With the idea of preparing high school seniors for what’s next, Midwest Regional ESC and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce hosted their seventh annual Career Expo at Indian Lake High School Thursday, March 23.
Chamber President and CEO Ben Vollrath invited students into the event with good news for job hunters: the area has more openings to fill than people to fill them. And the Expo gives graduating a seniors a leg up in finding the perfect position.
“This year we’re focused on students,” Vollrath said, referring to the decision to not open the Expo to the public in the afternoon as they did the last two years.
As a result, more than 700 students from nine area high schools in Logan and Hardin counties —compared to seven schools in 2022 — attended. They had an opportunity to meet with people representing 90 local businesses and organizations in various fields such as agriculture, health care, retail, food service, finance, manufacturing, construction and law enforcement.
To make things easier, each student had a name tag with specific information, starting with their intention to seek employment, enlist in the military or enroll in college after graduation. They could also list their interests there.
“It leads to conversation,” Karen Sorreles, youth development liaison for Midwest Regional Education Service Center (MRESC) and event organizer, said. “And it helps businesses see what they can offer students.”
According to Sorreles, the event offers two pathways — straight into the workforce or career exploration. For many, it gives them a glimpse into what they could come back to after military service or college.
It also introduces young people to new possibilities and career tracks they might not have considered before. In fact, following the Expo, many attendees appreciated the chance to discover opportunities they hadn’t been aware of previously.
For their part, the company representatives were impressed by the students’ confidence to start a conversation and eagerness to talk, saying they were “well informed and approached with good questions.”
“Every year, at least two kids leave with a job,” Sorreles said. The interactions often lead to follow-up communication and even interviews there at the Expo. All of which can guide students to just the right job at the right time.
For information on how your company can be involved in the 2024 Expo or other similar events, contact the MRESC at (937) 599-5195.