About twenty high school students and Evanston residents gathered at the main branch of the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., on Tuesday to hear about job opportunities that don’t require college degrees. The event, Careers in the Trades, was the second of the three-part Summer Employment Speaker Series hosted by the Youth Jobs Center of Evanston.
Two panelists involved with the construction industries in Chicago spoke on the broad spectrum of opportunities, from apprenticeships to trade schools, that are available for young workers and on how to get started in a trade career.
“They call what we do the best kept secret,” said panelist Johnetta Ryan, the education-to-careers director of Cisco Construction Industry Service Corporation. “We’re out here now letting people know….(that) it could be more beneficial for some kids to get a union apprenticeship and make $80,000 a year with free health care than to take out student loans.”
In addition to speaking, counselors from the Youth Job Center of Evanston and other adults working in social organizations were in attendance to take the attendants’ information and disseminate it to potential employees, according to Tricia Maharaj, the Center’s employer outreach coordinator.
“Careers in the trades aren’t always advertised and there are a lot of jobs available out there,” Maharaj said. “It’s great if we can get people in a space to start talking about it. Sometimes when people don’t go to a four year school, this can be a great opportunity for them.”
The panelists were blunt when explaining the hardships and the perks of professions. “If it’s hot out, you sweat,” said panelist Nate Turner, the executive director of the Labor Management Cooperation Committee, who has worked as a laborer. “If it’s raining you get wet. If it’s cold, you’re going to have to bundle up, but hopefully it’ll be worth it to you when you take home that paycheck. You don’t call in sick from these jobs. And if there’s an opportunity for overtime, you better make it happen. Get grandma to pick up the kids if you have to, cause that’s money to be made.”
Evanston Township High School student Kenney Walker, 16, said the information was useful even if it was not directly applicable to his life. “I was hoping to get some different job opportunities in different avenues for high school graduates,” Walker said. “I don’t know yet if these are the types of jobs I would like to go into, but I could definitely tell some people about this and what I learned. I’m glad I came.”
The next topic in the series, Ex-Offenders and Employment, will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at the main branch of the Evanston Public Library.
