Job fair aims to connect 168 Anchor Glass workers with new employment opportunities

Houston County Development Authority is hosting a private job fair for workers affected by the Anchor Glass closure in Warner Robins.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A private job fair is being held this week to help workers affected by the closure of the Anchor Glass facility in Warner Robins find new employment opportunities.

The company filed a WARN notice with the state of Georgia listing the closure as permanent. The notice says all 168 employees at the Warner Robins location are expected to be affected, with October 17 listed as the first date of separation.

Workers arrived at the Anchor Glass plant on August 18 and were told the Warner Robins facility would be closing.

Now, the Development Authority of Houston County is working to help those affected workers transition into new jobs.

The authority held two job readiness workshops last week, where more than 30 affected workers received assistance creating resumes, practicing through mock interviews and registering for the WorkSource Georgia portal. The portal provides access to training opportunities and information about available jobs.

The authority is also hosting a private job fair specifically for workers affected by the Anchor Glass closure.

Some of the employers expected to attend include First Quality, Robins Air Force Base, Frito Lay, Tionic, Sandler Corporation and Graphic Packaging.

Paul Allen, business development project manager with the Development Authority of Houston County, said the timing of the job fair gives workers an opportunity to connect with employers who are currently looking for experienced employees.

“We thought it would be great if the skill set that these impacted workers have could translate directly into a role that’s vacant,” Allen said.

Allen said many of the employers are looking for workers with several years of experience, which could make the affected Anchor Glass employees a good fit for available positions.

The Development Authority is also offering workers advice on how to prepare for job interviews.

Allen recommends using the STAR method, which stands for situation, task, action and result. He said workers should be prepared to describe a situation in which they performed well, explain the task they were asked to complete, describe the action they took and explain the result.

The method can help workers clearly explain their experience and give employers a better understanding of how they could perform in the position they are applying for.

The private job fair will be held Thursday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Larry Walker Arena on the Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins campus.

The Anchor Glass benefits department will also be available at the job fair to answer questions from affected workers about their benefits.