Job shadowing gives inside look at careers

MOSES LAKE - How exactly does a pharmacy technician prepare medication for delivery to patients? For that matter, what are the qualifications for being a pharmacy tech and what do they do?

For that matter, what does a lineman do? Or a real estate agent? Or a nurse, or the receptionist at an assisted living facility? Columbia Basin Job Corps students fanned out around Moses Lake and Ephrata to find out on Groundhog Job Shadow Day Friday.

Job Corps students spent at least half the day, and in some cases the full day, learning about different job opportunities in different fields. Samaritan Healthcare, Grant County PUD, real estate agent Lynn Garza, Hearthstone and Summerwood extended care facilities were among the participating businesses.

Down in the Samaritan pharmacy, technician Roy Morris was answering the question of what a pharmacy tech does for Job Corps student Kyle Wallette. He showed Wallette how to prepare intravenous fluids and dispense medications, and talked about the training needed to qualify for the job.

This was a chance for hospital employees to show students some of the job requirements and training, Morris said. "We're just giving this day to them," she said. Wallette was the fifth student through the pharmacy.

Wallette, of Spokane, said a pharmacy tech job would be "a good strong step into the medical field. I figured it was a good path to take." His ultimate dream is to be a physician, he said, but a pharmacy tech career would be a good first step.

Kenny Carter came to Job Corps for training in a career he ultimately realized wouldn't fit. So he's looking around for something new, which led him to real estate broker Lynn Garza.

"It's just a possibility. I keep an open mind when it comes to my future," he said. But he wanted to know what the real estate business was about, and Garza was willing to allow a student to be on site as she held an open house at a model home.

Garza explained some of the aspects of the job, the way computers have impacted the real estate business, and how agents use them for maximum exposure for their properties. Carter said it was an education, just like it was supposed to be. "I've found out a lot of things, actually," he said. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes responsibilities and activity involved in being a real estate agent, a lot more than he realized, he said.

Garza said in her opinion the Job Corps program is worthy of support. "I just believe in the program," she said.

Both Carter and Wallette said Job Corps has been a benefit to them, as they work on career training. "It's awesome," Carter said. Wallette said he's learned a lot about professionalism, organization, discipline, consistency and structure, along with the academic and vocational classes.