The 2016 Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program Job Fair this weekend drew a record 650 young people to learn about and apply for some 1,650 job opportunities available, according to a news release from the City of Evanston.
It was the program’s largest job fair to date, narrowly exceeding the 2015 attendance of 600, the release stated.
Among the 1,650 jobs, about 1,000 of them were at Six Flags Great America. Others were at 50 local employers that included Northwestern University, Home Depot, Best Buy, Hyatt House, Salvation Army, McGaw YMCA, Office Depot, Great Harvest Bakers, YoFresh Yogurt Café, and Family Focus Evanston.
To help students prepare for the job fair, held Saturday at Evanston Township High School, the city’s Youth and Young Adult Division, in partnership with the Youth Job Center of Evanston, held job readiness training sessions throughout the months of February and March.
Some 330 students attended the trainings, which focused on resume building and writing, interviewing skills, dressing for success, and job comportment. Sessions were held in ETHS classes and after school with the cooperation of ETHS faculty.
Youth and Young Adult Division staff also offered job fair information and application help sessions at Evanston community centers, public library locations, and in ETHS cafeterias.