Four Ideas for Volunteering with High School Students to Inspire any Professional

Stefani Falkowski
|
04/09/2019

Preparing high school students for the future takes more than textbooks and test prep—it takes dedicated volunteers who open doors and show students what their futures can look like. NAF volunteers help thousands of students every year discover their passions in life and guide them through the professional world. This National Volunteer Week we’re sharing ideas for volunteering with high school students nationwide.

Help students with their professional skills  

Many high school students don’t have access to the professional world until it’s too late. That’s where volunteers like Daniel Zamora come in. As an audit senior manager at KPMG, Daniel coaches NAF academy students on everything from resume writing to going on a business lunch through a semester-long, work-based-learning curriculum for minority students from underprivileged backgrounds.

“Everyday things that we take for granted can become major obstacles to those less fortunate. That’s why the high school students attending our courses receive support on a wide range of issues like writing resumes, interviewing skills, public speaking and business etiquette, as part of a program designed to get them college-ready.”

While students get future ready in the classroom, there’s still so much left for them to learn from experienced career professionals. Consider guest speaking in a classroom to share your professional insight with high school students.

Show students what a day in the life looks like

Hosting students for a job shadow is a great way to bring the professional world to life and introduce students to opportunities they never knew existed. Every year, Leonie Timothee, HR and Talent Development Manager at the InterContinental Miami, hosts students from the Homestead Senior High School Academy of Hospitality & Tourism for a day of exploring different career paths. She gives the class a tour of the hotel and pairs them with departments like concierge, Human Resources, and engineering so they can get a feel for what a career in hospitality can look like.

“There’s so much that can be done in the hospitality field,” says Leonie who’s been with InterContinental Hotels Group for over 24 years. Giving students the chance to see it first-hand opens the door to opportunities.

A typical job shadow is four to six hours long and can take many different formats from one-on-one to group job shadows. Regardless of the format, host a job shadow and make a huge impact!

Connect virtually for big impact

Who says you have to be physically present to make a difference? These days, helping high school students discover the world of work can be as easy as logging in and turning on your webcam. Volunteers, Ana Medina, Chaos Engineer at Gremlin, and Sofie Thixton, Program Manager at Google, teamed up for a 30-minute webinar where they answered questions from students on being a woman in the tech industry. Ana and Sofie, both based in California, were able to connect with students from across the country—just by signing on and being open to a different kind of volunteering experience.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to sharing your expertise virtually with high school students.  NAF volunteer, Amy Nelson took students along for a day in the life of a Senior Lead Software Engineer at Disney and participated in a Twitter Chat to answer questions from students and teachers about her unique career path. Our team is here to help with all of the logistics and make this a fun and easy way for you to make a difference. If a virtual engagement works best for your schedule, connect with students through a YouTube livestream, Instagram takeover, or another online platform to share more about your career.

Build a lasting relationship

Do you remember a mentor who helped you get to where you are today and how important their mentorship has been to your success? You can be that person for a high school student. Take it from our volunteer, Leslie Potts. Leslie, who is the Assistant Vice President of Training Program Management at Synchrony Financial, mentors students every month at Millikan High School Academy of Finance. Leslie and fellow members of Synchrony’s African American Network mentor students on marketing, sales, and HR but most importantly, they support students through their own personal career exploration, helping them lead the mentoring relationship.

“What I love most is being able to help them think outside their experience right now,” she says. “It feeds my soul to be able to give back and help them navigate what’s coming up in life.”

Leslie and her team are supporting students through their transition from high school to college. What she likes to call the “sweet spot” for mentoring.

Are you ready to help high school students navigate the professional world? Find out how you can get involved with NAF locally.

1 KPMG, “Mirror image,” available at https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/about/our-role-in-the-world/citizenship/volunteering-stories-and-insights/daniel-zamora-mirror-image.html (last accessed April 2019).

View Bio

Stefani Falkowski is the Digital Marketing Manager at NAF. She's passionate about universal access to education and giving a platform to students across the country doing incredible things. Stefani writes about workforce development, career building, and the impact of the NAF network.

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