Starting in February of this year, City staff have been participating in multiple virtual career fairs to connect with potential applicants for City employment opportunities and promote the City as an employer of choice. To date, Human Resources and Police Department staff have attended fairs hosted by: Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Harris-Stowe State University, Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois Springfield, and the Illinois Virtual Law Enforcement Hiring Expo. The City’s participation in these events is part of a continuing effort to identify and utilize new and alternative methods to connect with current students and recent graduates during the pandemic.
These fairs provide an avenue for staff to communicate with and answer questions from potential applicants about the variety of employment opportunities with the City, as well as emphasize the benefits of pursuing a career in public service. Departmental representatives have included Sergeant Matt Crane (Police Dept.) and Assistant HR Director Eric Reynolds and HR Specialist Stacy Rachel (Human Resources Dept.)