in our spotlight on Business Report tonight you can't beat hands-on learning especially when it comes to a job in the trades thousands of students got a sneak peek at what a career in construction might be like during a career day in Edison that's where they learned what it takes to do the job and different paths to get there raven Santana reports well this isn't your typical career fear thousands of students from across New Jersey arrived to buy school buses and build the NJ Convention and Expo Center in Edison to explore career opportunities in the construction industry it is an industry of opportunity they are looking to recruit retain and elevate people within the trades people need to see a career path and that's what we're affording them here today is to understand how people got into the positions that they're in where they started and what they get for it that they are essentially getting an education for free jill Schiff chief operating officer of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey says the organization alongside various industry and labor partners sponsors the two-day interactive construction career day with regard to what's in demand from the employers they need that student who has a passion to learn uh especially the union construction trades they're going to teach you a skill that's what it's all about union apprenticeship programs run anywhere from 3 to 5 years uh it's all training it's classroom instruction coupled with hands-on learning it's a paid while you learn model over 25,000 students from 80 different schools across the state got the chance to explore different interactive hands-on demonstrations like the one here behind me it's the ultimate goal is to get our students through the pre-apprenticeship and directly placed into the UBC as we all know in today's market I mean it's so important to have a a stable career path for these students a lot of these kids can't afford colleges and um you know we consider this I think I may even have a logo on it on my shirt oh I'm not wearing the same shirt but it's a pathway to a debt-free career i'm here to look for a job today with having a job that you know that pays well and you know I have a kid so it's like you know whatever it could provide for me and mine I'm I'm into it i I could I feel like us women we got this too um and to show how hardworking we are too like as like what male do we all we could also do as women i'm want to do a local 269 electric over where I'm from but I want to work on a switchyard that's my main goal want to know how to get there and what to do even if come to this and you sign up you have so many pathways right in front of you that you've now signed up for and it's more fun going this way instead of college I would say because you're getting straight to work you're already you get to stack up a little more my trade right now is carpentry um I just want to further my education with that i just got into it but I'm starting to enjoy it so I just want to get in that get in the union for me I've always been the type I don't like to just sit around i can't like sit at a desk or something i like to move around do hard work and travel too so the carpentry really consists of all of that in addition to exploring careers in construction trade these students had the chance to visit booths hosted by colleges trade associations and federal and state agencies shift describes the event as a gamecher not only for those looking to build their careers but also for those looking to help shape the future of New Jersey for NJ Spotlight News I'm Raven Santana support for the business report is provided by Riverview Jazz presenting the 12th annual Jersey City Jazz Festival May 27th to the 31st event details including performance schedules and location are online at jerseycityjazzfestestival.com [Music]