WAYNE COUNTY, Pa. — De'Andre Villafane and Meckenzzie Shields from Wallenpaupack Area School District have their sight set on landing their next jobs. They're just two of the students currently interning at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale through a partnership with Project Search.
"It will help us to get a better life, to grow up and get a better job, and help us to be more positive and independent," said Villafane.
Instructors with Project Search, a transition-to-work program, helped the students prep for a job fair.
"Our students are coming from special-needs backgrounds with disabilities, and they come it with a slew of different skills and niches that they have, and we really help them blossom in those areas," said Grace Ruckinger, an instructor with Project Search.
But the roles are reversed for this job fair. The students have to pitch their skills to the employer in fields like housekeeping and hospitality.
"It teaches them how to communicate better, how to pitch themselves, talking to different businesses and interviews, and just giving them that communication skills," said skills trainer Sarah Close.
"You want the perfect thing for the interview; you also want to nail it. You don't want to fail it," said Shields.
This isn't the end of the road for the job search for these students. They will be back at Wayne Memorial on Thursday for another round of pitching their skill sets.
Students tell Newswatch 16 after day one they're hopeful for what their future holds.
"I feel pretty proud of myself," said Shields.
"It makes me feel proud of myself, like a new guy and a new bright student," said Villafane.
Thursday's reverse job fair will be held from noon until 2 p.m. at Wayne Memorial Hospital.