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Career exploration in action

Clintonville students look at job options

What happens when 940 eighth graders get to explore 40 different careers offered by local employers?

They get excited about their future.

Students from 16 schools explored careers at the 23rd annual Eighth Grade Career Fair Wednesday, April 20, at Clintonville Middle School.

Organized by Fox Valley Technical College, the Clintonville Chamber of Commerce and Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, this event has grown over the past few years into one of the largest events of its kind in northeast Wisconsin.

Sixty-two area businesses exhibited and shared information on careers available within their business.

Each exhibitor represented at least one of the 16 Career Clusters identified by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.

Prior to attending the event, students completed an Interest Inventory, which helped them pinpoint their top three Career Cluster picks. They then identified which businesses or organizations attending the event matched their top Career Clusters.

At the Career Fair students had the opportunity to talk with people working within the industry. Exhibitors set up hands-on, interactive booths, which allowed the students to explore what a potential career might be like.

Area technical colleges also attended the event, so when students learned what type of training and education they need for a certain career, they could then visit the college booths to learn more about what programs they offer that would help them in their goals.

Neenah-Menasha Deputy Fire Chief Shane Krueger feels this is a important time in a student’s life for career exploration.

“Showing 8th graders what career opportunities are available to them will assist them in making course selections in high school,” he said.

Exposure to area careers is an important piece of the workforce development puzzle.
When young students realize how many careers are available locally, they may be more likely to stay in the area after school.

This is why Scott Tiachac, training coordinator for the Local 18 Fox Valley Sheet Metal Workers, participated in the event.

He expressed his desire to educate kids about the opportunities in apprenticeship programs in the trade fields.

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