One of the major goals of the City of Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is to help our local employers connect with the next generation of talented individuals. Job Shadow Day is a great opportunity to make this happen. Job Shadow Day allows Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District students to connect with participating Schertz businesses.
This year, Job Shadow Day was held on February 2nd. The event brought together more than 100 local students who were selected from Samuel Clemens, Byron Steele, and Marion high schools because of their participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The CTE students are enrolled in engineering, architecture, marketing business & finance, and agriculture mechanics classes.
As part of Job Shadow Day, the students toured Baker Hughes a GE Company, Caterpillar, GVEC, HEB, Madera Millwork, Maverick Door & Millwork, Pioneer Custom, and Schertz Bank & Trust.
The Schertz’ event was part of Junior Achievement and SA Works’ Job Shadow Day initiative, where nearly 4,000 students from across the greater San Antonio region were matched with 130 local employers. Students received encouragement from the company leaders and learned about apprenticeships, internships, and future career opportunities.
Businesses participated in Job Shadow Day for a variety of reasons. For some, it was the chance to inspire students to think about the road ahead. Students visiting local engine manufacturer Caterpillar, heard Todd West, Facility Group Manager, offer this advice: “As you figure out a career path, identify your goals and develop a plan. Write those down and revisit them often. They might change and that’s okay, because you are always going to be learning and if you aren’t learning something new every day in your work, what are you in it for? Education in your career is a lifelong pursuit.”
Other businesses highlighted the importance of taking pride in your work and adapting to technological changes. Craig Montgomery, owner of Maverick Door and Millwork discussed the need to preserve the quality of handcrafted workmanship by embracing the teachings of those who have come before us. Mr. Montgomery showed a group of students how incorporating workmanship and technology in his job has created beautiful, long-lasting works of art and has helped him personally to develop a fulfilling career.
In addition to the many positive experiences that were had on Job Shadow Day, both students and participating businesses agreed that connecting workforce and workplace is what mattered most. “We felt that it was very beneficial to the community’s youth to get out and see the real world, so they know what to expect when they go searching for their first job. It is important for them to see what types of work is available in the area so that they can hit the ground running as soon as they start [their careers],” explained Warren Bidmead, owner of Pioneer, a custom door and window manufacturer.
The SEDC thanks this year’s participating employers, students, teachers, and community partners for a successful event. We are excited to start planning for the next Job Shadow Day. If your company is interested in hosting a group of students for Job Shadow Day or speaking to students in a CTE program please contact the SEDC at 210-619-1070 or email us at business@schertz.com.