Jobs to be found around Houston for big events

HOUSTON

While full-time employment remains elusive, there are thousands of temporary jobs available right now thanks to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other events. They are not permanent jobs, but if you are looking to work, the rodeo does hire people this time of year and they are not alone.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins in a week, but there is already plenty of work going on.

"Every year they hire thousands of people to help out. It kind of gives people jobs to make us money and support the rodeo, and that's what we are here to do," said Phil Fazin of TECO Construction.

Fazin and a crew of a dozen workers were hired by Aramark to build Joe's Ale House. Fazin is just one of dozens of contractors hired to put the finishing touches on booths around Reliant Park. Those contractors in turn hire people to do the work.

"If they did not come every year, this time of year we are hurting because of taxes, nobody wants to do any extra hiring," said Fazin.

Down the way from Joe's, you'll find workers building Paradise Burgers. Even if you cannot drive a nail, you can still find a job here.

"I am looking for a good cashier and a people person," said Vanessa Schillaci of Paradise Burgers.

Schillaci runs a booth in the food court and says this year she even hired a woman from San Antonio who was desperate for work. Typically, it's local community colleges that provide the labor force for this booth.

"Anyone who is in the program for restaurants and or culinary arts, we are actually hiring," said Schillaci.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo also hires people too.

"We advertise for the jobs that are clerical and those types of things and we have a lot of people who come back year after year who just want to work part-time," said Leroy Shafer, CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Shafer says 24,000 volunteers do much of the work, buts adds other events hire even more people.

"The Final Four is coming to Houston, I am quite certain that everyone taking your ticket, scanning your ticket and taking you to your seat will be a paid employee," Shafer said.

Rodeo officials tell us they have done most of their hiring already, but the vendors and companies in and around the rodeo are still looking for workers.

So how do you find the jobs and how much do they pay? Check the websites of the rodeo and SMG and temporary staffing companies, as well as the Texas Workforce Solutions office for jobs. As for the pay, a lot depends on what you are hired to do. Some positions are minimum wage and others can go up to $10 or $11 an hour.

For those of you along the Gulf coast looking for work, there's a job fair scheduled for this week.

Galveston's 6th annual Oceans of Opportunities job fair is Wednesday. The event is free for both employers and job seekers. Last year, more than 70 employers in all kinds of job fields participated, including healthcare, service, and administration. The job fair runs from 9am to 2pm at the Galveston Island Convention Center on Seawall Blvd.

For more information on the Galveston job fair, go to: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7971524.