NJ Transit Academy

For the past two years students from Paramus and Teterboro have been attending the NJ Transit  Academy. As part of NJ Transit's workforce development plan, a Transit Academy was developed for high school students to introduce them to the transportation industry, particularly career opportunities available in the mass transit industry.

Students from the various technology shops are selected by their shop instructors and selection is based on the following criteria established by NJ Transit: Interest in careers in the transportation industry, a record of academic proficiency and students must be in their junior year of high school.

The  students selected participate in three exploratory field trips/seminars, which are held throughout the year at NJ Transit headquarters in Newark and at their major rail and bus facilities. The first seminar provides the students with an overview of NJ Transit's organization and operations. In the afternoon students travel to NJ Transit's Rail Meadow and Maintenance complex and nearby Rail Operations Center. The Rail Operations Center is the nation's first integrated train power and train management and control system. The second seminar has representatives from various departments providing tips about resume writing and information about career opportunities available at NJ Transit. Students also are given a tour of the Bus Operations Training Center, where students are able to virtually drive a bus on the Bus Training Simulator. In the afternoon students visit the massive, state of the art Newark Bus Maintenance Complex. In the third and final session students "job shadow" a career advisor in the job that the student has shown interest in.

The program opens the eyes of the students to opportunities with NJ Transit and at the same time is fun! The program has been met with plenty of student enthusiasm and a number of students have shown interest in exploring the possibilities of starting a career with NJ Transit. THANK YOU, New Jersey Transit and the coordinator of the program Ms. P. Prim Lacapra, Manager- Strategic HR Analysis, Human Resources.