YWCA Northern New Jersey will host its “Women of the Workforce: Career Expo”, a free event designed to connect unemployed, underemployed, and career-seeking women with leading employers across a wide range of industries. The event will be held on May 13, from 4-7 p.m. at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Auditorium in Paramus.
The event offers an opportunity for job seekers to meet face-to-face with recruiters hiring for roles in the healthcare, finance, technology, manufacturing, public service, advocacy, and social service industries. The YWCA said the event is intended to be inclusive and empowering for women navigating career transitions, entering the workforce for the first time, or seeking growth opportunities.
Participating employers include:
- Cura, inc.
- New Jersey Department of Corrections – Custody Recruitment and Community Outreach Unit
- Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
- Visions Federal Credit Union
- Displaced Homemakers Program – NJ Department of Labor
- Crestron Electronics
- Garden State Equality
- Children’s Aid & Family Services
- BLOC Foundation
The event comes at a time of rising job insecurity in New Jersey. Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Lawrenceville-based pharmaceutical giant, laid off 516 workers this week at offices in New Jersey. The Garden State posted a jobless rate of 4.7% in March 2025, a 0.3 percentage point increase from a year before, and a half-percentage point above the national average.
A New Jersey Business Magazine story from October said employment losses during the pandemic were highest among women and Black/African American workers, according to a review of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“YWCA Northern New Jersey is committed to eliminating barriers to employment for women in our region,” said Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Northern New Jersey. “This Career Expo is more than just a job fair, it is a gateway to opportunity, economic independence, and community empowerment.”
In addition to meeting with recruiters, attendees will have access to professional development services including resume and LinkedIn support, career coaching, and free headshots. Career coaching will be provided by Michelle Romanenko, talent acquisition specialist, Baseil Associates; Renuka Naj, coach, Krosskeys Communications LLC; Simone Zinna, senior talent acquisition manager; Orane Robinson, human resources generalist, YWCA
The event is designed to be inclusive and empowering for women navigating career transitions, entering the workforce for the first time, or seeking growth opportunities.
