pLAnning for the future District , Denton Chamber show students local job prospects with Career Fair
High school sophomores and juniors from across the district and nearby communities got a sneak peek into possible college majors and potential careers at the LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex ’ s Annual Career Planning Fair in November .
A joint venture by Denton ISD�s Career and Technology Education ( CTE ) Department and the Denton Chamber of Commerce , the Career Planning Fair serves as a way for businesses from across Denton County to show students that local companies have jobs waiting for them upon graduation from high school and college .
Students gained knowledge and understanding on a variety of industries including medicine , science , engineering , information technology , construction , manufacturing and business by visiting information tables , question and answer sessions with local professionals and lectures from keynote speakers .
“ We saw this as the perfect opportunity for our students to get a hands-on feel for professions they may be interested in and get any questions they have about fields of interest answered from the people that know best . Add in that all of these professionals are from the Denton area , and it ’ s a win-win for everyone ,” said Carla Ruge , director of CTE .
Companies such as Labinal Power Systems talked about opportunities in engineering and manufacturing , while local hospitals shared information on the myriad of jobs available in healthcare . Students also had the opportunity to interact with members of the hospitality industry , higher education , fire and police departments and attorneys .
These professionals provide information on their trades while offering tips and insights into educational paths or technical skills students may need for careers in their field . The keynote speakers share information on topics like networking , using social media and the value of work experience in their chosen career path .
But what sets the career fair apart is the accessibility the students get to the working professionals during the event . It ’ s not uncommon to see registered nurses or pharmacists share details through one-onone conversations or accountants and attorneys exchange email addresses , all in
Students in the ATC Health Science Department listen to technicians and registered nurses from area hospitals share their thoughts on the demands of their daily schedules and the work load of seeing patients .
PHOTO BY JULIE ZWAHR 37