Experiential Learning Business Survey

Developing our Workforce through Experiential Learning Opportunities

We have a responsibility to cultivate workers’ future success. Together, we must work to ensure access to opportunities and experiences that introduce aspiring individuals to the broad array of careers found in Central Minnesota. The benefits are threefold – each individual can put their talents to work in a rewarding career, local job vacancies can be filled with qualified and eager workers, and our local economy thrives and prospers resulting in vibrant, healthy communities.

Opportunities for businesses to lead and grow a strong workforce are abundant. Many business leaders are willing to provide informational interviews, business tours, job shadowing opportunities, and even short-term workplace training opportunities. However, it is often difficult for educators, service providers, and job candidates to identify businesses that are open to connecting in this meaningful way.

To address these challenges, the Central Minnesota Workforce Development Board has developed this survey to identify the ways in which your organization might be willing to help. Our Board will incorporate your information into an online database, which will help educators and service providers make these local connections for appropriate candidates. For example, if a teacher wants a class to see what the modern manufacturing work environment really looks like, the database could provide a listing of manufacturers who are willing to visit the classroom or host a workplace tour. Similarly, if an aspiring worker is considering a career in architecture, the searchable database will show which architectural firms are willing to help an individual explore this field, and help a workforce professional make a connection. (All initial employer contacts will be facilitated by school or service provider staff.)

To help us get started, please take a few minutes to complete the following survey, indicating which experiential learning/workforce leadership opportunities would be a good fit for your business. If you have any questions, about this survey or our services, please feel free to contact: Leslie Wojtowicz at (763)271-3757 or email: lwojtowicz@cmjts.org

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* 1. Business/Organization Name:

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* 2. Business Address:

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* 3. Primary Contact for Experiential Learning Opportunities:

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* 4. Primary Contact Phone:

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* 5. Email:

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* 6. Website:

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* 7. Sector:

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Construction (transportation)

Natural Resources and Energy (agriculture)

Professional and Business Services (informational technology)

Retail

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Comments:

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* 9. These opportunities give business representatives the occasion to present information about their business or industry and inform aspiring workers about the various career pathways within their organization. Please indicate which of the following opportunities would be a good fit for your organization.

Community-Based Opportunities

Guest Speaker
Description: An opportunity to talk about your business, occupations within your industry, your own background, and tips for future success. Time Commitment: 30-60 minutes.

Panel Member
Description: Join other industry representatives for an interactive opportunity to connect with aspiring workers and community groups about opportunities within a variety of industries. Time Commitment: 60-90 minutes

Guest Demonstration
Description: Provide a brief description of the industry and/or occupation combined with a live demonstration of one or more job tasks. Time Commitment: 30-60 minutes.

Guest Instructor
Description: Use your professional knowledge, experience, and expertise to enhance the learning experience beyond what a standard textbook or classroom lecture can provide and make career information easier to grasp. Time Commitment: A few hours to a few days, depending on site and subject matter.

Mock Interview
Description: You can help job seekers develop strong interviewing skills – for a job, scholarship or other opportunity – by serving as a mock/practice interviewer. An interview can be intimidating but a little practice can go a long way in boosting a candidate’s confidence and improving their performance when it counts. Here’s an opportunity to use your skills to prepare someone for their next (or first) big interview. Time Commitment: 30 minutes to a few hours if conducting multiple interviews.

Special Projects
Description: Research or service-learning projects. Partner on grant activities, participate in the development and implementation of sector strategies, or become active in workforce-related committees. Time Commitment: Varies.

Sponsorship
Description: Sponsor financially or through in-kind resources workforce development events. Time Commitment: Varies. Financial Commitment: Varies by event and need.

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* 10. Workplace Opportunities

Informational Interviews
Description: An informational interview is an informal conversation with a person interested in learning more about a company or career pathway. It is an opportunity to share information and give advice. It is an effective research tool and is often far more valuable than reading books, exploring the internet, or examining job descriptions. The objective of the participant is to gain career information, not immediate employment. Time Commitment: 30-60 minutes.

Workplace Tours
Description: Workplace tours provide an opportunity to visit a facility to learn about a business or industry, meet employees, and ask questions about the work observed. Tours are typically coordinated for small groups and often involve some research, on their end, prior to the tour. Time Commitment: 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Job Shadowing
Description: Job shadowing is a type of on-the-job training that gives an aspiring worker the chance to become more familiar with a career by observing an experienced employee. Job shadowing allows the participant to gain more comprehensive knowledge about the nuances of a particular career, as they are able to observe how the worker performs their duties, the key deliverables expected, and the other employees with whom the worker interacts. Time Commitment: 2 hours to 1 day.

Work Experience or Work-Based Learning (Explore)
Description: Work Experience (paid or unpaid) is a planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace for a limited period of time. It is designed to help individuals gain exposure to the world of work. It is designed to help participants acquire the attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Work experience also gives participants the occasion to explore careers in which their skills and interests might be valued. The participant performs actual job duties under the supervision of a business or agency, while the WorkForce Center staff provides additional guidance to the participant and takes financial responsibility for the participant’s wages, FICA, and workers compensation insurance, as appropriate. Time Commitment: Can range from 10 to 240 hours.

Internship or Diversified Occupations Program (Hands-On Experience)
Description: Internship (paid or unpaid) is a structured work experience connected to a participant’s area of career training. Often, internships include the award of school credit or certification. They may be counted as a separate course for credit or as a requirement of another course (as per the educational institution’s policy). The internship should involve specific skill development and learning goals with career-related learning standards (e.g. demonstrate appropriate workplace behaviors, apply decision-making and problem-solving techniques in workplace situations, and demonstrate effective teamwork). Time Commitment: Typically 1-4 months depending on a combination of school/employer/college requirements and local area policy.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Description: Participants are hired and paid by the employer to be trained, on-the-job, in a particular occupation. (OJT training requires a pre-employment contract.) The employer is reimbursed for a portion of the participant’s wage to compensate for the costs associated with training a new worker. OJT may incorporate an industry-recognized credential and/or short-term classroom training. This is an excellent way for employers to acquire quality job candidates at a discount. Time Commitment: Typically 3-6 months.

Pre-Apprenticeship
Description: Pre-apprenticeship services and programs are designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in Registered Apprenticeship programs. These programs have a documented partnership with at least one registered apprenticeship program sponsor and, together, they expand the participant's opportunity to connect with a career pathway via industry-based training and classroom instruction. Pre-apprenticeship can take place in union or non-union environments. Time Commitment: Varies; often 3-6 months.

Registered Apprenticeship
Description: A Registered Apprenticeship provides an apprentice or trainee the opportunity to earn while they learn in a structured environment. The participant works under the guidance of a mentor or industry expert, gradually accumulating the knowledge and skills needed for industry success. Apprentices receive a paycheck, from day one, that is guaranteed to increase along with their skill level. Apprenticeships also gain industry-recognized credentials for their participation and, in many cases, college credits that can lead to an associate or bachelor’s degree. Registered Apprenticeship can take place in union or non-union environments. Time Commitment: 1 to 6 years

Incumbent Worker Training
Description: Incumbent Worker Training is designed to meet the specific training needs of an employer, or group of employers, to retain a skilled workforce and/or avoid laying off employees who lack the skills necessary to meet evolving employer needs. Incumbent worker training is conducted with a commitment by the employer to retain the trainee. The intent of Incumbent Worker Training is for participants to acquire new skills that will allow them to move into higher-skilled and higher-paid positions within the company, allowing the company to hire new staff(s) to backfill the incumbent worker’s previous position. Time Commitment: Varies.