Workforce Solutions Showcase to put job seekers in the spotlight

Published 9:39 pm Thursday, October 8, 2026

For people who have struggled to find work because of a disability, recovery, reentry or other barriers, the traditional job interview can be an intimidating place to prove what they can do.

A Workforce Solutions Showcase coming Oct. 14 at State Fair Community College will turn that process around.

The event, organized by the Center for Human Services, will combine an employer resource fair with a reverse job fair, giving job seekers their own tables where they can showcase their talents, accomplishments and skills directly to potential employers.

Carrie Rieman, business developer with the Center for Human Services, said the goal is to help employers recognize talent in people often overlooked.

“There’s talent in places that employers have not looked,” Rieman said. “Each person has the ability to bring some unique skill sets to the job.”

Rather than simply handing an employer a resume, participants will be able to create displays featuring their resumes and examples of things they have worked on and are proud of.

Those examples can help demonstrate qualities that aren’t always apparent during a short interview.

“They’re, you know, attention to detail, their steadfastness, their reliability,” Rieman said. “You know, I mean, different things like that, those soft skills, that really add up to a longer-term employee.”

Rieman said people who have had to work particularly hard to overcome obstacles and find employment may bring a strong commitment to the workplace.

“When you take the time to work this hard at getting a job, you know, on figuring out how to do that, you’re gonna be a better employee,” she said. “You’re gonna put more time into staying at that job.”

The reverse job fair also is designed to remove some of the anxiety that accompanies a traditional job interview.

“Any of us, we walk into, do a typical interview. Number one, your anxiety’s high,” Rieman said. “You’re worried you’re not gonna make the right impression. You don’t know if you’ve dressed appropriately.”

At the showcase, job seekers can prepare ahead of time and have the opportunity to show employers who they are beyond a list of qualifications on a resume.

“It’s a turn of events, essentially,” Rieman said. “It’s an opportunity to take that anxiety down, to be prepared ahead of time, to just be able to show yourself off a bit.”

The event will take place in the Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building at SFCC. Job seekers will be in the building’s lobby, while the conference room will host the employer resource fair.

Participating organizations will provide employers with information about workforce services and resources available in the community.

Representatives are expected from the Missouri Job Center, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Human Services. Other organizations will provide information on autism-friendly businesses, recovery-friendly workplaces, the federal bonding programs, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and mental health resources for employees.

Rieman said some employers may not realize how much workforce support is available locally.

“We’ll have a whole variety of different ones there that, I think, a lot of employers don’t know are there, that have workforce supports built into their services,” she said.

Job seekers participating in the reverse fair are currently being recruited through the Center for Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Missouri Job Center, Choices for People and services for the blind.

Anyone interested in learning more about the available employment resources is welcome to attend.

A free lunch will be provided for attendees.

For more information, contact Carrie Rieman at CRiemann@CHS-MO.org.

Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.