The LISD TECH Center held their 3rd Annual Reverse Job Fair from from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m on Thursday, April 28th. The goal of the event was to produce fresh, innovative candidates to fill open positions, and jump-start high school graduates’ future careers.
With the baby boomer generation preparing for retirement, there is a looming talent gap that will leave a void in the workplace. The LISD TECH Center’s Reverse Job Fair was formed to answer this issue. “This event is an excellent way to combat the impending talent gap,” said Tim Robinson, Lenawee Now’s Director of Operations. “Not only is this a great way for students to showcase their talent and hard work, but it is also a creative way for employers to discover budding talent.”
Pictured above: (L-R) Tim Robinson, Lenawee Now’s Director of Operations, and Jack Townsley, Supervisor of Adult Learning and Placement Services at Lenawee Intermediate School District, at the 2016 LISD TECH Center Reverse Job Fair.
This event was developed in partnership with Lenawee Now to serve the needs of graduating seniors looking for employment and local employers looking for qualified talent. Many local and regional employers have come to rely on the Reverse Job Fair as part of their annual talent acquisition strategy.
What makes this event unique is that the employer and student roles are reversed. In a typical job fair employers sit at tables and job seekers circulate hoping to make an impression with a resume and a brief encounter. With the LISD TECH Center’s Reverse Job Fair, students seeking employment are seated at tables with resumes, portfolios, and actual samples of their work. Employers circulate through the room and conduct mini interviews with the students whose skill sets meet their hiring needs. For example, the owner of a welding shop can seek out and interview all the students from the Welding Technology program. They can even inspect, and discuss with the prospective new hire, actual samples of their welds.
This year’s event featured several students from eight LISD TECH Center programs; Automotive Services Technology, Computer Information Services, Building Trades/Construction Careers, Residential Construction; Engineering, CAD & Design; Engineering, Robotics and Emerging Technologies, Machining & Computer Aided Manufacturing, and Welding Technology.