Partnership Hosts Career Event with Students and Employers
What do Virginia Tech students and Roanoke Region companies have in common?
They want to connect on the same career paths.
The Roanoke Regional Partnership hosted an on-campus career event at Virginia Tech on Nov. 15, connecting several dozen students and businesses. The pilot workshop – Hike Our Career Paths – targeted engineering and computer science majors and helped them meet business leaders in construction, building design, advanced manufacturing, local government, and mechanical engineering.
“The best part of the event was the rotational format on the tables that allowed every student to have an opportunity to hold a memorable and productive conversation with each of the industry leaders,” said Pranay Shah, an industrial and systems engineering major at Virginia Tech.
The format of Hike Our Career Paths gave each student time to ask questions about specific types of jobs and internships, and business leaders had the opportunity to explain why the Roanoke Region is a great place to work and live.
“The best talent is earned through relationship building. AECOM and the Roanoke Regional Partnership share this vision and that is why we are excited to partner to offer career advice and mentorship which can lead to successful recruitment,” said Joey Caldwell of AECOM, who participated in the event. “Healthy relationships are developed when there is mutual benefit.”
While not many students said they had considered working in the Roanoke Region post-college before the event, that changed after meeting with companies here. Post-event surveys show that more than half of the students in attendance would consider the region after graduation. One sophomore said she always thought that she would go back home to North Carolina after college but now sees an opportunity for herself in Roanoke.
If your business is interested in sponsoring or participating in an event like this in the future, email Erin Burcham, Roanoke Regional Partnership director of talent solutions.