Jobs and the workforce are critical topics as we head into the summer season. May’s Workforce Wednesday discussion – a monthly opportunity for Minnesota employers to share stories and solutions to address workforce challenges – focused on strategies for engaging with the youth workforce in our communities. Here are some of the key takeaways: 

Kelly Read – Human Resources Recruiter, Metal Craft, Elk River 

The intern program started at our company in partnership with the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program through ISD 728. We’ve worked with multiple students in a part-time capacity and had students intern as machinists as well as work in our HR and marketing departments. Some of these students have continued to expand their skills and be promoted into full-time roles at our company after they’ve graduated. 

Amy Lord - CTE Coordinator, ISD 728, Elk River, Otsego, Rogers & Zimmerman 

We’re excited to have partners like Metal Craft working alongside our students and showing them what kind of jobs are out there after graduation. There are so many jobs that don’t need a college degree and many students don’t know about those options. We want students to develop their passions and we begin working with students in the middle schools to start thinking about all types of career possibilities.   

Mark Lee - OJT and Youth Apprenticeship Instructor and Wright Tech CEO Facilitator, Wright Technical Center, Buffalo 

Wright Tech is owned by the eight public schools in and around Wright County – rather than having each school have their own career programs, we’ve built a better one together. Students come for one-third of their day to take programs in automotive, welding, construction, childhood education, law enforcement and health care with teachers who are experts in their field and bring their prior experience into the classroom. After a year, students can decide for themselves if these career pathways are compelling or if perhaps this isn’t what they want in a career – which is okay as well, because it’s all about career exploration! 

Robin Gordon – HR Manager, Mold-Tech, Inc, Albertville 

We work with Mark at Wright Tech so we can locate employers, and try to connect with students when they’re young because it’s a very difficult hiring right now. We also work with the technical schools out there, but it’s a tough market.  

Ruth Cyphers – President, AdMfg, Inc., Fairmont  

I get really excited about career pathways, internships and job shadows because it personally took me 20 years to figure out where I should be in my life. When we have interns, they learn more about themselves than they ever knew before, and it helps them decide whether they are right for an ad agency or wherever else they should go. It’s a cool program, because there’s a satisfaction to see these interns grow into their own and succeed in the community.  

Tammie Hested – Family Resource Coordinator, Minnesota Valley Action Council, Fairmont 

I collaborate with lots of organizations, and I coordinate the Martin County Internship Program which includes paid internships for local college students. This program was created in 2012 as way to attract students back to our area. We have them come back in the summer and we talk with them about different opportunities and try to match them with businesses like Ruth’s company. It’s an opportunity for students to learn more about what careers they want and sometimes after an internship they realize ‘no, this wasn’t for me’ and we consider that a win as well. We also partner with the Fairmont Chamber and the school for Area Career Exploration where we host an event at the Fairmont High School and businesses come in with activities and games and they talk to the students about different career paths. We also put together a panel of young graduates – people with all different backgrounds who have returned and work in our community – to share their career path journey.  

View a recording of May’s session and other past sessions, plus view related resources you can download and use, on the Workforce Wednesday page on CareerForceMN.com.