Over 180 students were scheduled for job shadows with 38 area businesses during Darke County Junior Job Shadow Week held November 12 – 16. Participating juniors signed up for their top five career interests using a menu of nearly ninety different career choices. Job shadow placements were coordinated by Darke County Economic Development. A job shadowing experience allows students to explore their career interests through directly observing employees on the job. It provides realistic information, an opportunity to be mentored by a professional, and a chance to practice communication skills, which is valuable to all employers.
“Students may think a specific career is what they want to pursue, but once they job shadow they may find out the career is different than expected and head in another direction. Other students learn that they are well matched to their career interests and it can help them focus on their goals”, stated Tamala Marley, Workforce Specialist at Darke County Economic Development. “The menu helps students realize the wide variety of career opportunities in Darke County. Some students think the career they are interested in is not available in our area, but that may not be accurate.”
Students were placed in over 75 different positions in the county, including healthcare, engineering and technology, marketing, information technology, transportation, social services, skilled trades, law enforcement, agriculture, art & design, and more. With this experience, students can make more informed choices about their future career.
Job Shadow Week is just one of the activities coordinated by Darke County Economic Development for Darke County’s emerging workforce, with the goal of keeping/attracting students back to Darke County to work and raise their families. Darke County Economic Development would like to thank those businesses who volunteered to participate in Junior Job Shadow Week and made this opportunity possible for our local students.
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