Rotary Career Symposium

There's plenty of information about different jobs out there. The tricky part is finding the right information — and the right people — to help steer you towards a fulfilling career. You can find all that and much more at the 17th annual Rotary Career Symposium, which takes place March 18 and 19 at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. Each year, more than 13,000 people attend the two-day event to glean career ideas from more than 200 exhibit booths and 70 speaker sessions. Sandra Visentin, the 2014 chair of the Rotary Career Symposium, says the event continues to remain relevant since it features new attractions year after year. "As the organizers, we're always trying to find ways to keep it current or keep it relevant. We're constantly looking at what occupations the students are interested in and which businesses are trying to find people. We try to focus on those items, as well as events or activities at the symposium to help with that," she said. "When we started 17 years ago, you didn't have the abundance of information that you have now. Finding the information isn't the problem. The problem is finding the right information and the right people. We've realized that and tried to focus more on that." Speaker sessions provide a valuable way for visitors to create connections with people in an industry that interests them. "Personally, I think the absolute value in what we do is that ability to connect. You can see it especially in the speaker sessions. They talk for about 20 minutes and then they take questions for about 10 minutes, but there's not another session for a half-hour. Typically that half-hour is full of kids who are talking with the speaker and connecting," Visentin said. "Our speakers all volunteer their time, and it's super. They just love having people ask them about their job. It's a really rewarding experience for them as well." Another useful resource is the Career Café, which focuses on practical job-search techniques. Career counsellors are on hand to give advice on everything from resumé writing to interview skills. As well, the Engineering Innovation Challenge piques the interest of participants who might want to work in a technological environment. Students collaborate with their peers to build models, such as airplanes, within a set time limit. "This year, we've also partnered with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, so we're going to have a big centre with four different work-station booths in it," Visentin said. "They're going to have virtual welding and different centres to take you through the whole manufacturing process. These things are relevant because of the current high demand for jobs using modern technology." To ensure that the symposium remains a useful resource for students and other job- seekers, participants can fill out surveys about their experience. From this feedback, organizers determine what worked well and what needs to change. "We're always trying to find ways to make sure what we're offering is useful for people. In this day and age, you can't do the same thing for many years and have it be worthwhile," Visentin said. "Each year, we offer an opportunity for students or young adults to create personal connections with schools or businesses." Visentin also encourages parents to get involved in the process. The symposium costs $2 for students who pre-register with their school or $3 at the door. But for parents, admission is free. "As a parent, sometimes you don't know what's out there for your kids. When the parents were this age, there weren't nearly the opportunities or the options. We're trying to get information for parents and help them to make these decisions with their kids," she said. "If the kids come during the day with their school, they can come back in the evening with their parents. They don't have to pay again, and their parents don't have to pay either. "There are better opportunities in the evening to talk to people and have those in-depth conversations." Whether you're preparing to enter the work world for the first time or you're looking for a career change, the Rotary Career Symposium provides a one-stop shop. "For the students or the young adults who are looking for careers, it's the opportunity to find somebody in that career. And for the businesses, it's an opportunity to talk to people about their occupations and start to build that relationship in order for all sides to win," Visentin said. "It's always a challenge to make those connections and find those people. This is one place where they're all in the same spot." Page 3 CreAte ConneCtionS At rotArY CAreer SYMpoSiuM By Jennifer McFee - For the Free Press

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