Career Clubs at Germantown High School

The Philadelphia Children’s Foundation is proud to announce that we officially launched our first Career Clubs meeting in March at Germantown High School.  Students from grades 9-12, gathered after school to gain valuable insight into what it takes to get focused on their college and career ambitions.  Our Career Clubs are designed to get kids actively involved in preparing for their future after high school graduation. 

Career Clubs are conducted by college admissions directors and other local professionals who are knowledgeable on topics such as resume writing and college entrance.  This year’s club sessions were split into three separate meetings, each building on the previous one.  The first meeting, on March 8, was entitled The College Mindset.  It covered all topics college related, such as preparing and applying for college, obtaining financial aid, college essay writing, and getting involved in extracurricular activities that would be beneficial to college entrance.

The second meeting on March 25, “Resume Writing”, helped the students prepare for future job opportunities.  The facilitators explained tips for writing a resume, what to include in a cover letter, and the importance of using certain networking techniques to land that perfect job.

The final meeting on May 6 was “Interview Skills”.  Here, crucial tips were shared with the kids on how to conduct efficient job searches, skills to remember during interviews, and proper dress attire for a professional setting.

Having guided knowledge on how to prepare for college and the workforce can be the opportunity students need to get ahead.  Many times it comes down to resources, and if kids are given the proper resources to move forward, they will.  Our goal is to provide these resources to motivated individuals, and inspire them to use the skills they have obtained to stay focused on their future.  The students who attended the past meetings had a great time, and learned a lot!  Any interested students can sign up for Career Clubs in the Student Success Center at Germantown High.

PCF is expanding Career Clubs into other Philadelphia schools with the help of facilitators in the area who want to share their knowledge and encouragement with students.  For the 2010-2011 school year, Career Clubs will have nine meetings so students are exposed to college and job readiness information year round.  If you would like to get involved with this project, or for more information, please contact Carolyn Geers at: cgeers@philadelphiachildrensfoundation.org