CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Development Office partnered with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) for the first-of-its-kind Reverse Job Fairs this week.
Reverse Job Fairs are a spin on the traditional job fair. Instead of companies waiting for job-seekers to visit their booths, work-ready students set up the fairs to showcase their skills and attract employers.
“These unique events connect employers with our talented and skilled career and technical education (CTE) students who have participated in the WVDE Simulated Workplace program and are eager to join the workforce,” said Sharon Adams, Manager of Workforce Development with the Development Office. “Our nationally recognized centers work closely with employers to support West Virginia’s diversifying workforce by ensuring technical education programs are aligned to industry needs.”
Learn more about how Reverse Job Fairs connect employers to qualified applicants in this video.
This week’s events kicked off the first two fairs on Tuesday, April 23 at the Fayette Institute of Technology (FIT) in Oak Hill and Thursday, April 25 at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center in New Cumberland.
As part of the Reverse Job Fairs, CTE Simulated Workplace students set up industry specific booths to showcase their talents and skills.
“We are committed to advancing the state’s economy by continuously evolving our CTE programs to better meet the needs of businesses across West Virginia. The goal of our Reverse Job Fairs is to connect employers with skilled, drug-free, industry-certified, Simulated Workplace students interested in employment after graduation,” said Associate State Superintendent, Dr. Kathy D’Antoni.
The fairs will continue over the next two weeks at various locations around the Mountain State. Business and industry representatives, human resource directors and other related professionals looking for qualified workers are encouraged to attend.
The remaining Reverse Job Fair schedule is as follows:
April 26, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute, St. Mary’s
• Architecture & Construction
• IT
• Manufacturing
• Transportation
April 30, 10 a.m.– noon
Spring Valley Career & Technical Education Center, Wayne County
• IT
• Manufacturing
• STEM
• Transportation
May 1, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Carver Career Center, Malden
• Agriculture
• Architecture & Construction
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Manufacturing
May 3, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monongalia County Technical Education Center, Morgantown
• Architecture & Construction
• IT
• Manufacturing
• STEM
May 7, noon to 2 p.m.
Randolph Technical Center, Elkins
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Manufacturing
• Transportation
May 8, 8 a.m. – noon
James Rumsey Technical Institute, Martinsburg
• Architecture & Construction
• Law & Public Safety
• Manufacturing
• Transportation
For more information or to register, visit westvirginia.gov/apprenticeship.
