Career Day in Newport Highlights Jobs in Marine Trades

NEWPORT, RI—Officials from IYRS School of Technology and Trades and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association on Saturday are hoping to meet and inspire a future crop of boat builders, woodworkers, automotive restorers and more.

The 11th Annual Career Day is being held on Saturday at the IYRS Newport Campus at 449 Thames St.

The event is free and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and breakout sessions begin at 9 a.m.

About 30 companies are expected to attend, many ready to hire workers to join the marine and composites industries, aerospace, transportation, defense and architecture industries.

"Attendees can network with companies, learn about job openings, attend seminars geared toward career-seekers, and talk to organizers of training programs that are proven pathways to jobs," according to a news release.

Companies on hand include New England Boatworks of Portsmouth, which is in search of all sorts of skilled workers, from marine carpenters and electricians to, mechanics and boatbuilders, to riggers.

The company is about to launch two new boats and has a large workload lined up for the future.

Several training programs will be represented at the event, including the RIMTA Marine & Composites Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program—a seven-week course supported by the Governor’s Workforce Board that is free to Rhode Islanders and a popular source for entry-level workers. Attendees can also see the IYRS facility, meet the school’s staff, and learn about the IYRS programs in Boatbuilding & Restoration, Marine Systems, and Composites Technology; many companies attending Career Day come with the express goal of meeting IYRS students ready to begin their careers.

Doors to Career Day open at 10:00 am, but two valuable breakout sessions are slated prior to the event’s opening:

9:00 am - “Navigating Your Job Search” with Neal Harrell, President, Brooks Marine Group

9:30 am - “What Brewer Yacht Yards Look for in a Candidate” with Rives Potts, President/COO, Brewer Yacht Yards

For more information, visit the Career Day website at iyrscareerday.com. Pre-registration for this free event is not required but will save attendees time upon arrival; a form can be found at the event’s website.