By Kelly Shakos, Senior HR Administrator
One of the questions students ask is, “How do I know what career is right for me?”
It’s a fair question.
For many young people, choosing a career path can feel overwhelming. They may know which subjects they enjoy, but understanding how those interests connect to real-world opportunities is much more difficult.
That is one reason our Week in Industry work experience program at our site in Stockport, UK, is so important.
Each year, we welcome students into our business and give them an opportunity to experience firsthand how a technology and manufacturing organization operates. Rather than focusing on a single department, we introduce them to multiple functions across the business so they can see how everything fits together.
Throughout the week, students spend time with employees from engineering, manufacturing, health and safety, sales, purchasing, human resources, and leadership teams. They learn about our products, our technologies and the collaboration required to bring innovative solutions to market.
They also experience an important part of our culture: collaboration. By meeting employees across multiple functions, they see how different perspectives and areas of expertise come together to solve problems, support customers and drive innovation. That spirit of teamwork is central to the Novanta Way.
For many students, the experience changes how they think about their future.
This year, one student studying computer science told us she had not fully understood how her degree could connect to engineering and product development. By the end of the week, she could see opportunities she had not previously considered.
That kind of realization is exactly what we hope to achieve.
The program also helps students understand that careers are rarely straightforward. Throughout the week, our team share their own professional journeys, many of which include unexpected turns along with new opportunities and experiences that helped shape where they are today.
These conversations help students see that success is not always about following a predetermined path. It is about staying curious, continuing to learn and remaining open to new possibilities.
The program would not be possible without our team members who generously volunteer their time to participate. Their willingness to share knowledge, answer questions and engage with students creates an experience that is both educational and inspiring.
Investing in future talent starts with creating opportunities for exploration and discovery. Programs like Week in Industry help students connect classroom learning to real-world applications while giving them greater confidence as they consider their future careers.
Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one experience or one week to help someone discover a path they never knew existed.