Career opportunities highlighted at Job Fair

Charlestown, Nevis - AT the career fair held at the Nevis Cultural Centre yesterday, top librarians from St. Kitts and Nevis facilitated a seminar that attracted many of the high school students that attended the function.

Lornette Hanley, a Librarian at the Nevis Public Library informed the students that careers in library services did not only involve the issuing of books but also the utilisation of their computer technology skills. 

Isabel Byron recently relocated to Nevis after having worked for United Nations agencies’ libraries in New York and Geneva and she too impressed upon the students that careers in librarianship could open unique job opportunities at the locally and international level, “it will demand that you have many skills and a desire to keep on learning,” she told the attentive teens.

Primary school children also attended the exhibit and showed keen interest as Errol Blake, a local contractor explained to them 25 different types of careers they can pursue in that and related fields. As Secretary for the Nevis Building Contractors Association, Blake cleared up the misconception that in the construction industry there were only two types of jobs; carpentry and masonry. 

He explained that persons can also have careers as civil engineers, architects, draftsmen, steel blenders, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, cabinet builders, joiners, technicians, heavy equipment operators, land surveyors and contractors.

“Don’t look down on the construction industry and dismiss it as a sector for ‘dirty people’. The sector has lucrative rewards,” Blake advised.

Fair attendees were also attracted to the Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police booth as Police officers explained the nature of their career and some of the equipment they use to carry out their duties.

At the Education Department stand Dr. Melvon Swanston, a psychologist, explained the training required for one to qualify as a psychologist.  He said those who do not have the stamina to attain a PhD could do a Bachelors and a Master’s degree and qualify to work as counsellors.

Four Seasons’ staff exhibited brochures and other displays showing career opportunities in the hotel industry while serving light refreshments to interested persons.    ~~Adz:Left~~

At the Aviation stand, Airport Manager, Stephen Hanley, said on-the-job training is offered for air traffic controllers and meteorologists.  He advised that persons interested in job opportunities in that sector would have to do well in subjects such as Mathematics, Geography and English as the sector allowed for training opportunities in other countries in the region.

Elmeader Brookes, Human Resources Manager in the Nevis Island Administration with responsibility for training said the objective of the Fair was to showcase careers so as to sensitise students, parents and general public about locally available career opportunities. She said her department would follow up with students who showed interest in specific careers during the Fair.