Inspiring Career Choices

Tonya Davis, BB2C Program Facilitator 

What happens when you develop an in-person career readiness workshop series and COVID-19 hits? You problem solve! This summer Building Bridges to Careers partnered with the Noble County Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program (CCMEP) and had 10 of their students participate in virtual sessions to prepare them for a career. 
 
In the first session participants discussed work ethic, communication, attendance, interviewing and social media presence. The students came back for a second session to work in the Ohio Means Jobs site to explore careers, decide on a job shadowing request, participate in a mock interview, and write and receive feedback on their resume. The third part of the workshop series provides students an opportunity to complete a virtual job shadowing placement of their choice during the summer.
 
Students overcame multiple challenges to attend, from working all night and then sitting in McDonald’s to access wifi, to traveling to the OMJ office in Caldwell for wifi access, to carving out time from their summer job to attend, they made it happen.  
 
When asked what they learned from the workshop they shared:
         
“I learned to create my own resume, how much it costs to live, and how to present myself at an interview.”
 
“My career of interest is in demand, it can be very expensive to juggle things, and to always make a good appearance job shadowing.”
 
“How to interview, building a network, how to job shadow.”

Do you have students who could benefit from a career readiness workshop? Email Tonya Davis or call her at 740-370-6399.