Job fair turnout pleases many Hawai'i recruiters

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

The turnstile counters at the WorkForce 2004 job fair were turned off after 5,250 job-seekers entered the Neal Blaisdell Center late yesterday, but at least 100 more people continued to stream in anyway.

They came to interview with 122 companies and organizations seeking new workers amid an expanding Hawai'i economy.

"This is way better than most job fairs," said Val Lau Kong, who was recruiting for 80 Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W restaurants. "We have better applicants, better candidates."

Kong needed to fill 150 jobs, from entry-level positions to management, and was hiring on the spot.

"We're finding lots of good ones," Kong said. "We are definitely making offers."

Chuck Daly, 54, has years of technology experience and only gave out 10 resumes.

There were plenty of openings for entry-level jobs with organizations, such as the Honolulu Police Department, Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Daly said.

But only a few organizations had openings that fit Daly's experience.

"If I was single or young, there were a bunch of jobs I'd be interested in," Daly said. "They were mostly for folks just out of school."

Daly still left optimistic.

He hopes to get offers from two organizations that wanted someone with just his skills.

"I'm pretty optimistic," Daly said. "Any time you reach out and get some feedback that's positive, that raises my optimism."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.