Job placement continues to be a top priority for the staff at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) – Elizabethton.

Throughout the morning hours Thursday, the commons area at the school was bustling with foot traffic for a job fair that featured various local and regional employers. The fair was available to current and graduated TCAT students looking to make an impact in the professional world.

It was a welcomed sight for Patricia Henderson, student services coordinator at the Elizabethton campus. Henderson helped spearhead the program and noted that Thursday’s event was one of the largest job fairs at the school.

“We had a lot of calls coming in from people hearing about the job fair, just from word of mouth,” Henderson said. “It has been an exciting turnout for today’s event. We’re able to offer this event to current and past TCAT students so that we can continue our goal of making sure they find employment after graduation. We’ve had job fairs and career fairs in the past, but this is the first year we’ve had a huge turnout from a different variety of vendors and students.”

According to Henderson, the school’s completion rating last year was 90 percent while job placement was at 91 percent.

Seeing the turnout was one of the reasons why businesses, like Kelly Services, was in attendance. Carly Hopkins, Kelly Services’ area manager, said the business has openings for various jobs, including IT, administrative and light industrial.

“We’re definitely excited to be here today and we’re looking forward to welcoming any students from TCAT,” Hopkins said. Job opportunities from the school are available for viewing on the company’s website.

The job fair proved to be a win-win across the board for the school and different vendors, like the Tennessee Department of Correction.

For the Northeast Tennessee area, Frank Dominguez with Northeast Corrections said there are immediate openings at facilities across the state, including the Mountain City area.

“TCAT approached us about the job fair. They told us about the need they had for students seeking jobs and we have immediate openings, so it’s a win-win,” Dominguez said with a smile. “The feedback has been very positive from students and the interest is there. You can tell they’re a hungry, excited group that’s ready to take their talents into the job world.”

Individuals looking to apply for a job opportunity can contact the Mountain City office or Tennessee Department of Correction website for more information.

Tim Ward, diesel instructor at TCAT, knows first hand about the job opportunities that are available for students that come through the school. Ward indicated that the job placement is 100 percent for students that come through the program due to the shortage of diesel techs at businesses.

“If anyone is looking for a potential job opportunity, I’d recommend them to come through TCAT,” Ward said. “Just from my experience, students are able to get the proper certifications that employers look for. The diesel program has a high placement rate.”

Dean Blevins, TCAT – Elizabethton president, said the faculty doesn’t stop working with students after graduation and that there is a passion to make sure all graduates are able to find employment.

“The job of our faculty is not done until our graduates are employed in their chosen field of study. TCAT – Elizabethton is fully accredited and adheres to the very highest standards of excellence in its job training programs. We are committed to meeting the needs of business and industry in our community. Our mission is to provide world-class training in technology and then to assist our students in finding the best possible employment,” Blevins said in a statement issued to the Elizabethton Star.

Applications are now being accepted at TCAT. Individuals can either visit the website, stop by their office within the Stoney Creek community or call (423) 543-0070 for more information. Henderson added there are waiting lists for certain programs, so potential students need to apply as soon as possible.