The
Campus Philly Opportunity Fair, taking place June 20 at Penn's
Houston Hall, isn't just about jobs. In addition to featuring over 40 of the region's largest and fastest growing companies -- including
Bentley Systems,
Monetate,
Artisan and
Urban Engineers -- the event will host local civic organizations and a series of workshops aimed at helping recent grads. The big picture goal: keeping students in Philadelphia.
The fair is free to anyone who graduated from college in the past five years. To develop a diverse roster, Campus Philly partnered with the City of Philadelphia and 29 local universities.
The idea for the fair was first conceived in 2008. At the height of the recession, they wanted to help graduates find local employment. The event has since evolved to meet the demands of a changing job market.
"Students often come to us not knowing where to start," says Ashlie Thornbury, director of career programs for Campus Philly. "They want to know who to talk to and how to get plugged-in."
Organizations like
Generocity,
Young Involved Philadelphia,
the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement and the
Citizen's Planning Institute will encourage new grads to get involved with local issues. Workshops cover topics such as managing social media identity and developing career paths through volunteering. There will also be representatives from local graduate programs.
In the past five years, Philadelphia has experienced a population bump after fifty years of decline. Much of this incoming population has been under 30.
"The Opportunity Fair a great way to showcase all that our region has to offer a recent graduate," says Thornbury. "Philadelphia has become a destination."
Source: Ashlie Thornbury, Campus Philly
Writer: Dana Henry