Got jobs? ‘Career Exploration Day’ lets students, employers connect

PLAINS TWP. — More than 950 students took turns working their way through a cafeteria crammed with 66 employers, agencies and representatives from other post-high school opportunities at Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center’s third annual “Career Exploration Day” on Tuesday. It was, organizer David Joyce said with a hint of pride, the maximum the place could handle.

“Everyone we called to invite said yes,” Joyce, the school’s culinary arts teacher, said of the room packed with representatives from military branches, service agencies, companies and corporations. The CTC offers 28 “shops,” or training programs in occupational fields, and the goal is to get representatives from businesses in each of those fields.

“The kids graduate June 2. We want them to think about what they will do June 3.”

Students were given an incentive to visit at least four employers: Fill a form with the answers to the same six questions from each visit, and enter for a chance to win an iPad.

“We want them to explore career opportunities available in their backyard,” said event coordinator Brandi Bartush, from the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. “And we want the employers to talk about their passion for their jobs.”

Along with the Chamber and the CTC, the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board Inc. helped with the event, as did Pennsylvania CareerLink, which offered students a chance to take a computerized assessment to gauge their own interests and abilities.

Walking around the floor in his culinary chef’s garb, CTC junior Gino Martin said he felt the event was worth his time, singling out his two favorite stops so far.

“I really enjoyed talking to the people at King’s College,” he said. “We talked a lot about sports.”

The other favorite: “The National Guard.”

Martin conceded those are two pretty divergent choices, but then, he’s still up in the air about his options. That white chef’s coat? Despite enrolling in the two-year program, he’s not sure he yearns to be a chef.

“It’s a backup option.”

Wilkes-Barre Area CTC students Gino Martin and Alejendro Arzola, a junior and sophmore respectively, speak with a representitive from Metz Culinary Management, of Dallas, during a career fair Tuesday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL111517careers2.jpg.optimal.jpgWilkes-Barre Area CTC students Gino Martin and Alejendro Arzola, a junior and sophmore respectively, speak with a representitive from Metz Culinary Management, of Dallas, during a career fair Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Angelina Silva, a ninth-grade Coughlin student at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center, uses a simulation fire extinguisher with Robert Price, of Simplex, during the CTC’s job fair Tuesday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL111517careers1.jpg.optimal.jpgAngelina Silva, a ninth-grade Coughlin student at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center, uses a simulation fire extinguisher with Robert Price, of Simplex, during the CTC’s job fair Tuesday. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader