By Marquita Rhodes
There is often a gap between what employers say they need and how students experience the hiring process. On March 9, the Agawam Public Library and the Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) brought both sides into the same room.
Twenty-three students from local high schools and colleges participated in a Mock Speed Interviewing Night, rotating through three interviews with HR professionals from EANE member companies: including Windsor Construction Management, Greeno Supply, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Unemployment Tax Control Associates (UTCA), Harry Grodsky & Co., Ondrick Materials & Recycling, HCS Head Start, Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Palmer Foundry, ProAmpac, U.S. Tsubaki, Whalley Computer Associates, and the Center for Human Development.
The format was intentionally practical. Students introduced themselves, answered common interview questions, and received immediate, direct feedback after each round. Employers shared what stood out, where candidates could improve, and how small adjustments in communication can change how someone is perceived in an interview.
At the end of the evening, employers addressed the group. Several noted they would have seriously considered hiring from this group if roles had been available, citing preparedness, professionalism, and willingness to engage. Students were then asked to reflect. One shared a concern heard more than once that evening: that their generation is often viewed as unmotivated or unprepared due to stereotypes shaped by social media. The response from employers was direct. That was not what they experienced in the room.
In a follow-up, one parent shared that the student they picked up was not the same one they dropped off, describing a noticeable shift in confidence and willingness to engage after just one evening.
For EANE, the event reflects its broader commitment to helping employers build stronger workplaces while creating opportunities for members to bring their professional expertise into the communities they serve. While this first volunteer effort took place in Agawam, there are plans to expand this model across EANE’s New England footprint throughout 2026.