CASPER, Wyo. — “This isn’t your typical job fair,” said Dr. Rochelle Green, director of the Organizational Leadership program at the University of Wyoming at Casper.
Indeed, it is not. For the second year in a row, UW at Casper, Casper College and the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting the “Leap Into the Future” Career Exploration and Advancement event at the union building at Casper College.
On Feb. 26, students and non-students alike are invited to explore the future of their careers. This isn’t just a chance for people to look for jobs or meet potential employers; it’s an opportunity to experience the entire journey involved with finding one’s ideal career.
“Our ultimate goal with this event is to provide people with an opportunity — whether it be a high school student, a college student, or just somebody in the community — to come and talk to a company without the pressure of, ‘Do I qualify for this job?'” Green stated. “It’s more of an opportunity to say, ‘If I were to go work at this company, what would that look like from ground zero? What are they looking for in an employee? How would I get promoted? What exactly are they looking for?'”
It’s not just about what employers are looking for, it’s about what potential employees are looking for, too.
Jobs — careers — are important. People spend eight or more hours a day working and the margin for unhappiness is a big one. It’s important for people to feel fulfilled. It’s important for people to feel like they have a purpose. UW at Casper wants to help Wyoming residents find that purpose. The career exploration event is a major component of that.
The event also helps UW possibly place students into classes and programs that would prepare them for their chosen career.
“Another thing that’s really cool about these kinds of events is the opportunity to bring the community together; especially in Wyoming, which is just one giant ‘small community,'” said Ashlee Taylor, the career service coordinator for Casper College. “We all know that finding a job is sometimes about who’s in your network. So you get the opportunity to not only meet people who are curious about the job-seeking process — getting familiar with it, learning about what it’s going to take to land that career, etc. But it’s also a chance to build relationships and community with the vendors, the employers at this event. The energy is almost contagious and it’s really exciting to make all those connections.”
There are several businesses involved in the Career Exploration and Advancement event, all of which are excited by the opportunity to explain the inner workings of their company to potential employees. Businesses will also be explaining to attendees what they look for in résumés and cover letters, and Casper College will have a table at the event that works with attendees on composing résumés and cover letters.
“Every one of our vendors I’m excited about,” Taylor said. “I’m excited about the people that we work with frequently, our really strong partners, but the companies and the industries and the organizations that people might not be familiar with, I think, is where I really get excited. We have a lot of energy and trade companies that represent Wyoming so well. We’ll have healthcare companies, the school district, fire and police and military. We have so many different employers and so many different types of opportunities for those who attend.”
Taylor and Green both emphasized that this event isn’t just for students. While high school and college students are encouraged to attend, it’s also open to non-students, non-traditional students and those interested in trade schools.
“My program is literally the applied science degree program,” Green shared. “And I’d say, nine times out of 10, our students are coming out of the trades. They’re also about 25% veterans, so they’ve already experienced full lives and now they’re at a point where they want to better themselves even more. Being a veteran, myself, I see so much benefit in going to work first and getting that experience.”
Taylor agreed.
“I’m a graduate from Rochelle’s program,” she said. “And I, myself, was a non-traditional student who went into the workforce before I came to college and now, as a career service provider, I know how important this resource is for the community.”
The event is free and open to the public and it’s a chance for people who may be looking for their first job — or for people who are looking to switch careers — to find a place where they feel like they fit.
“We see folks who may be exploring college, but that’s not just the reason that they’re here for career service,” Taylor said. “They’re here for résumé support to help change gears. Sometimes people are just changing direction completely. Mental health is related to how satisfied you are in your job. So we’re here to help people set goals, process what their options are, make connections and help them network.”
That network is a large one. The Career Exploration and Advancement event will feature businesses from a variety of sectors and industries, from law enforcement to education, to healthcare, nonprofit work, technology, financial and more.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services will be in attendance to offer support and guidance. The event will feature free business headshots (one per person) courtesy of Heart of Wyoming Photography as well.
“The energy at these events is absolutely contagious,” Taylor beamed. “You leave with a really good feeling. You’ve made new friends, new connections, and you’ve received a ton of new information. You don’t always know what you need to know until you need to know it. And so this is a perfect opportunity to get insight and resources, connect with people, Every individual has their own journey. You don’t need to compare yourself to what somebody else is doing, or what you saw on social media. Your journey is unique and we’re here to support you, with whatever that journey looks like.”
The full list of businesses partnering with UW Casper, Casper College and the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce for this event includes:
- Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
- Wyoming Small Business Development Center
- Central Wyoming Hospice
- Natrona County School District
- Union Pacific
- Dayton Transmission
- Ivinson Memorial Hospital Radiology
- Best Home Health & Hospice
- Moser Energy Systems
- Fremont Motor Company
- YMCA of Natrona County
- Casper College: Career Services, School of Business & Industry, School Social
- Behavioral Sciences, Human Resources
- Summit Medical Center
- University of Wyoming-Casper Organizational Leadership & Social Work
- Wyoming Army National Guard
- Wyoming Behavioral Institute
- Community Health Centers of Central Wyoming
- Compression Leasing Services
- Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital
- Mountain West Technologies
- Omnivest Financial
- Transportation Security Administration
- Sage Truck Driving School
- Dandelion Leadership Coaching
- Sletton Construction
- The Science Zone AmeriCorps Program
- Peabody Energy
- U.S. Forest Service
- Dress for Success
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Central Wyoming Counseling Center
- Casper Fire Department
- Casper Recreation Department
- Casper Police Department
- Natrona County School District
This event is for anybody looking to invest in their future. It’s a chance to meet people, to network, to learn new skills and to develop old ones. It’s an opportunity to take a first step toward the rest of your life and more than anything it’s a chance to, quite literally, look before you leap.
The “Leap Into Your Future Career Exploration and Advancement” event is happening on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third and fourth floor of the Casper College Student Union building. For more information. visit the University of Wyoming at Casper website, or follow them on Facebook for daily updates.
