18 Apr Career Fair Prepares CCC Students for Workforce

Tables featuring 75 different employers at this year’s Contra Costa College career fair gave students and others attending a wide variety  to choose from for potential job opportunities.

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

For second-year Contra Costa College student Albina Alma, the reality of life after graduation weighs heavy on her mind.

Like most students, her biggest worry is finding a job and steady income.

“It’s difficult because there are so many people out there competing and striving to be their best,” Alma said. “Some are anxious and confused about what to do next, and they don’t really know what’s happening or have the right guidance.”

Looking to ease some of that angst, Alma was one of over 100 people who attended the Contra Costa College Career and Internship Fair on April 3. 

“These things really inspire students,” Alma said. “It makes me happy to know that there’s something out there for me.”

The career fair brought together 75 employers — many of which were law enforcement agencies — for students to explore life after graduation.

Numerous students said they hoped to minimize their self-doubt about being in the working world by attending the fair.

According to ABC, a 2023 study observing the mental health and well-being of young professionals found “recent college graduates are not ’emotionally’ ready for the workforce.”

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Keon Stewart is only in his first semester, but he’s trying to get ahead of the curve in his employment. Not yet settled on a particular field of work, he said he thinks about potential careers very often and is quite nervous about finding the right one.

“I know figuring things out will be hard, but if I find an opportunity, I’m definitely going to take advantage of it,” he said. “I feel like this is a good chance to scope out what I want to do.”

Meghan Ennis Ortega, the senior program coordinator for career and internships at Contra Costa College, said the fair is a way for the school to be part of the solution.

“Events like this are super important to get our students connected with employers here who are waiting to hire them for part-time jobs, full-time jobs and internships,” she said. “It’s one of the key pillars we have here at Contra Costa College to get students employment.”

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Ennis Ortega said there were more employers at this year’s fair than the last, which she pointed to as a positive sign for students wanting to test the job waters as they have more to choose from. 

The opportunity to meet employers and learn about jobs isn’t the only way CCC is helping prepare students for the workforce.

The fair also featured the launch of the Comet Career Closet, which will let students make appointments to shop for professional clothes — free of charge. Not being able to afford the right clothes can be a significant barrier to employment for many.

Like Keon Stewart, juniors at Middle College High School Victoria Ames and Diana Lopez want to get an early start on choosing an employment path. Though the pair did not meet age requirements of many of the employers present, Ames said the fair was still valuable. (Middle College High School is an early-college high school program located on the CCC campus.)

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“It’s learning what to look out for so that we can be prepared and get our resumes together, so we can get the experience we might need,” she said.

Lopez agreed.

“I think it’s important for young people to learn more so they can be comfortable going into specific fields and know exactly what they’re getting into,” she said. “Being here makes me confident that I’ll be able to find a job more easily.”