The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce is hosting its third annual Manufacturing Career Fair on Saturday, July 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Best Western Plus, 201 Washington Avenue, North Haven. Past events have drawn hundreds of job seekers.

“It’s a win-win for both the employer and employee,” said Gary Ciarleglio, director of regional sales for the Quinnipiac Chamber and the Greater New Haven Chamber, who has been involved with this event since its inception. “The chamber has a large manufacturing base and this is an event to bring skilled workers to their doorstep. The event is open to all skill levels. Come out and talk to hiring managers in person.”

The event will feature nearly two dozen manufacturing companies from the North Haven, Wallingford, and Greater New Haven area. A limited number of exhibitor booths are still available at a cost of $400 for Chamber members and $450 for non-members. Each company will have a booth offering information on jobs currently offered. Some companies will have on-site applications and interviews.

There will be a variety of jobs offered from hourly wage positions to full-time salary positions, according to Ray Andrewsen, executive director of the Quinnipiac Chamber. He also noted that many employers also use the event to create connections with potential employees for future positions as well.

“Recent graduates are encouraged to attend and check out the opportunities, however, there are also positions that require college degree or specialized training,” said Andrewsen. “Some of the companies also offer on-the-job training.”

The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce is offering its own training at the Manufacturing Career Fair. Tom Curtin, Jr., corporate director of human resources at Ulbrich Stainless Steels, will conduct two sessions on effective interviewing techniques at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Ulbrich is the presenting the Manufacturing Career Fair. Other sponsors include Platinum Janitorial Services, Outfront, Zygo, Ametek, Workforce Alliance, American Job Center Workforce Alliance, Infra-Metals, and ACES.

“We have great sponsors for this event,” said Andrewsen. “We offer timely tips for job seekers and have a great thing going on with Tom Curtin—he’s a great guy and his presentations are a great resource for our attendees.”

Attendees are encouraged to pre-register online, but everyone is welcome to attend the free event. Andrewsen recommends that attendees bring copies of their résumé and “dress for success.” He has seen even more job openings as an effect of COVID.

“One thing coronavirus has taught us is that people are out of the workforce, but now with the infection rate dropping and the vaccination rates going up, there is safety in reentering the workforce,” said Andrewsen. “The manufacturers really want you to come out. They have jobs and they pay well. These are manufacturers who interested in retaining employees. The quality of jobs is there and these are solid investments in a career. This event gives the manufacturers an opportunity to let the wider community know there are a lot of good, solid jobs available in manufacturing sector.”

For information, visit www.quinncham.com or contact Gary Ciarleglio at 203-269-9891 ext. 601 or gary@quinncham.com.