NorthGate College held the 2017 iteration of its Career Day on Friday 12th May. The Career Day was designed to provide an opportunity for the form three students to deliberately and strategically reflect on career possibilities and begin to map their way forward. To this end, they interacted with professionals who gave personal insight into the day-to-day aspects of the job in traditional as well as non-traditional fields. The students also had the opportunity to engage with several tertiary level institutions.
The morning session gave insight into university/job interviews and guidance on an individual’s online/digital footprint and how this is analyzed by potential employers. By midday the students completed a job matching exercise with the facilitators from the National Training Agency’s Career Coach. The students were able to benefit from the information they shared, which complemented what they had learned throughout the day.
A buzz filled the atmosphere as the students were given the option to select any four of the eighteen professionals who had designated areas for small group interaction. They were excited and bursting with questions as they spoke to professionals in the filed of: Crime Scene Investigation, Medicine, Law, Army/Special Forces, Animal Health Care, Entrepreneurship, Early Childhood Development, just to name a few. The professionals gave them practical insight into their day-to-day operations and fielded their questions. The students were heartened to recognize parents among those there to share with them.
At the end of the day, the staff of NGC were unsure who enjoyed their time more, the parents or the students! The parents and collaborative partners left feeling grateful for having been able to contribute in this meaningful way to the decision making process of the students. It is safe to say that both benefited from the experience!