(Seguin) — With high school graduation just around the corner, it’s time for seniors to start thinking about the real world.
And for many, that real-world begins with getting a job.
Making that connection with local employers officially begins this week for area high school seniors.
High school seniors from Seguin ISD, Navarro ISD, Marion ISD, and Southwest Preparatory School will gather this Wednesday at Seguin High School’s Wellness Center for Seguin Career Day, an interactive event connecting students with local employers.
Organized by the Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) in partnership with local school districts, Seguin Career Day aims to strengthen the local workforce by bridging the gap between employer needs and available talent.
Brittney Watson, SEDC events and marketing manager, says more than 20 Seguin-area employers will showcase career opportunities at the Seguin Coliseum in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, utilities, and public service.
“The idea is to immerse these high school seniors in career exploration but in addition to that, the ones that may not have a plan after graduation, to introduce them to local employers with a goal of helping them find a career – keeping them here locally in Seguin and then setting them up for future success by connecting them,” said Watson.
SEDC officials say employers in Seguin have long reported challenges in finding skilled workers to sustain growth. In response, SEDC has collaborated with local industries and education partners to enhance workforce readiness and build a strong talent pipeline.
Jessica Dersen, SEDC Industry and Workforce Development Manager, says this event essentially acts like a job fair and will even allow some students to walk away with job offers to begin work immediately following their graduation.
“For the students who are attending Seguin Career Day, we want them to have a successful experience. It’s an opportunity to network with hiring employers in Seguin as well as vocational programs here in the local region. So, we want them to dress to impress. If they have an updated resume, bring that to share with potential employers. Obviously, we want them to leave a lasting impression. So, we want them to have firm handshakes, make eye contact and ask questions. We want them to learn as much as possible. We have 26 businesses that will be in attendance and over 400 high school students. So, we want those meaningful connections to be made at the career event,” said Dersen.
Seeing the benefits of the event is Sergio Juarrieta, the director of career and technical education for Seguin ISD.
“Seguin Career Day is an invaluable opportunity for our students to engage with local employers and explore career paths right here in our community,” said Juarrieta. “We appreciate the collaboration with SEDC and neighboring school districts to make this event possible and look forward to the lasting impact it will have on our students and local industries.”
Watson says over the years the event has successfully paired students with employers. She says students who receive job offers will also have the opportunity to participate in Seguin Industry Signing Day in May 2025. She says signing day is modeled after athletic scholarship signings, but in this case, it will celebrate them entering into careers in skilled trades, a sector facing a critical labor shortage.
“Following this event, we have what is called our Seguin Industry Signing Day. We celebrate those students that are entering the workforce – or continuing their education in technical training. So, any employers that connect with a student during career day and move forward with hiring them into their workforce, we actually celebrate at Signing Day. We’ve actually had – two years in a row – with Masters Electrical Services, they have successfully found a student, hired that student on and we’ve signed them at Signing Day for them to commit to Masters Electrical Services,” said Watson.
Parents and families of students are encouraged to have students visit all career booths even those they might not have ever considered. They are also encouraged to talk to them about the various employers when they come home.