Net Opportunity Career Expo connects job-ready prospects with a cross-section of companies actively seeking entry-level talent
LeadersUp is bringing its Net Opportunity Career Expo to South Los Angeles, connecting young adults and community members to 1,000 entry-level job opportunities with pathways to advancement from a cross-section of industries. The hiring event will take place Tuesday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Galen Center, 3400 S. Figueroa St., on the campus of the University of South California. The event is co-hosted by USC’s Office of Civic Engagement and presented by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative™.
As of this writing, LeadersUp has set up 400 interviews for Opportunity Youth – economically and socially disconnected young adults ages 18 to 24 — and job seekers of all ages who have completed its Winning in the Workplace career readiness training to prepare them for entry-level jobs at companies actively looking for talent. There are a remaining 600 interview opportunities for any community members that register on-site. More than 20 employers will be hiring on-site, including Microsoft, United Airlines, HMS Host, Hyatt Hotels, Starbucks, PCL Construction, State Farm, Dynamic Nursing Services, U.S. Bank and more. This hiring event is open to all community members of all ages who are seeking viable career opportunities.
At 8 a.m., LeadersUp President and CEO Jeffery Wallace and Earl Paysinger, Vice President of the USC Office of Civic Engagement, will make a special announcement and host a briefing with community stakeholders, legislative leaders and business executives that will include a discussion of solutions for building talent pipelines in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles.
The Net Opportunity Career Expo helps further the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative’s goal to connect one million Opportunity Youth to career pathways across the country.
“With this partnership, we have created an unprecedented opportunity for shared prosperity within communities that are too often overlooked,” Wallace said. “This partnership is indicative of the greater impact that can be achieved when colleges, employers and the community work together to address the unemployment crisis.”
The event is designed to optimize millennial talent by focusing on developing soft skills that are necessary for career success but rarely discussed. Ahead of Tuesday’s event, LeadersUp hosted five Winning in the Workplace labs across the Los Angeles area to train and certify community members to reserve interview slots with participating employers.
“We want to provide companies with job seekers that are ambitious and prepared for the workforce,” Wallace said. “The purpose of our workshops is to provide the community with skills and resources that are necessary for them to obtain and maintain a career with a pathway to advance—not just a job. We also want companies to realize that young adults in South L.A. are ready and eager to work and can be a real asset when their talent is optimized.”
Additionally, participants can access workshops at the expo that address systemic challenges job seekers face to finding employment; including becoming financially independent and building a professional network via LinkedIn.
