No Barriers at RIT Job Fair
Scott Patterson, YNN - Rochester - October 14, 2009
A representative from IBM talks about his company with James Flakes, a Business major at the NTID Job Fair. - YNN See full-size photo
It's tough enough to find a job in this down economy. Having a physical challenge might seem like an extra roadblock, but there were no barriers at a local career fair Wednesday.
From Microsoft to NASA, the booths were a sea of endless possibilities for recent RIT graduate Sokha Pann.
"I'm currently looking for an entry level permanent position," Pann said through an interpreter. "Full-time in mechanical engineering."
His paid internship in Virginia ends in January, so Pann came back to his alma mater, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at RIT.
"It's a competitive market right now, when you're looking for the most talented, the people who have the most experience," said Pann.
Todd Johnston represents the Federal Aviation Administration.
"We're looking to hire lots of potential positions," Johnston said through an interpreter. "Information technology, IT, human resources."
It's a homecoming for him. Johnston once attended this career fair as an RIT student. Now he's recruiting those students.
"We want to make sure they have a competitive advantage in the employment market," said Johnston.
John Macko is director of the NTID's Center on Employment. He said the economic downturn has not had a greater impact on the hearing impaired.
"Hiring a deaf or hard of hearing student is no different than a hearing student," said Macko. "It's very competitive. They have to compete with other candidates for the job."
The down economy hasn't stopped companies or the government from recruiting students at NTID. In fact, many of the companies have found success in the past.
"Our students are able to produce when they're called up on a permanent job," said Macko. "They're pleased with the technical skill."
"I went right over to the prospective employers myself," said RIT second-year student Megan Hartlove through an interpreter. "We wrote back and forth. It was a very open experience. She didn't have any sense of hesitation, it was great."
It's those kinds of connections younger students hope will be the key to their futures, good economy or bad.
"I know that next year when I come again hopefully they'll remember my face and I'll have a great conversation that will put me into a company," said RIT second-year student Elizabeth Povilauskas through an interpreter.