Minuteman High School Hosts Career Fair for Its Students & Alumni

PHOTO CAPTION: Students and alumni from Minuteman High School in Lexington met employers at the recent Career Fair held at the school. (Photo by Giacomo Zuccala).

By Judy Bass

LEXINGTON – Minuteman High School hosted a Career Fair on April 5 for its students and alumni. This annual event allows them to meet representatives from local companies and organizations that are seeking new employees with top-notch workplace skills and high-quality career and technical education.

Thoroughly preparing students for the profession of their choice is “mission one of our priorities,” said Minuteman Coordinator of Workforce and Economic Development Joseph Pitta. “We train students to get good jobs. Our employer partners want to hire them.” He noted that businesses contact Minuteman “all the time” looking for well-trained young people to fill staff openings.

There are over 800 employers listed on Minuteman’s job board, Mr. Pitta said. Of that large, diverse group, he explained, 45 were represented at the Career Fair. They sought individuals to hire for summer jobs and cooperative education jobs, along with seniors who will join the workforce after they graduate from Minuteman in June.

Mr. Pitta, who organized the event, said that when he put the word out inviting employers to participate, the response was swift and enthusiastic, an indication that positions are currently open in numerous fields. As Mr. Pitta affirmed, “If students want to work, there are jobs out there.”

He mentioned specific professional categories that are considered “hot” right now, such as the building trades, food service, early education and care, and health care, which encompasses extended care and retirement communities. Opportunities exist for qualified candidates, but to land a position, job seekers need to know how to present themselves appropriately to prospective employers, Mr. Pitta said.

Sid Tildsley, who attended the Career Fair representing the company he works for, agrees. He is vice president of operations at Walpole Woodworkers, Inc., which operates stores throughout the Northeast that specialize in outdoor amenities such as fences, pergolas and arbors. Mr. Tildsley praised the Minuteman students he met because he felt they were well-prepared, had resumes, and offered firm, businesslike handshakes when they introduced themselves.

“I handed out 11 or 12 applications to people I would love to have work for me,” he said.

He also commended the Minuteman teachers he met. He recalled that they would gently encourage students to approach his table if they seemed a bit reticent, and they often stood by supportively, giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up if the ensuing interview went promisingly.

Another representative at the Career Fair who had a positive reaction was U.S. Coast Guard Recruiter Dan P. Mims III.

“I thought the students were nice and most of them knew what they wanted to do after high school,” he said. “I got over a dozen leads from people who are interested in the Coast Guard, including a Culinary student. We are offering a $20,000 bonus for anyone who wants to be a cook.”

He continued,”We have over 19 different types of jobs available, ranging from cooks, construction, electrical, law enforcement, environmental protection, health technicians, human resources and much more. I genuinely believe these students would be a perfect fit for the Coast Guard because many of our jobs align exactly with the courses they are taking in school.”

Mr. Tildsley of Walpole Woodworking searches for potential hires at technical high schools in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey and is experienced at evaluating them. When he summed up his response to those from Minuteman, he did so emphatically: “I’m very excited.”

Minuteman High School is a regional-vocational technical school that opened in the 1970s. It provides students from its ten (10) member towns and surrounding region with a powerful career and technical education coupled with rigorous academics. Through this combination, students gain a competitive advantage in the new economy.