St. Pete College To Host Career Exploration Event

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – St. Petersburg College is hoping to get the word out that many of the area’s top employers have jobs available in the skilled trades.

As part of its Career Exploration Series, the school will host a career exploration event for people interested in the public utilities field on Wednesday, April 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the St. Petersburg College Seminole Campus, 9200 113th St. N. The event will take place in the school’s University Partnership Center Lobby.

Participants will be able to learn about current and future career openings, training requirements, salaries and scholarship opportunities from public utility representatives from local governments, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas Technical Collage, as well as various professional and technical organizations.

Participants in the Career Exploration Event include:

• City of Tarpon Springs
• City of Largo – Environmental Services Department
• City of St. Petersburg – Water Resources Department
• Pinellas Technical College/Public Works Academy
• University of Florida TREEO Center
• American Public Works Association
• Pasco County Utilities
• City of Largo – Environmental Services Department
• Pinellas County Utilities
• St. Petersburg College
• University of South Florida

According to St. Petersburg College, demand for entry-level and skilled public works and utilities positions is steadily increasing, with salaries ranging from $30,000 to an entry-level employee to more than $100,000 per year for an experienced public utilities technical or professional employee.

The salary reflects more stringent regulations and more limited natural resources, as well as a steady stream of retiring professionals, which are creating an increasing need in these professions.

The public utilities profession has a wide range of needs and career opportunities. Depending on individual interests and skills, St. Petersburg College said there is a need for professionals in the areas of:

• Public utilities administration (leadership, compliance, public relations, data management, project management, reporting, accounting/finance, etc.)
• Water and wastewater treatment
• Collection and distribution systems (pipelines, pumping stations, etc.)
• Water quality maintenance and analysis (including laboratory positions)
• Electrical/mechanical maintenance and repair
• Computer/control systems programming, maintenance and repair, information technology
• Professional consulting (engineering, hydrogeology, economics, environmental science, etc.)

Veterans, especially those with prior training in these areas, are encouraged to attend the Career Exploration Event.

For more information, contact Sandy DeCarlo, career outreach specialist at St. Petersburg College, at (727) 394-6130 or decarlo.sandra@spcollege.edu.

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