For the Reporter

The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Auburn School District host the annual Greater Auburn Area High School Career Conference on Tuesday, April 3, at the Junior Achievement Center, 1610 Perimeter Road SW, Auburn.

The conference has invited students from nine area schools, including Auburn, Kent, Enumclaw, Sumner and the Muckleshoot Tribal School.

The conference is designed to bring awareness of a variety of careers geared toward work force development that require no degree or at most, vocational school and are high-paying jobs.

Not all students are on the fast track to college. Education is not a “one-size fits all” model. The conference helps students identify options that will spark an interest and set them on the path to their own success.

The chamber has been heading this project for 21 years in conjunction with the school district. The conference continues to grow each year with more schools wanting to participate.

Activities include mock interviews and resume building workshops conducted by WorkSource Auburn, a class on finance 101 by Johnson Stone and Pagano CPA firm, and rounding out the day is a fashion show geared toward “what to wear and what not to wear” to an interview or to work once hired.

More than 30 businesses, including The Boeing Co., Orion, Port of Seattle, PSE, CHI Franciscan, Skills Inc., Seattle and Auburn Police Departments, Valley Regional Fire Department, Ply Gem, The local Pipe fitters Union, Kirby Electric, UNFI among others, will be in attendance.

These companies volunteer their time and resources to come to the event and give students an opportunity to interact directly with company HR directors and hiring managers.

Amerigroup, the U.S. Army and the National Guard are sponsoring the event.