The Academies of Loudoun hosted a Skilled Trades Fair on January 26, 2022 from 6:30-8:30 PM. All Loudoun County Public School students with an interest in skilled trades were invited to attend with a parent or guardian. Each presenting company had its own booth with about one to three representatives from their organization there to inform students about their company and to answer questions students may have. There were a variety of skilled trades represented at the fair, ranging from auto service to landscaping architecture. In total, there were 33 vendors, including Rosendin Electric Inc., Maaco, and Clune Construction. 

Although some vendors were specific to one trade, other companies were looking for employees from an array of fields. For instance, representatives from the Branch Group, a construction company, affirmed that there is a place for everyone in the construction business, from Finance to Human Resources. The speakers from Environmental Enhancement, a landscaping company, also conveyed a similar idea. 

Some vendors provided opportunities that visitors would not be able to take advantage of until after graduating high school. For example, representatives from Shirley Contracting, a construction company, stated that they typically provide internships to students between their sophomore and junior years of college. The company tends to take interns from nearby colleges including Virginia Tech and George Mason. On the other hand, Ashby Ponds, an assisted living facility, offers server jobs to high school students. 

Yet, the Skilled Trades Fair also served as a recruiting opportunity for the Academies of Loudoun. Students could apply to the Academies of Loudoun on-site with readily available paper applications. An Academies of Loudoun admissions officer and current student were also present to aid applicants with their interest statement and answer questions about the admissions process. Moreover, for students seeking a taste of life at the Academies of Loudoun, current students were available to give tours of the school. Visitors were also allowed to view the car garage on the lower level and a virtual car painting simulation. 

Speaking with the representatives at the fair, it was apparent that sometimes people develop passions or stumble upon job opportunities by chance. One of the representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency stated that they obtained their current position by viewing a listing on Indeed, a popular job posting website, and deciding to spontaneously apply for the sake of it. We can never anticipate what opportunities are awaiting us, which is why attending fairs like the Skilled Trades Fair can be important stepping stones in helping us realize new interests. 

 

written by Tryphena Pilli

edited by Keerthi Selvam and Saanvi Gutta