By McAllen Chamber of Commerce

Close to 450 positions were offered on the spot to hundreds of job seekers during Jumpstart Career Expo Feb. 22nd at the McAllen Convention Center.

The inaugural career expo brought over 900 attendees from in and out of the Rio Grande Valley looking for their next professional opportunity. Over 150 employers offered roles in various industries including health care, government, construction, administration, retail and more.

This initiative was made possible by collaborations among Workforce Solutions, Texas Workforce Commission and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. The event was free and open to the public.

Attendees received résumé building assistance, professional headshots, health checkups, COVID vaccines, haircuts and more to help them find their next career opportunity. Officials stated just under 800 interviews were given on the spot with 682 follow-ups scheduled.

Through Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services, eight American Sign Language interpreters were available on the site to guide individuals with disabilities to successful employment. South Texas College ASL students were also assisting. Their attendance provides them with the required practice hours to become certified.

Title sponsor South Texas Health System provided health screenings and interviewing on the spot looking to fill numerous positions including certified nurse, admissions representative, maintenance and more.

As the South Texas airport for the Dallas Cowboys, McAllen International Airport was present with the Dallas Cowboys 360 photo booth experience. Other top sponsors included Ruby Red Hospitality who were hiring for its Valley hotel locations and supporter Explore McAllen.