LIHUE — If your New Year’s resolution is working with the technology industry, then 2018 may be your lucky year. The Kauai Holiday Hi-Tech Career and Job Fair is taking place Wednesday at Kukui Grove Center.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or are a college student on winter break seeking out potential employment, the Kauai Holiday Hi-Tech Career and Job Fair is an excellent way to connect with STEM-related businesses here in our own back yard who are ready to hire qualified employees,” said Nancy Kanna, interim executive director of the Kauai Economic Development Board, one of the partners organizing the fair.
The networking event, sponsored by Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, is open to job seekers and others visiting for the holidays who are interested in learning about Kauai’s hi-tech and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) industries.
“With Kauai’s unemployment rate near record lows, the demand for skilled employees, especially in engineering and computer science related fields, is very high,” Kanna said.
Free services will be provided with resume evaluations, head shot photography, computer access and printing services available. Attendees should be prepared for an on-site interview by dressing appropriately and bringing copies of resumes.
“We recognized that Kauai’s continued decline in the unemployment rate at 1.8 percent in October necessitated that we create a specific career and job fair in the hi-tech and STEM fields during the holidays to attract kamaaina and visitors and help our Kauai businesses in these sectors by organizing this inaugural event,” said Ka‘eo Bradford, executive director and administrator of the County of Kauai Workforce Development Board and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Some of the businesses and organizations participating include General Dynamics Missions Systems, Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital and Kauai Coffee Co.
“General Dynamics Kauai has relied on local engineering talent for 16 years,” said Kenneth Shawn Reese, chair of the KEDB Science and
Technology Committee. “We’re excited to see what opportunities the Hi-Tech Career and Job Fair will provide, and the new relationships we’ll make to help grow our team.”
Also participating will be Manu Kai LLC, which provides base and range operations support services for the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands.
“As the largest contractor on PMRF, we are actively seeking talented electronic technicians, systems administrators, network engineers, cyber security analysts, air intercept controllers and range contractor coordinators and other positions,” said Julie Broyles, human resources manager for PMRF, Manu Kai.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to recruit and inform attendees about job and career options on Kauai,” she added. “We offer excellent employee benefits and are looking for individuals who want to grow with Manu Kai.”
The career fair begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, with business networking from 5 to 6:30 p.m., in the former Blockbuster Video location across from Starbucks Coffee.
Info: www.HTDC.org, 635-4130
Skills? I don’t know. What do you know?