craigdailypress.com

When Jen Lapinski, summer youth coordinator for the Colorado Workforce Center, graduated from a four-year college, she discovered she was at the same income level that she had been at before she started.

She didn't know that she had other options that would have allowed her to start a high-paid job sooner.

That's the information she wants Moffat County teens to get during the Workforce Center's annual youth job fair from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moffat County High School.

"When I look back, I wish I knew about all these other options," Lapinski said. "I think this is really important for kids to know."

So she's turned a portion of the annual job fair into a career fair, bringing in representatives from community colleges and vocational schools. On hand will be representatives from Colorado Northwestern Community College, Colorado Mountain College, Western Wyoming Community College, the University of Wyoming and the Bureau of Land Management.

Students will learn what it takes to be a cosmetologist, a nurse, a dental hygienist, a Hot Shot firefighter or an airplane mechanic.

"I thought we should focus on what these kids need to be ready for," Lapinski said. "There are a lot of options in terms of vocational schools as well as four-year degrees."

There will be some employers taking applications for summer employment -- the Steamboat Springs Summer Youth Corp and McDonald's, but Lapinski said many employers looking for summer help filled positions in March.

"We'll try to hold (the job fair) earlier next year so we can catch employers during the hiring period," she said.

Employers who are not hiring will distribute information about their companies and talk about what it took for them to get where they are with the company and what level of education is needed.

"There's not a lot of jobs available right now for kids," Lapinski said.

Last year, about 180 youth attended the job fair; an unusually low number, Lapinski said, which she blamed on a winter storm.

Food will be provided to youth who attend the job fair and Lapinski encourages all of Moffat County's teens to attend.

"It really gives youth in the area an opportunity to learn more about local colleges and businesses and it matches some with summer jobs," she said.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031, Ext. 210 or at ccurrie@craigdailypress.com.