Students interviewing with prospective employers at the TCHS Career & Training Fair held in March 2022.
On March 15, 324 Chester County Technical College High School (TCHS) students and 138 employers from local businesses and industry partners gathered at the TCHS Brandywine Campus for the annual Career & Training Fair. The Career & Training Fair allows students to have personal one-on-one interviews with employers and it gives them the opportunity to walk away with job offers or advance on to an additional interview.
Students brought a scoring sheet to each interview, which employers used to provide feedback on their strengths and areas needing improvement. Students also provided a detailed resume of their work experience, certifications and employable technical skills to share with employers.
An important feature of the Career & Training Fair, and key to the students’ preparation for the event, was the “Dress for Success” program. “Dress for Success” is a program that provides students with professional attire who might not have access to it otherwise. Students were able to keep their outfits to ensure that they will have professional attire once they graduate from TCHS.
The entire TCHS Brandywine community came together to pull off this event, which sought to reduce the anxiety that many students were experiencing as a result of the interview process. Jessica Titus, school support & career specialist at TCHS Brandywine and organizer of the event, said, “The energy, pride and even the nervousness of our students was evident as they traveled throughout the TCHS halls in their professional attire. Every student had the opportunity to look their best, as the ‘Dress for Success’ program provided new and gently used business attire for anyone in need. Dozens of students walked away with several job offers, internships and apprenticeships. Employers expressed how they were very impressed with the level of professionalism and knowledge of our TCHS seniors.”
Both TCHS students and the employers who attended the event felt that it was extremely useful in helping prepare students for the next stage of life, whether that be college or entering the workforce.
TCHS alumni Maddie LeBlanc, who now works as a veterinary assistant at the Animal Hospital of Chester County, attended the event as an employer for the first time. “I loved attending TCHS. The students and teachers really helped me come out of my shell,” LeBlanc said, reminiscing about her time at TCHS. “TCHS allowed me to bloom and experience hands-on learning so I could explore the career I was interested in. It also helped me build certain skills through participation in school events and activities.” When asked what advice she had for students, she said: “I would say slow down and allow yourself time to try things out. It’s a great idea to get experience with a certain job through volunteering or working part-time so that you can make sure it’s what you really want to pursue.”
