Over the past few weeks, students in the Consortium’s Future Ready Leaders program had the chance to fan out across the Pittsburgh region to engage with professionals to explore careers, learn about options for post-secondary pathways, and practice communication skills.
Career exploration is a vital piece of helping students answer CPE’s three questions that focus on future readiness – Who am I? Who do I want to be? How do I get there? Real-world exposure helps students make better-informed decisions about their career paths and discover these answers.
Visiting businesses, seeing professionals in action, and hearing about what a typical day is like (if there is one) can be instrumental in helping students decide if a career like that is for them. During a recent visit to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, high school students had the chance to learn about the different career options at an organization like that. Whether it’s STEM, teaching, horticulture, or beyond, there’s a place for many individuals there.
At UPMC, students not only heard about a myriad of career options inside the hospital walls like medical/patient interaction, IT, and administration, but they also got to visit an actual construction site that highlighted the careers that build those walls that house patients and the teams of individuals working to save lives.
Premier Automation took students not just through their production facility but gave students the chance to hear from a panel of 16 professionals representing almost every department at their company. Various post-secondary paths, experience, and qualifications were discussed while highlighting everything from entry-level positions and beyond.
In the next few weeks, students will visit the Marriott City Center hotel in Pittsburgh to learn about the vast variety of options in hospitality: Urban Design Associates, an international urban design firm that practices master planning, design guidelines, and architecture; and the Kurt J. Lesker Company, a leading global provider of high-quality vacuum products and systems.
Experiences like this that take students and educators outside of the classroom can be eye-opening for many who don’t normally have the opportunity to visit these environments. Hearing about the skills required in an industry, how a workplace can differ– or be similar to being in school, participate in interactive discussions, and networking opportunities can be a turning point in students’ lives. They help bridge the gap between education and employment, allowing students to envision themselves in various roles.
Educators often get ideas for tying their curriculum and lesson plans to real-world scenarios. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to connect with the next generation of professionals, potential new employees, and promote their field.
Whether students walk away inspired or with a newfound direction, business visits are an invaluable part of future readiness -offering lessons that can’t always be taught in a classroom.
