Watervliet High School senior Talisia Johnson-Taylor had the opportunity recently to network with healthcare industry recruiters during a career fair at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center’s Albany campus.
Talisia is one of nearly 100 students pursuing careers in healthcare through Capital Region BOCES programs who met with recruiting specialists during the April 8th event.
“I think this is great. It shows us all that there are opportunities for us right out of school if we don’t want to go to college or if we want to work while we go to college,” she said.
Talisia applied to several of the healthcare providers represented at the career fair and she plans to attend Russell Sage College to study nursing.
“I want to be a pediatric nurse and help little kids,” she said.
Recruiters on hand for the event, which was organized by CTE teacher Adam Mainville, included representatives from Shaker Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Ingersoll Place Assisted Living Facility, Kingsway Manor, Kingsway Home Care, The Grand Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Hudson Valley Community College and Fulton Montgomery Community College, among others.
Recruiters viewed the turnout as a success and were pleased with the interest and professionalism of the high school students.
“I have a sheet filled with students interested working for us and I have some interviews set up for next week already,” said Taleen Melkonian, a regional talent acquisition specialist with The Grand Healthcare System.
Nancy Liddle, Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator for Business & Community Partnerships, said the feedback from recruiters was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was evident in the comments from the employers that these young adults are health care professionals and ready to help others,” Liddle said. “Employers were excited to receive so many resumes from interested students.”