On March 11 from 9:45 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., students from across the Hi-Line will converge on the Hill County Electric/Triangle Telephone properties in Havre for Opportunities in Trades Day.

In 2023, Hill County Electric and Triangle Communications hosted their inaugural event, and considering it a success—with over 150 high school students in attendance—they decided to hold it again this year.

According to Bethany Chinadle, COO for Triangle Communications, the goal of this event is to expose area high school students to opportunities available in the trades. “We will have eight different zones available for the students to explore in the morning, and then after lunch they will pick the zone that interested them the most, and they will do a hands-on activity at that zone,” she explained.

The eight zones currently planned for are Diesel, Construction, Welding, Telephone & Internet Technician, Job Opportunities in Trades, Electrician & Lineman, IT & Security, and Mapping, Engineering, & Locating.

During lunch, employers will present as well as provide direct access for students to engage and ask questions throughout the day at their booths. The employers will talk to students about what they do, the tools and software that are used to complete their work, what to expect during the daily work schedule at that company, qualities and skills that the employers are looking for, and a salary range for entry level positions. Employers will also describe what a career path looks like when accepting an entry level position.

MSU-Northern (MSUN) will also have some of their recruiters available at the event, and Chinadle is hoping to coordinate involvement from various MSUN professors, despite its being spring break week for them.

While the event is open to students in grades 9 to 12 who are interested in the trades, approximately twenty juniors and seniors from Chinook High School (CHS) plan to attend. These participants will represent the Vocational Education programs at CHS.