As many as 10,000 students from area Michigan high schools will be exposed to opportunities in America's hottest job sectors this fall at the inaugural MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region's largest hands-on career exploration experience.
Set for Nov. 28 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, the event aims to connect students from Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties with working professionals from nearly 100 companies from throughout the region. The students will take part in hands-on, interactive demonstrations and conversations that highlight in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, and information technology.
The event is being organized by the Oakland County Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs and Michigan Works! agencies throughout southeast Michigan. The Michigan Talent Investment Agency is the presenting sponsor.
"Our goal is to help thousands of students connect classroom learning with the real-world jobs in greatest demand today," County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "MiCareerQuest Southeast promises to be very interactive, giving the students opportunities to touch, feel and work with actual workplace equipment, tools and technology, plus ask working professionals questions about what they do and how to get there. And of course, we want to show students these jobs are right here in their own backyards."
MiCareerQuest Southeast is an offshoot of a program created by the West Michigan Works! Agency, which hosted the inaugural MiCareerQuest event in Grand Rapids in 2015. Since then, it has become a hugely popular event for schools and employers alike, with available spots filling up in hours. In 2017, more than 9,000 students attended MiCareerQuest in Grand Rapids.
Schools can sign up to participate on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are approximately 10,000 student spots available. Starting March 1, high schools will have the option of signing up for one of three time slots, each lasting two hours: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; 10 a.m. to noon; and noon to 2 p.m.
"This will be a fast-paced, high-energy event, with groups of students working their way through the four separate career quadrants," said Jennifer Llewellyn, manager of Oakland County Michigan Works! "Working professionals will be sharing their enthusiasm for what they do through engaging, hands-on demonstrations. Students should be prepared to get involved. They're going to be busy during their two-hour visit."
The success of MiCareerQuest Southeast will rely on financial support and involvement of sponsors and employers who will staff the career quadrants, Llewellyn said.
There are event sponsorship opportunities available, with varying degrees of exposure. Organizations that purchase a platinum, gold or silver sponsorship will have a seat on a career quadrant steering committee and reserved space on the show floor to showcase their technology or vocation. Interested companies may also participate as a quadrant exhibitor and engage students directly, share career expertise and advice.
"This is a win for everyone involved," Llewellyn said. "The sponsors and employers will have the opportunity to connect with the students and start building a talent pipeline for the future, while the students will be exposed to many job possibilities that are expected to be in hot demand for many years to come."
Organizations or school representatives interested in participating in MiCareerQuest Southeast should attend a special kick-off meeting Thursday, March 1, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. Register at AdvantageOakland.Eventbrite.com.
For additional information, visit OakGov.com/MiCareerQuestSE or call Oakland County Michigan Works!, 248-858-5520.
Published: Wed, Feb 28, 2018
