Donated professional attire for job seekers to wear will be available at Job Fest, taking place next Thursday at the Great Bend Events Center. Professionals in the community can help by donating clothing.

Barton Community College’s Community Service Organization is conducting a Career Closet Drive that ends Tuesday, March 28, so that people can pick up professional attire at Job Fest. The group is looking for gently used items for males and females to they can dress for success at future interviews. Items sought include suits, dresses, shirts, shoes, belts, ties, scarves and other accessories, along with hangers.
Donations can be dropped off at the Central Kansas Educational Opportunity Center at 1025 Main St. in Great Bend. It is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
That is also the address of Kansas Works, where people can get help writing resumes. Kansas Works will also be at Job Fest to assist with resume writing.
Barton’s CSO Career Closet Drive helps job seekers appear as professional as possible while they network, said Kathy Boeger, business program coordinator at BCC.

Job Fest is a regional job fair that has been held in Great Bend for 10 years. It will run from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th St. Participants are invited to bring their resumes as 25 participating employers will be there to promote open positions in central Kansas.
Job Fest co-chair Judy Jacobs, BCC’s director of Testing, Advisement and Career Services, said Job Fest is one of the best networking opportunities in central Kansas.

“Job seekers can visit with employers face-to-face, learn valuable interviewing skills, apply for jobs on-site and connect with training providers in the area,” she said. “Employers can network with the 200-300 job seekers who attend the event, take advantage of lower booth space fees than most job fairs and network with employment agencies after the event.”
For more information, contact Boeger at boegerk@bartonccc.edu or 620-792-9203.