Clifton High School students kicked off Career Day on May 11, 2023, beginning with breakfast at the Boys and Girls Club.
Career Day has been a part of CHS for 44 years. It was revamped and upgraded by Debra Lesnick of the Boys and Girls Club 21 years ago. The NJ Chamber of Commerce secured sponsors. Students participate in a "Job Shadowing" experience, which includes breakfast, lunch, and speakers on job readiness from the corporate world of Taco Bell and MSU representatives from their Center for Writing Excellence.
Clifton High School guidance counselor Mrs. Festa, who coordinates the event for the school district, stated that the number of groups and representatives volunteering their time for the students varies. This year, there were approximately nine groups.
Juniors sign up over a period of four days during their lunch periods to participate. They list (in order of preference) three possible career interests they would like to explore and learn more about. Participating students must be in "good standing" with CHS to attend. Good standing involves:
- Good attendance
- Good standing (No discipline/attendance/or loss of credit issues)
- Interested in learning more and exploring possible careers upon graduation
Finally, they attend a mandatory information meeting regarding:
- Appropriate dress
- Morning procedures
- Suggestions for the day
- Reminders to wear student ID at ALL times throughout the Career Day Experience
After the job shadowing experience, the students return to the Teen Center of the Boys and Girls Club of Clifton.
Debra Lesnick, Director of Education for the Clifton Boys and Girls Club, is the representative who handles an extensive list of preparations from signups of the students to securing all the sponsors working with our students to the placement match-up of each individual to its sponsor as well as providing lunch and breakfast for all our students, sponsors, and speakers.
This year, students had the opportunity to shadow professionals in a variety of fields, including:
- Business
- Education
- Healthcare
- Law
- Media
- Technology
- Sports
- Public service
The students learned about the day-to-day responsibilities of the professionals they were paired with, as well as the skills and education needed to succeed in these fields. They also had the opportunity to ask questions and get advice from the professionals.
Career Day is a unique opportunity for Clifton's students to learn about different career options, understand what it would be like to work in a particular field, network with professionals, and get their foot in the door.
Superintendent Dr. Robertozzi, CHS principal Mr. Hamdeh, and Mrs. Festa spoke about the value of the Career Day experience during the breakfast before the students.
Dr. Robertozzi said about the event, "Career Day at Clifton High School offers our students a priceless glimpse into the world of possibilities that await them. It is a transformative experience where they can explore diverse career paths, gain valuable insights, and connect with professionals who can guide and inspire them. We are very proud of this longstanding tradition and extremely grateful to all the individuals and organizations who make this important possible. Career Day truly ignites a spark of ambition and opens doors to a brighter future for our students."
The students who participated in Career Day were grateful for the opportunity and felt that they gained valuable insight into possible career goals. They also said that they would recommend Career Day to other students.
