2nd Careers Sought At Albertus-Hosted Job Fair

Fair Haven resident Nkenge Hook didn’t miss a beat of information, filling the lines of her notebook with bright blue ink as each employer stepped up to speak.

While she pondered over each job opportunity, she gathered her collection of job fliers and business cards into the brightly colored folder she got on sale from Walmart that seemed fit for this occasion.

Hook and other New Haven residents explored the various employment opportunities New Haven has to offer at a career fair last Wednesday night at Albertus Magnus College. The fair was hosted by the local employment-boosting nonprofit New Haven Works, which helps people secure occupations, by providing job training, resume workshops, and connecting locals to organizations. 

Over 200 people signed up to be attendees and the event had 16 organizations in attendance according to executive director Ingrid Derrick-Lewis, with some of the employers including ConnCAT, Yale New Haven Health, Yale University: New Haven Hiring Initiative, the University of New Haven, and Elm City Communities. 

New Haven Works has previously held job fairs at the Wilson Library in The Hill and Fair Haven Library. With this being their third job fair, the nonprofit is slowly achieving their overarching goal to reach all parts of New Haven, aiming to target Dixwell and Brookside next.

Among the guest speakers was Mayor Justin Elicker, who emphasized his support for New Haven Works, mentioning that the city has increased its contribution to the nonprofit from $150,000 to $200,000 this year. 

“I am a big fan of New Haven Works because today is not about a job: It’s about a career,” Elicker said, ​“And what New Haven Works does is focused on ensuring people, particularly people that have historically not had access to solid long-term living-wage careers, get that opportunity.”

He ended his speech by encouraging people to check out work opportunities within city government, highlighting open positions in the fire, police, and health departments. 

“A lot of times I knock on doors in the community and people say: ​‘We need jobs, mayor.’ There are jobs…These are jobs that allow you to buy a home. These are jobs with health insurance, most of the jobs have a pension. These are jobs that we want you to commit to because it’s a commitment to you as well.”

An Albertus alum, Newhallville/Prospect Hill Alder Kimberly Edwards, had nothing but love to say about the neighborhood, giving the audience a warm welcome to her ward.

“I do hope you all find something that you can do, that you want to do, that you’re passionate about,” Edwards said to the crowd. ​“Expand your horizons. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend! If they didn’t make it, come to the next one, or to also apply.”

While Edwards had a prior commitment that night, she felt it was necessary for her to be present, recalling when she landed her first job at Southern New England Telephone Company since 1996 — a job she’s held on to ever since. That career longevity and self-discovery is something she wants other people to experience.

“People need to be afforded the opportunity to have a living wage, to make decent income not just to get a job, but to be able to enter a career,” she said. ​“I don’t care what your age is. Some people are on their second phases of their life and third phases and starting over for whatever reason and we also have some younger people here. So I think the collaboration amongst New Haven Works is awesome.”

Abdessamad Elyajouri, 36, made a pit stop to ConnCAT’s table, getting a pitch from OrLando Yarborough III, director of ConnCAT’s BioLaunch program, about ConnCAT’s adult training programs in phlebotomy, culinary arts, and biotech.

After taking a pamphlet to save for his friend, Elyajouri wrote his name and contact information, and handed it to Yarborough, nodding as he explained ConnCAT’s initiatives. 

Yarborough, 42, who also serves on the city’s Board of Education, described his work as ​“impactful” because of the influence it has on individuals. 

“The participants talk about how their lives are improved, because of what they learn, because of the culture of contact and also because of the tangible skills that they’re able to gain while they’re here,” Yarborough said, ​“and even more importantly, they’re just realizing a vision and a step forward for themselves and we’re happy to contribute to that.”

Elyajouri previously worked as a driver for the Greater New Haven Transit District, a transportation system that serves people with disabilities. He said he lost his job in June after filing a workers-comp case related to an on-the-job injury. 

Despite this rough bump Elyajouri has sustained high spirits, saying that he’s ​“open to anything from manufacturing, to driving, to office work.” 

Originally from Morocco, Elyajouri noted that translating his documents and diplomas was a challenge when applying to jobs because of its lengthy process, but still came prepared with copies of his resume in hand. 

“I have dreams that I want to accomplish, so I’m never discouraged,” he said. ​“Every time I see an opportunity like this, I like to take [advantage].”

He advised job-seekers to ​“prepare themselves” by working on their resume and getting technical records in order. If you’re well prepared, it’s easier to just come to events like this,” he said.

West Haven resident Krista Yates came to the fair with a field in mind, wanting to work in a medical office, having prior experience as a medical receptionist.

Yates, 68, has been job hunting for a couple of months and wants to get a more stable job outside of temporary work. 

“I would just like to do something in the health field, like to help people get better,” she said. 

One obstacle she says she’s faced is ageism, saying she has the experience but that workplaces might prefer to extend offers to younger candidates. 

“It’s either that or I don’t interview well. I hate interviewing!” she said.

After visiting the American Job Center table at the job fair, she planned on seeing Yale New Haven Health and New Haven Public Schools, pondering the possibility of being a substitute teacher and exploring other careers instead of continuing in healthcare.

“Sometimes I feel like I want to do something different than what I’ve been doing.”

After job hunting independently for some time, Yates has now learned to accept help and take advantage of resources around her. 

“I at one point was trying to do it my way, on my own and just coming in today, sort of just opened my eyes to this and a lot of things that could help me,” she said.

Hook, on the other hand, doesn’t believe in ageism when it comes to getting opportunities, saying it’s a matter of perspective. 

“I thought that I was too old to go back to pursue some things I wanted to do as a child, but I had to change my perspective and realize you’re never too old,” she said.

Hook, 50, is a full-time student at Albertus in an online accelerated graduate program working towards a Masters in Public Administration. 

After getting injured as a recovery assistant with Continuum of Care, she used the setback to work on herself and decided to go back to school after 20 years, earning her bachelors during the pandemic.

“I had the ailment and I had to come out of work and get disability… my self esteem was affected,” she said. ​“I felt like I tied my value system to my job and that was not healthy. I had to really do a lot of personal self inventory and realize I’m still valuable, even though I have a setback.”

Hook has been job hunting for five months, a huge step since being out of work for 11 years due to health issues and being a caregiver for her mom.

She hopes to work in the public administration field and become a lawyer. Currently she is waiting to hear back from The Access to Law School Program at Yale Law School at the end of this month, a pipeline program that guides New Haven residents through their law school process offering LSAT prep and application help.

Through her struggles, she urged people to ​“never give up on your dreams.”