Moving Youth In A New Direction
Tyler County Booster - March 2009

WorkForce Solutions, Deep East Texas announced today that it will partner with area businesses to provide work experience opportunities for local youth, ages 18-21. Work Experience will allow youth the opportunity to be exposed to an occupation firsthand by job shadowing designated managers within a business environment and by learning basic work skills. The youth will be paid minimum wage by WorkForce Solutions and be required to answer a series of questions given by their local Career Specialist about the occupation and about the person they shadowed. “Across the country, work experience and job shadowing has proven to be an effective way to motivate youth by showing them how academics are applied to the workplace,” said Jon Bunn, Business Development Manager for WorkForce Solutions. “It is also a great way for businesses to introduce youth to their industry.” Career Specialists at WorkForce Solutions will administer personal interest assessments to determine which jobs may be suitable for each participant. Each youth participant will be required to attend 8 ‘’work readiness” workshops prior to their job shadowing assignment. These workshops include Finding and Getting the Job You Want; Tools of the Job Search; Dress for Success; Internet Job Search; Resumes That Work; Improve Your Interview IQ; Succeeding At Work, and Career Readiness. To find out more about the program or to become involved, please contact Jon Bunn, Workforce Solutions, Business Development Manager, 936-639-1351, or the local workforce center in your area.