Finding a job is especially difficult if you don't have transportation, childcare, or the means to go back to school. A Cincinnati anti-poverty organization is offering a helping hand to those who want to help themselves.
Cincinnati Works pre-screens its members by doing a background check, drug screen, and requires job readiness workshops. It held its first spring job fair Tuesday at City Link in the West End.
With an air of confidence, Robert Stockett stepped right up to the Amazon booth and handed over his resume. "I want to get a better career. I'm trying to get in school as well, but I'm trying to get my financial basis together so I'm going to do both of those at the same time."
He moved to Cincinnati from North Carolina to support a critically ill uncle. The uncle has died and Stockett is trying to save enough money to move back to North Carolina and buy a house.
Gregory McDowell is another job seeker. He has worked a variety of jobs including driving a truck and maintenance. His current job as a security guard at Toyota is being eliminated because the company is closing its manufacturing headquarters in Erlanger.
On finding a job, he says, "Sometimes I believe it's timing. I think it's (also) the effort that you put into it."
Sixteen of Cincinnati Works' 75 employer partners were represented at the job fair. Here are a few:
- Busken Bakery
- Horseshoe Casino
- Cincinnati Children's
- Amazon
- Fifth Third
- UC Health
- Christ Hospital
- 3CDC
Cincinnati Works estimates it has helped 5,000 people since its inception in 1996.
