High school students often do not understand what life after school will be like. Compared with a part time, minimum wage job during high school, an annual salary of $20,000 seems like a lot of money to them. Those students who dream of fancy cars, big homes, and expensive electronics, may be very disappointed to discover how far $20,000 can stretch.

This inexperience is one factor that can hinder recruitment for PTEC programs. Some students, who may be ideal process technician candidates, never consider the career or attend recruitment activities because they have no real world experience to guide them in their decision.

Career Connections, an expo developed by Career Builders and hosted in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana, addressed this situation by helping students understand the relationship between careers and lifestyle. The event was promoted to local businesses and to the target high schools. (Sample presentation).

At one expo, over 3,500 high school juniors attended from parishes surrounding the Career Connections expo site. Students were split into two groups throughout the one-day event.

During the morning, one student group interviewed employees recruited from local process industries and other businesses. Students were instructed to ask questions ranging from what the company representatives like the most and least about their jobs to how much money they make. Each student’s collected information had to be turned in at school for a grade.

At the same time, students from the second group attended a Reality Store, where they chose the home, car, and items they desired to begin an independent, adult life. The cost of food, financing, entertainment, utilities, medical expenses, childcare costs, and retirement savings was added to their budgets. When all expenses were totaled, students found out how much money they must earn to support their desired lifestyle.

In the afternoon, each group switched places, so that every student experienced the Reality Store and conducted interviews. In addition, the participating companies acquainted students with career options. While local businesses provided volunteers to work the event, they were also able to market their industry and company to the students.