Johns Hopkins helps federal employees facing career turmoil from government shutdown, layoffs

More than 200 public- and private-sector employees experiencing career turmoil from the U.S. government shutdown, layoffs, and other market shifts attended Johns Hopkins University's Pivot with Purpose Career Expo on Monday, Nov. 3, at the Carey Business School in Baltimore.

More than 100 people attended the expo in person while more than 150 tuned in online.

"Our mission was to equip experienced professionals with strategies, tools, and connections that enable them to confidently navigate career transitions, embrace new possibilities, and thrive in their next chapter," said Alicia Wilson, vice president for civic engagement and opportunity at Johns Hopkins. "The overwhelming response to this year's expo shows the power of intentional preparation and the limitless potential that emerges when professionals are given the space and support to reimagine their futures."

The expo was an all-day event designed for mid- to senior-level professionals who are trying to reenter the workforce or seeking to reinvent or accelerate their careers. The event connected workers with seasoned leaders from top organizations, executive recruiters, and other innovative career resources while also offering curated workshops, expert talks, and networking opportunities.

The event's 16 featured speakers included Rianna Matthews-Brown, chief of staff to Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman; Mollie Byron, appointments secretary for Gov. Wes Moore; Gwendolyn Boyd, former president of Alabama State University; Mariko Bennett, founder of COCO B. Productions; and Robert Matthews, chief of staff to Exelon CEO Calvin Butler. Several members of the Carey Business School faculty also spoke—Tinglong Dai, David Smith, Alexa Chilcutt, and Stacey Lee—as well as Beth Blauer, vice president for public impact initiatives at Johns Hopkins.

The event included networking meals as well as workshops such as Translating Skills Across Industries, Reinventing Your Professional Brand, Mastering Executive Interviews, and more. In addition, the expo featured a recruiter-and-talent matchmaking session.

The event attracted media attention from the local CBS affiliate, WJZ-TV, which interviewed Wilson and career expo participants.

"Some of these individuals have been in jobs for 10, 20 years," Wilson told the news station. "They have not interviewed since they started in their career. So really giving them the opportunity to test things out and also hear from the recruiters themselves. What are they looking for? How can they translate their skills?"

Image caption: Alicia Wilson

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University