Thousands of Students and Businesspeople Converge at CareerCon 2021
On April 28, more than 5,500 students, businesspeople, and mentors virtually converged for CareerCon 2021, the Chamber’s seventh annual event. The event, produced in partnership with the NYC Department of Education, The College of Staten Island, St John’s University, and Wagner College, was designed to introduce students to various career and college pathways while giving business owners and hiring managers an opportunity to meet and engage with the future of Staten Island’s workforce.
Students from 19 educational institutions, including public, charter, and Catholic high schools, as well as three colleges and universities, gathered in Remo, the Chamber’s virtual event space, to network, discover new career paths and opportunities and participate in panel discussions hosted by business and community leaders. Students also participated in real-time resume writing workshops, financial aid information sessions, and college admissions discussions.
CareerCon served as a two-way street for the students and businesses alike. As students engaged in career planning activities, business owners and hiring managers had the opportunity to meet and engage with Staten Island’s youth. 86 businesses, including private, non-profit, and city and state organizations participated in the event.
“CareerCon serves as a great opportunity to elevate students’ comfort level in interacting with adult professionals,” said Brian Licata, Member Relations Manager and head of workforce initiatives at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “It’s inspiring to see so many students and local businesses coming together to encourage mutual growth and strengthen the workforce of tomorrow.”
CareerCon also featured 6 panels that allowed students to hear from and interact with industry thought leaders. Panels included The Green Economy, Careers in Business, Leadership, 21st Century Careers, Careers in Healthcare, and the Real Deal: What College Life is Like.
“As always, the Chamber is proud to produce this event, which enables students and employers to connect,” said Chamber President and CEO Linda Baran. “Many times, students don’t have a clear direction or any idea about which career path they would like to pursue. CareerCon offers students access to a diverse group of employers who can guide them about all the different career paths they could consider. This event serves as another way the Chamber prepares today’s youth for tomorrow.”
The Chamber thanks CareerCon 2021’s event sponsors, AT&T and Investors Bank, for making this event possible and supporting Staten Island’s workforce. The event was also made possible by Tekie Geek, who powered the extraordinarily complex virtual event.