Battle Ground High School held its annual Industry Fair on Thursday, Feb. 16, as students and community members sought career information, participated in resume workshops and spoke with potential employers.
This year, 86 vendors attended the fair, which is about 15 more than the average, according to organizers. Vendors represented industries and careers ranging from law enforcement, the medical fields, the trades and others.
A few of the biggest vendors in attendance included Boeing, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Fred Meyer, ilani, PeaceHealth, the United States Postal Service and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
“We have over 200 kids in work-based learning and through that we’ve really developed close partnerships with our local businesses,” said Cindy Arnold, the career and technical education (CTE) director for Battle Ground Public Schools.
The district’s CTE courses have earned statewide reputation for providing career guidance, organizers said. The resume workshop during the industry fair was utilized by both students and community members.
“I think it’s important for students to have a resume,” said Kevin Doyle, the career guidance specialist at Battle Ground High School. “We’ve experienced in this community, if a student brings a resume in, an employer will look at that favorably versus somebody that doesn’t have one because the students have gone the extra little effort to take it and bring it in.”
The career center at Battle Ground High School provides students with resume forms and gives pointers to help with the process. They also have reference recommendations. The career center will print as many resume copies a student needs to help them succeed as they search for a job.
Representatives from IQ Credit Union set up in front of the Battle Ground High School’s IQ Credit Union Campus Branch.
“It’s available for sophomores, juniors and seniors,” Molly O’Connor, of IQ Credit Union, said. “It allows them to take the class and earn a credit toward graduating and getting their diploma. From there, they also have the opportunity for paid internships at one of our main branches.”
While attending the industry fair, O’Connor said she loves educating the community about all of the jobs IQ Credit Union has available. She added those employment opportunities include marketing, accounting, and other roles that help the credit union run and function.
Many of the vendors at the fair represented the skilled, technical and engineering categories. They provided individuals information on apprenticeship opportunities.
Rachel Wheeler, a recruiter for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, travels to both high schools and universities to share job opportunities with the department. To become a deputy, a person has to be at least 21 years of age and they must have a bachelor’s degree. Wheeler believes industry fairs at area high schools help provide students with an idea of what to look for in their prospective careers.
Organizers of the industry fair hoped 500 people would attend.
