The Bemus Central School District hosted its first job fair for students in more than 10 years. Julie Verdonik, high school principal, said the district would like to begin hosting a job fair every two years. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

Bemus Point students got a glimpse of the workforce during the district’s returning job fair.

More than 30 different workforce-related organizations attended the event and spoke with students from grades 6-12.

“I think it’s great to expose kids to careers and I’d like to do it before they schedule for classes so they can think more about what are some interests or talents or even career options they might have,” said Julie Verdonik, high school principal.

Verdonik said she would like to bring a job fair to Maple Grove Middle and Senior School every two years. Previously, the Bemus Point Central School District had not organized a job fair in more than 10 years.

Verdonik believes allowing students who vary in ages to learn about careers that are attainable within the region will help shape their education.

“It’s nice making that connection,” Verdonik said. “The kids have been very positive and asking questions.”

While the students wrote out questions beforehand, Verdonik said the interactions between student and employer went beyond what was pre-planned. She praised the positively the students brought to the event.

Each grade level was allotted 30 minutes to meet with the many agencies present on Friday. The companies included law enforcement, military, educational institutions, emergency services, health care and county and state agencies.

For the middle school students, Verdonik believed the job fair was a great starting point for them to begin thinking about what classes they should take to fit a certain career path they may be interested in. The same went for the under classmen in high school, Verdonik and Carrie Yohe, director of curriculum, said the exposure to potential career options can give students guidance to their course selection.

“I want exposure (of career options), but I also want the younger kids to start thinking about what is that they like and how might it affect classes they take when they hit ninth grade,” Verdonik said.

For juniors and seniors, the opportunity allows them to see tangible employment opportunities. However, an emphasis for Verdonik and Yohe was that students figure out a career path they enjoy.

“One thing that I gave the kids when they left is that no matter what you do find a career that you like,” Yohe said. “It doesn’t matter how much money it is. You have to like what you’re doing. You have to like to go to work.”