bridgestone Metalpha
- TGASK
- Marquette Transportation, LLC
- Higgins Insurance
- Christian Care Communities of Hopkinsville
- A&G Tree Service
- Jennie Stuart Health
- Herb Hays Furniture & Mattress
- Walmart Distribution Center
- Continental Mills, Inc.
- Keystone Construction
- Rogman Corp KFC
- Western State Hospital
- TTEC
- Max Arnold & Sons, LLC
- Danfoss
- Hopkinsville Solid Waste Disposal
- Cumberland Hall
- DENSO Air Systems
- The Edge Media Group; WKDZ/WHVO/WPKY
- H&R Agri-Power
- Merrell Home Improvement
- KPower Staffing Solutions-Clarksville
- Black Pearl Home Care
- Pennyrile Allied Community Services
- Hopkinsville Community College
- Office for Vocational Rehabilitation
- Kentucky Farmworker Program
- Morningside of Hopkinsville
- Whitehead Electric Company, INC
- Radhadji Inc
- Rogers Group Inc.
- EKCEP, Inc.
- Kentucky State Penitentiary
- McDonald’s
- Christian County Public Schools
- Finish Line Car Wash
- Outwood/ResCare
- Ace Drywall & Acoustic LLC
- Muhlenberg Job Corps
- CBE Companies
- US Air Force
- United Way of the Pennyrile
- Hucks
- Hands of Hope