The OCCC Career Success and Workforce Development Center hosted a special “Find Your Perfect Match” event on Feb. 12 in the Al Snipes Boardroom, providing students with a unique opportunity to connect with local employers.
“Last summer, my coworker and I requested to have a networking event,” the center’s director, Laura Watts, explained. “We decided to do it in February and do it around Valentine’s Day. We came up with the name of the event to coordinate with the theme of Valentine’s Day.”
At the event, OCCC students got a chance to walk around the room and speak with employers who were looking to hire.
“The whole purpose of this event was for OCCC students to mingle and get acquainted with local area employers,” Watts said. “Most of the employers are looking to hire. All of the employers, except one or two, have come to the career fair.”
A variety of employers from different industries attended the event, including the following: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, East Central University, First American Title, ImageNet, the JD McCarty Center, Lamar, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, Orca Life, Pafford EMS, Total Medical Staffing Personnel, Tyler Media, Vector Marketing and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.
Employers are interested in OCCC students because they value education when hiring. They also seek students who are confident and skilled.
“I am hearing over and over again from employers that getting an education is important,” Watts said. “They are looking for employees with soft skills that go beyond an education. These soft skills include communication, critical thinking, leadership and teamwork.
“To employers, these soft skills are more important than what you major in. This event gave students an opportunity to practice all these skills, especially communication.”
The Career Success and Workforce Development Center hosts other workshops that cater to OCCC students as well.
“I do workshops on how to write resumes, how to create an elevator pitch, professional etiquette and how to dress professionally,” Watts said. “More are coming as our team grows.”
Watts carries many responsibilities as director of the Career Success and Workforce Development Center.
“My main job is to help OCCC students become career ready,” she said. “I prepare them to transition from an educational setting to being in the workforce. On the workforce development side, my job is to work with local area employers and build relationships with them.”
OCCC students have found success in getting hired after attending events hosted by the Career Success and Workforce Development Center.
“I know, without a doubt, that many students have had job interviews. They’ve come and told me,” Watts proudly declared. “I’ve helped them create resumes to apply for jobs. They also come to me to practice interviewing skills. Many students have come back and told me they have secured a job with my help.”
The Career Success and Workforce Development Center has more events planned for OCCC students this semester, including a career fair scheduled for this April.
