Graduation day checklist for wood shops
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It’s graduation time, and the student you’ve been working with in high school, technical school or college is ready to join your company as a new employee.

Wait…you don’t have a graduate coming to your company? What should you do then?

We asked Mark Smith, Industrial Technology Teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois, for some ideas on how a company could start a relationship with local students.

 

--Participate in the career and college day event at local high school

--Host internships

--Give online virtual tours of your business using facebook live or other software

--Give online webinars

--Host online panel discussions.

--Help award Woodwork Career Alliance Saw Blade Certificates and Passports.

--Sponsor part of a student's WCA Saw Blade Certification cost

--Provide financial assistance for student trade show attendance and start a mentoring relationship

--Host an educational event that offers CPDUs (Continuing Professional Development Units) for wood manufacturing teachers.

--Participate on the wood programs advisory council

--Make a presentation to the school board about opportunities at your business

--Give career counseling for students

--Write letters of support for the local teacher and their program to the school's administration

--Start a Teacher of the Year award for teachers in the area.

 

If you want to deal with the skills shortage in your community and help your own company, you’ll have to get involved. Then you can look forward to the next graduation day. Thanks to Mark for his ideas.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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About the author
Karl Forth

Karl D. Forth is online editor for CCI Media. He also writes news and feature stories in FDMC Magazine, in addition to newsletters and custom publishing projects. He is also involved in event organization, and compiles the annual FDM 300 list of industry leaders. He can be reached at [email protected].