Job Shadowing in East Alabama

Seventeen high school students from Lee and Chambers counties made the connection between the classroom and the workplace at Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2.

Sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Junior Achievement, the day began with a kickoff celebration at the Health Resource Center in Opelika with speakers from Lee County’s Workforce Development Committee, the Lee County School System, Junior Achievement and Extension.

Each student was matched with a mentor who represented his or her career interests and followed the mentor for a day in the work environment — a technique that provided the student with a firsthand experience of job skills.

“My interest in computer technology has increased because of this program,” said David Vail, who was hosted by the Computer Technology Unit, operated through Extension and Auburn University’s College of Agriculture.

Vail added that the experience has inspired him to sign up for college-level computer courses.

Another participant, Della Stabler, plans to apply for a summer internship at her job shadow site at the recommendation of her mentor.

Some of the career interests explored through the program included nursing, physical therapy, hotel management, culinary arts, veterinary medicine, elementary education, journalism and fashion.

Regional Extension Agent Dena Barnes and 4-H Agent Tara Barr also previously conducted a workshop with students and parents on workplace professionalism. A follow-up program with students also is planned to review their job shadowing experiences and to help them prepare personal action plans.

Barnes says the career development programs are among several programs conducted throughout the state through the Consumer Science and Personal Financial Management program, headed by Dr. Carol Centrallo, Extension specialist and Auburn University associate professor of consumer affairs.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 12, 2007 02:46 PM | TrackBack