Career Connections Job Fair scheduled for March 22 at Siena Heights University
ADRIAN — The Align Center for Workforce Development will host its second annual Career Connections Job Fair March 22 at Siena Heights University.
This event connects employers to job seekers looking for full- and part-time jobs, apprenticeships, and internships. Throughout the day, businesses looking to fill open positions will network with graduating seniors, high school juniors seeking summer internships, college students, and local adults. It will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SHU fieldhouse on East Siena Heights Drive.
“Not surprisingly, finding workers has been incredibly challenging for most employers, and the public is often unaware of the available options,” said Sheila Blair, manager of the Align Center for Workforce Development, a planner and sponsoring party of the job fair. “This event brings the two groups together — it’s a win-win!”
The nature of the job fair is that it’s an efficient way for job seekers and employers to meet in a casual manner to explore opportunities that can be mutually beneficial, a news release said.
“It’s estimated that 80% of jobs are landed through networking, so this is a perfect opportunity for those searching or exploring career choices to meet employers who are looking for qualified candidates to fill positions today and into the future,” said Patty Clark, community relations specialist at Midwest Energy & Communications, a platinum sponsor of the event.
Blair said this year’s event will be bigger and better than last year’s, with mini seminars for the high school students, campus tours and many more employers included. The seminars for students include an education on how social media plays a role in hiring, what apprenticeships are available, tuition reimbursement and scholarships that are available, how to meet employer expectations, and post-graduation resources. Students also can win prizes by participating in the event.
“Last year we had about 25 employers and, this year, we are hoping to triple it,” Blair said in the release. “What makes this event amazing is that the whole community is invited to take part. Not only are all high school juniors and seniors invited, but so are college students and any adults who are underemployed, unemployed or just want to make a change — all are welcome.”
The job fair's first three hours are intended for high school juniors and seniors, according to the event's web page. College students can visit at any time. Working adults are encouraged to come between noon and 2 p.m.
Blair said the event also welcomes nonprofit organizations, who are just as in need of employees as for-profits.
“We have businesses in our community where very high-paying positions are going unfilled, while, at the same time, more and more families are signing up for food pantry deliveries. More and more children are going hungry. Companies are turning down million-dollar contracts due to a lack of employees,” Blair said. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Therefore, Blair noted, the Align Center, the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD), Michigan Works Southeast (MWSE), Adrian College and SHU are working together to build a talent pipeline in Lenawee County so that any future mass exodus of the workforce never impacts businesses in the future like it has in the past few years.
Align and its aforementioned partners have and continue to develop career curriculum and exposure opportunities for children as young as elementary age through retirement age for adults.
“The Career Connections Job Fair is just one of a hundred ways we can support the community,” said Kelly McNicol, Align’s career education navigator, who works with the schools to aid student success.
McNicol works directly with high school students on their resumes, interview skills and other job readiness opportunities. She also helps to bring industry professionals into the schools to talk to students about their career options. She also helps schools, counselors and teachers with career and reality fairs.
“While (McNicol) focuses on supporting K-12, Align and its partners also are doing a lot to support adults within and out of the workforce by providing training, upskilling, certifications and more,” Blair said.
Employers who want to register can use the following link: tinyurl.com/CC2023employers. Job seekers interested in attending can preregister at s.surveyplanet.com/p89qwort. Either party can contact Blair with questions at sblair@lenaweenow.org or by phone at 734-674-2246.
Align and its partners recently held a virtual parent event to talk about the opportunities available to students and to help parents prepare their child for the job fair. If parents missed that live event, they can watch the video at tinyurl.com/CareerConvoParents.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Career Connections Job Fair March 22 at Siena Heights University
