Building careers on the peninsula

The 2023 Kenai Peninsula Job and Career Fair gathered on Thursday 54 vendors — employers and career training resources — to connect directly with local job seekers.

Held at the Old Carrs Mall by the Peninsula Job Center in Kenai, the event featured a wide variety of employers seeking to connect with those looking for employment in a number of industries, including law enforcement, construction, health care, food service, hospitality, oil and gas companies, retail and administrative work.

Harley Harrington, 40, was dressed in a sharp shirt and tie on Thursday. He said that he’s unemployed and looking to find full-time work. He came out to the job fair because so many hirers were gathered together in one place — he wouldn’t have to drive to different locations to meet with different people.

Harrington said he didn’t even go in knowing which businesses would be participating, but that he arrived and started figuring out which options he was interested in pursuing. He said he was interested in staying in Kenai and working with people — but was less interested in spending all of his days on his feet. He said with so many options, he can almost be picky.

Around noon, Harrington had made two connections he was interested in pursuing, and he was planning to attend a training at one business next week.

Preston Moore graduated from Nikiski Middle/High School in May 2022. He said he didn’t have a great financial outlook, and he was out trying to get a job.

The Alaska State Troopers were Moore’s first stop, but he found out that he needed to be 21 to be employed with them. He said he spent time visiting a variety of tables, including the Air Force, the Office of Children’s Services and the Seafarer’s Union. He said he walked away with a stack of papers and potential jobs he could apply for.

“I’m confident that I can go home tonight, look into those jobs, and get something started,” he said.

Christine Smith, life enrichment director at Aspen Creek Senior Living, said they were looking to hire resident assistants and kitchen staff. She said that both positions would receive on-the-job training — including CPR certification. Smith said even more opportunities are on the horizon as both their Kenai and Soldotna locations prepare for expansions.

Only an hour into the fair, Smith said they had received several applications and resumes, and that they’d start processing them as soon as they returned from the fair.

“We will, every one of them, set them up for an interview,” she said.

Marathon Petroleum didn’t have many openings on Thursday, Human Resources Business Partner Randi Broyles said, but they were looking to hire up to 10 operators, and to get back in front of the job market. She said that they have lots of positions that they seek to get local folks into, including electricians, technicians, emergency responders, security, and administrative roles.

“We’re trying to get the word out that there’s lots of opportunity out there throughout the year,” she said. “Remind people that we’re here and love to hire a local workforce.”

Several high school students had come by, Broyles said. They talked about how to get into entry level positions and said they planned to go through Kenai Peninsula College’s Process Technology program.

Many of the employers participating in the fair were looking to get the word out about their benefits and amenities. Aspen Creek was telling visitors about the quality and flexibility of their hours and benefits package. GCI was leading with their largely and intentionally work-from-home structure, and the Department of Corrections was describing their set annual step-increase pay structure.

In addition to employers looking to connect their positions to job seekers, several vendors were looking to connect job seekers to education and training opportunities to further their careers.

Alex Douthit was representing his business, Kenai Peninsula Driving Instruction, at the fair. He said they were looking to hire instructors and fill positions at their Department of Motor Vehicles office, but that they were also trying to spread the word about their training programs.

Most popular, he said, is the commercial drivers license program.

“Once they get their CDL, it really opens a lot of doors,” he said. Some students get job offers even before they’ve completed their program. Douthit described one student who finished his course and started a job with a $30 hourly wage in the same week.

At the job fair, Douthit said they were trying to get information out, and help potential students connect with funding sources, including the Peninsula Job Center. People had come up excited to start the course, and some had come up who had never considered it before who walked away interested.

Similarly, AVTEC and KPC hosted tables. AVTEC was handing out information about the breadth of the programs they offer, including welding, plumbing, culinary arts and information technology. A representative at the table said their students spend 10% of their time doing coursework, the other 90% simulating an actual work environment.

For more information about the Peninsula Job Center and other resources, visit jobs.alaska.gov.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.