Berkshire County Second Chances Job & Resource Fair

Berkshire County Second Chances Job & Resource Fair

The job fair is free and open to the public. Formerly incarcerated individuals, including those who may have been justice involved and/or who have a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) file, are particularly encouraged to attend.

VISIT THE EVENT PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Area employers who are interested in participating in the fair must register in advance. The registration deadline is Oct. 27, 2023, or until filled. Employers must have open positions they are seeking to fill immediately and must have a second chances/CORI-friendly hiring policy.

To prepare employers and prospective employees, a series of free workshops will be held in advance of the job fair.

Employer readiness workshops (virtual): Employers can learn how to increase job applicant pools with qualified candidates; how to hire applicants who have a CORI file or a criminal record; and how to leverage the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit and the Federal Bonding Program. Virtual workshops will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. and on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. Register now.

Client readiness workshops (in person): A series of four workshops will help job fair attendees gain the skills they need to interact with employers and ultimately gain employment. Each one-hour workshop will be held at 2nd Street, located at 264 Second Street in Pittsfield. Walk-ins are welcome, and refreshments will be provided. Learn how to register.

• Tips for Attending a Job Fair: Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m.
• How to Talk About Your CORI: Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.
• Writing an Effective Resume: Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m.
• Preparing for Your Interview: Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.

According to research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), more than 80% of hiring managers consider workers with a criminal history as high-quality hires, equal to or even more effective than those without a criminal history. And, 74% of those same hiring managers indicated extreme value in hiring people with a criminal history, in part because it costs relatively little to recruit and hire them.

Job Seekers are NOT required to register prior to attending the job fair.
Can’t make the above readiness workshops? Join MassHire Berkshire Career Center for one of our workshops to prepare for the job fair:

• Creating Your Resume will guide you in creating the perfect marketing tool to use in your job search… Your résumé.
• Interviewing More Effectively provides tips on presenting a positive first impression, knowing what to expect at an interview, and being prepared for each stage of the interview. Plan answers for potential interview questions and develop self confidence in the process.

This event will be hosted in collaboration with the following agencies: Berkshire Community College, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, 2nd Street Second Chances, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, MassHire Berkshire Career Center & MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board.

Let’s get to work!