Knot Your Average Job Fair
On Thursday, Sept. 17th, the Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation and Coalition had the pleasure of partnering with Northwest Workforce Council and WorkSource to host the Marine Trades Job Fair at the Fisherman's Pavilion. Held right on the water, the event brought together job seekers and employers for a day dedicated to a simple goal: connecting people to careers on the waterfront.
The turnout speaks for itself. Nearly twenty companies from our waterfront industries showed up ready to hire. Representatives from a range of marine services, from boatbuilding to distribution, each looking for their next great hire. Tables lined the pavilion, conversations were happening everywhere you turned, and the energy in the room made clear just how much opportunity exists in these trades for anyone willing to take the leap.
The job fair was an incredible success, and not just because of the organizers behind it. It was the energy of the aspiring marine trade workers who showed up that truly made the day. People came in curious, asked thoughtful questions, and left with a real sense of the employment available to them. We are thrilled by the turnout and by how excited people are to break into such an amazing community of industries; and even more excited about what that enthusiasm means for the future of our working waterfront.
Total attendance for the event reached 120 jobseekers. The goal of events like this is always that the industry gains skilled and competent workers, but there's also something to be said for what happens when so many industry representatives come together under one roof to support one another.
The following companies participated:
These businesses took time out of their workday to show up and represent the waterfront community they believe in so deeply. A huge thank you to every participating company, we hope everyone who came through the doors found success and value in the experience.
