Career fair brings job seekers together with opportunities

The Gene Bianchi Community Center in Oakdale was a place of new hope and opportunity for many area residents on Wednesday, August 21, as the city hosted its biannual career fair.

The open-to-all event, which ran from 3pm to 5pm, brought together a diverse range of employers and eager jobseekers, highlighting the region's commitment to local economic growth and employment.

Oakdale Mayor Cherilyn Bairos emphasized the importance of such events for the community.

“Events like this are extremely important to ensure that people in our community actually get a job,” said Mayor Bairos.

The fair featured a wide range of employers, from established local institutions such as Oak Valley Community Bank and Oakdale Joint Unified School District to larger regional employers such as Chicken Ranch Casino and The Wine Group. Job openings spanned a variety of sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, construction, education and manufacturing.

Attendees had the opportunity to explore positions ranging from entry-level to specialized positions in engineering, human resources and healthcare. The variety of opportunities reflected the growing and diverse economic landscape of not only the host city of Oakdale, but also the surrounding Stanislaus County.

Mayor Bairos also emphasized the collective effort behind the event.

“We are very pleased with the partnership with Opportunity Stanislaus, the City of Oakdale and the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “We would like to continue to hold these events twice a year.”

The turnout exceeded all expectations. Mayor Bairos noted that by 2:45 p.m. there were already about 30 people waiting outside the door, which underscores the great interest in the local employment opportunities.

Officials noted that events like the career fair play a critical role in connecting residents with local employment opportunities, promoting community development and strengthening the local economy.

For those who missed this opportunity, the next Oakdale Career Fair is scheduled to take place in early 2025.