Heard about the Skills Gap? The phenomenon where companies complain that there aren’t enough workers with the skills they need? Yeah, we have to.
But here in Gainesville, we’re not used to hearing of a can’t do attitude. And we find the skills gap really puzzling: UF grads do everything from designing drone operating systems to cracking the atom with scientists at CERN.
Close to home, have you also ever heard of a young kid, maybe you, who feels they can’t get their company or project off the ground due to lack of local investment? Once again, we have too. Which is ridiculous, because Gainesville has world-class students and facilities, low cost of living, and a bunch of students with massive skills, mad passion, and a lot of time on their hands (we’re looking at you, liberal arts majors).
Finally, you probably heard about the economy. Yeah, that ominous being you’re going to be subjected to once you leave the insulating womb of college/the rents, and are going to be expected to get that thing that, for at least the short-term future, is known as a full-time job.
So why doesn’t somebody get companies to put their money where their mouth is? Are you a company complaining of a skills gap? We’ve got your skills. Are you a young kid with passion, a heartbeat, and a company that is languishing on the sidelines because you can’t get any national attention? We’ve got your forum. Are you a student who wants to learn the ropes of real work, real challenges, accomplishing real problem solving? We’ve got your opportunity.
What Gainesville (and the world) needs isn’t an incubator, it isn’t a seed round, and it isn’t an unpaid internship. It’s a three day tour de force where steely-eyed, wily college students are put to the challenge of solving real problems for real companies with the opportunity to get a real job. Or a real shot at one.
We’re talking a once a year event that brings all of the corporate know-how, all of the tech and business luminaries of Gainesville, and all of the hungry college students desperate for a chance, who just know they can knock your socks off AND make you money. No startups, no 10 contestant winners, just real work for real companies with real jobs on the line.
What do you say.
Are you ready, Gainesville?
(Photo: intoon.com)
