P.E.I. job seekers 'try a trade' at career fair

Job seekers who attended the Work PEI career fair in Montague, P.E.I., Monday had the opportunity to trytheir hand atsome tradeskills.

Booths introduced fair-goersto basics about electrical installations, roboticsand electronics part of an initiative by the province to get people interested in pursuingcareers in the trades.

"It really just gives you a better idea of if that's a trade you'd be interested in going into," said Amber James, community engagement officer with Work PEI.

Targeting high school students

This is the third year the province has held a series of career fairs across the province, but the first time the fairs have included the hands-on "try a trade" booths.

The booths were added largely to target high school studentswho might be thinking about their post-graduation plans.

"Students really want to know, before they apply to a program in collegeand spend a bunch of money on tuition, and before they actually get there. It's like, 'is that really even something I can see myself doing?'" said James.

Students from MontagueRegional High School were at the fair Monday, visiting booths as part of aclass assignment.

After trying out some skills, Grade 10 student TysonHaytersaid he was most interested in electrical installations.

"In school I used to think it was kind of like, confusing. But now that I've actually got to speak to someone about it,I think it's more interesting," said Hayter.

Upcoming fairs

Work PEI is hosting three more career fairs across the province March 8 in O'Leary, P.E.I.,March 13 in Summerside, P.E.I., and March 15 in Charlottetown.

The upcoming fairs will also include "try a trade" booths.

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