For many years, the narrative about Kentucky’s economy has been the same. Those looking for jobs believe there are few to be had, and employers looking to fill positions believe qualified and reliable employees are hard to come by.

There is also a common misconception that job fairs are a waste of time for both sides of the job market.

Hopefully, a collaborative effort of several local agencies will help prove those beliefs to be false.

Veterans, high school seniors and members of the public will have the opportunity to find careers May 12 at a job fair hosted at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

The job fair is sponsored by BCTC, the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, Community Education, The Bluegrass Area Development District, Adecco, the KY Career Center, The Winchester Sun and WKYN Radio.

The job fair will serve the entire community — from high school seniors, to the veterans and the public.

Job fairs are a visual representation of the job market and proof there are jobs to be had. They are also proof that there are many people searching for quality employment. Most of all, the fair connects the two.

Job fairs offer potential employees a chance to meet face-to-face with company representatives who may otherwise be hard to get in touch with. These events are also much less formal than interviews, so you can mingle with potential employers/employees in a low-stress environment.

You can learn about how the job market has changed and what skills are in demand.

Even if you don’t find a job at a fair, they are a great opportunity to practice pitching yourself and build your confidence as you network.

Specifically at this job fair, job seekers can get valuable help and feedback writing a resume.

If you are lucky, you could land a job because of the experience. If not, you gained some valuable experience putting yourself out there.