One of my first jobs in high school was working at a cheese factory. I wasn’t making cheese, I was packing cheese. Did I love the work? Some things yes, some no. I didn’t enjoy being cold all day long. I didn’t enjoy going to work very early in the morning. Cutting mold and sliminess off cheese was never fun. I did enjoy the wonderful people I got to work with. I did enjoy the opportunity to try many different kinds of wonderful cheeses during our breaks. Did I learn a lot? Absolutely! I learned about safety, quality, how to punch a time clock, appropriate work attire and the dynamics of adults working together. There are many “rules of work” that we are never really taught and need to learn on the job.
Due to family, sports and school commitments, not all students have the ability to get a job during the school year. But for those who have the time and want to learn new skills, are interested in an industry or want to make some money, we want to provide options. Sometimes it is hard to reach teenagers to let them know about job opportunities in our area. Many people who live in our area don’t know about the wide variety of careers that are available. We drive past businesses and have no idea what they do there.
Before I worked in a packing room at a cheese factory, I had no idea no idea how cheese went from being in big blocks that I saw at the county fair into nicely packaged and labeled chunks on the grocery store shelf.
Let us help you better inform students about career opportunities in our area!
Send your Position Descriptions
We have a “Job Board’’ at the high school to display posters and position descriptions. Please send us information about jobs that would be appropriate for high school students. (Remember juniors and seniors can be released from school for up to 2 hours per day for a work experience, if it fits into their schedules.) When you prepare your poster or position description, make sure to clearly explain the job, the hours and the pay. It also helps to provide bullet points on what kind of person you’re looking for. For example, for my packing room job, they were looking for: People who enjoy doing something different every day, but don’t mind repetitive tasks; People who are rule followers when it comes to food safety; People who can be at work (and function) before 5:30 am; People who love cheese!
Engage Students During Work Wednesdays
During the three lunch periods (held from about 11 am until 1 pm) we encourage businesses to join students in the M-Room and talk about job and career opportunities. We’ll provide a table and chairs, you provide staff who are excited about your business and who do a good job of engaging with students. (It also helps to provide candy or some other small give-away item to entice students to visit you.) Hands-on activities are also greatly appreciated.
Offer a Tour of Your Business
Sometimes it is hard to explain what some businesses do. Many businesses have many departments and many different career opportunities. Could you provide a tour of your business for students? Let us know if you are interested in providing a tour, how long it would last, and what types of students you’d like to attend. Should we promote the opportunity to students in a particular club or class? We’ll have to work out logistics like travel arrangements and timing. There is also the opportunity to work together to provide tours of multiple businesses in one day.
— If your business is interested in providing any of these career exploration opportunities for Monroe High School students, please contact Cara Carper at caracarper@monroe.k12.wi.us or (608) 328-7573.
