Hillsborough County launches six‑day Future Career Fair for high school seniors

Hillsborough County held the first of six Future Career Fair hiring events designed to connect high school seniors with employers and training partners, Program staff said. The countywide series will visit multiple sites across the county and is tied to in‑class preparation for seniors.

Program staff said the fairs are the culmination of a yearlong curriculum that places staff in students' English classes one day each week to prepare seniors for the events and for post‑graduation options. “So today is our future fair hiring event. The first of 6 days. We have 6 days across the county because we serve all 37 high school, career exceptional, and success centers here in the county,” Program staff said.

Organizers and participants described the event as a bridge between classroom instruction and local employers. A student said some Hillsborough offerings include AVID and Machine Learning Tech classes that expose students to post‑graduation opportunities. “In OMA, we offer AVID and Machine Learning Tech, which are 2 great classes for finding different opportunities once you graduate out of high school,” the student said.

Employers and training partners at the fair promoted a range of openings. A business representative attending the event said it was an opportunity for companies to raise awareness of local workforce roles and to meet students exploring career choices. “We get a chance just to kind of, really promote not only our company but all the great, workforce opportunities here within Hillsborough County,” the business representative said.

A student who visited employer booths listed sectors they noticed at the fair, including construction, child care, hospitals, roofing and automotive jobs, and singled out employer tables that matched personal interests. “I like cars, so I chose that one as well,” the student said.

A Sheriff’s Office representative described a broad range of positions the sheriff’s office recruits for beyond sworn law enforcement, noting civilian roles from attorneys and accountants to crossing guards and vehicle maintenance. “We don't only just have law enforcement and intention. We have all kinds of civilian positions, everything from attorneys and accountants down to, crossing guards and, vehicle maintenance, facilities maintenance,” the representative said.

Program staff said about 50 employers and training partners were present and expressed hope the event would lead to meaningful opportunities for students. “My hope is that the impact today is life changing. We've got 50 or so employers and training partners here that are all fully committed to providing opportunity and a great career path ahead for each of these students,” Program staff said.

Students described interpersonal skills as a key benefit of attending: practicing communication, collaboration, listening and note‑taking in a professional setting. One student recommended the fair to peers, saying, “It's a great opportunity for people, and I definitely recommend it.”

The fair continues as a countywide, multi‑day effort; specific dates and locations for the remaining sessions were not specified in the remarks captured in the meeting transcript.