by Kara Sewell (WICHITA, Kan.)
Over the noise, students at Wichita Area Technical College talk shop. Rustin Haines is halfway through his ten week sheet metal class, he graduates in December.
"I was wanting to get on at Cessna," says Rustin Haines. However, Haines understands recent layoffs will make that goal harder to reach.
"I'd be lying if I said it did not concern me a little bit." Haines is one of many students about to enter the workforce.
"I'm competing with 24 other guys and ladies right now for jobs that are out there so I'm going to do the best I can to make myself the most marketable," says Haines.
"Basically, this is the nature of the beast," says instructor Ted Eubanks.
Eubanks is half teacher, half counselor. He is presenting the same material this semester but with a different outlook.
"When you think sheet metal you think air plane but instructors at Wichita Technical College are encouraging students look inside their tool box in order to think outside the box."
"If you focus just on Spirit or Boeing then your narrowing your opportunity," says Eubanks.
Eubanks says there are plenty of jobs outside the aviation industry. For those who still want to build planes, Eubanks says students may have to leave their comfort zone.
"You can go to Little Rock where there is Falcon, Savannah has Gulfstream," says Eubanks.
While Haines isn't ready to leave Wichita, he does plan to keep his options open.
"There are hundreds of jobs out there as long as your going to put in the effort to go look for them," says Haines.
No matter how many jobs are eliminated Haines says hes learning a trade that no one can take away.
