U of A Engages Chambers to Grow Statewide Workforce Development

During a recent webinar hosted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber, the U of A and others explained how to post jobs for students on the career networking app Handshake. The site is a widely used job board, at no cost, that tells how to register for career fairs and who the key contact is for specific recruiting needs.

The U of A has six major career fairs scheduled this fall semester and will host hundreds of employers on campus. Students have the opportunity to search for jobs on Handshake prior to the fair, attend fairs and connect in person with recruiters, and interview with companies the following day. Last year, more than 3,200 job and internship applications were submitted by U of A students using Handshake. Posting on Handshake is an employer's first step to connecting with students. Each school and college at the U of A offers career education programming, services and instruction.

Learn more about the U of A Career Development Center visit.

Collaboration across the state is one of the many reasons Arkansas is a great place to conduct business. Local companies, universities and chambers of commerce can come together to strengthen the overall economic climate.

Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, said, "All employers need ample and qualified talent to create and sustain growth. The Little Rock Regional Chamber continues to target our education and workforce development initiatives with local and state partners to create a robust talent pipeline. Attracting, retaining and growing talent requires unique partnerships among Pulaski County school districts in collaboration with college and university resources. Together, everyone wins!"  

The Power Up Little Rock webinar hosted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber and Arvest Bank is a prime example. The Power Up quarterly events "highlight important economic development trends, issues and developments within the region and the state," according to the Little Rock Chamber.

All Little Rock Regional Chamber members were invited to join the webinar and hear from the U of A, University of Arkansas Little Rock and Pulaski Tech career development centers to "demystify the recruiting process."

This event was created after Donna Graham, U of A director of central Arkansas industry and community engagement, met with Stacy Wilson and Kristi Barr from the Little Rock Regional Chamber to discuss collaborative opportunities and how they could help central Arkansas companies succeed. They all agree that workforce development is one of the most pressing needs for companies. In order to connect Pulaski County companies and campuses, a Power Up event focused on early recruitment was scheduled. Each school has individual strengths and brings a uniquely qualified student population to the talent pool for employers.

"The University of Arkansas was thrilled to represent Northwest Arkansas talent pipelines and to collaborate with central Arkansas schools to demonstrate our joint efforts to enhance the state's economic development," said Erica Estes, interim executive director of U of A Career Development Center.

Arvest Bank sponsors a series of economic development events for the Little Rock Regional Chamber, and they thought this was a great addition to their programming.

"A focus of any chamber of commerce is to attract the best and brightest to the area it serves," said Marcus Guinn, executive vice president and loan manager, Arvest Bank. "Creative collaborations between the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and our public institutions will play a pivotal role in making Little Rock and Central Arkansas even more attractive to talented people from around the state, nation and world."