Career fair at WJSHS gives local students options
SCSO Captain Jeff Lee gives a taser demonstration to students during the career fair
Molly Roberts
WALLACE— The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently announced that the number of job openings was at a seasonal high of 11.5 million on the last business day of March. This has caused an influx of local businesses and schools to join forces and creatively collaborate to find a solution.
Because of the increase in job openings not only nationally, but also in Shoshone County, local businesses and Wallace Jr./Sr. High School Principal Don Almquist worked together to show what local businesses have to offer.
This is the second year that students filled the Kirby Krulitz Court, speaking with representatives from hospitality and culinary, to recreational jobs and more.
Recruiters from the United States Army, as well as Shoshone County Fire Protection District #1 and Shoshone County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) were among the more popular hiring entities due to their interactive recruiting methods.
One particularly entertaining demonstration had SCSO Captain Jeff Lee wowing the crowd of high school students with a taser demonstration.
“Does anybody know how long a taser runs for when you pull the trigger?” asked Lee to the crowd of students.
“Five seconds,” came from the crowd,
“Now, how did you know that? Maybe you should be doing this demonstration,” Lee joked back.
Teenagers looking for something more in the realm of hospitality could speak with representatives from the Wallace Inn, and the Ryan Hotel, both located in Wallace.
For those interested in culinary positions, Blackboard Cafe in Wallace, and Meranda Tylluan from Stoneground Alchemy located inside The Bean in Kellogg looking for teens interested in helping out during the summer.
“There really is a lot of growth happening in the Silver Valley. The Bean is beginning to expand the kitchen, Mae’s Market in Smelterville has been a wonderful addition, and the expansion of other local businesses are exciting to see, and I'm so happy to be a part of that,” said Tylluan.
Career fairs are an important part of rural community schools as they can show those who are close to graduating different opportunities that they are capable of having. These positions are often temporary or summer positions for high school students looking to gain experience before entering adulthood.