A laborer by trade, Jennifer Basnett works as a landscaper in the summer. As her season winds down, it felt like a good time to stop by the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday to see what is out there for her next seasonal gig.  

Although she typically returns to landscaping in the summer, Basnett said it’s not something she can do forever. The job fair illuminated other opportunities she can pursue as the years go on.  

“I want to [keep working in landscaping] but I'm getting older ...  But I just found out that the Whitefish School District pays for your Commercial Driver's License training as a school bus driver, so I'm actually really excited about that,” she said.  

Learning what local companies are offering new hires is just one benefit of the job fair, which is held at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center in the spring and fall. The job fair is hosted by Job Service Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College, Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and WorkForce Flathead.  

There were around 80 employers present at Thursday’s fair, running the gamut of industries.  

Nomad GCS is currently hiring for several jobs, including electrical technicians, assembly technicians, several kinds of engineers and materials handlers. Electrical technician Jennifer Fosgate from Libby said that while some positions require certifications, many do not, and the company also assists with education.  

A green flag for potential candidates is to see if they are willing to learn.  

“Every company does things a little bit differently. Even if someone doesn’t know what they're doing, but they’re very open to learn how the company works, it just makes life so much easier,” Fosgate said.  

LC Staffing Recruiter Morgan Spitznagel said that when people have an idea of what they’re looking for, it’s also helpful for pointing them in the right direction.  The job fair offers opportunities for employers to find the right people. 

“It's great exposure. It really gives you candidates from entry level all the way to somebody who is a director of operations. So it's the full spectrum, which is nice,” she said. 

For all levels of jobs advertised at Thursday’s fair, employers were looking for preparedness and good communication skills. Skyler Gullickson, people business partner with Pursuit, was noticing who brought resumes to the fair, if they were dressed professionally and if they had questions about the jobs available.  

The biggest benefit of the job fair is reaching more local people, he said.  

“It's very difficult to hire locally for the positions that we have, unfortunately. So it’s great to come to these things and let people know that we are here,” Gullickson said.  

For many job seekers, connecting with employers in person was a big benefit. Ryan Towe, who works for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the summer, said it can be more difficult to find seasonal work in the winter.  

“I’ve applied to quite a few places but haven’t heard back. I originally had three positions with FWP that I had applied to that would have been able to get me through the off-season, but I didn't get any of them. So, I’ve exhausted plans A, B and C,” he said.  

The 22-year-old said the fair had more companies and organizations than he expected.  

Retiree Neil McClement echoed the same sentiment — the 65-year-old from Creston said that he was looking to find work after his decades-long career as a firefighter. While he doesn’t know exactly what he’s looking for yet, talking to companies at the fair was a good place to start.  

“There’s way more than I thought was going to be here,” he said. “If something jumped out that was really nice that was full-time, I'd take it, but I’m also fine with part-time, just to kind of fill the void of being home.”  

WHILE SOME employers reported varying difficulty with recent hiring, Town Pump District Manager Brandon Cowden said it’s been tough to reach people.  

“We put our positions out there, we try to hire through Indeed as well ... And hoping that people understand that we're more than just gas, right?” Cowden said.  

The nine stores across the Flathead Valley hire for positions in delis, for custodial staff, casino staff and managerial positions. Whether it puts them in contact with high schoolers looking for a part-time job or someone looking to start a career, attending the job fair is a great opportunity to let people know what their company offers.  

“The job fair is huge for us, it’s immense. We’re able to have good conversations with people,” he said.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support. 

    Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office who work at the Flathead County Detention Center speak to attendees at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center on Wednesday, Sept. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Montana Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Joaquin Calderon shakes hands with an attendee at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center on Wednesday, Sept. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Linda Knopp, a Talent Acquisition Partner with Logan Health, speaks with an attendee at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center on Wednesday, Sept. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider