Employers met one-on-one with job seekers in the Hudson Valley on Tuesday in the hope of placing people in open positions.

Over 10 employers attended the WestCOP hiring event Tuesday at Mount Vernon Center.

Thom Kleiner, director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Board, says one of the event's objectives is to keep talent in the Hudson Valley.

“Even though we on a daily basis match job seekers with employers and we work with businesses to find out what their needs are and try to match them with the job seekers, when you have a specific job fair it gives an opportunity for both job seekers and employers to meet in the same place at the same time in a constructive way,” he says. “Particularly, our young people and there's a lot of new opportunities like green jobs and again in health care."

There are in-demand industries with open jobs that applicants interviewed for at the event.

"A lot of times it's not as easy to apply online because there's so many candidates applying at one time. So, when you can come and sit down face-to-face with hiring managers, it makes it a lot easier to get a foot in the door and find out what exactly they're looking for,” says Tamara Burke, a job seeker who attended the event.  

Recruiters recommend that when you come to career fairs, it's important that you stand out from the other candidates.

"Know your skills, know your strengths, definitely come with your resume, a pen, most importantly, honestly, just a smile,” says job recruiter Jasmine Guthrie.

Those who couldn't attend the hiring event still have a chance to seek general employment counseling and sign up for job training opportunities through the county.

"In Westchester County, there are two primary career centers, here at 130 Mount Vernon Ave. and White Plains 120 Bloomingdale Road,” says Kleiner.