The goal of Career Connects Will & Grundy is to bring together students, job seekers, educators, and businesses to help students and job seekers achieve their career goals and meet the workforce development needs of our communities.
Career Connects Will & Grundy is an online program that assists students and job seekers in developing an understanding of their career options and connects their desired career paths with occupations that local business's offer.
How it works
In Will and Grundy counties, more than 45,000 students use Career Cruising everyday to explore and develop their career aspirations. Career Connects builds on a student's and job seeker's career development by connecting them to real-life professionals and is achieved online by:
- Linking careers they are interested in with local companies that hire those careers through online career discussion boards
- Connecting with company volunteers in the community through career discussion forums
- Taking their education out of the classroom by participating in work-based career activities (eg. company tours, job shadowing, summer internships, mentors).
Volunteers gain access and participate in these programs simply by accessing their Career Connects account. Participation is Free! Please click on the link below to go to Career Connects and sign-up.
Click here to sign up for Career Connects
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Benefits for businesses and career professionals
The benefits are huge! With all the students accessing Career Connects as part of their career development curriculum, your involvement will:
- Increase your companies visibility in the community
- Highlight your companies involvement
- Actively build and develop your future workforce
- Promote careers in Will & Grundy counties
- Highlight Will & Grundy counties as a great place to live and work
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Student and Job Seeker features
Career Coach Message Boards
Post questions for real working people in different careers, contribute to threaded discussions, and read posts from other people.
Company Profiles
Learn more about employers in your area and discover what careers are available.
Career Development Activities
Search for Career Development Activities, such as internships, volunteer programs, and scholarships offered by employers in your community.
Industry Profiles
Find out which industries are on the rise, what jobs are in demand now, and what are the careers of the future.
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Business features
Career Connects Will & Grundy allows your company to reach job seekers and students in the classroom and help shape our counties future workforce. Here are some ways you and your company can chose to get involved with Career Connects Will & Grundy to impact our future workforce:
Career Fairs
Career Fairs give students and job seekers a look at a variety of occupations. Business people can staff a booth or meet with groups of students to provide information about the careers available at their companies. The more interactive and hands-on the better the experience for both the student and employer. Possible topics:
- Necessary preparation for a particular job, and advice on how to pursue a career in this industry
- Required knowledge and skills, and other interesting information about the job
- Major responsibilities for individuals in this occupation and the industries in which it is found
Committee Member
Participation in a variety of workforce development needs and education preparatory models along with education, other businesses and organizations. Committee work might include pathway exploration, advisory committee for a particular schools or related subjects.
Company Tour
Tours allow class of students, job seekers, and/or teachers to view an organization's facility and operation and to see what happens outside the classroom.
Guest Speaker
Guest speakers talk about their job, business or industry, with students, job seekers, and/or teachers. This can be done in a classroom, auditorium, workshop, or at a community event. Speakers are encouraged to bring visual aids, and props that they can pass around. The more interactive and hands-on the better!
Internships
Internships provide students and job seekers with opportunities to experience “hands-on” learning in the area of their career interests and apply classroom learning in a real-life environment. In addition to exploring a particular career pathway, industry, or occupation, students learn workplace readiness/soft skills and entry level job skills and begin to build their portfolio and professional network. Assignments may include occupation-related tasks and/or special projects. These experiences may be paid or unpaid, and students may receive school credit for them, and reflect a range of hours per week depending on the employer's needs.
Interview
Mock interviews help students and job seekers develop and practice job interviewing skills. Employees who regularly interview job applicants (often human resource professionals) interview students and job seekers, asking typical "real world" questions. After the interview, participants receive constructive feedback regarding their interviewing style and how they responded to the questions.
Informational interviews allow students and job seekers to explore a particular occupation and gather information about the necessary preparation, required knowledge, and other interesting facts. Informational interviews help students and job seekers broaden their vision of career fields, gain exposure to different adult role models, and understand the connection between school, work, and achieving goals. During the interview, a business person provides the participant with a glimpse of what the career is like, the necessary training, and workplace requirements. The student/job seeker prepares a set of questions and the interview can take place in person, by phone or e-mail, or in a group.
Job Opportunities
Employers offer opportunities to experience "hands-on" learning in the area of their career interests and apply classroom learning in a real-life environment through a part-time or summer job. The student may do occupation-related tasks and/or special projects. These experiences are paid and occur over the summer or after school during the school year.
Job Shadow
Students and job seekers "shadow" one or more employees at a business site to learn the daily routines and activities of a particular job. Businesses and employees who host job shadows go about their regular work while discussing it with the student. The individual observes the employee and "interviews" the employee about his/her work and education. Job shadows help students develop communication skills and make the connection between academic classroom work and their career goals.
Judge
Many high school and post secondary students participate in math/science competitions. Judges ensure competition rules are followed and provide direct feedback to the students on their performance. Judges receive training in advance to ensure they understand the competition rules, and receive ongoing support from the organization in charge of the competition.
Scholarships
Offer or post a scholarship program tailored to needs of industry or career desired.
Service Learning Opportunity
Service learning opportunities give students and job seekers an opportunity to give back to their communities while performing meaningful projects at local for-profit businesses, government agencies, and non-profits. Many senior projects (required for graduation) involve service learning projects.
Virtual Career Coach
Virtual Career Coaches answer student and job seeker questions about their jobs, offer advice or otherwise support individuals via an online forum. This allows career coaches to volunteer from their desk at work, at home or when travelling, and allows students access to a network of knowledgeable, supportive adults they might not otherwise be able to reach.
For more information about Career Connects Will & Grundy contact Career Cruising Specialists:
Jeremy Ly (815) 280-6831 and Tammy Tschida (815) 280-1518 or careerconnects@jjc.edu
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