The purpose of Try-A-Trade is to give students hands on experience at as many different trades as possible. There are representatives and tradespeople from different trades e.g. plumbing, carpentry, hairdressing, at each Try-A-Trade stand to instruct and give advice on how to enter that particular trade, what is involved, where the trade can take you, money earned etc.

Students are encouraged to ask as many questions they like about the trade. At the same time they will partake in a hands-on activity where they can actually "try" that trade. The students are under supervision at all times and usually split into pairs to move around each trade.

Try-A-Trade is essentially for students looking to the trades when they leave school. Therefore these would be the first students invited from a school participating in Try-A-Trade. As a general guide, students from Year 9 through to Year 12 are encouraged to participate, particularly those who are making their subject choices as part of determining their career direction.