ROCHELLE –– While seniors at Rochelle Township High School are counting down the days until graduation and looking ahead to their post high school plans, school staff is looking to help the students’ futures.
To help students fill in the summer between graduation and college or nail down a career post high school, RTHS will hold the fifth annual RTHS career expo and job fair. On Friday, March 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RTHS students will have the opportunity to network with local employers.
The career fair is a free opportunity for businesses to find employees and prospective students. Even if a student has plans to continue their education post high school, the career expo can serve as an eye opener for possibilities after college.
Andrea O’Reilly, RTHS Career Center Coordinator, encourages local businesses to attend the career fair.
“It would benefit our community because the students of today are tomorrow’s consumers. Our kids need to know what jobs are available to them in their hometown,” explained O’Reilly.

RTHS seniors will attend the job fair as part of the school day and will have an opportunity to learn skills to help their future.
“The Career Expo/Job Fair is held to give RTHS seniors exposure to local industry in a familiar setting. The students are more relaxed because they are in a familiar setting. They are able to work on their soft skills, see potential careers, job shadows, internships all in one place - the gymnasium,” O’Reilly explained.
New this year, RTHS has opened the career expo up to local community colleges offering skilled certification, local Rockford unions, and the Armed Forces.
“The career expo is open to any and all businesses who are willing to take time to set-up a table and represent their business - manufacturing, retail sales, agriculture, public works, medical; any one who really is vested in the community,” O’Reilly added.
In past years, connections have been made between the students and area business. Following the job fair, some businesses have placed students into internships and job shadowing opportunities.
Businesses looking for more information or to set up a table at the career expo and job fair may contact O’Reilly at 815-561-4161 or email aoreilly@rthsd212.org.
Space is limited and employers are asked to sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 15.