The modern world has evolved through the widespread use of new technology in a variety of ways; during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and businesses heavily relied on technology to safely continue operating. Although the world is no longer in a state of emergency lockdown, organizations such as Junior Achievement of Southcentral Pennsylvania (JASCPA) have found that procedures adopted during the pandemic continue to prove themselves useful.

In 2021, JASCPA implemented JA Inspire, a virtual career fair that schools can utilize for their students. The program simulates a real career fair, replete with business representatives who provide details on what it's like to work for their companies and respective fields through the virtual platform. Upon signing into the application, students begin at the exterior of the career fair building accompanied by virtual students and school buses. They can navigate the page to visit the interior lobby, where dozens of companies have set up their digital booths. "It looks like a real career fair lobby," said Allison Kierce, chief operating officer of JASCPA. "Students can visit any of the booths they are interested in to learn more about the companies and fields they may want to study in college."

Students participating in JA Inspire are provided with a virtual backpack that allows them to save videos, documents and any information provided by a booth that they want to keep for future reference. Students can log back into the fair at any time to review materials or visit more booths, and they can email specific questions to company representatives.

Prior to 2021, JA Inspire was a conventional career fair that was held in a physical location. Although schools resumed many in-person programs after the pandemic, many have opted to continue using virtual platforms such as the new iteration of JA Inspire. "A lot of people wanted to get back to having in-person career fairs, but there are logistics to that," said Kierce. "Virtually hosting JA Inspire removes the need for schools to worry about transportation and allows students to see more companies in a shorter amount of time."

JA Inspire is provided to schools free of charge, and in 2022, JASCPA was given funding to open JA Inspire to adults in addition to schools. Adults interested in the career fair can contact their local PA CareerLink agency for more information.

JA Inspire will return this year and will be open from Wednesday, March 1, to Friday, June 30. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/jainspirefair.