From middle school onwards, young people face inequalities in accessing information and the business world, which are crucial elements for academic success, guidance, and future professional integration. Particularly in disadvantaged environments and sensitive neighborhoods, students lack family role models that represent all possible careers and pathways, especially in the scientific field.
On the other hand, companies engaged in scientific professions regularly inform the IMS about the shortage of scientific profiles available in the market and, more generally, the decline in interest in scientific and technical fields.
This is why IMS-Entreprendre pour la Cité brings together companies from its network each year around a civic project to promote equal opportunities starting in middle school.
On the occasion of the second edition of the “Un Jour Un Métier” operation in the PACA region, organized with the support of the National Urban Renewal Agency and focused on discovering scientific and technical professions, the companies KONE France and Orange opened their doors to two nearby middle schools: Frédéric Mistral and Henri Fabre middle schools.
After the visit to KONE on June 6 by the students of Frédéric Mistral middle school, it’s now the turn of the Henri Fabre middle school students to discover the company ORANGE.
The young people will spend half a day in the company to meet employees and gain a better understanding of their professions. This is an important step for these young people who are at their first crossroads of professional orientation and who, too often, limit their professional horizon to jobs known through their family and social environment.
During a morning, these students will visit the various departments of the companies and interact with the employees, who will present their daily work environment. In the middle schools, this meeting was prepared in advance with teachers, modeled on the preparation for a job interview: research on the company, preparation of a school presentation, creation of each student’s resume, as well as developing a questionnaire to interview employees about their jobs and company.
“Our goal with ‘Un Jour, Un Métier’ is to allow middle school students to envision their future and consider the studies and professions that may interest them. At this stage, everything is still possible, and these young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods should not create barriers for themselves. This is the message that the employees will strive to convey to them tomorrow,” highlights Elisabeth Fuchs, Director of IMS PACA.
As part of the national “Un Jour Un Métier” 2012 operation, 34 companies are mobilizing over 300 associates throughout France to introduce their professions to 700 middle school students from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
– Provisional schedule of visits in PACA:
Wednesday, June 13, 8:00 am-1:00 pm: Visit to ORANGE by students from Henri Fabre middle school. Meeting point: 8:00 am at ORANGE – 9 rue Saint-Barthélémy, Nice, then 44 avenue Cyril Besset.
October: Visit to COFELY and INTEL
Completed visit: Wednesday, June 6, 9:00 am-1:00 pm: Visit to KONE France (Nice Arenas) by the students of Frédéric Mistral middle school.
