Pupils embrace working world
SILVERSTAR CASINO: HOSTS INSPIRATIONAL DAYS
Initiative is part of the casino’s career development programme.
Job shadowing days on October 17 and 18 at Silverstar Casino were an exciting and eye-opening experience for pupils and an inspirational one for the staff from Mandisa Shiceka High School, Mosupatsela Secondary and Girls and Boys Town.
The job shadowing initiative and professionals day are two annual highlights in the career development programme sponsored by Silverstar for high school pupils in Mogale City, to prepare them for bright futures in jobs or in entrepreneurial initiatives.
Silverstar staff volunteers and the Grade 10 and 11 pupils are brought together to give the pupils the opportunity to hear directly from people at the rock face, many of whom have overcome the odds to thrive in careers in a range of departments on the property.
The programme, which is designed and delivered in collaboration with The Education Agency, provides a pipeline of development for pupils from Grades 9 to 12 to help them find the right career direction.
It starts in Grade 9 with an online evaluation that identifies skills and aptitudes to match personality types and highlights suitable career opportunities, which in turn guides subject choices.
In Grade 10, pupils attend workshops, which include professionals day and exploring tertiary education options; Grade 11 pupils are given the opportunity for job shadowing and assistance in higher education applications and job readiness training, which intensifies in Grade 12.
Professionals day was held in August at Mosupatsela and Mandisa Shiceka schools for 916 Grade 10 pupils, with 24 volunteer staff members from 13 departments – including food and beverage, hotel, gaming, cash desk, technical, marketing, HR, finance, maintenance and IT – engaging with the youngsters in an effort to help them make informed career choices.
Shanda Paine, Tsogo Sun’s group CSI manager, says barriers to youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds achieving their big dreams for their futures often include no access to funding, as well as a limited understanding of what careers are available to them, or how to align their skills and interests to relevant careers.
“The staff volunteers address their careers at Silverstar, with a focus on sharing their life stories, subject choices, tertiary studies, career trajectories, work life experiences, and aspirations,” she says.
“We have found that apart from the great value of the input by the staff for the pupils, the event is also inspiring and motivating for all the participants.”
The two job shadowing days were hosted at Silverstar for Grade 11 pupils who had applied to participate in the event, and 71 mentors volunteered their time to give insight in the day of HR, surveillance, food and beverage, hotel, finance, security, cleaning, tables, slots, IT, VIP services, marketing, maintenance and the clinic.
Adele Wilson, Silverstar CSI manager, says enthusiasm from both the pupils and volunteers ruled the day. “Our first job shadowing event last year was a real success – with pupils sharing that they had gained a far better understanding of the work environment, employment expectations, and what different jobs entailed than they had had before,” she said.
“We decided to increase the numbers from 45 in 2017 to 262 this year. Youngsters got involved in the day-to-day activities from one end of the property to the other.” – Citizen reporter Scotland
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