Butte College
News Announcement

Re-imagined Hiring Event Hosted at Butte College Career Center

This spring, the Butte College Career Center partnered with SynEd to launch a new pilot to connect students completing certificate and degree programs in accounting and business with employers hiring for those skills. The career center modeled the event after SynEd's Appointment with your future.

The goals for the pilot included:

• Strengthen Butte College's partnership with some of our largest local employers.

• Develop an ongoing talent pipeline for employers and open opportunities for earlier interaction with students through work-based learning experiences.

• Provide a proactive approach toward job preparedness and job placement for Butte College students.

• Strengthen the Career Center's relationship with faculty and students.

"This new program does not just strengthen the bridge between education and employment; it transforms our students' potential," said Interim Career Center Director Brian Donnelly. "Every student's journey deserves to be met with unwavering support and tailored guidance, empowering them to unleash their full potential and navigate the professional world with confidence. We are proud to witness students forging meaningful connections with employers as they build a fulfilling and impactful future."

Butte County Public Health, Behavioral Health, Development Services, Auditor's Office, the City of Chico, Northern California Regional Land Trust and ChicoStart were excited to participate and shared eight accounting and office job openings for the pilot. These partners provided input and guidance during the program's development and indicated they would like to increase their involvement with students.

"The response from local employers was overwhelmingly positive! Their willingness to participate in our student's success was beautiful to experience," said Wendy Porter, assistant director of employer partnerships at Butte College. "We are already moving forward with new opportunities. Expanding this program next year will continue the momentum of employer engagement on campus."

Butte College's accounting and business faculty helped gather student candidates who were completing certificates or degrees and would be looking for work at the end of the semester. 

"The students gained great insight into interview preparation, resume building and helpful tips for dressing for a successful interview. They all approached the interview day with a much more confident mindset. Students ended up with good job offers that fit their skills." 

Seven of the 20 interested students completed the student preparation work throughout the semester. This work included Clifton Strengths and Indeed assessments and resume and LinkedIn profile assistance. The students' work culminated in a full-day workshop with an elevator pitch, storytelling and networking skill practice. In the middle of the day, there was a networking lunch with faculty and community members where the students practiced their newfound skills. Mock interviews concluded the day-long event.

"The opportunity provided me with a mountain of experiences and allowed me to meet so many influential people in the local area," said Lewis Lee, one of the participating students. "This type of program is perfect for students seeking hands-on experiences with interviews."

After the all-day student workshop, the Career Center was able to match students' skill sets and preferences to open positions and scheduled the interview portion of the program in late May. Each student interviewed for multiple jobs to ensure they gained plenty of interview experience. The hiring managers were grateful to have so many interviews neatly scheduled at the same time and location. Eight job offers were presented to students, and five were accepted!

"Meeting with the students from Butte College in a real-time on-campus hiring event brought home all the reasons why I work in Human Resources," said Chelsea Phebus, HR director at the City of Chico. "The students I met with came from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds and experiences yet were moving forward in partnership with Butte College with the shared goal of success within the local community. The accounting and business departments put forward excellent candidates who have a tremendous skill set to offer employers locally and beyond. I truly enjoyed it." 

The Career Center has learned a lot from this pilot and is excited to improve the event in the coming semesters. They plan to expand the program to provide more opportunities for students and employers.

"Providing career-focused support to students helps them gain the skills and confidence needed to walk into an interview and come away with a number of job opportunities," said Tammera Shinar, dean of enrollment services. "Through these connections, we empower our students to thrive and fulfill our mission of guiding them towards a future filled with endless possibilities."

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