GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Wednesday morning, high schoolers moved in and out of the gym at Glens Falls High School in groups of 20. They heard about the possibilities for their summers from each table. They even got to try their hand at some of the activities.
“We are having students tape up a screen, showing them how they would set them up if they came in for the summer,” explained Joseph Endieveri, of South Glens Falls-based screen printing company nePROMO. “If they attempt it, we’re giving them a T-shirt. It’s a big hit.”
Warren County hosted three job fairs in the high school gym. The screen printer was among 35 local employers. Following job fairs at Queensbury Union Free School District and Lake George High School, the fair was a chance for employers big and small to find young workers interested in a summer job, many in the Lake George region’s prominent summer tourism industry.
The companies at Glens Falls ranged from a local kayaking business to regional companies like Stewart’s Shops, as well as Six Flags, seeking student workers to fuel the summer at the Great Escape theme park. Employers looking for summer talent, regardless of size, are still struggling to find the right people after the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Post-COVID it’s been a struggle to re-establish those relationships,” said Jeremy Garner, food service director at Double H Ranch. “Once it starts, it catches on. The kids talk to their friends and family, and we’re hoping to re-engage that now.”
Garner was seeking kitchen staff for Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, a summer camp that is well-established and has a strong summer business. According to Garner, any job at the ranch could potentially link kids with other jobs, such as lifeguarding and event management, in future summers.
Warren County has organized summer employment fairs at Lake George since 2021, but this is the first time it’s reached bigger. Queensbury’s job fair saw around 1,200 kids attend, meeting with 25 employers. At Lake George, 40 employers met 348 students from three smaller neighbouring towns as well as Lake George. Students from Warrensburg, Bolton, and Hadley Luzerne schools came together to discover what their summer could look like.
“Their high school principal invited the other schools, and they decided what grade levels to bring,” said Warren County Workforce Development Director Liza Ochsendorf. “I think them getting a taste of it might make them think of also hosting in the future.”
The gym wasn’t the whole story. On the high school’s third floor, employers gave panel-style talks with Q&A. A variety of sessions were offered on topics such as resume writing and how you approach job interviews. Students from Lake George participated in friendly competition to answer questions about the workforce.
