A College and Career Fair at Iola High School on Thursday is an opportunity for students and the local business community to bridge a generational gap.
“I hope it eliminates some of the misconceptions” between both the students and the adults who may one day hire them for a job, Dana Daugharthy, Career and Technical Education coordinator, said.
Those misconceptions include ideas that today’s youth lack a work ethic or don’t know how to communicate.
“That’s why it’s so important to prepare them beforehand. We’ll be prepping for this,” Daugharthy said.
This week, Daugharthy and IHS counselor Kelsey Johnson worked with students to practice a few skills: How to approach someone. Shake their hand. Look them in the eye. Ask questions.
“It’s important for students to know how they should talk and behave, and what would be most beneficial in their professional interactions,” Daugharthy said.
The goal of the career fair is to introduce students to job opportunities in the local area, and introduce business professionals to students who represent their future workforce. Some may have immediate hiring needs; others may form connections that will pay off in years to come. Students also can meet with college officials to learn about those opportunities.
Today’s students have a lot to offer future employers, Daugharthy said.
“These kids are so creative. They come up with creative solutions to problems and that is sometimes overlooked by an employer,” he said. “Kids don’t know how to talk about their strengths and what they can offer. That’s part of the reason there’s this disconnect.”
And what do students need to learn from employers?
“They need to understand that an employer has certain expectations. There’s a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning of a job, but once kids learn the boundaries it’s usually smooth sailing. And students need to know that it’s not a bad thing to ask questions about the job,” he said.
“I hope students will learn about career opportunities, but also practice some of those interpersonal skills.”
More than 32 businesses and 27 college departments (including from Allen and Neosho community colleges) are expected to take part. Daugharthy said he wanted to invite a wide variety of businesses, from fast food franchises to health care to manufacturing. Most will set up booths where students can stop, pick up information, ask questions and learn about the company or college. Some businesses will offer 15-minute breakout sessions, giving students a more in-depth look at those careers.
Each grade level will take turns exploring the fair, with seniors and juniors having the most time to meet with colleges and business professionals.
“I hope there’s a connection. I hope businesses are thinking about this as a way to connect with their future workforce. Maybe they don’t have openings immediately or they require a college degree. We know a lot of kids graduate high school and leave the area. We want to show them the options Iola and neighboring communities have to offer if they choose to come back.
