set for
Feb. 28
By LEE HINNANT
Columbus County residents seeking work – particularly in construction trades – are encouraged to attend a special job fair at Southeastern Community College Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 1-4 p.m. at T Building.
Columbus County and Wilmington’s WAVE Transit are offering daily bus service from Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw to Wilmington. Only a handful of riders now use the service, but there are more than 300 Columbus County people seeking construction jobs and there are plenty of job openings in the booming Wilmington market.
“There are a wide variety of jobs available,” said Teresa Triplett, associate dean of continuing education at SCC. “Some of these employers want experienced help; some will take inexperienced folks who can work as helpers.”
At least eight employers will be at the SCC job fair: Bradley Barnes Construction, Bryant-Durham Electric, Watson Electric, Sturdy Corp. (electrical assembly), New Hanover Regional Health Network, Able Body Labor, Labor Ready and Youngblood Staffing.
“We’re excited about the opportunities and we think this is a good way to get everyone together,” Triplett said. Job offerings include construction workers and helpers, day laborers and allied health personnel.
Charles Garrett, manager of the Whiteville branch of the state Employment Security Commission, said his staff would attend the job fair but could be of help beforehand. Job-seekers can use the ESC to prepare resumes and find classes to improve their skills. ESC will also help workers prepare a “pocket resume” listing skills and references that is easy to carry around, Garrett said.
“We look at all the things we can do,” Garrett said. “Only part of it is to highlight employers and the jobs they have.”
Triplett said people seeking jobs should bring their resumes to the job fair. They should also dress to make a good impression. Anyone who needs assistance preparing a resume or list of references can call the ESC or the college’s JobLink Career Center. The Center number is 642-7141, extension 261.
Charles Patton, Columbus County Transportation director, said job fair participants could use county transportation to reach the job fair, if needed. The number to call is 642-7201.
The Columbus Connector bus to Wilmington is available Monday through Friday and costs $3 each way. It leaves the Health Department off Thompson Street in Whiteville at 6 a.m. and stops at the Home Run Food Mart in Lake Waccamaw. It departs Lake Waccamaw at 6:20 a.m. and arrives in Wilmington at 7:10 a.m.
The return bus leaves Wilmington at 4:35 p.m. and stops at the lake at 5:25 p.m. It arrives in Whiteville at 5:45 p.m.
