Wouldn’t it be nice to try out a career before actually doing the work to make it happen? A person could put the education, training, even the wardrobe on hold to see if he/she actually liked the job. Well, this summer, St. James’ youth get the opportunity to do just that -- “testdrive” a career.
This “testdrive” is actually an internship financed through the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). It is also made possible by the cooperation of local businesses who are giving area youth a true career experience in the span of a few months.
“The students are earning money while gaining experience in a prospective career,” says Chamber of Commerce Executive, Lori Nusbaum.
The SMIF town meeting grant was a $15,000 matching grant in late April. Community leaders set aside $7,500 of that $15,000 for the internship program. Originally, the plan was for area businesses to cover the $7,500 in order to pay the interns. So far, says Nusbaum, businesses have matched over $10,000.
The St. James Medical Center has two interns working on a part-time basis. Verva Shumate assists in communications while Maja Johnson is in radiology. Both interns said there was plenty that surprised them about working at the hospital, including the friendly communication.
“The attitude here is great,” says Verva. “It makes it exciting to come to work.”
“The (hospital staff) are very relatable,” said Maja. “They really like each other. It’s been an eye-opening experience.”
Clinic Manager Neissa Gallahar says this pair have worked out “great” and that the hospital would certainly be open to doing this again in the future.
“This is a good way to recruit locally,” said Gallahar. “What’s great about Maja and Verva is they really want to be here, and we’re extremely happy to have them.”
The same sentiment was echoed by Tracy Hurley, owner of True Value-Radio Shack, who hired Hannah Oropeza for their intern position. Hurley says 15-year-old Hannah is doing a very good job dealing with the many demands of retail business.
“I think sometimes people think retail is easy, but they don’t realize all the things that go on behind the scenes.”
Hannah says her job at McDonalds helped prepare her for this experience, saying that in both jobs, “you have to be everywhere at all times.”
Nusbaum says the Chamber made it clear to businesses that participating youth should foremost be learning about a career. This means the interns won’t be restricted to the most mundane parts of a job.
Brooks Peterson works as an intern for St. James Electric. Every weekday Brooks gears up at 7:00 a.m. with a group of electricians and apprentices to travel to various jobs. Brooks is in the center of what electrician’s do everyday. Often, he is the one helping to rewire a broken air conditioner or trouble shoot at a commercial site.
Brooks and all the other interns, ages 15-18, had a three hour prep-class in which they practiced interviews and put together resumes. The students put their refined interpersonal skills to the test by actually interviewing with their selected businesses after submitting resumes.
The St. James Medical Center, for example, had panel interviews similar to an actual hire.
The intern program is by all accounts a benefit to businesses as well as the interns they hire. Jessica Nachreiner is a radiologist at the St. James Medical Center. She says having an intern gives her an outside perspective which helps in patient care.
“(Maja) challenges the technologist with questions,” says Nachreiner. “It gives a different perspective we wouldn’t necessarily have thought about. Maybe the patient has similar concerns.”
At the end of this experience, interns from all over the community’s businesses will share ideas about how this experience might be improved. St. James area businesses participating in the program include St. James Electric, St. James Medical Center, True Value-Radio Shack, the Watonwan County attorney’s office, Community Education, Minnesota Extension 4-H, and WFS.
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Wouldn’t it be nice to try out a career before actually doing the work to make it happen? A person could put the education, training, even the wardrobe on hold to see if he/she actually liked the job. Well, this summer, St. James’ youth get the opportunity to do just that -- “testdrive” a career.
This “testdrive” is actually an internship financed through the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). It is also made possible by the cooperation of local businesses who are giving area youth a true career experience in the span of a few months.
“The students are earning money while gaining experience in a prospective career,” says Chamber of Commerce Executive, Lori Nusbaum.
The SMIF town meeting grant was a $15,000 matching grant in late April. Community leaders set aside $7,500 of that $15,000 for the internship program. Originally, the plan was for area businesses to cover the $7,500 in order to pay the interns. So far, says Nusbaum, businesses have matched over $10,000.
The St. James Medical Center has two interns working on a part-time basis. Verva Shumate assists in communications while Maja Johnson is in radiology. Both interns said there was plenty that surprised them about working at the hospital, including the friendly communication.
“The attitude here is great,” says Verva. “It makes it exciting to come to work.”
“The (hospital staff) are very relatable,” said Maja. “They really like each other. It’s been an eye-opening experience.”
Clinic Manager Neissa Gallahar says this pair have worked out “great” and that the hospital would certainly be open to doing this again in the future.
“This is a good way to recruit locally,” said Gallahar. “What’s great about Maja and Verva is they really want to be here, and we’re extremely happy to have them.”
The same sentiment was echoed by Tracy Hurley, owner of True Value-Radio Shack, who hired Hannah Oropeza for their intern position. Hurley says 15-year-old Hannah is doing a very good job dealing with the many demands of retail business.
“I think sometimes people think retail is easy, but they don’t realize all the things that go on behind the scenes.”
Hannah says her job at McDonalds helped prepare her for this experience, saying that in both jobs, “you have to be everywhere at all times.”
Nusbaum says the Chamber made it clear to businesses that participating youth should foremost be learning about a career. This means the interns won’t be restricted to the most mundane parts of a job.
Brooks Peterson works as an intern for St. James Electric. Every weekday Brooks gears up at 7:00 a.m. with a group of electricians and apprentices to travel to various jobs. Brooks is in the center of what electrician’s do everyday. Often, he is the one helping to rewire a broken air conditioner or trouble shoot at a commercial site.
Brooks and all the other interns, ages 15-18, had a three hour prep-class in which they practiced interviews and put together resumes. The students put their refined interpersonal skills to the test by actually interviewing with their selected businesses after submitting resumes.
The St. James Medical Center, for example, had panel interviews similar to an actual hire.
The intern program is by all accounts a benefit to businesses as well as the interns they hire. Jessica Nachreiner is a radiologist at the St. James Medical Center. She says having an intern gives her an outside perspective which helps in patient care.
“(Maja) challenges the technologist with questions,” says Nachreiner. “It gives a different perspective we wouldn’t necessarily have thought about. Maybe the patient has similar concerns.”
At the end of this experience, interns from all over the community’s businesses will share ideas about how this experience might be improved. St. James area businesses participating in the program include St. James Electric, St. James Medical Center, True Value-Radio Shack, the Watonwan County attorney’s office, Community Education, Minnesota Extension 4-H, and WFS.
