The doors open at 9 a.m. to job hunters at the Northwest Mississippi Area Job Fair Thursday at the Batesville Civic Center. 

Nearly 40 companies and agencies will have representatives there to talk with prospective employees until 2 p.m.

Last year 247 jobs offers were extended no the spot, with contacts made for an estimated 400 more hires during the year, according to staff from the Batesville WIN Job Center.