REVERSE JOB FAIR MATCHES CTE STUDENTS WITH EMPLOYERS

More than 50 employers and 160 students took part in the CTE Reverse Job Fair.

Farwell Junior Gavin Irwin and Clare Junior Skyler Prout, CTE Culinary students, offer food and drink samples to job fair attendees.

The Clare-Gladwin Career & Technical Education hosted its Fourth Annual Reverse Job Fair on March 21, as more than 160 CTE students met with 52 local employers to discuss full-time and summer job opportunities.

The format was adjusted this year, as CTE hosted all students in Building A of the John C. Magnus Center campus for a three-hour time slot. This new set-up with the condensed time frame made it easier for representatives of local businesses to speak with many more students.

“The career fair is a great opportunity for our students to meet with local business representatives who are looking to hire, both now and in the future,” said CTE Director Eric Johnson. “It’s a chance for our students to showcase all the skills and talents they’ve developed in their CTE programs to employers and spark conversations that hopefully lead to employment.”

Unlike a conventional career fair where employers set up booths, at this event, the students are at tables equipped with resumés and examples of their projects for the visiting employers to see.

“I presented some journalism pieces, photography, and my senior project, a script for a student film,” said Farwell Senior and Digital Media student Kameron Osborn. “Overall, it was a good experience, and I learned to always be prepared and avoid any lulls in the conversation.” 

Evelyn Allison, a Home Services Director for Clare County Senior Services, said her interactions with CTE Health Occupations students impressed her.

“The students were prepared and ready with informative responses,” Allison said. “They portrayed professionalism, with an education-based presentation and vast knowledge of their career path.” 

Allison added that the job fair was a nice change of pace compared to others she has been to.

“The reverse style,” she said, “gave the ability to approach, learn and gain a take on how motivated and confident each individual was in their current career choice. I highly enjoyed interacting and learning about each student along with their goals and aspirations for the future.”

Many students reported learning about new career paths and opportunities they weren’t aware of before the event, and several were invited back for formal interviews.

The fair couldn’t have gone much better for Harrison Junior and CTE Criminal Justice Student Haylyn Carney.

“I talked to quite a few people and was very happy with the outcome,” said Carney. “I spoke to a representative from Camp Rotary about a counselor position, and they invited me to come in for a follow-up interview!”

CTE Director Eric Johnson said that the Reverse Job Fair continues to grow each year with increased student participants and employers attending.

“We are pleased with today's turnout for both students and employers and look forward to next year,” he said. “If you're an employer who missed out on the opportunity to come here today, please reach out to us at 989-386-9334. We’d be happy to help introduce you to your employees of the future.”