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At Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works, we help employers find the talent they're looking for and prepare job seekers to be competitive in the job market. Many people assume we are the unemployment office, but we are actually a social service arm of the state government that supports individuals while they're disconnected from work. The ideal time to connect with us is when you experience unemployment, which most of us do at some point in our lives.
We work with individuals entering the workforce for the first time until they no longer wish to be connected to the workforce: we assist people from their teenage years up to retirement age and beyond.
We excel at connecting employers to people actively seeking work. But we also need to help prepare the future workforce for opportunities that exist locally, and that's the foundation of MiCareer Quest Middle Michigan event on September 29th at Saginaw Valley State University. This will be our third in-person event this year, and we target 10th graders from a combined 11-county region.
We partner with our Michigan Works neighbor to the north to bring this event to the area. Together, we have identified in-demand occupations for the region and invite employers from those sectors to create engaging, hands-on exhibits that students can experience while giving students an opportunity to talk to industry professionals who are passionate about their jobs.
We have about 70 exhibitors from five different sectors: advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, health sciences, IT, and construction. In total, there around 700 exhibitors and volunteers coordinating the event, helping guide the students during the 90 minutes allotted for each school. Last year, we had about 5,000 students attend in a single day.
MiCareer Quest is a high-energy event that expands a student's understanding of the opportunities available right here at home.”
“The MiCareer Quest event on September 29th at Saginaw Valley State University is not only a lot of fun, but also a labor of love for all of us on the planning committee. We just started planning for 2023, and we're all excited to be back in the game again.
Exposing students early on to the career opportunities available in our community encourages them to stay, enjoy a great quality of life, earn a good living, and not have to leave their families behind.
At the event, we have about 70 exhibitors who donate their time, and in many cases, sponsor the event as well. Last year, we had about 5,000 students attend in a single day. It's organized chaos, but we have a tight schedule with each school getting 90 minutes to interact with the exhibitors.
The exhibitors are from five different sectors: advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, health sciences, IT, and construction. We're rapidly reaching the point where we may have to turn employers away due to limited capacity. For example, manufacturing had the highest volume of exhibitors wanting to connect with students, showcasing various aspects such as 3D printing and hands-on activities.
In agribusiness, we had someone bring simulated equipment for students to work on, helping them understand the large machinery involved in the agricultural business. In health sciences, there was a set of lungs for students to work with and explore. Employers come up with creative ideas to showcase aspects of their occupations, making the planning process fun and the experience exciting for the students. Each year, employers challenge themselves to do something new and better than before.
We deliberately choose 10th-grade students to attend the event because they are at a pivotal point in their high school experience: deciding whether to pursue a college preparation track or participate in career and technical education classes. These paths are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but exposure to different occupations can help provide direction as students make plans for their post-high school graduation.
Trades are an important part of this event. Many students do not want to continue their education after high school. This event exposes them to numerous occupations where they can directly enter the workforce, become an apprentice, and start learning a craft that can lead to stable employment and a good wage without necessarily attending college.
This approach offers equitable treatment to all industries, ensuring that students do not feel as though skilled trades are a fallback option if they do not attend a four-year university or pursue higher education. By presenting various options, students can understand that trades can be just as demanding and rewarding as other career paths.”
“MiCareer Quest registration for schools opens with in the spring around mid-April and runs through mid-May. We also have a short window in August. Teachers have provided feedback, stating that this is one of the best field trips they have ever taken their students on. We aim to give every student the opportunity to have this exciting exposure to career opportunities right here in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
The MiCareer Quest event is scheduled for September 29th at SVSU. Buses start arriving just before 8 am, and the last ones leave by 3 pm. It is an action-packed day for students and exhibitors, and we encourage every 10th grader to attend. If a student is not attending as part of a registered school, parents have been known to bring their children to the event themselves.
Nearly 200 volunteers are needed to pull off this event while adhering to safety guidelines. We welcome volunteers, and while it may involve a lot of time on your feet, it is time well spent. Along with registering for the event, there is also a section on the website to express interest in volunteering. Volunteer registration typically takes place closer to the event, around July or August. Alternatively, you can email us to get your name on the list.”
—Kristen Wenzel, interim CEO of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works
