Clatsop WORKS Paid Internships and Clatsop County Job & Career Fair

We are very excited to see normalcy returning to our local economy. There are still challenges ahead, but two important programs will be in full force this year, stronger than ever. The first is the Clatsop WORKS internship program, the summer paid internship program with our Clatsop County employers, the Astoria, Jewell, Knappa, Seaside and Warrenton high schools and Clatsop Community College. The second is the Clatsop County Job & Career Fair, which after a two-year COIVD-19 pause is back!

Clatsop WORKS Paid Summer Internship Program

The Clatsop WORKS program provides local students, ages 16 and up, with exposure to professional paid internship opportunities in Clatsop County, with the goal of community building, economic development, promoting local career opportunities and retaining local talent.

We are in the fifth year of this program and plan to have a record number of employers and students participating this summer. We welcome Misty Bateman as our Clatsop WORKS coordinator, who has a deep background in career-technical education at the community college level, and has a passion for student success.

For employers, if you are a past “Host” we are reaching out to see if you will be participating in the program this year. New employers are also being actively recruited. If you would like more information, contact Bateman at [email protected] or call her at 503-338-2507.

Parents, grandparents, guardians and friends are encouraged to share this great program opportunity with their high school or college students. Deadline for students to apply is May 15. Go to clatsopworks.com to learn more details and to apply. If you have questions, email Bateman at [email protected] or call her at 503-338-2507.

Bateman will also be visiting all of our high schools and Clatsop Community College to meet with students, counselors, instructors and administration. This is a once in a lifetime experience for our students!

Clatsop County Job & Career Fair

Clatsop Economic Development Resources is collaborating again with the local WorkSource Northwest Oregon office and many community volunteers to organize the Clatsop County Job & Career Fair.

The event will be held on May 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for our high school students and from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. for Clatsop Community College students and the general public at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds.

Astoria, Ilwaco, Jewell, Knappa, Naselle, Seaside and Warrenton high schools will be participating. For these students, it will be their first exposure to a large event with all employers together in one location.

In addition, we expect a large turnout from the general public, Clatsop Community College students, active job seekers and those wanting to learn more about the career options in Clatsop County.

Four focus areas for employers:

1. Hiring now for immediate positions for summer jobs.

2. Looking for committed and skilled employees to fill career technical, trades, vocational, apprenticeship positions in our workforce.

3. Sharing career options in Clatsop County for our college-bound students, both at Clatsop Community College and four year colleges and universities. Many students are not aware of the diverse positions available in many industries in our own backyard and we want our youth to come home after they graduate from college or stay here after they graduate from Clatsop Community College.

4. Information and job and career opportunities for the general public.

We want to give the attendees an overview of the many industries and sectors that make up our local economy.

The target sectors are: Tourism and hospitality; business, banking, finance and professional services; seafood processing and fishing; forest and wood products; health care; retail; manufacturing; law enforcement; career technical, contracting and trades; education and government; public sector; military options (branches of the military).

There is a comprehensive website at clatsopjobfair.com with detailed information about the job and career fair for students, parents/guardians of students, employers and volunteers.

To register as an employer to participate in the career and job fair, call Debbie Newton at the WorkSource Northwest Oregon office at 503-378-8063 or email her at [email protected] Businesses can also register online by going to the clatsopjobfair.com website and clicking on the registration link.

This event is free. Employers are asked to register as soon as possible as the entire list of employers participating will be provided to the schools and will be featured on the website. Note we will also be contacting each employer as we get closer to the actual event date with specific details and tips to maximize the day.

Employers that are hiring will have special signing for the job seekers to see.

March 15, 2022 Coast River Business Journal

By Kevin Leahy; executive director of Clatsop Economic Development Resources and the Clatsop Community College Small Business Development Center. Reach him at [email protected] or call 503-338-2402.