Many of us have been there before – you start a job you’ve been wanting for ages, and all of a sudden you realise it’s not quite like the brochure promised.
But while work experience and placements are great for secondary students, real-world job exposure tends to be less common – and less practical – for most adults for a variety of reasons.
Cue the free, all-ages Fraser Coast Industry & Careers Showcase, set to be staged at the Maryborough Showgrounds on Wednesday, October 12.
Jobs Fraser Coast project officer and showcase organiser Jared Crooks said the committee behind the indoor-outdoor showcase was determined to provide a broad array of hands-on opportunities so jobseekers could get real-world insights into local industries and roles.
“Right now our region is booming, and we need to take some serious steps towards building our local skills base,” he said.
“We’ve got more than 60 local employers and organisations coming from a range of sectors including trades and manufacturing, timber and agriculture, health and aged care, police and emergency services, support agencies and more.
“And they’ll all be aiming to show why working for them is a great choice. Think of it like speed dating, except for jobs.”
For the fans of big toys, Jared said the action-packed showcase would feature a multitude of large equipment including logging and crane trucks, train components, GPS-guided tractors, fire tankers and irrigation equipment.
“There’ll also be drone and virtual reality headset demonstrations, computer-aided design desks, welding simulations, road crash simulations, and the chance to get hands-on with medical models and resuscitation scenarios,” he said.
The showcase doesn’t stop there, though.
More than just a chance to play with impressive toys, it aims to bring jobseekers of all ages into contact both with the training and education institutions who can help them on to a job pathway, as well as the people who might be hiring or working alongside them.
“Jobseekers and visitors will be able to talk to industry experts and people working in key roles – not just recruitment officers – and then get advice from training and education providers about what they need to do to get on that job pathway,” Jared said.
“For some, there will be jobs filled on the day, while others might require some extra qualifications.”
The showcase is the creation of the Fraser Coast Regional Jobs Committee, which is funded by the Queensland Government with the goal of growing and developing a strong, capable and skilled workforce in the region.
“We’re taking a holistic approach to this event,” said committee chair Michelle Hay.
“Alongside employers and trainers, people will also find organisations who can provide them with funding options, wellbeing support, mentoring, and job-readiness skills. It’s really about looking at the whole person, what the best fit is for them, and what they personally need to succeed.
“So our message to people of all ages is to come along and see what opportunities are out there. There’s nowhere else they’ll find such a broad variety of organisations under the one roof, all with the one goal of helping people into local jobs.
“It’s often said it takes a village to raise a child. Well, sometimes it takes a village to get someone a job too – and we’re determined to achieve that for as many people as possible.”
The Fraser Coast Industry & Careers Showcase will run from 1pm-6pm at Maryborough Showgrounds on October 12.