Offering students work experiences
As an employer you can offer students a variety of work experiences. Whether it’s taking a student for an entire semester through a co-op placement, providing a short-term placement experience or being willing to participate in a one day career fair, it all helps in the school-to-work transition for young people.
Short Term Assistance (Several hours to a full day commitment)
- Career talks through school visits
- Involvement in career fairs and career days
- Worksite or industry tours
Medium Term Assistance (One day to four weeks)
- Job shadowing experiences for students
- Work experience
- Volunteer experience
Longer Term Assistance (Time commitment varies-up to 18 weeks per year)
- School-work transitions
- Co-operative education placements
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
- Mentoring
No matter what the commitment, employers can build a stronger skilled workforce in Renfrew County by supporting high school students in making the transition from school to work.
In a 1999 Roper Canada study, 95% of Canadian employers rated work experience during high school as valuable. Yet in the same survey, 45% of high school students reported having “zero” current work experience. (Source: Junior Achievement/ Amway Survey of Employers and Students)
It makes good economic sense
Youth unemployment is persistently higher than the adult rate while employers often have to scramble to find good and committed employees. Giving students work experience helps promote better work habits while at the same time encouraging career exploration. It’s a great way for students to evaluate careers, which better prepares them to make good choices when choosing whether to enter into the workforce directly from high school, apprenticeship training, college or university.
It’s good for all of us when students make a successful transition from schoo-to-work - our society, our economy, our workplaces and most importantly, our students.
Helping students benefits employers
Students receive their academic instruction in classrooms, but workplace experiences open the eyes of youth and boosts their confidence as they build a network of references.
The biggest single challenge for young people to access jobs is a lack of work experience. By starting in high school, students can overcome this barrier when employers give them the chance to prove themselves in real-life work settings. The Passport to Prosperity campaign is all about promoting the value of employers getting involved with supporting school to work transitions for high school students, but there are many reasons why employers can benefit from taking part.
Creates better prepared workers and reduces time consuming and costly recruiting, hiring and training efforts
Helps enhance the work ethic in students and provides valuable lessons such as the importance of being proud of doing a job well, being at work on time, being dependable and honest
Employers who support school-to-work transitions are also showing leadership in their community
Employers who work with students gain new leadership and interpersonal skills.
Employers indicate the morale in their workplace improves as they and their employees work with students. Students bring enthusiasm to the workplace.
Work experiences reinforce the organization’s commitment to its workers and their families, by benefiting the children of employees.
Employers receive recognition from their community for helping support education and economic development within Renfrew County.
Do you want to get involved?
In Renfrew County, the Passport to Prosperity campaign is being co-ordinated by Algonquin College. To learn more about the program, contact any Job Connect office in Renfrew County. (See contact information on this website)
If you want to participate in a co-operative education placement for a student or the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, contact your local high school’s co-op office. You can learn more about OYAP under the apprenticeship section on this web site, including contact information.
The Government of Ontario’s education web site can be found at www.edu.gov.on.ca.
You can also find more information on Passport to Prosperity by visiting the web site for the Ontario Learning Partnership Group at www.olpg.on.ca.
