PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Northern Maine Community College Job Fair returned Thursday, March 23, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
High school students from around Aroostook County came in to learn about the different careers available in Jobs for Maine Graduates, while Community College students were applying to different jobs as well.
The job fair highlights the multiple opportunities in Aroostook County, as well as other places in central and southern Maine. Students and job seekers were offered various opportunities at the 68 to 70 job tables, where they could explore their career interests and pick up job applications.
“We had a full-house,” said Cassie Ouellette, student support and career specialist for Northern Maine Community College. “A lot of employers are here looking for people. They are looking for full-time, part-time and summer internships. [The employers] are looking for all sorts of industries.”
There was law enforcement through the Presque Isle Police Department and United States Border Patrol, accounting jobs, construction and electrical engineering, Ouellette said.
The Central Aroostook Association booth at the Northern Maine Community College Job Fair held in Presque Isle on March 23. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
Employers are mostly from Aroostook County with local job offers coming from community organizations that had booths set up for the Aroostook County Action Program, Army National Guard base in Presque Isle and Aroostook Mental Health Center, to name a few.
Manpower was seeking employees, as well as General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It was Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s first time at the Community College and offered multiple benefits such as paid annual and parental leave.
“There are quite a few [employers] who are looking to fill multiple positions, so they might be hiring for night shifts, or day shifts,” Ouellette said.
Maine Logging Operations was offering a 20-week free logging job program based out of Old Town in Central Maine, and also included Commercial Driver Licenses training.
Job seeker Ryan M. Gallagher (left) spoke with a representative at one of the many job booths at the Northern Maine Community College Job Fair in Presque Isle on March 23. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
Some job seekers had already submitted applications. Presque Isle resident Ryan M. Gallagher submitted to three different job and career opportunities.
“I have explored at least six [job opportunities] and I have gotten three applications so far,” Gallagher said. “People need to earn more to spend more so inflation goes down.”
The job fair piqued Gallagher’s interest after hearing about it on radio and TV, with his interests ranging from the deli at Freshies to Airplane Mechanics offered at the Presque Isle International Airport.
United Ground Express for the Presque Isle International Airport also had a booth at the job fair that offered $18 per hour with paid training.
The snowy weather didn’t deter turnout at the event, which ran from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
