The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), in partnership with SC Works Trident, will host the inaugural Your Next Step Career Fair on Wednesday, May 1st to connect graduating high school seniors and the general public with in-demand career paths.
The event will be hosted at the Charleston Area Convention Center from 9 am to 3 pm and will be divided into two portions to serve target job seekers:
- 9 am to 12 pm - Graduating high school seniors. Pre-registration is required and can be completed here.
- 1 pm to 3 pm - Open to the general public. Pre-registration is not required. Attendees can register in person at the event.
Graduating high school seniors from Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties will have the opportunity to network one-on-one with leading regional employers and explore in-demand career paths in the Tri-County region. Employers will be segmented by industry to allow attendees to focus on the area of most interest.
Employers from seven high-demand industries will be present: diversified manufacturing, health care, hospitality and tourism, information technology and business, transportation and logistics, and construction.
Companies registered for the event include Volvo Cars, MUSC Health, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Hilton Hotels, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Santee Cooper, Coca-Cola Consolidated, and Hendrick Automotive. A full list of employers can be found on the event website.
“We’re committed to ensuring our region remains a place for everyone to thrive and grow, regardless of their background,” said BCDCOG Workforce Development Director Sharon Goss. “This event goes beyond a job fair. We are focused on connecting our local workforce to the great career paths that exist here in our community. We look forward to welcoming high school seniors and job seekers at large as we strengthen our region together.”
The inaugural career fair is supported by a partnership with Berkeley County Economic Development, Charleston County Economic Development, Dorchester County Economic Development, and the S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce Regional Workforce Advisors.
“Berkeley County Economic Development is excited for the future of our local workforce,” said Berkeley County Economic Director John O. Williams. “This collaboration with our neighboring counties will show the variety of opportunities available to help our Tri-County community find the right path to a successful career.”
"Our economy remains dependent on a skilled workforce,” said Charleston County Economic Development Executive Director Steve Dykes. “Regional collaboration and creating opportunities and exposure for our high school seniors will continue to foster a stronger future workforce for the Lowcountry. Charleston County Economic Development is thrilled that this inaugural job fair will highlight career paths, ensuring a robust pipeline for our regional businesses."
“Dorchester County is grateful to collaborate with Berkeley and Charleston to produce a job fair of this magnitude,” said Dorchester County Director of Economic Development John Truluck. “This event underscores the importance of a skilled workforce and the invaluable opportunities our community provides. By connecting high school seniors and community members with local employers we are building a stronger and more prosperous region.”
To maximize the benefits of the event, attendees should observe the following guidelines:
- Bring an updated resume to the hiring event
- Be prepared for an on-site interview
- Email updated resume to employers, if needed
- Dress professionally
SC Works Trident is available to provide resume assistance to job seekers ahead of the events. Those interested in this service can book an appointment with a career coach at scworkstrident.org/scheduler.
