Better Together job fair Nov. 16 offers second chances for job seekers with barriers to employment

Nearly 50 job seekers facing barriers to employment will have the chance to meet with over a dozen hiring employers on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at a Second Chance community job fair hosted by Better Together and Grace Church.

Every year, more than 650,000 Americans are released from prison and faced with challenges for re-entering the workforce. Better Together’s Second Chance job fairs help job seekers overcome barriers to employment, such as incarceration, by opening the door to background-friendly employers.

The 17 participating employers include ATAX, Coolair Conditioning, Creative Architectural Resin Products, Fathoms Restaurant, Goodwill, Hands On Staffing, HireQuest, Jimmy John’s, King Brands, Liberty Aluminum Co., Micky Franklin’s Tires Wheels & Auto Repair, Mitchell & Stark Construction, Preferred Materials, Pridestaff Fort Myers Metro, RAMS RPG, SalusCare and Williamson Bros. Marine Construction.

The church-based job fair not only connects job seekers with local employers who are ready to hire, but also provides resources to facilitate stronger connections and more hires. Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are also available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills as well as other resources including clothing.

“Imagine you’ve been incarcerated and are looking for a second chance. Checked boxes and paper resumes don’t account for the changes you’ve made or your desire for a fresh start,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “We look forward to breaking down these barriers to employment and helping restore hope for those in need of employment in the Fort Myers area.”

The community job fair is part of Better Together’s “Better Jobs” program, which has helped 34,000 applicants connect with employment opportunities across 21 states. At job fairs hosted by Better Together, two-thirds of attendees get a job interview, and half receive a job offer on the spot.

The Nov. 16 job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace Church, located at 2415 Grand Ave. in Fort Myers. Job seekers and employers can register at BetterTogetherUS.org/Events/FtMyers-JF.

Churches interested in hosting a Better Together job fair can visit BetterTogetherUS.org or email mellissa@bettertogetherus.org for more information.

ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.