Sep. 14--The typical job fair has become a whirlwind event during the recession.

Hundreds to thousands of anxious job seekers press to place a face and a resume before employers, many of whom can only offer hope of future hiring plans. Job workshops typically are a backburner activity, if noticed at all.

Contributing to the anonymous nature of the job market are employers insisting on an online, time-consuming application process to weed through candidates.

This week, the Winston-Salem Urban League is bucking that trend.

It is conducting a weeklong "claim your career" series of seminars and workshops that will culminate in a job fair with at least 35 employers. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Urban League office, 201 W. Fifth St.

The seminars focus on resume preparations (today), dressing for success (Tuesday), online job searching (Wednesday) and interview skill preparations (Thursday). Each seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be panel discussions and breakout sessions on each day's theme.

"The events are for everyone from GED to Ph.D.," said Steve Jones, the director of the group's employment division.

"We want to give job candidates the chance to become more polished before they go before employers at the job fair. They don't have to come every day but are welcome to if they want."

The need for job fairs remains high in the Triad.

Although the Triad jobless rate dipped in July, it remains near at least a 41-year high at 11.6 percent.

According to a Manpower Inc. survey released last week, 11 percent of employers in the Winston-Salem metropolitan statistical area plan to add jobs in the fourth quarter. An additional 11 percent said they expect to cut jobs.

Jones said that another incentive for attending the seminars is that some of the presenters also will be employers participating at the job fair.

"The seminars give candidates a chance to ask questions and get face time with employers," he said.

Among the employers who have committed to the job fair are Advance Auto, BB&T Corp., Forsyth County, Inmar, MetLife, Novant Health Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group, Temporary Resources, Time Warner Cable, Truliant Federal Credit Union, University of Phoenix, Wachovia Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co., and WXLV-TV 45.

"Wachovia continues to experience strong financial performance in Winston-Salem and we will continue to invest in this market," said Christine Shaw, a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo.

"One of the ways we'll be investing is adding positions over time to support our growing businesses. Participating in local job fairs is a great way to recruit talented and diverse candidates to join our company and help us serve our customers."

The weeklong event is offering the same type of information that outplacement companies provide for a fee, said Archie Hicks, the manager of the Winston-Salem office of the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

"Many people are still somewhat naive or uninformed about the entire job-search process," Hicks said. "This type of information would be a valuable tool for anyone to possess. Historically, the events being put on by the Urban League have been very well attended."

The events could be particularly helpful for those who have been out of the job market for months or more, said Gayle Anderson, the president and chief executive of the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.

"Workshops and opportunities for people to practice their interviewing techniques are always helpful," Anderson said. "By attending the seminars, prospective employees can get professional assistance and coaching, which should improve their chances of landing a job."

rcraver@wsjournal.com

727-7376

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