The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- A Drive-Thru Job Fair for residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Somerset Patriots’ TD Bank Ballpark, 1 Patriots Park, Bridgewater (GPS: 860 East Main Street, Bridgewater).
The event is free to attend, for employers and job seekers. It is presented by the Somerset Patriots and the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board, which supports and connects employers and job seekers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
Each job seeker who drives through the event will get a bag of information filled with recruitment flyers from a variety of employers in the two counties as well as workforce-related information to assist with career decision and upskilling. There is a one-bag-per-car limit. Those distributing the bags of career information will be wearing masks and gloves; drivers should be masked as well.
“With so many of our residents having hours cut or even losing their job completely, it is vital that we step up and help them gain new employment and begin recovering financially,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson. “The Workforce Development Board’s Drive-Thru Job Fair is an innovative way for people to find new positions while keeping everyone safe and healthy.”
As part of a Central Jersey regional strategy of connecting job seekers and employers, workforce boards in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties also are presenting job fairs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at the following locations:
- Middlesex County: The Grand Marquis, 1550 U. S. Route 9, Old Bridge
- Monmouth County: Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft
- Ocean County: Ocean County College, 1 College Drive, Toms River
The individual bags handed out to job seekers will include the master list of employer- participants at each county event. Job seekers can go to whichever county location is most convenient for them. There is no job-seeker registration required for attendance at the Greater Raritan Drive-Thru Job Fair. More shareable information for job seekers is available HERE.
Employers have until Oct. 7 to register to participate in the Drive-Thru Job Fair. As of Oct. 1, the two dozen employers providing job-opening information represent a variety of sectors, including healthcare, management, hospitality, government and more.
“We encourage businesses of all sizes to participate in this free event,” said Hunterdon County Freeholder Director Shaun Van Doren. “It’s an innovative way to help local businesses get connected to the talented residents in our counties.”Employers interested in participating in the Drive-Thru Job Fair are asked to register by emailing grzella@co.somerset.nj.us or by calling 908-203-6044. After registering, all the participating employers need to do is provide the GRWDB 500 one-page recruitment flyers detailing their companies’ available positions and how to apply. Flyers need to be dropped off by Wednesday, Oct. 7, at locations in Somerville and Flemington. More shareable information for employers is available here.
The list of employer-participants continues to grow daily, and will be updated on the home page of www.thegrwdb.org. Bookmark the page and check back to see what opportunities will be available.
All programs and services provided by the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board are free. For information on these and other upcoming programs being planned throughout the fall by the GRWDB and its partners, go to www.thegrwdb.org; click on the events/calendar tab. Community members also will find up-to-date labor information about job trends and skill needs on the Resource /Labor Market Information tab of the site.
The GRWDB and its partners are offering a Job Match service for job seekers. For details, visit https://www.thegrwdb.org/resources/for-jobseekers/. This page also has links to a new searchable career dashboard, and to jobs.covid19.nj.gov, New Jersey’s COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal.
The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.
Community members should note that the in-person unemployment services and lobby phones that were offered at 75 Veterans Memorial Drive in Somerville will not be available for the foreseeable future. Comprehensive support for unemployment customers remains available online and through regional call centers. All unemployment claimants are asked to file new claims — or update existing claims — online at https://myunemployment.nj.gov. Claimants can call unemployment services at 732-761-2020.
Questions? Contact GRWDB Board Director Paul Grzella at grzella@co.somerset.nj.us, or 908-203-6044.
For more information about the Somerset Patriots, please visit www.somersetpatriots.com, follow all of the team’s social media accounts, and download the Somerset Patriots Mobile App.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) The ALPB is a Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Through its partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment and collaborates on marketing and technology initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 24-year history. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com
