Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) hosted a high school networking event right before spring break in order to introduce seniors to the professional world— a place they will be arriving shortly come June. This event included a multitude of companies from Bergey’s Auto Group to Elmwood Park Zoo, and it gave students the chance to learn important life skills.
“One of the key skills when looking for a prospective career is just networking. Learning how to talk to people, learning how to look them in the eye when you are speaking to them, being able to pick up on body language, how to promote yourself, how to give your elevator pitch—all of these things are extremely important for a person to know,” Assistant Director of the MCIU Kendall Glouner-Zeamer stated.
Public speaking is arguably one of the most important of these skills. Whether it’s in a professional setting or not, we communicate with others every single day of our lives. The I.U. provided an opportunity for students to be able to sit down and get a taste of what companies look for in an applicant.
“Our goal is to connect employers. We have so much talent in our county. Many seniors who may not have a ‘next best step’ after graduation were allowed to look for information about how to get into a career of their choice here. That’s why these types of events are so important,” Glouner-Zeamer said.
Eight schools around our county were invited to bring students, and North Penn was included in this invitation. However, there were more people than just high school students. The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit also hosted incarcerated adjudicated youth; leading to a productive day full of people from all walks of life.
From early education and elderly care to manufacturing and public safety, these young adults could have potentially landed internships or jobs at an occupation that interests them. Yet even for the student who had no idea what they plan to do in the future or who to talk to, they still left with beneficial experience and the tools to succeed.
“Networking helps to build confidence. Employers like confident employees, so being able to discuss those aspects of yourself and also ask good questions is just great skills to have no matter what you are pursuing,” Glouner-Zeamer said.
Overall, the event that took place April 9th helped broaden the horizons for many seniors looking toward the next couple years of their lives. Being given an opportunity to network with representatives from countless companies was more than just landing a potential position, it was being able to connect with others, share good conversations, and learn more about how to carve your own path in the best way possible.