HGAR School of Real Estate to Participate in ‘JA Inspire’ Virtual Job Fair with Junior Achievement of New York

WHITE PLAINS—For the first time ever, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) School of Real Estate will be taking part in the March 26 “JA Inspire” Virtual Job Fair presented by Junior Achievement of New York.

The event is open to thousands of middle and high school students from across New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley and will bring together some 60 organizations representing 16 career options. HGAR, along with other participants, will be able to showcase the organization, share information and engage with students via an interactive virtual booth. The Virtual Job Fair is designed to assess students’ skills and explore their interests in potential future careers.

“In the past, we have built other partnerships with Junior Achievement, having HGAR members take part in panel discussions at high schools in Westchester and Orange counties,” explained Michael Malone, HGAR Director of Professional Development. “This time it will be through a much broader platform and more accessible to more people.”

Throughout the day, students aged 13 to 18 will visit the virtual booths to engage with various presenters to learn more about their organizations. Malone said he, along with other HGAR real estate professionals, will answer questions and present an overview of the industry to introduce students to the various career options available to them. “Not everyone may be interested in becoming an entrepreneur like an agent, so some may gravitate more towards the administration side,” he said. “Others may be interested in affiliated fields like mortgage and banking careers or appraisers. We want to demonstrate to them that they have a variety of options when it comes to real estate.”

The virtual event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and students will also receive an HGAR digital kit outlining key points about the industry and other related materials. Malone noted that college degrees are not a prerequisite for becoming an agent or broker. As long as the individual is 18 years old, completes the required 77-hour New York real estate course and passes the state licensing exam, he or she can then join a brokerage to begin a new career.

Malone is confident that the Virtual Job Fair will be a success and lead to a continued productive partnership between HGAR and Junior Achievement. “It’s not often that young people have the opportunity to hear about real estate careers, so it’s important to get to them at an early point,” he said. “This gives us the opportunity to put information and momentum in the hands of students who are hungry for different career options that will help them make an impact.”