The Experience Gap
By Laurie Sallarulo, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of South Florida
We’ve spent years talking about achievement gaps, opportunity gaps, and skills gaps. But I wonder if we’re missing something.. Some of my favorite memories growing up were my summer jobs. I worked as a lifeguard at a summer camp and later waited tables at a waterfront clam bar. Like most teenagers, I was excited to earn a paycheck, have a little independence and spend time with friends. Those jobs weren’t just about a paycheck. They taught me responsibility, how to show up on time, work with others, communicate with customers and solve problems. They helped me discover what I enjoyed and what I didn’t. Without realizing it, I was building skills that would shape the rest of my career. Back then businesses were willing to take a chance on a high school student. They didn’t expect us to know everything. They expected us to learn. They invested time in teaching us and giving us a chance to prove ourselves.
Today, those opportunities aren’t as common. Despite employers saying they need talent, many young people struggle to get that first opportunity. Youth unemployment remains significantly higher than overall unemployment, and for many teenagers, getting a first job, internship, or meaningful work experience has become harder than it was for previous generations. Maybe we’ve been looking at this the wrong way. We’ve spent years talking about the achievement gap in education. But I wonder if one of the biggest challenges we face today is an experience gap. Not every young person has the opportunity to build a résumé before they need one. Not every student has access to a first job, a mentor, an internship or someone who can open a door.
An experience gap exists when people have the ability and the desire to succeed but haven’t had the opportunity to build the real-world experiences that employers value. They haven’t had the chance to work, shadow someone in a career they’re interested in, solve real problems, serve customers, or simply learn what it means to be part of a team.
Summer is one of the few times young people have the freedom to gain experiences that schools often can’t provide, working their first job, exploring careers, volunteering, shadowing professionals, starting a small business or learning a new technology. That’s why creating those opportunities has never been more important. At Junior Achievement of South Florida, we’re working alongside employers to help close the experience gap by
connecting students to summer internships, year-round jobs and pre-apprenticeships. Because sometimes all it takes is one opportunity to change the direction of a life.
Experience builds confidence. It builds judgment. It builds the communication, resilience and adaptability that can’t always be taught in a classroom.
The good news is this is a gap we can close.
Whether you’re an employer, educator, parent or community leader, each of us has a role to play. Here are a few ways we can help close the experience gap:
• Hire a young person for a summer or part-time job.
• Offer paid internships, apprenticeships or job-shadowing opportunities.
• Volunteer to mentor or speak with students about your career journey.
• Open your workplace for tours or career exploration experiences.
• Encourage young people to volunteer, lead a project or start a small business.
• Help students build professional networks before they need them.
• Support organizations creating pathways between education and employment.
Every young person deserves the opportunity to build the confidence and skills that come from real-world experiences. One opportunity, one employer willing to say “yes,” or one summer job is all it takes to change the trajectory of a life.
Summer may last only a few months, but the experience can last a lifetime.
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