Derek Pryer (left) of Ace Hardware Corp. tells London High School senior Elexus Burks about summer job opportunities at his company. The school and the Madison County Chamber of Commerce held an employment seminar and job fair for students on April 15.
(Posted April 22, 2016)
By Amanda Amsel, Staff Writer
London City Schools and the Madison County Chamber of Commerce joined forces to host an employment seminar and job fair on April 15.
“We worked with London High School to host a multi-hour seminar to educate juniors on professional skills they need to have,” said David Kell, the Chamber’s executive director. “We educated students on everything from resumé writing to interview skills to expectations in the workplace.”
Eight presenters from local businesses spoke to members of the junior class. Among the businesses represented were Ace Hardware, DB Schenker, Nissen Chemitec and Intelligrated.
“We were pleased so many local businesses were able to join us,” Kell said. “I don’t think people are aware of what large businesses we have in the area. Besides offering industrial jobs, these businesses offer engineering jobs, HR jobs and a variety of other a career opportunities. Also, we feel it is important to educate students on what career opportunities are available in their backyards.”
The seminar sessions targeted juniors in part to potentially spark in them an interest in completing the Madison County Workforce Readiness Credential as seniors, said Chad Eisler, high school principal.
“This (credential) program is offered to seniors, so we were hoping we would gauge their interest now and they would sign up to be a part of the program their senior year,” he said.
The credential program is a collaboration between area school districts, the Madison County Community Improvement Corp., and Tolles Career and Technical Center. Seniors who participate learn skills to enhance their employability. Completion comes with a certificate that guarantees the student a job interview with a participating company.
The April 15 seminar and job fair were designed to be beneficial to both students going straight into the workforce after high school and those who are college-bound.
“Whether you are a doctor or working on a production line, the skills the students learned during this session will affect them,” Kell said. “You still have to work as a team, you have to be cautious about what you post on social media, and your employer will have expectations of you.”
After the seminar sessions, all students at the high school, freshmen through seniors, were invited to take part in the job fair, set up in the commons during lunch. Participating employers were looking for potential hirees for summer positions. Several students learned more about how they could apply.
“This is the first time we have ever done anything like this, and I think we will do it again,” Eisler said. “I think having someone from the workforce tell the students what will be expected of them after high school adds another level of credibility and really has a strong impact on them. Our job is to prepare them for the future, and this is a great way to do that.”
