Teens, adults preparing for job hunts

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) - In the current economic crisis, adults want to know whether they have the skills employers need now and teenagers want to know how they should prepare for the jobs of the future. Each group had opportunities Thursday night at a career fair at the Central 9 Career Center in Greenwood.

The students learned about their options in a variety of fields, at a variety of schools. The event also helped them learn how to pay for higher education when the economy is down.

"Well, I pay attention because I do have to pay some bills. I help my dad pay for my car. I help pay for my cell phone. I just help around the house with some bills, if I need to," said Whitney Harris of Greenwood High School.

And with Wall Street offering so much bad news, this is a tough time for job hunters. One employment association predicts this year's college graduates will find fewer openings available to them and may have to consider different types of opportunities than they planned.

Kaplan College invites job hunters to examine its campuses. Kaplan sees great interest in its medical programs.

Amy Magee was a stay-at-home mom. Now, she says she wants a career.

"Actually, the medical assisting field is really in demand right now and the statistics show it's just gonna become more in demand in the future," said Magee.

But Kaplan knows many of its students are looking for a second career.

"Students are looking to get themselves retrained to learn a new skill so the next time the economy picks up they can start a business and get into something, a new skill set," said Steve Allen of Kaplan College.

Allen says the economy has forced some of the stay-at-home moms to go back to school. He said, if they're married to someone who's lost a job, they realize they need to get into the job market to help support their families.