The latest major initiative to increase career awareness in Michigan is Governor Snyder recognizing December 2018 as Career Exploration and Awareness Month. This month, young people are encouraged to have conversations about careers with their families and friends over the holidays.
Parents are among the most influential source of career guidance for young people, followed by teachers and counselors. It makes sense, therefore, to provide parents with timely and accurate information about career opportunities and enable them to help students make informed decisions.
A number of tools and resources are available for career awareness and exploration. Check out these resources as you spend time with your families this holiday season:
- Pure Michigan Career Explorer
- Career Exploration and Awareness Tool Kit
- Michigan Training Connect
- Career Pathfinder
- MI Bright Future
- SEMCOG Student Resource Center
MiCareer Quest takes students through a range of career fields
Unless young people are exposed to the range of careers that exist, they cannot begin to explore those that match their interests and aptitudes. A number of important events and initiatives that support career awareness among Southeast Michigan’s students provide opportunities to directly connect with employers.
Operating Engineers preparing to show students the tools of their trade
In late November, MiCareer Quest – Southeast brought together 8,000 students from 100 high schools. At that event, 114 employers with 900 representatives featured 125 in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, and information technology. Educators, workforce development, economic development and employers throughout Southeast Michigan partnered to present the biggest career awareness event the region has ever held. The event was coordinated by Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland County Department of Economic Development and Community Affairs, with major support from the Michigan Talent Investment Agency, and leading businesses and associations.
Each student explored a range of careers in the four sectors by talking to professionals and trying out equipment used in the field. It was experiential, fun, and age-appropriate learning. Students took advantage of the opportunities to try out the equipment brought in by employers, labor organizations, colleges, and local governments.
Operating a FANUC robot
Sponsors engaged and expanded their pool of potential workers by discussing and demonstrating the variety of careers in each field. Linda Kruso, from Beaumont Health, said that, “Students are the future of health care and exposing them to the wide range of career opportunities” was a major factor in their sponsorship of the Health Sciences area.
Beaumont Health representatives at the Health Sciences quadrant
Beaumont brought in 120 professionals from areas such as Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Medial Laboratory Science, Registered Nursing, and Surgical Technology who showed students some of the equipment they use every day – including mechanical ventilators to help patients breathe, and surgical dummies.
DTE Energy brought 38 professionals from their skilled trades and Human Resources areas. They invited students to try out equipment used by electric-line workers, and underground operations, where there are many good-paying, careers in skilled trades, engineering, human resources, and information technology.
Consumers Energy brought virtual reality headsets so students could experience climbing poles to change electric wires. Sharon Miller, from Consumers, said, “It was a great way for business to interact and get students to think about careers such as engineering, IT, welders, line workers.” Consumers also provides tuition reimbursement for employees so they can build on their careers at the company.
Ironworkers invited students to practice climbing poles
Paragon Properties, which manages 5,000 properties in multi-family complexes, promoted their maintenance positions. Prospective electricians and plumbers were exposed to interactive experiences such as competitions to connect smoke detectors and bulbs as quickly as possible.
Education and the public sector also participated. Oakland Community College brought its CREST (Combined Regional Emergency Services Training) vehicle. This is part of the college’s virtual live lab for training emergency services students and personnel across the region. Washtenaw Community College’s Advanced Transportation Center brought a Ford Focus engine to demonstrate vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. MIAT College of Technology brought a turbo propeller engine used for its Aviation Maintenance Technician program. Livingston County EMS brought current high school students from the county who are training for EMS careers to demonstrate what they have been learning to other students.
Livingston County EMS students
All of the students I talked to were excited to see for themselves the enormous range of careers requiring different levels of education, interest and aptitudes across Southeast Michigan. This kind of exposure to careers offering good incomes, job satisfaction, stable careers, on-the-job training and enhanced education programs, and the opportunity to use the latest technology is invaluable.
Career awareness is just the first step in career planning, but it sets the tone for connecting students to future career goals. By providing students with hands-on experience of a range of careers in high-demand fields, they will have a much better idea of opportunities and can begin to make informed decisions about education programs that lead to satisfying careers of their choice.
Marshall Plan Update: Talent grants announced for Southeast Michigan
The State of Michigan is supporting career exposure and preparation in Southeast Michigan in several ways. Earlier this week, the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development announced the first round of grants for the Marshall Plan for Talent. Three initiatives from Southeast Michigan will receive a total of $3.6 million for a number of activities.
- The Detroit Public Schools Community District will provide career exposure, career preparation and work-based learning experiences.
- The Detroit Robotics Consortium will develop industry-responsive dual-enrollment programs, provide work experiences, and train students for careers in information technology.
- The Macomb Classroom-to-Career Talent initiative will focus on competency-based, project-based learning to ensure students are college and career ready.
Each of these initiatives have broad support from school districts, higher education, employers, workforce development, and other talent stakeholders.
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