Job hunting can often be an intimidating or impersonal affair. Ivy Tech turned that around with their 2018 Career Fair, that featured over two dozen companies across diverse fields ranging from healthcare to engineering.
Large scaled employers like ArcelorMittal and Porter Health were present as well as chains such as Oil ‘n’ Go and Speedway, Attendees explored careers in just about every field available in the Region. Some of Ivy Tech’s events are only open to students, but the college welcomed anyone from the community to explore Friday’s fair.
“Ivy Tech is more than just a community college,” said Abiodun Durojaye, Ivy Tech’s Director of Career Development & Employer Engagement. “We want people to know that we’re here to serve the community. Having this event open to more than just students lets us help those who are really in need. We want to break that barrier of ‘oh, it’s just a community college,’ we’re on the map and here to serve.”
Ivy Tech maintains close partnerships with a number of major employers around Northwest Indiana, ArcelorMittal being one. The steel manufacturer’s booth proved one of the most popular as job hunters looked to learn more about the company’s opportunities and job paths.
“We partner with Ivy Tech to help students become highly skilled maintenance technician-electrical through our ‘Steel for the Future’ program,” said R.D. Parpart II, Manager of USA Craft Training at ArcerlorMittal USA. “Out of all the students that have completed that program successfully, which means they worked hard, completed paid internships, and passed their exams, we’ve offered jobs to 100 percent of those candidates.”
Other local organizations such as Porter Health recruit Ivy Tech grads into their workforce straight out of school. The fair helped students and community members alike learn about those opportunities and network with potential employers.
“We’re just excited to be out here and have a chance to engage with the people here at Ivy Tech,” said Stephanie Egle, Human Resources Generalist at Porter Regional Hospital. “So many of our nurses and aides are recruited right from here, so it’s great to see everyone excited.”
Some candidates brought stacks of resumes and their best suits in pursuit of a job that same day, others simply looked to see just what kind of options are available once they finish their education. For others, such as Ivy Tech student Issac Cutts, the experience was a little bit of both.
“Well I definitely wouldn’t complain if I walked out of here with a job,” Cutts laughed. “I’m looking to do something with game design in the future one way or another, but I figured gaining some experience and learning about all these different types of employers would help in the long run. Plus, you never know what the future might hold, so I’m glad that Ivy Tech is giving us a chance to learn about some of these employers that we might not have known about.”
Learn more about Ivy Tech at www.ivytech.edu.
