Virtual Career Expo

Help build our future workforce

October 13, 2021

8:20-8:35am	Julie Quink, Accounting
10:20-10:35am	Sen. Adam Gomez, State Government
10:40-10:55am	Peta-Gaye Porter, Social Work/Workforce Development
11:00-11:15am	Terrell Joyner, Finance/Insurance
2:20-2:35pm	Leonard Underwood, Entrepreneurship/Photography

2020 Featured Speakers

Local Businesses

2018 GZA Technical Conference

GZA corporate video

Find Your Career Path

Career in Project Management

Tech Careers Support Desk

Groove Made Design Goods

Developing a Career Plan

Why Career Planning is Important

Tech Careers Information Security

Careers in Hospitality

Shwood Fashion Eyewear

A-Dec Dental Products

Code It: Programming

Cozy.co Tech Startup

Certified Public Accountants (CPA)

https://youtu.be/-BvVF7cV6k8

JA Virtual Career Expo is an event where students learn about a range of career options across multiple career clusters. Volunteers share information about their businesses and/or jobs and apply what they learn to their own career planning.

Objectives:

Student objectives will vary based on grade level. Generally, students will:

Observe career speakers.
Identify the variety of careers people have in the community.
Express how jobs require specific interests and skills.
Relate the impact of personal interests and abilities on career choices.
Investigate a variety of careers and the skills, education preparation, training, and personal qualities needed for those careers.
Examine how school skills apply to career paths.
Explain the importance of staying in school and graduating from high school.

student tries graphic design computer app

Savage Arms representatives and display booth

computers and men chat with woman at booth

Download the Evaluation Report (PDF)

For businesses, higher education, and apprenticeship programs, this is an opportunity to participate in building Western Massachusetts’ future workforce.

Take the Student Survey

Take the Teacher Survey

JA virtual career expo Curriculum

JA Virtual Career Expo consists of four in-class lessons—three prior to the Career Exploration Fair and one reflection activity afterward.

Session 1: Careers and Personality

Students are introduced to the JA INSPIRE program and take an assessment to discover what jobs may suit their personality.

Session 2: Industry Research

Students learn about the top 20 industries in the country, highlighting those that are high-wage/high-demand in Western Massachusetts. Using their personality assessment from Session 1, they research careers that match their personalities.

Session 3: Do You Have the Skills?

Students become familiar with the skills and education requirements needed to obtain a career, with a focus on soft skills.

JA virtual Career Expo

The career fair showcases opportunities at local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and educational organizations. Exhibits include interactive career stations with mentors who share their career advice with students and engage them with equipment, technology and the opportunity to “step into the shoes” of employees from all industries.

Exhibitors include colleges, universities, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, companies, local law enforcement and public safety organizations from throughout Western Massachusetts.

Session 4: Reflection

Students reflect on the JA INSPIRE Career Exploration Fair and activities throughout the program.

Grade K-2 Student Workbook

Middle Grades Student Workbook

JA Inspire Certificate of Achievement

Grade 3-5 Student Workbook

High School Student Workbook

JA Inspire Reflection & Personal Action Plan

JA Inspire Program Overview

Get Involved

To reserve a career station for your organization or learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jennifer Connolly at 413-747-7670 or jconnolly@jawm.org.

Sponsor