High school service learning programs build character, experience and technical skills necessary for young job seekers to secure early employment. Developing management, technical and soft skills provides all students valuable abilities regardless of their career path. Here are 5 factors to consider in your high school service learning program to help prepare job seekers:
Service Learning Instills Business Acumen
High school service learning programs are often part of a longer academic career of service. With many programs introducing service learning in lower schools, students gain visibility to multiple aspects of business. Consider Rowland Hall's success using CASEL framework to integrate service all along their K-12 programs. Ryan Hoglund, Director of Ethical Education shares how one student turned their service learning experiences into a small business capable of financing their first year of college!
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- See Ryan's recommendations and access CASEL resources.
Service Learning Builds Empathy
High school service learning programs are uniquely able to introduce students from multiple neighborhoods to needs across the community. During these experiences, students are intentionally introduced to the needs of others. Not only are high school service programs building better citizens; the ability to recognize a need, understand the cause of that need and be solution oriented is valuable to any employer.
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- K12Dive offers great insights to incorporate parents in social-emotional learning to help develop soft skills like empathy employers value.
Service Learning Shows Demonstrated Leadership
HIgh school service learning programs offer students valuable opportunities to demonstrate and document leadership skills. Just about every Eagle Scout talks about their service project on their resume - especially at a young age. The same is true for the leaders developing in your high school service learning program. Learn more about writing a service essay that gets the job done.
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- Have a look at how 55,000 Eagle Scouts plan their service projects.
Service Learning Teaches Tangible Skills
High school service learning programs give students access to business environments they otherwise may not access. Consider the many roles a student can take on while providing their service. Many high school service programs are focused at the pre-internship level because students may be too young or not have the bandwidth to take on a full internship. The skills your high school service learning program provides can be instrumental in landing great internships or employment down the line.
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- The Kentucky Department of Education offers a great overview of incorporating service learning into work based learning initiatives.
Service Learning Produces Results
Students participating in high school service learning programs are achieving incredible outcomes for our communities! In many job interviews, candidates are asked to talk about a time they accomplished a goal or achieved xyz. Many employers are looking for both the results and the process the applicant followed to achieve the outcome. High school service learning programs give young applicants the ability to confidently answer common interview questions with documented achievements.
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- Job seekers can really leverage experience from high school service learning programs when applying to these service learning jobs!
And the benefits do not stop upon graduation. CNBC offers a list of volunteer resources for job seekers looking to build their skills.
Related Reading:
How Professionals Can Network Through Volunteering
What to Say in Your Community Service Essay for College
Hiring Volunteers: A 4 Step Process
