Island Institutions Team Up to Host Virtual Career Fair

Beyond 2020 seeks to match employers with qualified students in an all-day event on November 19, 2020.

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Registration is now open for the first-ever multi-institutional virtual career fair on Vancouver Island.

Beyond 2020 – Vancouver Island Career and Connections Fair aims to bridge the gap between employers and students at a time when student talent is needed more than ever to help with economic recovery. It is being co-organized by Vancouver Island University (VIU), Royal Roads University, North Island College and Camosun College.

“This is the first time all of these institutions have gotten together to take an Island-wide approach to matching employers with the skills and knowledge students can bring to the table,” says Vanessa Stratton, a project manager and Work-Integrated Learning faculty member in VIU’s Centre for Experiential Learning. “With COVID hitting local businesses hard, we’re hearing from employers that they are struggling to find qualified individuals to fill the roles needed to help with recovery, and we’re also hearing from students that there are fewer employment opportunities available. So, there’s this gap that we hope to bridge with this event."

Beyond 2020 aims to get 100+ employers from across the region and province talking with hundreds of students and recent graduates who may have the skills and expertise they are looking for.

“The event is also an awareness campaign about the benefits of hiring students,” says Stratton. “Students come with industry-specific education and skills, and by hiring students, you can reduce your recruitment costs through specialized funding and grants and other incentives. It’s a win-win situation as employers capitalize on student knowledge and students gain the opportunities they need to be successful. Plus, you get the opportunity to mentor someone and help them develop, which is a really cool experience.”

The event platform will include an informal network room as well as exhibitor booths that students can “visit.” On the platform, students upload their resumés, list their top skill sets and queue up to talk to employers, who can take a look at all of this information before having virtual face-to-face meetings with them.

Beyond 2020 will also feature speakers reflecting on the future of work and what this new reality is going to mean for students looking to enter the workforce. The keynote speaker will be Sean Aiken, who after graduating from college in 2007 decided to work 52 jobs in 52 weeks to find his passion. During his One-Week Job Project, he tried out jobs ranging from preschool teacher, firefighter, fashion buyer, cowboy, NHL mascot and stock trader.

To learn more, visit Beyond 2020 – Vancouver Island Career and Connections Fair.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jenn McGarrigle, External Communications Advisor, Vancouver Island University

C: 250.619.6860 | E: Jenn.McGarrigle@viu.ca | T: @VIUNews