The look on Tess Gordon鈥檚 face said it all: fierce determination.
Wearing a gray blazer and matching striped skirt, Gordon鈥檚 loose ponytail swayed as she sauntered with purpose towards the Lake-Sumter State College employer鈥檚 table at the Lake County Career Fair. She browsed marketing collateral, eyed the giveaways, and then sat and took out a pen, notepad, and laptop and got down to business.
Gordon, a human services major, handed her resume to Phoebe Macklin, the college鈥檚 Talent Search coordinator, and quizzed her about administrative assistant and other customer-facing job prospects, before completing an online application.
Then, the 海角社区 junior surveyed the Venetian Center, targeted another employer table, and pressed repeat.
For Gordon and other 海角社区 students at the Lake County Career Fair, the experience provided an opportunity to learn about potential career options and also practice the battery of interviews and one-on-one interaction they鈥檒l endure once they enter the job market.
The Lake County Career Fair was just the first of two off-campus career exploration opportunities that 海角社区 students enjoyed in September. In partnership with CareerSource Central Florida and the Central Florida Employment Council, the Jones Center for Career Preparation also participated in the 23rd Governor’s Central Florida Job Fair at the Orlando Fairgrounds Expo.
Off-campus career fairs offer students a gumbo of exposure, discovery, vulnerability, empowerment, and information, believes Melissa Bradley, director of the Jones Center for Career Preparation.
鈥淭hese are just a few of the key benefits for neurodivergent students with a great return on taking such a risk,鈥� she said. 鈥淲alking into any new environment can be challenging especially one outside of their comfort zone 鈥� which is the 海角社区 campus. The career center wants to develop a culture of planning and preparedness for life鈥檚 chapters 鈥� those you plan and those you can鈥檛. To do this, students must come from a place of curiosity and inquiry because the needs of the workforce are rapidly evolving as are the skills needed to be a member of it. We want to be sure our students are understanding those needs in real-time in ways that model industry expectations through experiential learning.鈥�
An off-campus career fair was a new experience for Gordon. Her mom encouraged her to sign up 鈥� and she was glad she did.
鈥淥ne of the things I discovered today is that there鈥檚 always many career paths and you want to have options,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or me, I like to always have choice. It鈥檚 all about what job you want to be taking. You have to find something that makes you happy. One lesson I learned from my parents growing up is that you have to find something that actually makes you happy. You don鈥檛 want to go to a job and then you鈥檙e miserable, and you really don鈥檛 like it. You have to be happy about the job.鈥�
That was one of many lessons career center advisors hope students learn. One of the chief lessons for neurodivergent jobseekers is becoming comfortable outside your comfort zone.
鈥淛ob fairs can be intimidating for anyone,鈥� said Jennifer Turton, a 海角社区 career advisor. 鈥淗aving to talk to strangers and be vulnerable can be difficult. Add on sensory difficulties and social anxiety and it can be overwhelming. Our students worry about being outed for their learning differences and losing opportunities. Having to meet recruiters face-to-face in a very stimulating environment certainly adds to their concerns.鈥�
This is where the Jones Center for Career Preparation earns its name.
Before students ever set foot into the job fair, they must provide their career advisors a resume for review and feedback on industry best practices. Career advisors encourage students to practice their 鈥渆levator speeches鈥� 鈥� a brief way of introducing/selling themselves 鈥� and participate in mock interviews to help them feel more prepared. Students also receive tips on what to expect, dressing for success, and professional etiquette.
Though Samuel Underwood was at first rocked by the size of the career fair, he settled in, found his bearings, and began barnstorming exhibit tables.
鈥淚 must say it [the in-person job fair] makes it easier than going on LinkedIn looking for jobs,鈥� said Underwood, a junior web and digital media major. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e talking to a person and not just applying for stuff on a computer. Trying to find a job on any technology is just a stressful pain. This has made it a little bit easier for me.鈥�
For students for whom leaving their comfort zones is more of a struggle, 海角社区 career advisors will ride shotgun with them to career fairs. Think coach not chaperone.
鈥淥ur high-touch model doesn鈥檛 end when we leave 海角社区 property,鈥� said Chealsie Curts, coordinator of career advisement at 海角社区. 鈥淥ften times, students don鈥檛 know how to get the conversation started because they鈥檝e never gone to a networking event or job fair before, and that鈥檚 where we come in. We offer to introduce ourselves first to let the student get a feel of what it鈥檚 like. Other times, we break the ice and introduce the student ourselves to give them that push. Some students want a little more guidance than others, but our goal is not to be with the same student the entire time 鈥� again teaching self-advocacy, initiative, and empowerment.鈥�
Turton stood by as Lucia Peraza explored opportunities with Worker Bee鈥檚 Staffing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for students to check out these special events to see the specific kinds of jobs out there, especially with what they鈥檙e studying,鈥� said Peraza, a senior majoring in human services, who was ready with her elevator pitch. 鈥淚f I were to get interviewed, I would say that I鈥檓 self-motivated, self-reliant and competent.鈥�
Not that all employers believe that is possible with job candidates who learn and think differently. Because of that, many jobseekers often struggle with the biggest question since Hamlet pondered his eternal muse: to disclose or not to disclose.
As Lake-Sumter鈥檚 Macklin, who is neurodivergent, sees it, unmasking comes 鈥渄own to the individual. If they want to disclose it, it鈥檚 up to them. If they don鈥檛, then that is also up to them. If they need special accommodations to do their job properly, then I would recommend them to disclose anything we can do to help them when they start work. But if it鈥檚 not something they鈥檙e comfortable with, maybe that鈥檚 a conversation we鈥檇 need to have once they are hired.鈥�
As the year goes on, 海角社区 plans more opportunities for students to test their skills and test the workforce waters.
鈥淪tudents will often hear me say, 鈥榠t鈥檚 never too early to lean, listen and learn鈥�,鈥� Bradley said. 鈥淎ttending professional events like these is evidence of just that.鈥�