MOSES LAKE - Job seekers will have the chance to connect with local businesses at the Job and Career Fair, scheduled for April 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the ATEC building at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE.

The 20th annual job fair will feature about 65 exhibitors, said Doug Sly, the college's public relations director. That will include some new exhibitors, in Aviation Technical Services, Moses Lake, and Amway Nutrilite, Quincy.

Including new exhibitors is part of the reason for the job fair's success, said Deborah Correll, chair of the planning committee. "Few job fairs can feature new employers almost every year," she said. "Our job fair has been successful because of the growth of jobs and diversity of employers in this area."

Exhibitors include companies involved in manufacturing, health care, food processing, retail, service industries, aerospace, education and technology. College programs that provide training in those industries also set up exhibits, adjacent to the booths for each industry, Sly said. "There is no other place where you can touch base with so many employers in one location and in one day," Carroll said.

The job fair also includes three workshops, including decreasing stress and remaining positive during a job search at 9:30 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. panel will include employers from local companies talking about what they're looking for during the hiring process. A workshop detailing what information job seekers (and those currently employed) should - and should not - post on social media is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The Moses Lake WorkSource office offers many of its services at the college that day, Sly said. "Attendees can take advantage of workshops helping them prepare for job interviews, completing applications and writing a resume," Sly said.

SkillSource and WorkSource employees work with college officials to develop workshops and other activities for job seekers, he said.

Exhibitors include SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, Quincy Foods, Odessa Memorial Healthcare, Sonico, JR Simplot, REC Silicon, Horizon Credit Union, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Frito-Lay, Aerotek/Genie, Columbia Colstor, Assured Hospice and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, among others.

The job fair serves two purposes, Correll said. "It's an opportunity for job seekers to interview the company, to ask questions. It's also a great opportunity for those not looking for a job right now to discover who the key employers are in the Grant County area and what they are looking for in employees."