Local youth received the opportunity to display their skills and interests during a recent job fair at First Baptist Church with a unique twist.
SKIL Resource Center partnered with the Kansas Youth Transition Network to bring a reverse job fair to local students, specifically those with an Individualized Education Program, a 504 plan, or who receive transition services. Area students placed their resumes, photos, and facts about themselves on trifold boards and presented them to prospective employers visiting their tables. Participating high schools include Parsons High School, Caney Valley High School, Cherryvale High School, and Neodesha High School.
According to SKIL Community Inclusion and Outreach Manager Jamie Piersall, this is the first event of this kind SKIL has presented.
“This is a great opportunity for the next wave of the workforce to network with employers and showcase their skills and their potential,” Piersall said.
Piersall said SKIL has a five-year grant partnership with the Kansas Youth Transition Network.
“We’ve partnered with them to work with youth with disabilities and get them transitioned into adulthood and independent living, and part of what comes with that is working,” Piersall said.
She noted that she and Dailyn Morris created a nineweek curriculum that students participated in, which covered topics including application skills, resume building, elevator pitches, teamwork, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and mock interviews.
While many students can learn those skills through certain clubs or classes, Piersall said not every kid gets that opportunity.
“This helps level the playing field,” Piersall said.
Myles Baumgartel, a student from Parsons High School, said he worked hard on his presentation. When asked what his favorite part of the day was, he said he enjoyed talking to others. Of jobs, Baumgartel said he was most interested in working for a mowing business.
Another Parsons student, Graysen Stenstrom, agreed that interacting with other people has been his favorite part of the event. Of his skills, Stenstrom said he enjoys woodworking.
“I make benches, candles, bat houses, and bird houses,” Stenstrom said.
Josh Wade, a Caney Valley High School senior, said he was most interested in a career in athletic training. When asked about how his interviews have gone with prospective employers, Wade said they have gone well.
Abby Marlow, another Caney Valley student, highlighted her experience working with children as a babysitter and her talent for art on her board.
“I’m good at helping people and painting,” Marlow said. Of a prospective career, Marlow said she was interested in continuing to work with children or getting a job painting buildings.
Of the event, Marlow said she enjoyed getting to know the people who stopped by her table.
“Learning new stuff from people is actually cool,” Marlow said.
She noted that finding a job is not always easy and that many places are not hiring.
“I’d like a decent something, where you can get paid enough to live. I think that’s all that matters,” Marlow said.
Elijah Blagg, also of Caney Valley, said he was encouraged to volunteer at the Safari Zoological Park, given his passion for animals.
“I might talk to my mom about it,” Blagg said. “If they want me to be a tour guide, the old tour guide is going to have to tell me some facts.”
Blagg has also been developing his Photoshop skills and his leadership skills through classes and being the Vice President of the Circle of Pups team at his high school.
“What I want to do is, in a few years, make it a just world where animals and people can coexist with no issues,” Blagg said.
Other career paths he is considering include working remotely and creating designs for customers.
He said this event is beneficial to students like him. He also noted it was a challenge putting his presentation together, but said it was worth it.
“These students have worked really hard, and they are proud of what they’ve done. We’re all proud of what they’ve done,” Piersall said.
