It was an exciting and productive week as Pine Bush High School hosted a week-long job fair for students interested in skilled trades.
“More and more people across the country are recognizing the value of pursuing a career in the skilled trades,” said PBHS Principal Aaron Hopmayer. “Approximately 17 percent of our June graduates plan to pursue a career in the trades after they graduate.”
With that as a catalyst, Mr. Hopmayer set up the job fair, which began on March 14, focusing in on skilled trades. Eighty seniors signed up for it, and each day a different trade area was represented. Monday saw the construction trades, with representatives from seven trade unions speaking to students. These included painters, iron workers, laborers, bricklayers, sheet metal, carpenters and the Hudson Valley Building Trades apprentice program.
Tuesday, the focus was on advanced manufacturing; Wednesday was health and education; Thursday was for transportation careers and mechanic skills; Friday for security, law enforcement and military; and on Monday, March 21, the fair concludes with cosmetology, culinary and hospitality.
The fair was the culmination of three months of preparation by Mr. Hopmayer, who sought out industry representatives to come to the school and describe all that is involved in their profession, even hitting on things most high school seniors haven’t even thought about – benefits and retirement.
“You can learn a trade, make a livable wage, have benefits and a retirement,” one of the presenters said of his union. “You can go out and get a job, but this is a career.”
After the presentations, which took place each afternoon in the library, students had pre-scheduled interviews with various reps.
“More than 40 companies/agencies attended the job fair over the course of the six days,” Mr. Hopmayer said. “I am really proud of the students, and even more grateful to the employers who gave their time to come and interview prospective future employees.”
The feedback he received from both students and industry partners was extremely positive. One student told Mr. Hopmayer, “This was life changing.”
