Job fair gives students skills for summer jobs and beyond

Some arrive poised and prepared.

Others walk in nervous and uncertain.

But by the end, the teens all have a chance to walk away with more confidence and, perhaps, even a summer job or a lead on an internship.

The KidsMatter Student Job Fair on Wednesday, March 25, at North Central College in Naperville aims to do more than connect teens and young adults with potential employers. It also works to arm them with skills like resume building and interviewing techniques that will serve them for life.

"Often times, we have teens coming in to look for their first job, but they worry no one will hire them because they don't have any work experience," KidsMatter spokeswoman Bridget Hatch said.

"But then we sit down with them and find out that maybe they've done activities like student government, band or athletics, and maybe they've helped organize a fundraiser or a student election. These all include components of being a successful employee. The kids just need to be coached, and that's part of what we do."

The fair pairs jobseekers ages 16 to 23 with roughly 50 local business owners and representatives looking to hire. Employers are a mix of local independent businesses, nonprofits, big-box retailers and national chains from throughout DuPage County, including suburbs like Carol Stream, Wheaton, Oak Brook, Bolingbrook and Aurora.

And within that, there are opportunities to explore fields like sports, fashion, marketing, food service, child care and more.

Hatch says this diversity allows students to do more than just find work for extra pocket money: It gives them a chance to explore fields that might interest them for future careers.

Each student who attends the fair will receive a free Resource Booklet summarizing the opportunities available at each participating business along with their contact information.

The booklet also includes a section that provides tips and tactics students can refer to in order to increase their odds of securing a job. It answers questions like:

• How do I prepare for an interview?

• Who should I use as a reference?

• What qualities are employers looking for?

But at the fair, there are also real people who can help jobseekers with these questions, too.

Local businesses create stations at the fair for students to try out mock interviews, attend resume workshops, and explore internship opportunities.

Hatch said businesses in the community enjoy the mock interviews and resume workshops so much they often come to her asking to be on the team.

"It's one situation where you can make a direct impact on a young person's future and confidence in a half-hour," Hatch said. "They're really excited to participate."

Kathryn Van Eeuwen, a senior client adviser for BMO Harris Bank, conducted mock interviews last year and agreed that the effort was rewarding.

"We have some students who are phenomenally prepared, poised and articulate and have really thought-out answers to potential questions, while others are unaware of what might be asked or appropriate responses," Van Eeuwen said.

"You can see how nervous and scared some kids are. But as soon as they realize you're just a person having a conversation, they relax, take a deep breath and start having a good time.

"We try to take them at their own level, giving both positive feedback and one or two things that might help them" she added. "For some, it's eye contact, for others it's avoiding using the word 'like' or learning how to talk about their hobbies, since that tells a lot to an employer. And for many kids, it's just the mechanics, like learning to shake hands firmly."

Students at the fair also will learn important lessons about appropriate social media usage.

Hatch said teens and young adults naturally test boundaries, but it's important that they understand the Internet is forever, being mindful of social media research employers now undertake.

"They don't recognize inappropriate posts can impact them looking for a career far into the future," she said.

The KidsMatter Student Job Fair is just one of several annual events organized by the Naperville-based KidsMatter. The nonprofit group will host Ignite the Night, a celebration of local high school performances, Thursday, April 23, at North Central College; in August, it hosts a Skaters Picnic to connect the Naperville Police Department with the local skateboarding community; and in October, KidsMatter hosts a volunteer fair, which connect local families with area nonprofits.

If you go

What: KidsMatter Student Job Fair

When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25

Where: North Central College Merner Field House, 450 S. Brainard St., Naperville

Cost: Free

Info: kidsmatter2us.org or (630) 527-6562