Hiring event opens doors for those new to the workforce

Area students and businesses spent Friday morning engaged in interviews at Poplar Bluff High School to potentially fill job openings and send people to work.

Over 20 students and 11 businesses gathered for the first ever Poplar Bluff Schools Student Hiring Event.

“This event has given me more of a grasp of what to expect,” senior Steven Pierce said. “It has helped me prepare for when I move on.”

Pierce said he stopped by many of the booths at the Student Hiring Event to give him a better idea of what he wants to do after graduation.

“I have a second interview,” he said after leaving one business in attendance.

The local event focused on the Career and Technical Education programs at the secondary level from Poplar Bluff High School and Technical Career Center, which includes business/marketing, family and consumer sciences, agriculture, auto collision, auto service, building trades, computer maintenance and repair, computer graphics and print technology, HVAC/R, health occupations (CNA), cosmetology, culinary arts and welding.

TCC Director Charles Kinsey said while one student participating in an interview with Pepsi was only 17 and not able to begin work for another year, he left excited because he “has his foot in the door.”

“This is a great activity for us to get started,” he said. “As we grow, students and businesses both will learn what to expect.”

Susan Isenman and Velma Weaks of Cedargate Healthcare reported students who interviewed were very polite and well prepared.

“This event gives us the possibility of helping find employees,” Weaks said. “I hope the kids find a good job today they want to do.”

When applying for jobs, both ladies encouraged students to include all experience on their resumes, even volunteer work.

“Explore your options and be open to anything,” Isenman said.

Kristin Howdeshell and Tiffany Sheffy of Express Employment Professionals echoed the students were well spoken, professional and ready with resumes.

For future Student Hiring Events, both ladies would like to see students more prepared for “hiring on the spot” situations.

Howdeshell explained her company needed items such as ID’s and Social Security cards to complete the hiring process. Without those items, several meetings needed to be rescheduled.

“Everyone here is looking for work and I would love to see this event happen a couple times a year,” Howdeshell said. “I would also love to see it opened to the entire school.”

Sheffy praised the Student Hiring Event’s opportunity to help students through the interview process.

“If they have questions, they can come by and ask in a not so formal setting,” she said.

Cosmetology students Macey Bennett, Autumn Sanders and Kelsey Edwards were able to visit salon booths together to get through their first future career interviews.

“I thought the event went great and liked that the businesses were willing to talk to us as a group because I’m kind of shy,” Sanders said.

This also allowed the three students to feed off one another for questions they may not have thought to ask on their own.

After making their way to several salon options, the girls all agreed each visit became easier and the nerves were decreasing.

“I think a little background music playing would lighten the mood,” Sanders added.

Bennett said she enjoyed the fact several job opportunities were available in one place for students who may not have the time to travel to all the different options.

“Today’s event answered a lot of questions like would we rather do booth rental, corporate or do guys’ or girls’ hair or both,” Edwards said.

TCC HVAC/R instructor Ronald Hedrick brought two of his students who have completed the first year of his program to interview for a potential summer job and eventual career.

“Just like any job, the more experience you have, the better it makes you,” he said.

Hedrick, who also owns his own business, said he is trying to develop his students into someone he would want to hire.

Ahead of the Student Hiring Event, he offered his students a bit of advice.

“Be professional, be honest and don’t over think it,” he said of the interview process. “Being professional and being honest are the two things that will get you hired.”

While some TCC students were working toward future careers with their new skill set, Hedrick added traits learned at the school are not what a person has to do for the rest of their life.

Skills learned at TCC can also be used or help a student out in life by being able to complete everyday household repairs or to recognize when another worker could be taking advantage of them.

“It’s just another tool for your toolbox,” he said.