This past fall, Henry County REMC welcomed five local high school students for our first-ever Job Shadow Day — an event designed to give young people a closer look at the wide range of career opportunities within the electric cooperative world.
The idea came from Accounting/HR Coordinator Monica Sexton, who frequently visits area schools for career fairs. After hearing repeated questions from students about job shadowing and internships, she decided it was time to bring the experience directly to them.
“I’d heard interest from students, and one day the idea just clicked,” Sexton said. “I drafted an agenda to see if it could work, brought it to the leadership team, and they were completely supportive.”
A HANDS-ON LOOK AT CO-OP CAREERS
For this first event, Sexton coordinated with each inside department to build a schedule of 30-minute sessions. Students rotated through various departments, including member services, accounting, marketing, operations, and engineering. Because of the hands-on nature of lineworker duties are already showcased through our Summer Cooperative Camp, the day focused primarily on the indoor roles that keep the co-op running.
Sexton’s goals were clear:
• Give students first-hand exposure to a professional workplace
• Build their understanding of how cooperative departments work together
• Help them explore potential careers they may not have considered
• Strengthen communication and networking skills
• Introduce them to opportunities within the electric utility industry
And the students responded enthusiastically. “They asked great questions, they participated, and they really seemed to enjoy themselves,” Sexton said. “For our first one, it couldn’t have gone better.”
EMPLOYEES WELCOMED THE EXPERIENCE
The program was equally positive from the staff perspective. Employees were eager to engage with the students and share what they do each day. “I didn’t hear a single negative comment,” Sexton noted. “Everyone I talked to was excited to be part of it.”
ROOTED IN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
Events like Job Shadow Day highlight what sets electric cooperatives apart. Concern for Community and Education, Training, and Information are two core cooperative principles, and Henry County REMC is committed to living those out.
By investing in students and offering meaningful learning opportunities, our co-op hopes to inspire the next generation of professionals who may one day serve their own communities.
LOOKING AHEAD
With such a strong start, Sexton is hopeful that the job shadow program will continue to grow. “We’re planning to do it again,” she said. “Whether it becomes an annual event or something we offer each semester — we’re still figuring that out.”
No matter what shape it takes, this program reinforces a simple truth: when we invest in local students, our entire community benefits.
