Imagine applying, interviewing for a job and being hired in the same four-hour period.

It sounds like idealism at its finest. But Susan Bowser, site administrator for Pennsylvania CareerLink, made it possible for those attending the organization's annual job fair.

“We're focusing this as a hiring event,” she said. “There could be people who leave today with a job.”

Bowser said the fair, which was co-sponsored by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, had more than 90 vendors. She said the last few fairs averaged about 300 job-seekers.

“I didn't want to turn anybody away, because that could be a job for somebody,” she said. “Everyone that's here has an open position.”

Bowser said that at least 25 vendors were open to doing interviews, and she saw a couple conducted throughout the day.

“I was very impressed that we had such a good turnout, people willing to do that,” she said. “We plan to do a follow-up with the job seekers.”

Despite not having totals, Bowser said the fair also may have surpassed the average in attendance too.

Gary McCandless of Connoquenessing Township said the fair makes job hunting convenient and companies more accessible.

“Some of the employers are here today that I was having trouble with getting through on a computer,” McCandless said. “It's a great variety. There's a little bit of everything here.”

McCandless said he had not been interviewed during the fair, but he was open to it.

“It's convenient for a lot of people,” he said. “If I find another employer who's willing to give me an interview today, I'd be more than glad to.”

Other visitors were just testing the waters.

Lisa Fry of North Benton, Ohio, grew up in Chicora, and she's now looking at a possible return.

“I was considering moving back to the area,” Fry said. “Obviously I need a job first.”

Fry, who works as a shop secretary and shipping manager for a manufacturer, said she had pleasant interactions with vendors, which made her feel more comfortable at her first job fair.

“I didn't know what to expect,” she said. “It's very uplifting and encouraging.”

Also testing the waters was Lisa Perdian, on-site account executive for Nesco Resources, formerly Callos Resource.

Perdian said in addition to finding staff prospects, job fairs help employers stay in touch with the community.

She said people may not know that Callos Resource changed its name or that it services most of Butler County, despite being located in Cranberry Township.

“We do service Butler County, and we are letting people know that we are out there as well,” she said.

In terms of her recruits, Perdian said she wouldn't mind interviewing people at the fair, but she also likes to see passion and discipline in the waiting phase too.

“I give candidates my information, and they follow up with me,” she said. “If they do, I know they're taking the job seriously.”

Bryan Kooros, director of talent acquisition for Quality Life Services, said the senior living job market is too competitive.

“We'll drop everything to talk to someone,” Kooros said.

Kooros said the company is typically looking for nurses with all sorts of licensing and support staff, too. He said another way the company sees recruits usually comes from interest in the company's training program.

“We do our own CNA (certified nursing assistant) program in-house,” he said. “That's been really well received. About one-third of people we talked to about it, we'll be giving them a call about that.”

John Pileggi, program supervisor for Pennsylvania CareerLink, said it is exciting to see employers conducting on-site interviews. He said it makes gratification more visible and shows people that the fair isn't just for show.

“This is the first time we've ever done that,” he said.

He said the interviews were the next step in an evolving marketplace.

“I think the employers force our marketplace to change,” Pileggi said. “I think we all have to be adaptable to change.”