Job seekers walk from booth to booth gathering applications and dropping off resumes during Tuesday’s job fair. (The Vicksburg Post/Melanie Duncan)

[08/07/02]The Vicksburg Job Fair held Tuesday was today called the best-attended since the first fair four years ago.

This year’s event again in the Vicksburg Convention Center, brought together job seekers with businesses, industries and government agencies with jobs that need filling.

During the 2001 fair, organizers said more than 2,000 people trooped through the doors of the convention center to make their pitches to 51 potential employers.

Joe Buckner, one of the organizers from Gov. Ronnie Musgrove’s office, said conservative estimates were that more than 3,000 applicants attended Tuesday. The turnout topped last year’s by about 11 a.m., he said.

Buckner also said the response from employers exceeded last year’s total with 70 companies, agencies and businesses renting booths.

Buckner said between 60 and 70 people were in line when he arrived about 6:30 a.m. “They had their folding chairs and hot coffee,” he said. “We figured if they were that interested, we’d cater to them and handed out registration cards.

Wilson Gaillard, one of the Chamber of Commerce officials who helped organize the fair, said attendance was near capacity. “We can’t get any bigger,” he said, adding the only option available is to move additional employer booths into breakout rooms on the Mulberry Street level of the convention center.

Among those staffing booths was Lamar Horton, human resources director for the City of Vicksburg. He said the qualifications of people looking for jobs seemed higher than in years past. Buckner agreed, saying job-seekers seemed better prepared for the event and to make a good impression if interviews were offered on the spot.

“I expect 70 or 80 will get job offers today,” Buckner said.

Daniel Parra is an officer with the U.S. Border Patrol from Brownsville, Texas, said his agency’s booth got interest from job applicants, but was a bit disappointed that so many of those stopping by exceeded the patrol’s upper age limit. The federal agency doesn’t make offers to anyone over 36.

“We are very pleased with the good quality candidates,” said Brenda Barron, branch manager for Ablest Staffing Services in Flowood. “The quality is better than last year.”

Bryant Humphrey of Vicksburg was among those looking for work. Humphrey said he wanted a job in the restaurant industry, adding he had 10 years’ experience ranging from busboy to manager.