Addie Irving and Isabella LaVigne, both juniors at Manistique High School, hear from Julie Johnson and Jen Stempki about employment opportunities with Embers Credit Union during a career fair at Gladstone High School on Wednesday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
ESCANABA — Career fairs hosted recently at two local high schools brought approximately 1,000 students from three counties information about possible options after graduation — and internships available beforehand.
The events were sponsored by the Delta County College and Career Access Network, the Community Foundation for Delta County and the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District.
On Tuesday, representatives from area businesses, colleges, unions and other organizations set up booths at Escanaba Junior/Senior High School and welcomed students from Bark River-Harris, Hannahville and Escanaba High Schools. On Wednesday, students from Big Bay de Noc, Gladstone, Manistique, Mid Peninsula, and Rapid River High Schools attended the same type of event at Gladstone High School. Though there was some variation, most of those with booths went to both schools; each fair had about 50 tables.
Students were encouraged to think about what they might be interested in checking out, ask questions and keep an open mind. Career fairs offer high schoolers the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of businesses and industries they might have limited knowledge of.
For example, students might think they wouldn’t be suited to work for a manufacturing company because they’re not into welding or machining. But as Jodi Possi and Holly Van Brocklin of Van Aire pointed out, such businesses also hire employees in finance, sales and computer science fields.
Students from Manistique High School walk between booths and speak with a representative from Bellin College at a career fair Wednesday in Gladstone. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
“The other thing is, there are businesses and organizations that are right in our backyard that they don’t even know about,” said CTE Supervisor Michael Roland, a key organizer of the fairs. He said that CTE (Career and Technical Education) students sometimes go on field trips and are surprised and impressed to learn the extent of what is made locally.
Some booths offered more general information on their industries, such as how to get into dentistry or what jobs can be found after getting a degree in social work.
Higher education institutions offered materials and information to the teens as well.
“I’m less interested in the trades, but I am loving the table setup for the different colleges because I am a junior, so I’m very much trying to decide,” said Kinsey Dillon of Manistique.
While some employers have connected with students and ended up hiring them directly because of career fairs, it’s a longer-term investment for others.
High school students visit tables set up by local businesses, area colleges, military branches and other organizations in the Escanaba Junior/Senior High School gymnasium Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Mike Roland)
At the table for Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands — which hires students after college, not straight out of high school — staff spoke about what they do, but because a table in a school gym can’t provide the whole picture, they invited kids to reach out and set up a ride-along on a logging job. The experience is meant to give youth who think they may be interested in pursuing a career in forestry a taste of what it’s like.
Lyme is often successful connecting with “the hunt and fishing community people, because they’re already out in the woods. They see it. They got already that outdoor interest,” Forester Mike MacIntosh said.
Lyme also participates at career fairs at universities such as Michigan Tech and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where they conduct intern interviews.
Other employers recognize that not everyone is looking for a lifelong career.
Embers Credit Union offers a “lot of opportunities” and has “flexible options for part-time” employees, said Community Engagement Officer Julie Johnson, explaining that some people work at Embers in Marquette while studying at Northern Michigan University.
Whether or not students came closer to a decision on “what they want to be when they grow up,” so to speak, the career fairs nudged them toward working on soft skills that hopefully benefit their adult lives.
The events served to help students “develop skills in communication and networking,” supply them with information on job outlooks, offer guidance and “recruit young people to stay or come back to Delta County and be viable members of our workforce,” Roland said.