Minnesota’s Bridges Career Academies & Workplace Connection assisting and empowering students in 23 school districts within the Carl Perkins Central Lakes Consortium has expanded, just in time to help them become a part of the workforce and land a summer job.
Initially focusing on two areas of development for students: The Career Academies and The Workplace Connection, and now Bridges has introduced Career Depot, an easy-to-use database of jobs just for high school students ages 18 or younger.
The program is in its second year, working with the local chambers to encourage businesses to post jobs on the Bridges’ website. It is supported by the Otto Bremer Foundation from which it received a $248k grant last year, and the National Joint Powers Alliance, in addition to several communities throughout Minnesota.
Recognizing the importance of technology in the job search process, Bridges developed an app for mobile devices that provides easy access to its jobs listings. Students are also able to “like” the Bridges Workplace Connection Facebook page in order to receive immediate notifications of newly posted jobs.
The Bridges’ Career Depot also offers a collection of resources to help students explore careers such as, job shadows, business tours, classroom speakers, career videos and the annual career exploration day to showcase career options that are available in the region, as well as find tips on how to complete applications, prepare for an interview and more.
Businesses that offer job postings on the Bridges website help mold and mentor student workers, and in return, students are encouraged to be prepared to learn and be open to new ways of thinking, so they reap the benefits of the work experience.
Source: The Bridges Career Academies & Workplace Connection
Edited by: G. Davila
