So you’ve been asked to host an industry tour for a group of students from the local school. You want to be involved because is helps you to promote your business or industry to young people as prospective employees, and you feel it is your responsibility as a service to the community to help out.

But how can you best plan for the tour and what do you do with these young people when they get there?

PLANNING

We all know planning is important. The first thing to do is have a conversation with the teacher or organiser of the tour to get a better understanding of what they want to get out of it. Some questions you need answered are;

1. Who are the students – year level, age group?
2. What school program, subject is the tour in relation to?
3. What is the focus of the tour – what does the teacher / students want to get out of it?

The answers to these questions will help you to plan what type of information and activities would best suit the group of students who will arrive on the day.

DEALING WITH POSSIBLE DIFFICULTIES

Behaviour

Most young people are well behaved, but there may be times when a group or part of a group will not be interested in your presentation. It helps if the person presenting the information is enthusiastic about the task and tries to involve the student’s as much as possible – asking them questions – providing a hands on experience. This does not mean that rude or disruptive behaviour should be tolerated. Please;

– Speak up to teachers accompanying students for assistance or

– directly advise students of inappropriate behaviour using positive feedback techniques – especially link back to employer expectations and employability.

– If disruptive or rude behaviour is severe or continues after warnings– recommend to accompanying teachers that the tour be cut short.

Logistics

Please keep in mind that it takes time to move a large group of young people. There is a need to check attendance/ numbers at each departure and busses do not always run on time. Ask for a mobile phone contact for the teacher or tour organiser so that you can contact them in transit for updated arrival times on the day.

If your organisation has a tight timeline for accommodating a tour – make sure the tour organiser knows about it in advance. Provide the tour organiser with your preferred times and number of students for tours and the amount of time you need to be notified of arrangements prior to the tour. Most requirements can be accommodated as schools appreciate your involvement.

1. An overview of the industry and or organisation
   • History and general information – no. of employees etc
   • What do you do / make / produce
   • If possible have examples to show (that students can touch)

1. What jobs are there at the workplace – or in the industry
   • List jobs
   • Give information on qualifications needed
   • General pay and conditions of working in the industry (if you give this information now it stops students from asking employees directly how much they earn)

1. How to get into the industry
   • Information about pathways into the industry – how to find and apply for jobs – what to do to get the job – qualities of a good employee
   • What kind of work would a new employee / apprentice or trainee get to do?

1. Get members of staff to talk about their experiences and career pathways.
   • Recommend 2 if possible

i. someone young (less than 1 year no more than 2 years in job)

ii. someone older – (either come to job later or moved up)

• What do they talk about?

i. When they started – what got them into the job/industry

ii. What else they have done – other jobs

iii. What training and education they have had

iv. What they like about the job

v. What they do not like about the job

1. A site tour (may be conducted by the staff members who spoke)
   • Point out different areas of the workplace – including OH&S requirements
   • Talk again (point out) the jobs being undertaken in the workplace restating qualifications for each
   • Talk again about tasks that new employees might undertake

1. A Hands on activity
   • This can be difficult to think of, but is very engaging for young people
   • The Local Community Partnership team is available to assist you to create an activity where students can ‘touch and feel’ what work is like in your workplace.

If you would like more assistance in planning the content for an industry tour please contact the Local Community Partnership on 5352 3266.