On Friday, November 8th the Hopedale Jr. Sr. High School held their 4th annual Career Fair to further educate students on potential career options and what it takes to be a part of the working world. Featuring events for students in grades 7-10, the fair was organized by Seniors Madelyn DiMaio and Alexandra Goode, and Junior Avery Miller. The fair was organized under the guidance of Talitha Oliveri and Mackenzie Dyke, the dedicated advisors of Hopedale DECA and educators at HJSHS. The Career Fair aided students in career exploration by allowing them to network with business professionals, expose them to soft skills, and practice the interview skills necessary to enter the professional workforce.

The Career Fair featured various smaller events to provide a fuller look into the professional world such as the Career Booths, a mock interview session, a soft skills workshop, and the Executive Panel with business professionals. The Career Booths featured all 16 career clusters where students were given the opportunity to speak with 50 professional volunteers. Students could gain knowledge by conversing with the professionals about their respective careers where they learned how to pursue featured careers and what qualifications are required to enter that specific field.

In addition to the Career Booths, mock interviews were conducted with all Freshman and Sophomore students. This event simulated what a professional interview would be like, and was designed to provide them with the necessary skills to earn a job in the future. These interviews were conducted by upperclassmen who helped the Freshman and Sophomores find their confidence, providing them with feedback to help them in their future. This feedback targeted both their strengths and weaknesses to allow them to feel better prepared for when the time comes.

To break up their time, the Freshman and Sophomores also participated in a soft skills workshop that featured lessons in email etiquette and first impressions, which were designed to help prepare students for important interactions in professional settings.

The final activity that the Freshman and Sophomore students participated in was the Executive Panel. This activity featured 6 professional volunteers, one from each of the 6 career fields, who spoke about their careers and the pathways that led them to their current jobs. Guided questions were posed by the Career Fair team to benefit the younger students and provide them with insight into their future outside of high school.

Overall, the 2024 Career Fair was very successful. The fair featured the highest volunteer turnout in its four year history, and was well organized. The Career Fair team would like to thank everyone who allowed this day to happen. They are also very grateful for all of the support they have received from the community and students.