Capturing an unnoticed generation: People & Companies

Toward the end of the school year, the local chamber of commerce requested our shop’s participation in a job fair at our high school. As it turned out, the event focused on special education students, but, interestingly, most of them weren’t noticeably different from the other students. I was told most suffer from a learning disability, from minimal to more serious, but they were all eventually going to graduate and seek a productive future, like most students do.

This was the school’s first time hosting the event and I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, after talking to at least 100 students that day, I realized I was meeting many future shop candidates.

As it turned out, we were the only machine shop participating, and even the only industrial-related company present. Most were health-care centers, restaurant chains, banks and credit unions, and a few others. Undoubtedly all good companies, but it was evident that many of these kids will seek employment in the community’s various shops and industrial warehouses and they were anxious to hear about potential opportunities.

Some had taken woodworking, CAD or other manufacturing-related classes, and we discussed the benefits of that knowledge. Many told me their relatives worked in a shop, and they wanted to learn how they should prepare. I was more than happy to offer positive information about the world of manufacturing. Most were receptive and willing to hear my advice, looking at me as a mature man with considerable wisdom to share. It was humbling because I still consider myself a novice compared to others in the industry.