Health and Science Fair Brings More Than 100 BHCC Students to New Career Opportunities

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

On Tuesday, April 4th, BHCC hosted a successful CareerConnect Health & Science Fair.

The fair was recommended for students majoring in Behavioral Sciences, Biology/Biotech, Chemistry, General Concentration, Engineering, Healthcare IT, Health Science, Human Services, Humanities, Math, Nursing, Medical Imaging, Medical OIM, Pharmacy Technician, Physics, Social Sciences and Sustainability.

The event was organized by the Career Advancement and Internships Programs Department under the leadership of Sharon Schaff. Nineteen employers, including two of BHCC’s Learn & Earn partners, and popular employers such as MGH, P&G Gillette, and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center participated by offering full-time, part-time and per diem positions; flexible schedules; research opportunities; and paid and unpaid internship opportunities to the 142 students that attended. CareerConnect is BHCC’s exclusive online career portal where students and alumni can search and apply for jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities, as well as explore career videos and resources.

In addition to the employment opportunities, the students in attendance were also invited to networking roundtable discussions led by BHCC alumni working in STEM fields. Alumni coaches included LaDonna Hawkins and Sonia Pray (Vertex Pharmaceuticals); Ian Perkins (Sage Product Development, The Disease Biophysics Group); Quan Nguyen (MIT’s Dept. of Chemical Engineering); Fabiola Abissa (Biogen Idec); and Felicia Bayles (Brigham & Women’s Hospital). Alumni offered students advice on their career paths, providing tips on networking and encouraging students to dream big.

The event integrated activities from LifeMap, BHCC’s student success program that supports students in their educational, career and life goals. These activities included: LifeMap Navigators, Success Coaches, Career Advisors and more to help students navigate the event and begin making connections through networking. Faculty also brought their classes or included the event as part of an assignment.

This Health & Science Fair is part of the Spring CareerConnect Fairs series, bringing students to internship and employment opportunities as well as industry professionals related to their fields of study. In March BHCC held a CareerConnect Business Fair. Later this month, CareerConnect Technology Night (April 20) and CareerConnect Retail (April 25) Fairs will be offered for students enrolled in majors related to those fields.