Area employers and job seekers will have an opportunity to mix, mingle and interview Oct. 15 during the inaugural Career Fair at the Show Me Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

Sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and sejobsonline.com, the Career Fair will feature representatives of a variety of local businesses making presentations, distributing information and conducting job interviews.

Event coordinator Nancy Grand, recruitment specialist at the Southeast Missourian, said the fair will help employers meet their recruitment needs and help job seekers explore employment options.

"It's an opportunity for university students and community members to speak to company representatives and interview for position openings," said Grand. "It's also a chance to hone interview and networking skills."

The fair will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the general public. In conjunction with the event, the Southeast Missourian will publish a special section Oct. 6 with information about the companies participating in the event and offering advice on networking, interviewing techniques and the best way to conduct a job search.

Grand said the fair is being promoted by five newspapers in Southeast Missouri -- the Southeast Missourian, the Daily Statesman in Dexter, the Standard Democrat in Sikeston, the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, and the Daily Dunklin Democrat in Kennett.

Participating businesses will also be able to advertise their company and job openings to 65,000 readers in a special Career Fair edition to be inserted in the Southeast Missourian on Oct. 6.

Other benefits to employers include discreet interviewing areas, company presentations, free parking and cross-media advertising in print, online and broadcast.

Businesses interested in participating in the event must register by Sept. 25. For more information, contact Grand at 335-6611, ext. 113.