By JASON MULLIS, Times-Mail
FRENCH LICK - Casino and labor officials who organized a job fair over the weekend in Orange County said the event was a success.
Nearly 2,000 candidates showed up Friday and Saturday, dressed and ready to apply for 1,000 French Lick Resort & Casino-related jobs.
“It was great,” said Gary Leavell, WorkOne Region 10 coordinator. “We were really pleased with the turnout.”
He's still compiling specific numbers, but he believed the casino located many of the workers it needs.
“I'm going to try and get a feel for where most of the people came from,” Leavell explained. “That's going to be important for future reports.”
He wants to know how to best market his services, because even with the large turnout there are still some jobs available with Benchmark Hospitality.
“We are still going to hire a lot in the food and beverage area,” said Keith Schnulle, vice president of human resources for Benchmark. “There will also be a lot of interest as far as servers, and we will be looking for cocktail servers in the casino.”
Schnulle said between 350 and 500 fair attendees were offered jobs during the weekend, filling many of the security and accounting positions.
“It was excellent,” Schnulle said of the fair. “The people responding, I think, will make good-caliber employees. The applicants were dressed very well and ready to go for the interview.”
As more of the casino becomes ready, jobs near the front desk and in and around the various restaurants and lounges will need filled as well. So, those who didn't attend the fair, or who had their application placed in a file for future review need not be dismayed.
And, the casino officials certainly aren't worried. They successfully staffed a huge chunk of their available positions in two days, with what has been called a well-organized and attended event.
“I was very pleased,” Schnulle said of the fair. “I think we got a very good start on a base work force.”