Getting to work

To the Editor:

Region 9’s School of Applied Technology serves students from several school districts, teaching and training nursing assistants, computer technologists, truck drivers, young people interested in automotive work, construction, fire science, culinary arts… . It also reaches out to all regional students with its Job Fair, held, after a rain delay, on Tuesday, May 10.

Eddy Naples, R9’s organizer of the event, who emphasizes that R9’s teaching and learning are just the beginning of careers and adult lives, pulls together an extraordinary range of potential employers and colleges for the event.

Bath Iron Works’ recruiters arrive early, set up a well-thought-out stand, and stay late. Famously they want welders, but it’s a big and complex company involving machinists and mechanics, managers and office staff, designers and engineers… . They train “in-house”. Starting pay is high. And, as Meagan Packard, who hires and trains for BIW says, the end product is very satisfying: ships that perform!

There are very few ready-made experts for hire. Many companies emphasize their training programs and willingness to adjust schedules and reimburse tuition to assist outside study. Some formalize the process: BIW’s “Development Programs”, Sargent’s “Construction Academy”, etc. Lucas will make a beginner into a licensed arborist in a couple of years. Senior personnel come to the Fair: they emphasize that they were encouraged to learn and practice and rise through the ranks.

Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine recruiters are noticeably present (in uniform). They emphasize the diversity of opportunities to acquire technical and management skills while serving the nation and getting paid. The Maine National Guard lets people do this part-time, serving our state as well as our country.

All branches of the military have a message in common: they’re not the default setting. Once upon a time “you could always join the army”. Today the military look for evident potential.

Several of R9’s fire science students are joining the Marines. The Corps’ recruiter explains that it’s a way to get thorough training, useful in service and after active duty. Marines can move on to fire departments while serving in the reserves. The military and the fire departments (also represented at the Fair) aren’t competing; it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

Banks, credit unions, and insurance agencies come to the Fair. Some need employees; all need clients and customers. Employers don’t pay in cash these days. All the job seekers will need accounts and, though they may not yet realize it, insurance.

Going to the Fair isn’t just about recruiting. Firms see and talk to one another. And to the colleges that also attend. Live face-to-face networking works.

Community colleges and the University of Maine, Augusta remind high school job seekers that work and study needn’t be separate options. Part-time study, online offerings, and short intensive training courses fit into working life; many employers will pay for them.

Local outfits are well represented at the Fair. Sunday River offers summer jobs for students on vacation, and opportunities to advance in many areas, from hotel and restaurant work to construction and the obvious winter jobs. School districts recruit ed techs, bus drivers, food service staff… . Western Maine Transport needs both drivers and vehicle maintenance personnel.

Some employments are little known. Lewiston-Auburn’s 911 recruiter points out that people don’t think about despatchers. When they phone they think they’re talking directly to police or fire departments, or the ambulance service. (And many don’t know how to describe an emergency or its location. A small but important task for schools?) Vortex has to explain what it does. Inspecting and repairing infrastructure piping involve interesting, cutting edge robotics technologies.

Irving’s recruiter turns out to be from the less well-known but important sawmills, rather than the gas stations. A student knew her priorities. “What do you make?” “How?” “What do you pay?”

These days employers are buyers in a sellers’ market. Even so, young potential employees need to know more. A representative of an employee-owned company, discussing profit-sharing, has to begin by explaining what a profit is, and who usually gets it. Concerned with pay, students are less aware of benefits. Health care has been a parental responsibility, retirement seems unimaginably distant. High schools take note!

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