SANFORD — Fancy a job with the Social Security Administration? How about a career in banking? Driving a trolley?

Or, if you’re thinking about entering the work force and not sure what might suit you, a staffing agency might provide an answer.

Those opportunities and at least 96 more, from gigs in the service industry to manufacturing to government and business — offering a wide array of immediate opportunities — will be featured April 11 at the state’s largest job fair, set for 1 to 5 p.m at Nasson Community Center on Main Street in Springvale.

Maine’s unemployment rate statewide is 2.9 percent, with some pockets of York County — near the Portland area labor market and in the southern part of the county near Kittery — dipping below the statewide average, said Ben Neveux, a business services representative at the Maine CareerCenter in Springvale.

So why hold a job fair?

“In a very tight economy like the one we are currently experiencing, it’s very important for companies to be regarded as a great place to work or an employer of choice,” said Neveux. “Career fairs give these companies the opportunity to message their businesses, to get out in front of a labor force and to sell the benefits of working for them.”

Neveux said the job fair will give recruiters from 100 local businesses the chance to sell themselves to a diminished labor pool.

“In this current economy with a historically low unemployment rate of less than 3 percent,  successful businesses need to be flexible in the way they fill work shifts, what they offer as possible job sharing options and how they market themselves as employers of choice,”  he said.

Some of the larger York County companies looking for workers include Fiber Materials Inc., Volk Packaging, Yale Cordage, General Dynamics, Huttig Building  Products, Evonik, Pratt & Whitney, Hussey Seating, Corning, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Stonewall Kitchen and a host of others.

There are also opportunities at seaside restaurants, shops and hotels, in the insurance industry,  the military, health care, two county governments and social service agencies.

York County Community Action Corporation spokesman Brad Bohon said the agency is looking for summer trolley drivers along the coast, health care professionals at Nasson Health Care, teachers in the Head Start program and workers in the agency’s Energy Services division.

“The economy is in a really interesting place,” said Bohon. “There are a lot of jobs out there, just the opposite of where were were seven years ago.” 

Those who want a job now don’t have to wait for the job fair,  Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce President Richard Stanley said, they can go to the CareerCenter now and explore opportunities ahead of the April 11 event.

“There are some good offerings, and it’s not easy finding employees right now,” said Stanley. “There may be opportunities for people looking for a second job or career change or something like that.”

Neveux offered some advice for job seekers: 

“Attendees should research the companies recruiting at the job fair and if possible apply for positions before meeting with a recruiter to make a positive first impression,” said Neveux. “Job seekers should also bring a resume and be prepared to have an ‘interview-like’ conversation with employers to discuss skills, knowledge areas, and abilities.”  

He advised job seekers to dress for an interview.

The job fair is sponsored by the CareerCenter, the VFW, York County Maine Military Community Network, York County Community College, Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce and New Ventures Maine.

For a complete listing of employers scheduled to appear at the job fair go to: http://www.mainecareercenter.gov/locations/jobfair.shtml?id=66816.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.