It’s not just about fun and games anymore at the Boys & Girls Club of Federal Way.

For Boys & Girls Club of Federal Way Executive Director Mark Hendricks and his staff in Federal Way, it’s important the children they care for are prepared for life beyond the club.

This coincides with the Boys & Girls Club of America decision in 2016 to expand its focus beyond educating youth in areas such as teamwork and culture by creating a career education program for its high school members. So, the organization partnered with T-Mobile to create the Generation T Career Exploration Program.

Following the program’s mission, the Boys & Girls Club of Federal Way partnered with T-Mobile locations in Federal Way and Auburn, and on June 7, the club took five middle school and five high school students to each location.

The goal of the trip was to introduce children to the potential career opportunities in the telecommunications field. The youth spent time with the store manager and sales representatives, and they were able to observe interactions with customers and ask the manager questions afterward.

“They got to learn a lot about T-Mobile and what it is they do on a daily basis,” Hendricks said. “Our high school kids learned that T-Mobile doesn’t just hire anyone. You have to graduate high school and have that degree. They talked about how T-Mobile can help them if they want to earn a college degree.”

During the session, some of the youth wondered if all they would be able to do at the company was sell cellular phones.

Managers at both stores explained the number of career opportunities available to T-Mobile employees.

Once they explained that employees had experience in a number of different fields, such as internet technology and sales and management, club members like high school sophomore Javon Smith perked up.

“It really opened my eyes to the opportunities,” Smith said. “I had no idea you could make so much money from working at a phone store.”

The meeting with T-Mobile management wasn’t just about career exploration, though.

Managers explained the concept of benefits, such as earning paid vacation.

The manager at the Federal Way store explained to Smith’s group of high school students how he recently returned from a week’s paid vacation in Hawaii.

“There’s a bunch of good benefits, and you get like a good percent off your phone plan,” Smith said. “It’s almost too good to be true.”

Smith also met with a part-time sales representative at the Federal Way store

She explained she was working just a few hours a week so she could earn money while pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse.

Smith said he was inspired by her story and saw himself following a similar path. He said he likes to help people and was interested by the company’s management program.

He said he regularly helps fellow club members with homework and basketball, so, a position of leadership caught his attention.

“It’s definitely something I could do,” Smith said. “I like how they can help introduce old people to the new technology. They just help people, and I like that.”

The trip to local T-Mobile stores job field trips is just one way the Boys & Girls Club of Federal Way is helping get youth thinking about the future. The club has a dedicated job-readiness program.

Staff members help children create and modify resumes, fill out applications, teach them how to write cover letters and practice interview skills, as well. This all culminates with the career opportunity trips.

“The idea is to help them find something they are going to love, where you don’t even consider it a job,” Hendricks said. “Our hope is that at least one of these kids loves the direction of T-Mobile. That’s what makes the trip worthwhile.”