Breakout sESSIONS

What is a Breakout Session?

Breakout sessions require you to present a detailed description of your career, the path that lead you to it, and allows for a time where students ask you questions. These sessions are a great time to provide demonstrations, show models, or allow students to interact with tools particular to your career.

Breakout Breakdown

These sessions will last approximately 25 minutes. Please plan your presentations accordingly. There will be three different groups of students that you will see during the morning. There will be 15-30 students in each group. There is a five minute passing period between sessions that allows for the three groups of students move to and from the Expo area, and allows our presenters a minute to get refreshments or use the washroom.

Classroom Details

Your breakout will be in a classroom that is equipped with a projector, document camera, and speakers. If you will be bringing your own computer for presenting, please be sure that your device is able to project wirelessly or have any cable that you may need to hook up to our projector. VGA and HDMI hookups are on the projector.

Where am i going?

When you arrive on the day of the Career Fair, you will receive a packet of information that will include the wifi password, your session room number, and a map.

Tips for Breakout Speakers

Students in your session

  1. Like to be active and have their senses engaged. If you have materials, tools, models, or examples of your work (photos or the real thing depending on your occupation), it will really help!
  2. Enjoy demonstrations or activities they can actually try.
  3. Enjoy personal and funny stories.
  4. Like to feel connected to people. Share interesting stories about your path toward starting your career.

Common Essential Discussion Points

Personal Path to Career

Description of Duties & Responsibilities

  • What happens in your typical day?
  • With whom do you work and interact?

Career Highlights

  • What are you proud of in your job?
  • Tell students about a time that you felt especially valuable, helpful, or appreciated.
  • What makes your job fun?

Career Challenges

  • What are some difficult decisions that you’ve had to make in your career?
  • Is your job ever physically, mentally or emotionally taxing? What do you do to help with this?
  • Does your career ever affect your life at home? If so, how?

Personality Types Attracted to Occupation

Education Requirements

  • What training and education have you received for your job?
  • What was the most valuable or informative part of your training?
  • Does your career require ongoing training and education to keep up with the field? Give examples.

Salary and Benefits

  • What is a fairly common range of salary for your occupation?
  • How does it vary based on experience, education, years with the company, or personal success?