Cumberland County job fair draws employers across government, schools, health and social services

The Cumberland County Business Expo and Job Fair at Rowan College of South Jersey brought county departments, school districts, public-safety agencies, nonprofits and businesses to a single recruiting event where organizers and employers described openings and application steps.

Organizers and county staff said the fair aims to connect residents with immediate hiring opportunities in public works, elections, clerical roles and other county functions. “If you go to cumberlandcountynj.gov/jobs, all the job postings are on there,” said Omari, a representative of the Cumberland County Planning Department, who urged applicants to check listings and contact departments for details.

Why it matters: employers across several public and nonprofit sectors described multiple, current openings that do not always require college degrees and cited on-the-spot interviews and short training paths that could speed hires into the local workforce.

County government and agencies: Omari said county hiring spans many offices, including public works, the board of elections, the sheriff’s office and the county clerk. The county jobs page was presented as the central application hub for those positions.

Law enforcement recruiting: Under Sheriff Michael Sperance of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office described minimum qualifications and the department’s multi-step hiring process. “Our ideal candidate is man or woman, high school education, New Jersey residents, New Jersey driver's license. College is not a requirement, but it helps,” Sperance said. He described a screening sequence that begins with an application review, then a pre‑physical fitness test (a 1.5‑mile run, situps, pushups and a vertical jump), followed by a full application that includes background checks, home visits and social‑media reviews. Sperance said the internal screening takes about six months, followed by an additional six months at the police academy for those who advance.

K–12 districts and school support positions: Lanita Porter Linen, director of HR recruitment and retention for Bridgeton Public Schools, listed teacher openings and many non‑teaching roles including custodians, food‑service workers and bus drivers. She said qualifications vary by role (from a high‑school diploma or GED up to teaching certification) and that Bridgeton will hold a district job fair on Oct. 2 from 1–3 p.m. at the Cumberland County Library, with on‑the‑spot interviews. Linen gave a contact phone number, (856) 455‑8030 ext. 842, and pointed applicants to the district website for details.

Behavioral health and nonprofit employers: The Cumberland County Guidance Center listed clinical and residential openings — case managers, RNs, LPNs and residential counselors — and noted clerical and billing roles as well. Human resources staff said residential counselor applicants need either four years of group‑home experience or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Nikki Hyder of Avenues to Independent Living described employment supports for people with disabilities and said her organization is hiring direct‑care staff and provides training and certifications, including CPR.

Housing and home care hiring: TrueForce Independent Living (housing for seniors, veterans and people facing homelessness) described furnished apartments with utilities and laundry included and said interested people can apply via its website or phone line. A branch administrator for a home‑care company described a pathway for certified home health aides that the agency supports: two weeks of online training plus two days of in‑person, hands‑on instruction, with a promissory note to the New Jersey Board of Nursing where required. She provided a local branch number for inquiries.

Economic development and workforce supports: Dylan, director of economic and community development at The Authority, described the agency’s role in local projects and workforce connections. “We’ve invested about $662,000,000 over the last couple of years in the county,” Dylan said, and added the organization reports roughly a billion dollars in regional economic impact and more than 6,500 jobs created through its activities. He directed employers and developers to theauthoritynj.com for more information.

Small businesses and media employers: Several small businesses and media companies used the expo to promote products and list openings. Hometown Media said it has two part‑time openings tied to social‑media packages: a sales representative and a social‑media marketing coordinator; interested applicants were offered a QR code linking to the company website.

How to follow up: multiple presenters recommended starting with the employers’ websites and the county jobs page (cumberlandcountynj.gov/jobs). Several booths accepted applications or set up on‑the‑spot interviews; organizers said the fair would continue into the evening.

Less critical details: the job fair was organized by the three county chambers — Bridgeton Area, Greater Millville and Greater Vineland — working with sponsors and local colleges. Chamber representatives encouraged residents to check chamber calendars for additional workforce events.

Contact and application resources cited during the event (as given by presenters): cumberlandcountynj.gov/jobs; bridgeton.k12.nj.us (Bridgeton Public Schools); theauthoritynj.com; avenuesindependentliving.com; ccgc.org (Cumberland County Guidance Center); local branch phone numbers cited by employers.