The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance in conjunction with the Eastern Shore, North Baldwin, Central Baldwin, South Baldwin and Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chambers of Commerce, will hold a job fair at the Robertsdale Coliseum Thursday, April 9. The fair will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’re excited about it,” said Karen Glover, BCEDA operations manager. She estimates that “about “20 to 30” companies will be on hand at the job fair, looking for employees.

“Companies range from Austal to companies looking for seasonal help,” said Glover.

A look at the Alliance’s Web site, baldwineda.com/files/job_fair/jobfair.htm, gives a list of the companies expected at the fair and the positions those companies are trying to fill.

Glover urged students, high school juniors and seniors, to apply for those seasonal jobs.

The BCEDA job fair isn’t new.

“We’ve been doing this for several years, at least five years,” said Bob Higgins, BCEDA vice-president.

Higgins added that the Coliseum, less than a mile behind Robertsdale High on Fairgrounds Road is a good venue and “central to the county.”

The BCEDA Job Fair drew 600 applicants last year, and organizers aren’t sure how many will come this year. The fair is free to job seekers.

No matter how many come, there are a few things attendees should do, like bringing many carefully proofread resumes to leave with prospective employers.

A complete list is on the BCEDA Web site, but some of the tips for job seekers include: “Dress professionally - wear a suit or nice clothes, bring a pen and paper, research the companies participating before you get there, be ready to interview and be able to quickly sell your skills, be prepared to fill out a job application, use your manners, always say ‘Thank You,’ make eye contact and smile!” And finally, “Follow up after the job fair with a phone call or note.”

Dressing appropriately is always a good idea. While Higgins stressed that employers are not looking for applicants in suits and wing-tips or pumps, but “flip-flops are not a good idea.”

“We have had several employers shake their head,” said Higgins, “about the way people show up for job interviews.”

Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System is ready to help job seekers get to the Coliseum. According to the BCEDA, BRATS shuttle service is available if you call them at least 24 hours in advance. The numbers are Eastern Shore: (251) 990-4636, central and south Baldwin: 972-6817, and north Baldwin: (251) 937-0355

And if you are not looking for a job now, but might be in the future, Higgins added that there will be several seminars on interview skills, resume preparation and job seeking that might be of use.

“It may give (applicants) the idea of what kind of jobs they can do if they are thinking of a career change,” said Higgins.

“The idea is to write a resume in such a way that you are not pigeon holed,” said Glover.

In addition to the employers at the fair, there will be representatives from area educational institutions such as Bishop State Community College, Enterprise-Ozark Community College-Aviation Center Mobile, Fortis College, Faulkner State Community College, University of Mobile, and University of South Alabama Baldwin County on hand to discuss how a degree or course of study might enhance job prospects.

Both Higgins and Glover were confident that while the economy was not in good shape right now, the future for job growth in this area is good.

“We are in better shape than most,” said Higgins. “We have a good diversity in our economy. Tourism remains strong. We had 4.7 million visitors in 2007 and 4.5 million last year.”

And jobs in the area will be expanding, Higgins believes.

“A lot of us in workforce development,” said Higgins, “are confident that in five years, we will be 5,000 people short of what we need.”