xploring a program for career exploration and workforce readiness

xploring

A Program for Career Explorationand Workforce Readiness

Our Most Fundamental Mission is to prepare every young person in America to become a

responsible, participating citizen and leader.

• The U.S. is not doing enough, fast enough, to prepare for a vibrant economic future for our children and our nation. • Young people need a range of skills, both basic academic skills as well

as the ability to apply these skills and knowledge in the workplace. • STEM skills, particularly, are currently in short supply • Hiring managers continue to emphasize the importance of

interpersonal skills – many times over specific hard skills.

CAREER EXPLORATION AND WORKFORCE READINESS

MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL

DiscussionMichigan School Counselors

Association• What is it?• Who is it for?• Who does it benefit?• How is it done?• How can counselors, specifically, help to prepare students for the

workforce?



DefinitionCareer- and College-Ready

A high school graduate has the core foundational knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in workforce training, certification programs, and entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses that provide preparation for careers leading to a self-sustaining wage, pathways to advancement, and competitiveness in the global economy.

Michigan Center for Education Policy



NeedCoordinated, Cohesive Programming

Despite sustained unemployment, employers cannot find Americans with the skills their jobs require.

It is no longer enough for applicants to have a skill set in a specific field.

Employers articulate three of the most important skills for applicants today: professionalism/work ethic, teamwork/collaboration and oral communications.



Our Nation’s Report CardWorkforce Readiness

Metric designed by employers of skills applicants need illustrates a gross skills gap; many applicants with a high school diploma do not have a single item in the list of ten skills that a majority of employer respondents rate as “very important” for workforce success.

96% of Chief Academic Officers believe their graduates are ready for the workforce, but only 11% of business leaders strongly agree.

Employers are growing frustrated and employees are becoming statistics in the welfare system.



The Need is Painfully ObviousInvesting in Workforce Readiness

• Hands-on training is the surest path for new graduates to find jobs.• Preparing youth for available jobs today, and the growth sectors of

tomorrow, is an essential component of Michigan's long-term success and a powerful way to expand access to opportunity.• This particularly is true for middle-skill jobs — those that require a

high school diploma and some postsecondary technical training but not a four-year college degree



Mission

Exploring’s purpose is to provide experiences that help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Its focus is on workplace readiness that engages, prepares, and inspires college- and career-readiness. Programs are based on five areas of emphasis: • Career opportunities• Life skills• Citizenship• Character education• Leadership experience



Membership

• Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, and citizenship are not criteria for participation. • Exploring® is for young men and women• All participants older than 18 are required to pass a background check• Adult facilitators are selected by the sponsoring organization and

must complete training for their position.



Partnerships

Exploring is predicated on partnerships between employers, schools, parents, and students

Posts specialize in a specific field such as law enforcement, fire and emergency service, health careers, engineering, aviation, skilled trades, and technology. Generally, an Exploring® unit may be created for any field for which there is youth interest and adult sponsorship.



Posts

Exploring® Posts serve older youth – male and female – ages 15-20 through after-school programs hosted by a business, organization, or educational facility. Teens who are 14 and have graduated from eighth grade are also eligible to join.

Posts meet at a work-site and are under the supervision of the Post advisors who are working professionals.

Posts typically meet weekly or bi-weekly over a number of months, allowing time for project-based skill proficiency or mastery.



Clubs

Exploring Clubs are for students in 6 through 8 grades with classroom teachers or volunteers as Club leaders in a classroom setting. Exploring® Post members can act as mentors for Club participants.Club members participate in structured instruction on professional work-related topics (e.g. team work, punctuality, responsibility, and ethical decision making).Clubs typically invite expert guests (business executives, higher education administrators, and workplace recruiters) to present their area of expertise. All programs include both in-school and out-of-school activities, plus hands-on experiences.



Current State

Michigan Crossroads Council serves all of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and currently engages just over 4,000 Michigan youth in Exploring® Posts and Clubs.

Focus group identified a gross lack of awareness of Exploring as the overwhelming reason they were not yet involved as sponsors.



Benefit to SchoolsAlignment

• Exploring® a tool to meet their mandated goal of post-secondary and career readiness. • The Common Career Technical Core (CCTC) includes a set of standards

for each of the 16 Career. A component of the CCTC, the Career Ready Practices outline 12 general workforce readiness skills common to all career areas, to be taught in conjunction with technical skills.




Exploring® Career Field Dept. of Education Career Cluster

Arts and Humanities ArtsA/V Technology & Communications

AviationHospitality & Tourism

Transportation, Distribution & LogisticsScience, Technology, Engineering & Math





Business

Business Management & AdministrationHospitality & Tourism

FinanceInformation Technology

Marketing

CommunicationsArts

A/V Technology & CommunicationsMarketing





Engineering and TechnologyAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Information TechnologyArchitecture & Construction

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Fire Services Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Health Agriculture, Food & Natural ResourcesHealth Science





Law EnforcementAgriculture, Food & Natural ResourcesGovernment & Public Administration

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Law Government & Public Administration

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Science/STEMAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Health ScienceEducation & Training

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math





Skilled Trades

Agriculture, Food & Natural ResourcesArchitecture & Construction

Arts, A/V Technology &CommunicationsHealth Science

Hospitality & TourismInformation Technology

ManufacturingTransportation, Distribution & Logistics





Social ServicesEducation & Training

Government & Public AdministrationHuman Services



Benefit to SchoolsCareer Interest Survey

School counselors can use this data to schedule guest speakers, prepare a four-year course plan for their students, and to connect students to mentors.

• takes approximately eight minutes to complete o with paper using a ScanTron form, oro digitally using SmartPhone, tablet or computer

• Students identify their top two careers and top two hobbies• The school can ask six additional questions• With the exception of data sharing with schools, results are never sold or given away.



Benefit to EmployersBuilding Tomorrow’s Workforce Today

• Every employer seeks employees who have the skills needed to do a given job. • Exploring® has an implication on the employability and productivity of

individuals



Benefit to YouthHard Skills

• Gain work experiences to begin building a resume’;• Participate in hands-on projects to give them a real feel for whether

that career choice is the right choice for them;• Learn from professionals who work in the field every day – they are

using the latest technology, they are aware of emerging trends, they know what it takes to get into college for their specific career;



Benefit to YouthSoft Skills

• Build a solid foundation in personal effectiveness like self-esteem, goal setting, learning-to-learn skills, problem solving and critical thinking, and listening and oral communication;

• Build a solid foundation in organization effectiveness like teamwork, professionalism, leadership, punctuality, work ethic, and time management; and

• Learn labor market "navigation” skills that will aid in job search, interview, and identification of good career education courses.



Benefit to YouthBridging the Expectation Gap

• Get a real feel for whether that career choice is the right choice• Learn about the educational requirements for a career and receive

tangible advice on steps to take now to prepare and position for a successful career;• Develop important contacts with hiring managers; in some cases, like

law enforcement and emergency services, Exploring is a conduit to employment.



Benefit to AllInsurance

Comprehensive General Liability InsuranceCoverage for costs that the insured person is legally obligated to pay to third parties because of bodily injury or property damage caused by, arising from, or occurring in the course of Exploring activities. This insurance provides primary general liability coverage for all participating organizations and registered adults.

Accident and Illness InsuranceMichigan Crossroads Council purchases additional coverage for injuries and illnesses suffered by registered Explorers.



OutcomesData Driven Decision Making

• The Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) is a collaborative effort among nine Michigan community colleges, seven workforce boards and economic development partners. • The Boy Scouts of America is performing cutting-edge research to help us

understand key issues that will change the way Exploring prepares youth for new jobs and shapes their talent.• The agencies launched a year-long study of Exploring in 2013. Six critical

elements of healthy youth development emerged from Exploring members.



OutcomesStrong Personal Values and Character

• 75% indicate that they dealt with such a decision during a three month period.• 25% participated in a service project during a typical three-month

period. 42% of those service hours were with younger children.



OutcomesPositive Sense of Self-Worth and Usefulness

• 92% say that being an Explorer has taught them to have more confidence in themselves and their abilities.• 91% say that they receive encouragement from other Explorers• 94% say that they are encouraged by their parents to participate in

Exploring® activities.• 22% of participants hold an elected or appointed leadership position.



OutcomesCaring and Nurturing Relationships

• 87% say that "socializing with others" was important in their decision to join. • 95% have made new friends in their Exploring® unit.• 88% say they talk with other Explorers about what they learn in the program.• 90% talk to their parents about what they learn at meetings and outings, and

64% talk to adults other than their parents about their Exploring® experiences. • 91% say they can talk to their post advisors about things that are important



OutcomesDesire to Learn

• By definition, youth are there – voluntarily – to learn. They are showing interest by attending.• 96% agree that Exploring® gives them a chance to do things and go

places they would not be able to experience otherwise.• 99% of Explorers say that going to college is important to them.



OutcomesProductive/Creative Use of Time

• 74% participate in presentations or lectures by experts.• 100% have hands-on experiences in career fields.• 67% have done something they have never done before.• 49% have gone somewhere they have never been before.• 92% say they were encouraged to think about and plan for their futures. • 85% of Explorers set personal goals for meetings and activities, and 75%

indicate having to rely on themselves to accomplish these goals.



OutcomesSocial Adeptness

• 99% of Explorers agree that their participation in the program helped them learn to get along with people who are different from themselves.• 93% said they learned something about how to be a team player.• 79% participated in group discussions.• 72% participated in a vote or decision made by the group.• 76% of members agree that they were able to resolve conflicts they had

with others while participating in Exploring® outings and activities.



OutcomesFacing the Future

• 100% of Explorers say that they want to “stand out” as they enter the job market and competition from other applicants. • 98% say that Exploring® activities help to prepare them for the future.• 78% of Club members are more likely to enroll in higher level math

courses in high school. • All participants are more likely to plan their high school courses of study

carefully to gain the skills they will need to complete high school and pursue post-secondary education.



Future State of Exploring in Michigan

• Develop new and updated marketing materials• Develop a robust project/competency-based, modular Exploring

curriculum• Hire six more Exploring professionals to work with 50+ volunteers• By year-end 2016:

o8,000 high-school Explorers in approximately 200 Exploring Postso1,500 middle-school Explorers in approximately 100 Exploring Clubs



Question of the Hour

The question for most students, employers and schools is:

WHO does the responsibility fall on to prepare students for the workplace, whether it’s a vocational job or long-term career?

WHO will prepare them for life?If not you, WHO?



Call to Action

The debate is not about whether this partnership should exist, but on how the details will be managed. The time is now! Michigan

Crossroads Council can match middle- and high-schools with business partners to deliver the Exploring experience.

Arrange a meeting with an Exploring® representative to discuss ways the Exploring® workforce readiness program can work in your school.



xploring

Luann Martinez, Director of ExploringMichigan Crossroads Council

[email protected](517) 708-4867

xploring a program for career exploration and workforce readiness

Documents

important skills

skills necessary

employers of skills

range of skills

gross skills

stem skills

basic academic skills

specific hard skills