On Friday, February 19, 2016, Lawrence County Community Action Partnership (LCCAP) hosted an “Aspiring Young Professional’s Seminar” at the PA CareerLink – Lawrence County for youth enrolled in the C.A.R.E.E.R.S. program. This was a free seminar to help aspiring young professionals develop workforce skills and knowledge to prepare for and achieve their future career goals. New Castle, Mohawk, Union, New Wilmington High School as well as the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center were among schools represented on this day. The seminar’s topics focused on the following areas:
Labor Market Awareness
Session was designed to increase participants’ awareness of current High Priority Occupations in the Statewide and local labor markets areas, vocational education opportunities within the Commonwealth and the local Workforce Development Area. Eileen Borrelli, Administrator of the PA CareerLink – Lawrence County, introduced C.A.R.E.E.R.S. Club to the Pennsylvania CareerLink® website (https://www.jobgateway.gov) to explore the occupational possibilities and employment opportunities available within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Borrelli also shared the county’s unemployment rate and provided the group with information on the top 50 local employers.
Workforce Job Readiness Skills
Presented by LCCAP’s very own Michelle Scott, Workforce Development Supervisor; in this session Ms. Scott addressed a variety of issues including employee etiquette, employer expectations and included information on how to build a resume, complete job applications and prepare for job interviews.
Career Exploration
Kristin Anthony, LCCAP’s Workforce Programs Manager, led this session by assisting youth participants with exploring their top three career clusters that matched their Holland Interest Survey results. The exploration activity involved a review of the employers in the local area that offer jobs in the three career clusters of interest; students explored the career pathways to jobs in those clusters; the on-ramps to education/training needed to obtain credentials for various occupations along the pathway; and the pay scales and benefits associated with those occupations at the various levels.
Financial Literacy
Anthony Clark, Branch Manager, Huntington Bank, assisted C.A.R.E.E.R.S. participants with understanding how money works in the world and delivered information on how to properly utilize a checking and/ or saving account and taught Borrowing Basic – Do’s and Don’ts.
Participants of C.A.R.E.E.R.S. have been gearing up to enter a Work-based Learning Experience, which is the next phase of this program. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a paid work experience, job shadow and/or community service. LCCAP’s Youth Case Management staff are available to assist participants with making this connection. This phase of C.A.R.E.E.R.S. brings us to the final segment of the Aspiring Young Professionals Seminar, the Employer Networking session! During this section, youth met with several local employers and had the opportunity to arrange their paid work experience, job shadow and/or community service. Youth also received gifts for their participation throughout the day and was presented with a five hour Job Training certificate of completion.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SMILES ON THE FACES OF OUR YOUTH!!
Partners/Presenters:
West Central Job Partnership/ Mary Ann Moss
PA CareerLink® – Lawrence County/ Eileen Borrelli
Huntington Bank/ Anthony Clark
New Castle High School
Union High School
New Wilmington High School
Mohawk High School
Lawrence County Career and Technical Center
Employers:
Hoyt Institute of Fine Art
Lawrence County Physical Therapy
Gussie Walker House
Confluence
Alysia’s Home Health Care Services
LCCAP’s Early Learning Programs
Mohawk Elementary School
LCCAP Staff:
Presenters, Michelle Scott and Kristin Anthony
CAREERS Program Staff, Ja’Von Clark, Wendy Norman, Elizabeth Palumbo and Christopher Frye
A HUGE Thanks to all!
Ja’Von Clark, Youth Programs Coordinator
jclark@lccap.org (724) 658.7258 ext. 1516