By Katarina Webb
On April 29, 2026, students from across the region gathered at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds for HireME!, hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce. What they experienced was not just a hiring event. It was a hands-on introduction to the world of work.
With approximately 475 students in attendance from 19 local high schools and over 70 regional employers represented, HireME! continues to grow as one of the most impactful career-connected events in the Greater Lafayette area.
Employers spanned industries including manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, military, higher education, finance, and more, giving students the opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths all in one place.
Real Conversations. Real Opportunities. Real Confidence.
Throughout the event, students engaged directly with employers, asking questions, practicing interviews, and learning what it takes to succeed in the workforce.
Unlike many traditional job fairs where participants simply stop by booths for quick conversations, HireME! is designed to give students the opportunity to participate in actual, structured interviews with employers. This allows students to practice answering real questions, receive feedback, and experience what a professional interview setting feels like.
In total, 513 interviews were completed across a subset of 154 tracked students, highlighting just how engaged students were in taking that next step.
For many, this was their first time having a professional conversation with an employer.
Others came back for a second year, this time with more confidence and a clearer sense of purpose.
“This is my second year attending… I would 100% recommend students to come to this event. It is nice to be able to see what employers have to offer… and get that [interview] skill down.”
— Senior, Returning Student
And for some students, the experience went beyond exploration. It became a direct pathway to future opportunities.
“It was very diverse… The companies were great at explaining things… They even asked if I wanted to come out on a job site just to watch.”
— Junior Student
One student, recruited by the Career+™ team to connect with Titan Construction & Engineering Services, is now considering that company for a Work-Based Learning placement next school year .
The impact of HireME! also extends beyond current students. This year, a former Career+™ Locally Created Pathway (LCP) student returned during the afternoon session when the event opened to the public. The Career+™ LCP is a graduation pathway that allows students to demonstrate readiness through a combination of career exploration experiences, work-based learning, and skill development. After participating in the Career+™ LCP, this student came back on his own to continue exploring opportunities and engaging with employers. That kind of follow-through is exactly what events like HireME! are designed to spark.
From Interest to Opportunity: A More Intentional Approach
Career+™ worked directly with Titan Construction to develop resources for their summer internship opportunity and to promote it to students ahead of the event.
Using data from Go for Growth, Career+ Pathways™’ career interest assessment that students complete at the beginning of each school year, the team was able to identify and personally invite students to HireME! whose interests aligned with careers in the trades, specifically construction, as well as students who had expressed interest in Titan as a company.
Titan also used HireME! as the launching point for interviews for their summer internship , allowing students to move directly from interest to action in a real-world setting.
This approach created more intentional connections at HireME!, helping students walk into conversations with employers that were already aligned to their interests and future goals.
This is what scalable, intentional employer engagement can look like when student interest data and real-world opportunities are aligned.
A Shift Worth Noticing: Students Showing Up by Choice
HireME! has long been a valuable opportunity for students, especially those completing graduation requirements like the Career+™ LCP. Each year, students have shown up ready to engage with employers, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their future.
This year, that impact continued to grow in an exciting way.
More than half of attending students participated as part of a broader school effort to ensure juniors and seniors had access to this experience, while many also chose to attend to explore opportunities and connect with employers.
In particular, Tippecanoe School Corporation and Lafayette School Corporation made a concerted effort to bring juniors and seniors.
- 234 students attended from these four high schools
- 111 students were completing LCP or graduation-related requirements
- 123 students attended voluntarily to explore opportunities and connect with employers
That distinction matters.
It signals a shift from compliance-based participation to curiosity-driven engagement, exactly the kind of mindset that prepares students for long-term success.
Career+™ in Action: Preparing Students Before They Arrive
The impact students experience at HireME! does not start when they walk through the doors. It starts beforehand.
The Career+ Pathways™ team:
- Hosted information sessions to prepare students for the event
- Supported resume development
- Helped recruit and match students with specific employers and opportunities
In the days following the event, schools reported that students returned with job applications in hand , working alongside educators to take the next step.
This is the goal, not just exposure, but momentum .
What Schools Are Saying
The impact of HireME! extends beyond the event itself. Schools are already seeing the value in how students are engaging with employers, building confidence, and gaining real-world experience through structured interviews.
For many students, this is their first opportunity to practice professional communication in a setting that feels both supportive and authentic, and that impact is being noticed by educators.
“[Allowing our students to participate in HireME!] was appreciated and the students really found it beneficial. They really found value in it. I’ve also already had 5 students come in and work on work applications with their coaches this morning.”
– School Partner
“The event was a hit with my students. They [talked with] numerous businesses for interviews and it went very well. Thanks for your efforts in getting our school involved. Super valuable experience.”
– School Partner
Feedback like this reinforces the importance of creating opportunities where students can move beyond the classroom and into meaningful, hands-on career exploration.
Why Early Work Experiences Matter
As Eric Davis, CEO of Skyepack, highlights in a recent blog, early work experiences are one of the most overlooked accelerators for student success.
Opportunities like HireME! give students:
- A low-risk environment to practice professional skills
- Early exposure to workplace expectations
- A chance to begin building confidence and networks
These are the moments that shape how students show up in their first full-time roles, long before they graduate.
More Than a Job Fair
HireME! is not just for students who are ready to enter the workforce immediately after high school.
It is for:
- Students exploring career options
- Students building confidence in professional settings
- Students beginning to understand what opportunities exist in their own communities
It is about helping students take that first step, whether that leads to a summer job, a Work-Based Learning placement, or simply a better understanding of what comes next.
Thank You to Our Employer Partners
Events like HireME! are only possible because of the time, energy, and commitment of our employer partners.
We extend a sincere thank you to the 70+ organizations who showed up to engage with students, share their experiences, and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of talent.
From conducting interviews and reviewing resumes to simply having conversations and answering questions, your willingness to invest in students makes a lasting impact. For many students, this was their first interaction with a professional in your industry, and those moments matter.
Your participation helps students:
- Build confidence in professional settings
- Better understand career pathways
- See a future for themselves within your industry
We are grateful for your partnership and your continued commitment to strengthening our local workforce pipeline.
Looking Ahead
The Career+™ team is excited to continue following up with students and employers in the coming weeks, tracking placements, supporting next steps, and building on the connections made during the event.
Because when students are given the opportunity to engage early, ask questions, and step into real-world environments, they do not just prepare for the future. They start building it.
HireME! will return next year on April 28, 2027 , and we look forward to continuing to expand opportunities for students and employers across the region.
Bio
Katarina Webb, School Success Manager at Career+ Pathways™! Starting as a Career Advisor through a partnership with Ivy Tech, Katarina now leads a team supporting schools across the GLC region. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, the creative arts and spending time with her family and fur babies.
