Students in the South Cariboo had a chance to learn what skills they'll need for tomorrow's occupations when Find Your Fit showcased British Columbia's in-demand jobs at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) on Nov. 24.
Find Your Fit is an interactive event where individuals of all ages can learn about B.C.'s most needed careers and test some of the skills they would need to pursue them.
During class time, PSO grades 8-10 browsed and checked out the occupations they wished to investigate - and some they'd never thought about.
School principal Geoff Butcher says PSO also hosted grades 6-7 students from other South End schools who are also welcomed into the program.
"In our conversations with the kids, [they say] 'yeah, it's really unusual and made me think a little bit about some of the things I want to do'."
Participants also get to know about career planning tools - such as Blueprint Builder and Career Trek videos - and the job resources and labour market information offered online at WorkBC.ca.
Then the event was open to the public for several hours after class time for students in other schools and grades, as well as for parents, teachers and others to discover ways to educate and support youth in their career exploration.
Butcher notes that at the secondary level, it's not just the grades 8-10 who benefit from this career decision support, so he hopes the program is modified for grades 11-12 to participate during class time.
"I know there are [senior] students who are still unsure where they want to go, career-wise. They [can] change their minds from the time they are in grades 8-9...."
However, there are many other ways his school helps its grades 11-12 students meet their career preparation needs through both PSO and Ministry of Education initiatives, he adds.
Butcher says some examples are its work experience and secondary apprenticeship processes, and the ACE IT program for other investigative aspects, such as job shadowing.
WorkBC's Find Your Fit tour program is offered at no charge to the schools with funding by Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour.
"Find Your Fit is a wonderful event that engages our youth with informative games that encourage learning and career planning," says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA-Donna Barnett.
"With this program, and the BC Jobs Plan, we are putting British Columbians first by ensuring they have the skills they need for the in-demand jobs of our growing economy."
Butcher adds he hopes the Find Your Fit tour continues, and he sees no reason why it won't.
"The new career initiatives coming out of the ministry are heavy on career awareness and ... in fact it will probably get a bit more robust – as the next couple of years go along, anyway."
More information is online at www.findyourfittour.ca, and more information about career, education and training resources is at www.workbc.ca.