MetroCast job fair draws more than 150 applicants for 8 positions

GILFORD — At least 150 people waited as many as three hours yesterday afternoon for a chance at one of eight jobs offer by central New Hampshire's largest cable television, Internet access provider.

For Ginger Fitts of Laconia, this week marks her 16th consecutive month of being out of full-time work and her third job fair.

"This is the first time I've ever been out of work this long," she said.

Held at the Gunstock Inn, the MetroCast job fair was looking for customer service representatives, technical support representatives, a trainer and at least one engineer for their Belmont and Rochester centers.

Fitts, who said she has been able to stay barely financially afloat with a series of part-time jobs, was still able to crack a few jokes and be positive while she and six others at their table waited for a personal interview.

Around the room, the mood was generally much more somber.

For the most part, job seekers, most of them clutching manilla envelopes holding oft-rewritten resumes, stared straight ahead or quietly conversed with one of their neighbors — he or she also quietly waiting and hoping for a full-time job with benefits.

Many asked not to be identified by name and some said they were working part-time and didn't wish to risk what little they already had.

In the adjoining room, others sat in one-on-one interviews with employees brought by MetroCast from their other offices. In the center of that room sat MetroCast Regional Technical Operations Manager Steve Mazzuchi and Senior Director of Customer Service Bill Beitel.

Mazzuchi and Beitel said they had already gone through 50 applications and had copies of them a few times.

Since what economists have called the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression struck in 2008, New Hampshire has remained at the low end of the nation's unemployment scale.

However, Belknap and Coos Counties, according to New Hampshire Department of Employment Security statistics released in May, have trailed the rest of the state in recovery.

As of March, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the state was 5.2-percent — one of the lowest in the country. In Belknap County, unemployment was 6.1-percent — down from a high 8.4-percent in March of 2010 but still higher than all but Coos County.

Laconia's March unemployment rate was the second highest of all New Hampshire cities at 6.2-percent. Unemployment for Berlin was 8.7-percent.

According to the Department of Employment Security, the good news is the rate of employment or job loss has slowed considerably. The bad news is there are still few private-sector, full-time year-round positions being filled.

With local budgets tight and voters not in the mood to see any tax increases, those employed in the public sector likely won't see much in the way of raises and very few new public sector jobs will be created.

At yesterday's MetroCcast job fair, Beitel said they were thrilled with the number of applicants who came for an interview.

He said MetroCast likes to hire locally and prefers not to use temporary employment agencies. He added that this was the first time the company had held its own job fair but had participated in other multi-company fairs..

"Today, we have a large selection to choose from and some really decent candidates," Beitel said.

He said MetroCast is a company that really cares about its employees, pays above the average for state income in the jobs category sought and provides excellent benefits.

Beitel also said that for those who won't get a job immediately as a result of yesterday's job fair, the company is growing and will keep resumes for future reference. He also said MetroCast has operations in eight different states and, for those willing to relocate, there may be opportunities.

While each of the people sitting at her table had different circumstances surrounding their unemployment or under employment, many were college educated and working at least part-time.

And for a few brief hours on a rainy summer day, like Fitts all were optimistic, hoping their previous work experiences, solid educations, winning personalities or some combination of the the three would land them at MetroCast as a full-time employee — with benefits.

"If you've been out of work this long, you really need some kind of a sense of humor," said Fitts.

"And a few prayers," said the lady sitting next to her.