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Carla Schlosser, Chelsea Dixson, and Stephanie Shepherd stood in front of their booth in Hingst Hall at Ivy Tech Community College’s Kokomo campus last week, dressed for success and armed with a poster board filled with information. The trio, all nursing students graduating at the end of the semester, participated in the college’s reverse career fair, where employers searched for new employees.
“This is getting ourselves out there, but also seeing what other places have to offer for us,” said Schlosser.
“I kind of feel like we have the upper hand versus when you go to a traditional interview,” said Shepherd.
The event, in its second year, flipped the traditional job fair format. Rather than setting up shop and having students approach them, the employers took on the role of searcher, visiting the students’ booths and pitching their businesses as good places to work. This year, 70 students worked in groups to set up their booths, and 13 employers from six counties came looking for them.
“This is a part of our nursing capstone course,” said Jhordan Lee, Ivy Tech Kokomo’s Talent Connection Manager. “They do a project at the end of every semester, and this year they're doing poster boards, presenting on the quality, safety, and education principles of nursing.
“So, the students are the ones at the tables, and the employers are going around to visit with the students. I think everybody is well aware of the nursing shortage right now. So, the businesses are kind of champing at the bit to get in here and participate in these types of things.”
In its second year, the reverse job fair added graduating Licensed Practical Nurses to the mix, setting them up in two classrooms adjacent to the hall. The graduating Registered Nurses occupied the main hall. Lee was pleased and impressed to see how the students prepared themselves for the hiring event.
“We went in and did classroom presentations with the students, and we talked about how to sell yourself to an employer,” said Lee. “We helped them develop and prepare their resumes. We talked to them about how to dress professionally. They responded really well.”
The event is a collaboration between the Ivy Tech’s School of Nursing and Ivy+ Career Link team. While Lee isn’t certain the reverse nature of the job fair is any more or less successful than a traditional event, she appreciates the advantages the format provides to the students.
“I think just because the need is so great in the field, I really don't think it would matter how we did it,” said Lee. “The employers would still show up. But this is just so unique, because it really puts the students in charge of their own pitch. They're the ones in charge. They get to sell themselves on their home field.”
For more information about Ivy Tech Community College’s School of Nursing, as well as the many other educational offerings at the Kokomo campus, visit www.ivytech.edu/kokomo.