More than 1,700 teenagers from San Antonio and Bexar County area high schools got a glimpse at life on the job during the Citywide Job Shadow Day on Tuesday.

Nearly 60 local employers including Whataburger, H-E-B, and CPS Energy hosted students for a day of real-life job training that matched the students’ interests and strengths. The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce partnered with SA Works and Junior Achievement, organizations dedicated to maximizing talent potential in young people, to coordinate opportunities with local businesses and organizations.

“This citywide job shadow day is a meaningful opportunity for San Antonio’s youth to get a first-hand look at the various careers and jobs that exist across our city,” said Chamber President and CEO Richard Perez. “We hope that students will be inspired as well as better informed about the academic, technical and marketable skills needed to succeed in a career they can envision for themselves.”

Participating students were able to see what it’s like to work in the real world, and get a feel for the academic or physical skills that local employers are looking for. Service King provided students with a first-hand introduction to the automotive repair industry, which requires technicians, customer service providers and painters.

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H-E-B employees welcomed students from Lee High School’s culinary program into the kitchen, where they baked pastries and tried on traditional chef uniforms, while McArthur High School students in the electrical program visited the company’s maintenance warehouse.

“As the largest private company in Texas, we’re always looking to add talented Partners to our team who can bring innovative, inspiring ideas to the table,” said Kate Rogers, H-E-B vice president of partner communication and engagement.

Chamber officials said that the feedback from students had been overwhelmingly positive, but that additional surveys would be collected and included in a final report, to be published later this week.

*Top Image: More than 100 Bexar County area high school students shadowed H-E-B employees during Citywide Shadow Day. Courtesy Photo.

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