Transcript Regional approach to career development for high school and college students Jenny Govoni, Joliet Junior College College Changes Everything July 11, 2013

Regional approach to career development for
high school and college students
Jenny Govoni, Joliet Junior College
College Changes Everything
July 11, 2013
What is Career Connects
Will & Grundy County?
Career Connects Will & Grundy brings together education and
businesses to help students and job seekers achieve their goals
and address communities’ workforce development needs.
Career Connects Will & Grundy is fully integrated with Career
Cruising.
Career Connects and Career Cruising provides powerful tools
for students, job seekers, educators and community
businesses.
Genesis
The high school BEST program housed at Joliet Junior College would get calls from our
local feeder high schools.
- Do you have a nurse to come speak to my anatomy class?
- Do you have an accountant to come speak to my consumer education class?
- Do you have any local companies hiring high school graduates?
The coordinator of the program would do his best to find a nurse, accountant and local
companies for Wilmington High School, Joliet Township, Plainfield School District, etc.
The willing nurse is willing to share her expertise, not just at Wilmington, but is
available to help out when she can at any local high school. Other local high schools
would not know this nurse is available and would either miss the opportunity to have
her speak with students or would use up precious time, trying to locate a nurse.
IDEA: Why not have a one-stop-shop that pools all businesses and local professionals
interested in sharing their company and expertise with the education community. Too
bad we don’t have a web-based software platform that all the schools use ... Or do
we? Career Cruising is already used in all area high schools for basic career
exploration.
Implementation
Advisory
board meets
Key
stakeholders
engaged
2010:
Idea
Advisory board
formed
Funding sources
Planned
launch
event
Recruit
Recruited
businesses
Recruit
Recruit
Feb 2011
April 2011
Hired 2 p/t
business
recruiters
Community
Launch
event
Summer
2011
Hosted
school
launch
Trained
educators
Sept 2011
School Launch
Implementation (cont.)
2012:
Recruit & Train
Sept 2012
Hosted
professional
development
for educators
Today
How does Career Connects impact:
Students
• Career development activities
• Submit questions to real working people
• Receive targeted communication about job
opportunities
• Gain access to local labor market information
How does Career Connects impact:
Educators
• Student engagement
• Teacher interaction with students
• Parents can search for colleges and
scholarships
• Links school activities to local community
• Identify companies that offer employment or
career development activities
• Connection with companies
• Track students use of the features
How does Career Connects impact:
Businesses
• Communicate with students and job seekers
• Create visibility for your company
• Inform about attributes they look for when
hiring
• Promote the local community
How can businesses get involved in
Career Connects?
1. Set up a company profile
2. Become a career coach
3. Offer career development activities
Challenges
Successes
Relationship building
 Provide career paths
for students
 Local connection

Funding
 Student engagement

Contact Information:
Jenny Govoni | Joliet Junior College
[email protected] | 815-280-1518