ABOUT 70 high school students took part in the Shoalhaven Professional Business Association’s Snap Shot Day on Wednesday.
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The students spent time with local businesses involved in accounting, banking, engineering, surveying, property valuation, legal matters and town planning.
One of the Snap Shot Day co-ordinators Darren Wearne said the sessions gave the students a snap shot of careers in the participating industries.
“It lets the students get a better understanding of the local career paths and employment opportunities,” he said.
“It is also a good opportunity for local businesses to meet the students and hopefully spot any with the right aptitude for the job.
“The difference between this and work experience is that as an employer you can block out half a day to spend with the students and focus on showing them what the industry is really like.
“We can show them the different opportunities in the different sectors of each industry,” Mr Wearne said.
Shoalhaven City Council’s economic development officer Greg Pullen said the initiative was set up to provide students with a better link to local professional businesses.
“It’s a way to help keep local kids in the area after school, or encourage them to come back and work here after university.”
Mr Pullen said he hoped another Snap Shot Day would be held later in the year for younger students.
He said in November the association would host a tour for 50 teachers to visit local businesses to gain a better understanding of potential job opportunities for their students in the future.
Nowra High School careers adviser Paul Hill said the Snap Shot day was a good eye opener for the students.
“For year 10 students it is perfect timing because it is just before they have to make their subject selection for year 11.
“It is also helpful because at this age they often don’t know what career path to take.”
Bomaderry High School year 11 student Jacob Cameron took part in an architecture project at Architects Edmiston Jones in Nowra.
“I wanted to be an architect but last year I did some landscaping and really liked it. So I would like to incorporate the two and become a landscape architect,” he said.