Nearly 1,500 job seekers attended the sixth annual Marietta-Cobb Career Expo September 26 at the Civic Center. Recruiters from about 50 employers, colleges and universities, and service organizations met with prospective employees to match job opportunities.

Sponsors included Marietta City Councilman Anthony Coleman, the city of Marietta, Cobb County Government, Georgia Department of Labor, Cobb/Cherokee Career Center, and CobbWorks!, Inc.

Councilman Coleman said he started thinking about having a Career Expo after people kept asking him if any jobs were available with the city and said one of the reasons he sponsors the Career Expo is to give back to the community.

William Batchelder from WellStar Health System was recruiting for many different positions. "We are looking for people who want a career rather than a position." Batchelder said WellStar brought 500 business cards to the Expo and had given all of them out with in the first two hours.

John Helton, CEO of CobbWorks!, Inc., which has been involved with the Career Expo since the beginning, said it's great to have so many organizations working together to reach a common goal, and that the employment outlook will be better for job hunters in the coming months.

"In today's market, job seekers are seeing a challenge in getting the jobs they want," Helton said. "Over the next few months and into next year, employers will have a more difficult time finding workers they need."

Local businesses, including Winans Fine Chocolates & Coffees and The Last Detail, contributed to the free event's success.

The Career Expo helps Marietta citizens find meaningful employment, a goal of the city's vision statement.

For more information, call Marietta's Personnel Department at 770-794-5562.