From high school graduation to on-job training
Career fair result of employers seeking workers they can train
What started as a Grade 7 field trip exploring local manufacturing has resulted in the Greater Essex County District School Board hosting its first high school job fair.
The event will be held Wednesday in the cafeteria at Kennedy Collegiate from noon to 4 p.m. It’s open to all students regardless of what board they belong to as well as the public.
“I asked local manufacturers what different education levels they needed,” Bryan Yaworsky, a student success teacher at Kennedy Collegiate, said Monday.
“A lot of them said a high school diploma and we’ll train them.
“I thought we do a lot for university-and college-level kids to set them up for those pathways. We wanted to offer something for kids who are choosing to go right into the workforce.”
The fair will host 32 employers and community organizations.
Employers ranging from manufacturing to construction to the RCMP/military and service industries will attend.
The City of Windsor will have three representatives at Kennedy. They will be there to offer information on the various programs and incentives offered to both students and employers through the city’s employment and training services.
“We’re very excited about Wednesday’s job fair,” said Diane Quinn, manager of employment and training services.
“We do outreach to schools on our services, but we’ll be able to reach a lot more people at once with this.”
Yaworsky said the about 10 per cent of graduates choose to try and enter the workforce directly from high school.
“They might not excel in the typical academic subjects, but have strengths in other areas,” Yaworsky said. “We’re offering to highlight their strengths.”
Shawn Sharpe, a supervisor in employment and training services, said the fair is a welcome addition in the battle to combat youth unemployment.
“This is something new to our community that’s important,” Sharpe said.
“We can reach out to students, but it’s also important to be able to network with employers.
“Youth have one of the highest unemployment rates of any group. Reaching out with partnerships like this is critical in moving this group forward.”
Yaworsky added that he’s contacted schools from other boards, such as Catholic Central and Holy Names, with information on the fair. He expects students from nine public high schools to attend from across the county and Windsor.
There’s also been an effort to help the students prepare for the job fair.
“We’ve given the kids a resume template to fill out and bring with them to give to employers,” said Yaworsky, who has also contacted past graduates who he felt might fit some of the positions.
“We’ve also done a PowerPoint presentation we’ve given to the schools telling them about the various companies attending.”
Officials from Ontario Works have also helped with presentations to students on tips for job interviews and appropriate attire.