In less than a week, 1000 high school students from the Sarasota Bradenton area will explore potential career paths as well as prepare for college at the 2017 State of Jobs Conference. This event features over 75 local guest speakers from six different career tracks including healthcare, information technology, business/entrepreneurship, manufacturing/engineering, hospitality/tourism, and arts/culture, all working to inspire students to take control of their futures. CareerSource Suncoast hopes to showcase higher education opportunities in Sarasota-Bradenton, give students an inside look into great local businesses and network with local executives.

“We want our young people to know that jobs in travel equal promising careers.  Two in five American workers whose first job was in travel now are earning more than $100,000 a year.  For many young workers, a travel job in a hotel or a restaurant serving visitors means a first foothold on the career ladder.  For part time students, a travel job means the flexibility to pursue education and training while gaining the benefit of an on-the-job experience,” said Virginia Haley, President of VISIT Sarasota, a State of Jobs Sponsor. “With all of the new hotels opening in Sarasota, we know that it can provide a wonderful opportunity for regional students to begin an amazing career in travel.”

Throughout the day, students will experience at least 3 sessions focused directly on their career interest. In addition to learning about their career, State of Jobs focuses on college readiness, leadership, social responsibility and preparing for being a professional. Throughout the conference, students will have an opportunity to further engage by answering questions via text messaging and traditional paper surveys with the goal of improving the quality of education in Sarasota and Manatee Counties while also improving your opportunities to succeed in college and careers.

“We believe in cultivating future talent in the area,” says SRQ MEDIA President and CEO Lisl Liang. “ As a local catalyst for engagement, SRQ Media’s partnership with CareerSource on the State of Jobs Conference invests in helping our students navigate the ever-changing landscape of career development. Seeing real opportunities as represented by our local companies makes an incredible impact.”

For more on the State of Jobs conference, contact Chris Laney at claney@careersourcesc.com or visit their website online at StateofJobs.org.

State of Jobs