The fourth annual JA Career Walk will give students ‘working world’ insights into their hometown businesses.

Submitted

Nearly 30 students from West Hartford’s Hall High School, Conard High School, and Kingswood Oxford will get an inside look at the range of businesses and career opportunities in West Hartford Center in the fourth Annual JA Career Walk on May 17.

Created in 2014 by BlumShapiro and Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, JA Career Walk seeks to prepare students for choosing a potential career by gaining a better understanding of job opportunities in their own community.

“The JA Career Walk has become a highly anticipated event every year for students, BlumShapiro and local West Hartford Center businesses,” said Joseph A. Kask, CEO of BlumShapiro. “The invaluable first-hand experience the students receive is matched by the businesses’ opportunity to share career advice with our next generation’s workforce.”

Participants from the three schools will visit a variety of West Hartford Center establishments – accounting, banking, finance, marketing, retail, and food and beverage – beginning at 8:30 a.m.  The program begins and ends at BlumShapiro, located at 29 South Main St.

At the start of the JA Career Walk students receive an orientation using the JA Job Shadow curriculum.  The curriculum gives students an overview of the world of work and the skills needed to succeed on the job. The orientation will be hosted by Tom DeVitto, Chief Marketing Officer of BlumShapiro and co-founder of the JA Career Walk.

“The JA Career Walk was created to help students prepare for entering the job force and gain a better understanding of what career opportunities exist,” said DeVitto. “When students have the chance to explore the workplace and see actual jobs in action, it opens up their eyes to what types of careers are available to them. They gain insight, confidence and direction.”

In addition to BlumShapiro, other businesses that have confirmed, to date, plans to welcome the students are Charles Schwab, Farmington Bank, Fathom, Lux Bond & Green, PBI Financial, and REI.

Each business will provide an overview and tour, and discuss the type of occupations they employ and qualities they look for when hiring people. Each visit will last 40 minutes. The program will end at 12:30 p.m.