Program explores careers, resumes, interviews
By Angie Landsverk
Weyauwega-Fremont High School students explored careers, learned how to write effective resumes and practiced interviewing for jobs during Focus on Your Future Day.
The event took place at the high school on Thursday, Feb. 8.
It involved all of the school’s students.
They chose which career clusters interested them and rotated through several sessions to learn about career fields.
“This year, we decided to do it in-house. Over 70 people responded and were willing to come in,” said Joann Miller, the high school’s guidance counselor.
Such a day has taken place at the high school for more than six years.
In past years, students visited area businesses and toured college campuses.
This year, Miller contacted area chambers of commerce and her connections with area businesses.
Connie Peterson, the high school’s computer instructor, helped her put the day together.
Staff members reached out to their personal contacts as well, Miller said.
They invited spouses, friends, parents and in-laws to participate.
“Everyone did their part in reaching out to their resources and making Focus on Your Future Day very productive and meaningful,” Miller said.
Former students were also part of the event.
W-F graduates Andy Kettlewell, Jamie (Meyer) Krueger, Reid Raschke and Lucas Erdmann returned to school to talk to students.
Students were attentive during the sessions and had the chance to ask questions.
Jackson LaMie is 17 years old and a senior at W-F High School.
He thought it was a good experience.
“I like that we got to choose some of the careers. Lots were hands on,” LaMie said.
For the high school’s seniors, the day began listening to a presentation from the Weyauwega Police Department about the rights and responsibilities of 18 year olds.
After that, the seniors attended three different sessions related to various career clusters.
Many also had the opportunity to later meet with representatives, including officials from Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC).
LaMie plans to attend FVTC to study business management, entrepreneurship and the culinary arts.
Since he has been about 14 years old, LaMie has wanted to open a bookstore and coffee shop.
Wanting to learn the best way to reach that career goal, he did his research and learned FVTC offers business management and entrepreneurship programs.
“I was also told to pursue a culinary degree to go along with it,” he said.
That is related to the coffee shop aspect of his plan.
As a result, LaMie is taking an advanced food class at W-F High School.
Miller said Focus on Your Future Day also included ACT test preparation for the school’s juniors and mock jobs interviews for the seniors.
The sophomores filled out sample job applications, which were then critiqued.
She said the freshmen did career exploration.
“I’m excited to have an enormous amount of businesses willing to come and spend time here talking to the students about their careers and experiences,” Miller said. “It keeps growing.”
Paul Shrode, FVTC’s director of regional operations at its Waupaca and Wautoma regional centers, also participated in Focus Your Future Day.
He talked to the students about the structure of post-secondary education in Wisconsin and how they will be responsible for taking control of their education.
Shrode told them to think of college as a full-time job and to also take advantage of the support services offered at colleges.
“Every college has a network of support systems set up,” he said. “We all wants kids to graduate.”
Shrode also reminded the students that FVTC is open to all students, regardless of what they want to do.
“Our career and support services are available to all,” he said.
Becky Hurt, a career planner at the Waupaca Job Center, helped the students prepare for job interviews.
Eye contact, handshakes, researching a company ahead of time and having professional email and voice mail were topics she covered.
Hurt also told the students to think about their social media presence.
In addition, she talked about youth apprenticeships and told the students to identify their strengths and weaknesses.