As high school students near graduation, the array of college and career choices available can be overwhelming. To aid these students, Greater Lafayette Career+™ has committed to providing them with essential information about the various college and career paths available. One of the key initiatives is the HireME! event, which serves as a bridge from high school to the workforce, offering students the chance to engage directly with local employers in high-demand industries.
This year, the event took place on February 28th at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, where over 40 local Indiana employers gathered for the second annual HireME! interview fair. High school juniors and seniors interested in full-time, part-time, summer internships, and work-based learning opportunities had the chance to connect with employers in fields like advanced manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, construction, IT, and agricultural technology. Both students and employers from across the county were eager to forge valuable connections.
About the Event
The HireME! event is designed to create a network between students and employers, introducing students to high-value jobs and local employers to new, talented workers. Like many hiring events, HireME! provides a platform for employers to introduce their companies, their operations, and the roles they offer. What is unique about HireME!, is that it allows for on-the-spot interviews, giving students the chance to secure current and future employment opportunities, whether they are seeking paid internships, apprenticeships, or full-time jobs.
Leading Up to the Event
In preparation for HireME!, the Career+™ team collaborated with Ivy Tech Community College to offer resume and interview preparation workshops. These workshops equipped students with skills in resume formatting, showcasing valuable skills on their resumes, and best practices for presenting their talents and qualifications during interviews. The aim was to boost students’ confidence in demonstrating their career-readiness to potential employers.
Event Success
The turnout was impressive, with nearly 350 students from local high schools participating. Throughout the day, students engaged in pre-scheduled interviews, as well as additional drop-in sessions with companies that piqued their interest. By the end of the day, employers had conducted over 700 individual interviews, paving the way for further communication and potential hiring. Notably, some students made such strong impressions during their interviews that they received job offers on the spot.
Employers were extremely satisfied with the opportunity to meet a large number of talented potential hires. They praised the high quality of students and noted that this event was among the best high school hiring events they had ever attended due to the extensive opportunities offered.
Teachers who attended with their students were also pleased with the event. They valued how it accommodated students with a wide variety of goals, including those aiming for four-year colleges, community colleges, or direct workforce entry. They observed significant benefits for the students, such as the possibility of immediate employment or gaining relevant work experience, which could begin to help students as early as June 2024 and beyond.
What’s Next?
Greater Lafayette Career+™ is proud to have facilitated the connection between high school students and employers for the second consecutive year. The organization is enthusiastic about continuing to organize events that benefit the Greater Lafayette community by supporting both high school students and local industries. Based on the experiences and feedback from this year’s attendees, plans are already underway to make next year’s HireME! interview event even more impactful. HireME!’s next event is scheduled for February 26th, 2025, at the Tippecanoe Fairgrounds, promising another opportunity for students and employers to connect.
