More than 5,000 teenagers are due to attend the annual Gloucestershire Skills Festival, to consider their future career options.
Forty local employers have booked stands at the event, which is under way at the GL1 leisure centre, Gloucester.
The festival gives 14 to 19-year-olds and business bosses the chance to meet and discuss job opportunities.
It has been divided into 'zones' to make it easier for youngsters to find the jobs they are interested in.
These include construction and engineering, hair and beauty, sport and leisure, the media and agriculture.
Pauline Bailey, from the Learning and Skills Council which is organising the festival, said: "For some students it's the first time they've had the opportunity to really understand what some jobs and careers entail.
"Each year I talk to young people at the festival who say they've been inspired by seeing 'the real thing' on show."
