Part 1   Part 2   Part 3  

The final part of our series discussing practical ways to better prepare our students for the world of work focuses on:

- How to improve our efforts to promote career awareness;
- How to incoroporate student work-based learning experiences.

Get students thinking about career options

Every little boy wants to be a policeman or fireman or professional athlete, but at some point, he needs to discover what he is truly best suited to do.  We need to get students thinking about career options sooner and more often.There are many ways to encourage students of all ages to explore career interests.  In addition to the abundance of general career information and statistics, a simple web search will reveal many sites that provide self discovery tests, self-assessment tools, personal interest inventories and the like.We can help students uncover their strengths and weaknesses.  Best of all, if our school district has a work-based learning program, we can place our students in the ACTUAL work environments that they think they want to spend their adult lives in!
It’s time to tweak the “old school” career report
We have always tried to get students to consider their futures.  When I was in school, my “old school” teachers would assign the perfunctory two-page career report, send me to the library to find some information on that career, and have me present my less-than-thrilling discoveries with the rest of the half-asleep students in class.  Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be like this anymore!
Today’s innovative teachers can use the vast array of internet resources to FIRST conduct a personal inventory analysis (or two, or three variations of them) to help students determine strengths, aptitudes, and areas of interest.  Some of the better resources will quantify the likelihood of finding a job in a particular career area, even going so far as to break down the opportunities into different geographic areas.  Some include videos of people in their work environments while others provide opportunities to hear interviews of people talking about what a particular career is like.
The innovative teacher may still require a detailed report, just like in the past, but she may also have her students prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation to summarize their discoveries for the class. One of the best all-around websites to do such an activity is  WisCareers (Click http://wiscareers.wisc.edu / to sign up for a free, two-week trial subscription).
 
Test Driving the world of work

There is no better way to know if a particular career is the right choice than to actually spend time working day-to-day in that very work environment. 
By participating in work-based learning programs, students get to observe professionals going through their day-to-day routines while simultaneously working in meaningful support positions assisting these professionals.  travel agencies and tourism offices, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing and paper mills, distribution centers, real estate offices, car dealerships, collection agencies, non-profit agencies, multinational companies and sole proprietorships. 
Obviously an 18 year old student isn’t going to have the experience or training to perform tasks that a college educated employee can, but these students can do most of the entry level support tasks that professionals in these careers need done with minimal on-the-job training.

Work-Based Learning programs produce amazing results

In the Green Bay Area Public School District, work-based learning (WBL) programs have been around for many decades.  One reason for their longevity is that the benefits received by students and participating businesses are reciprocal.
It’s easy to recognize the benefits for students.  While the program’s goal of helping students explore and “test drive” career options is readily accomplished, oftentimes the interpersonal benefits students gain are even more remarkable. Watching these young adults grow and mature from the beginning to the end of this real world work experience helps validate why we have such a program.

WBL student success stories

Following are some amazing student transformations I have witnessed:Jennifer, a young lady who was convinced she wanted to be a dental hygienist…until she worked at a dental clinic and realized she didn’t like looking into people’s mouths everyday.  Because of her experience, she quickly cancelled her plans and enrolled at a different college.
Jessica thought she wanted to be a doctor…until she worked in a hospital clinic where she was able to observe the other healthcare workers around her.  She, too, changed her college career objective and enrolled in a nursing program upon graduation.
Poor Andrew.  American Express seemed the perfect placement for him…until he began experiencing what it was really like to work in such an environment.  Now he’s exploring careers that would enable him to be more physically active.
Jason wants to be a trial lawyer.  He is in love with his job.  He is more certain of the direction of his post-high school education and career choice than he has ever been.
Finally, there is Sarah.  She was hired by a huge, multinational trucking firm, Schneider National, known locally for a great work environment, good benefits, and satisfied employees.  They invited her to stay on and she is currently in her fourth year of full-time employment their.

WBL programs are a two-way street

At first glance, you might not see what businesses get out of the relationship, yet there is no shortage of businesses interested in having students working in their workplaces.  First and foremost, the business community realizes the need to be closely involved with the school community.  They want a workforce that is well trained BEFORE they arrive for the interview. 

Real positions, real jobs

It is important to note that the support positions that these young employees occupy are vital pieces to the success of each workplace.  These are positions that need to be filled whether a WBL student is available or not.
A point of emphasis that I make when meeting with business owners interested in participating in the WBL program is that my students must have meaningful duties and responsibilities.majority of the time are not appropriate for a WBL program.  It is understood, of course, that all entry level positions necessitate doing low level tasks some of the time.Because of the great demand for students to fill these jobs, I always have many more businesses wanting students than I have students available.  

It’s more than just a pool of potential employees

Our local businesses want to support the educational efforts of their school community. 
Many of these employers and managers remember what it was like when they were in school.  They also embrace the opportunity to have a positive influence on a young adult at a time in students’ lives when they are most impressionable.Another theme that I continue to hear repeated time and time again is that these employers profoundly enjoy the infusion of energy that these high school students bring into their workplace.  It’s almost predictable that a few of the employers and the student employees will shed some tears as they share their stories and experiences that they are so grateful for that happened during the past year.

The educational community needs business partnerships

The educational community realizes we do not exist in a vacuum (well, at least most of us).  We need to constantly be in close communication with those in the world of work.All students participating in the WBL program also attend my WBL class daily.  Some of these employers participate in the program year after year, so we have developed a very close working relationship.  Other businesses have invited all members of my class to meet with the owners and to tour their facilities.
All too often we teachers don’t think “outside the box.”  Business owners and managers are an excellent source to get fresh, relevant ideas.

Wanted: Soft Skills!

One of the advantages of my being a part of the WBL program is asking managers what kinds of traits and skills they are looking for in new employees.  One recurring request I get from managers is to teach more soft skills.In my school district, some of these soft skills are “packaged” in what are called Lifelong Learning Skills.  The scores are compiled and averaged and become part of a student’s permanent transcript, just like the rest of her traditional grades.  I spend considerable class time developing these soft skills.

Businesses find WBL programs to be hassle-free

Sometimes businesses will contact me to set up a meeting to have me explain how my work based learning program works.  As it usually turns out, they fear that being part of a WBL program means that there are unique requirements and qualifications and expectations of them. 
In reality, my WBL employees are just like any regular employee.  The minor difference is that the manager will be contacted by me occasionally (every six weeks) to provide me feedback on how of his WBL employee is performing.  This additional level of oversight is oftentimes appreciated by the employer because if there are any problems or issues that arise, they can be addressed and rectified very efficiently.
In comparison to a typical employee, there's no additional paperwork except for one signature required on the bottom of a brief, one page, school-district-required contract.  It's a completely hassle-free opportunity for businesses.

WBL employees are humans too!

Like with any regular employee, WBL employees can present challenges too.  Businesses face almost an identical set of challenges when comparing WBL employees with their regular employees. 
This potential shortcoming is usually offset because businesses know they have the additional “safety net” of being in a WBL program.  This additional layer of support oftentimes averts potential problems before they develop.

Conclusion

If our goal is to better prepare our students for the world of work, there is no better way than participating in a work-based learning program.  Consider adding a work-based learning opportunity for the students in your school district.
( Click here to view Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 )
I encourage your feedback and questions.Tmajewski@sbcglobal.net .  I would be happy to provide direction and help you develop a WBL program in your school district.