Joining the Dots
EMPLOYERS – We Need You!
Please open your doors to offer work experience!
Smart Waikato is a charitable trust that has the welfare of Waikato young people at heart: we want to see them gainfully employed in our region, assisting in the economic development of our country. Unfortunately, in less than 2 years New Zealand’s youth unemployment has increased substantially with the Waikato seeing between 3,000 and 4,000 more unemployed youth today (2010) than 2 years ago (source: DOL statistics). 10 percent of our 15-24 year old population are neither in secondary or tertiary education, nor in work but are unemployed and unmotivated. Between December 2007 and December 2009 employment of 15-24 year olds in New Zealand declined by 45,700 while employment for the rest of the population increased by 13,200 (source DoL statistics).
Waikato secondary schools and tertiary organisations are desperate for real work experience for their young people....and we wish to encourage more employers to open their doors to offer this.
What are the benefits to you the employer?
You will be doing the community a real service and giving young people hope and some “real world experience”. It gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”, a fresh face, energy, and young and creative ideas not to mention an “extra pair of hands”.
Role Models and Mentors
Even if the young person merely shadows an employee, they at least get to see the workplace in action and gain first-hand experience. The role modelling and mentoring received from an older person in the workplace has great benefits to both students and their workplace mentors
The benefits to students and to their mentors are well documented.
Benefits to students include:
• Self-esteem and self-confidence increased
• Personal and social skills improved
• Motivation to learn improved
• Achievement and aspirations raised
• Horizons and experiences expanded
• More informed career/study choices
Benefits to mentors include:
• Awareness and interest in the broader community increased
• Personal reward; sense of making a difference, growth as a person
• Interpersonal skills enhanced
• Improved job satisfaction
Examples of “Real World” Experiences
There are many ways that a business can offer real experiences to young people. Employers can provide one-day tasters, connect into gateway programmes through secondary schools, offer work experience as a component of coursework at tertiary institutions, and full internships.
Contact your nearest school or tertiary organisation to make your offer of work experience or contact Mary at Smart Waikato to discuss further.
With special thanks to
Waikato Secondary Schools involved with Gateway:-
Cambridge High School
Coromandel Area School
Fairfield College
Forest View High School
Hamilton Boys’ High School
Hamilton Girl’s High School
Hamilton’s Fraser High School
Frasernet
Hamilton’s Fraser High School07 847 9044 ext. 803
m.tooke@fraser.school.nz
Hillcrest High School
Huntly College
Matamata College
Melville High School
Mercury Bay Area School
Morrinsville College
Nga Taiatea Wharekura
Ngaruawahia High School
Otorohanga College
Paeroa College
Piopio College
Putaruru College
Raglan Area School
Sacred Heart Girls College
St John’s College
Taumarunui High School
Te Aroha College
Te Awamutu College
Te Kauwhata College
Te Kuiti High School
Te Wharekura of Rakaumangamanga
Thames High School
Tokoroa High School
Waihi College
EMPLOYERS – We Need You!
Please open your doors to offer work experience!
Smart Waikato is a charitable trust that has the welfare of Waikato young people at heart: we want to see them gainfully employed in our region, assisting in the economic development of our country. Unfortunately, in less than 2 years New Zealand’s youth unemployment has increased substantially with the Waikato seeing between 3,000 and 4,000 more unemployed youth today (2010) than 2 years ago (source: DOL statistics). 10 percent of our 15-24 year old population are neither in secondary or tertiary education, nor in work but are unemployed and unmotivated. Between December 2007 and December 2009 employment of 15-24 year olds in New Zealand declined by 45,700 while employment for the rest of the population increased by 13,200 (source DoL statistics).
Waikato secondary schools and tertiary organisations are desperate for real work experience for their young people....and we wish to encourage more employers to open their doors to offer this.
What are the benefits to you the employer?
You will be doing the community a real service and giving young people hope and some “real world experience”. It gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”, a fresh face, energy, and young and creative ideas not to mention an “extra pair of hands”.
