HERE'S A TWIST: JOB HUNTERS ARE SCARCE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 21, 1992                   TAG: 9202210134
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA SWIRSKY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
HERE'S A TWIST: JOB HUNTERS ARE SCARCE
Organizers of the third annual Black College Students Fair found themselves Thursday in a predicament unusual in these recessionary times - they didn't have enough people without jobs.
Despite pumped-up advertising efforts, this year's student job fair fared only half as well as last year's. The event, which drew 105 students last year, attracted only 50 this time.
"We were expecting 100 to 150 students," said Sara Holland, Job Fair Coordinator. Holland said she was disappointed with the turnout.
Students who did come seemed poised somewhere between all-out anxiety and cautious hope.
"We're all a tad bit nervous," said Robert Webb, a junior at Virginia Western Community College. A psychology major, Webb said he will take "anything that is legal" as a job. But Webb doesn't think that will be permanent. He plans to go to graduate school and eventually open his own practice.
Shelly Worthy is keeping her options open as well. The junior at Liberty University in Lynchburg would like to get a job in her field, marketing, but knows how tough the market is. Some of her friends who've already graduated still haven't found jobs. "Some have, but not in their fields," Worthy said.
The fair at the Roanoke Civic Center was co-sponsored by Total Action Against Poverty and the city of Roanoke.
Although 23 companies were represented at the fair, not all were hiring.
Appalachian Power Co. took resumes but did not accept applications because the economy has dimmed its hiring plans for the time being.
"We are in the middle of a hiring freeze," said Helen West, the company's senior human resources assistant. She said Apco was taking applications for the future, when "hopefully the employment situation will be better."
Despite a lagging economy, many of the companies at the fair said they were hiring. Kroger Co. representative Jerry Powell said the supermarket chain is still hiring strong, though other companies are suffering. "I think it is just the growth of the company," he said.
Some companies at the fair said that, while their overall hiring is down, the effort to recruit minorities is still a priority.
Joe Copenhaver, Roanoke public schools director of professional personnel said budget cuts have decreased the number of positions available but opportunities for minorities are good. "Roanoke city schools put a great emphasis on minority hiring," he said.
Samantha Parris, a freshman at New River Community College, said her minority status does give her an edge in the job market today. "I think I have an advantage as a minority and a female," she said.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB