Workforce Solutions for South Texas held its traditional Youth Career Expo targeting high school students from Laredo, Zapata and Hebbronville on Wednesday at Sames Auto Arena.

More than 40 exhibitors provided students with information about different careers and jobs in Laredo. Senior high school students were brought in during four different sessions, with an estimated 800 coming to each session.

Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions for South Texas, said that this fair has been held for several years, but this is the first to be held face-to-face after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When the pandemic started, there was no face-to-face Career Expo,” he said. “We did hold an event via Zoom with the employers and the students heard them speak, but now we are very happy to bring together students — who are in their final year of high school — to learn about the different companies and types of jobs that exist in Laredo so they can see what they should do to prepare for their jobs.”

Trevino stressed that during this event the students had the opportunity to speak with business owners, managers from different companies and educational institutions, and they asked questions on the careers they would like to pursue.

“Students can ask them what I should do, how I prepare for this job, what classes I should take, what are you looking for in an employee,” he said. “Employers also have the opportunity to talk to them and say, ‘Look, in this industry, this is the future of this program. This is a career you can pursue.'”

Trevino said that the goal of WSST is to connect employers with the workforce.

“We try to bring them together so that employers find a workforce that is prepared and trained to help them, and so that the workforce sees and knows the jobs that exist so that they can prepare themselves,” he said.

He added that this expo has been very successful, and they will continue hosting the event every year.

“We at WSST are very happy to be able to do this,” he said. “Our focus is to help business grow with employees trained and prepared, because if we help these businesses there will be more employment, and this will impact positively to our community.”

America Cantu and Nancy Gutierrez, seniors at United South High School, said that they were happy to attend the Career Expo.

“We can see many opportunities for what we can do in Laredo and outside of Laredo in terms of work,” Cantu Said.

Gutierrez said that the Career Expo was an important event for them to participate in.

“I really like this environment because it is mind opening since there are many opportunities that we didn’t know existed,” Gutierrez said.

United High School student Andrew Mendoza said he had just visited the TAMIU booth and enjoyed his time there.

“I have been touring the expo because it is very interesting,” he said. “There are many things that I would like to learn about. I was at the TAMIU booth and asked some things. I am enjoying it, it’s fun.”

Diann Gonzalez, who is with the School of Retail Leadership at H-E-B, said she was very excited to represent H-E-B at the Career Expo.

“I like that students have the opportunity to engage with different retailers,” she said. “They are very active and come with many questions, and I am very happy to guide them on their next career path.”

She said that among the questions students asked were how to apply and get a job at H-E-B.

“They ask me, for example, ‘How old do I have to be to start working? Do I need experience?'” she said. “Some tell me that they have already applied but they have not been called for an interview, and then I give them some tips like not to give up, to apply again, not to be discouraged. In addition, they can start working at 16 years old and they don’t need experience to work in our stores.”

Gonzalez also said she was very proud to represent H-E-B before the Laredo leaders of the future.

“I’m happy to engage with them and really looking forward to seeing them apply in our stores,” she said.

Read the online story from LMT at https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/workforce-solutions-s-texas-holds-youth-career-18378223.php?fbclid=IwAR3HOpoQz4LQvRtjDBkbAzaTNlj6fQ4H1G_BEKqa8F8pLAR8cEJ4fOskB2Q#photo-24255954