Workforce Readiness

PURPOSE:

The Workforce Readiness Committee focuses on initiatives that make an impact in the Lincoln community by being a resource to HR professionals and employers as well as helping people of all ages prepare for today’s challenging workforce needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Consistently attend WRC meetings (usually held monthly; approx. 1 ½ hours in length).
Actively participate in the development, planning, and implementation of WRC initiatives, such as 1st Job-Lincoln.
Attend and participate in special events sponsored by WRC (e.g., job fairs, mock interviews, and other activities associated with WRC initiatives).
Assist LHRMA with developing ideas for chapter meetings to create awareness and provide education and other advocacy assistance in the area of workforce readiness.
Complete other assignments as requested by the WRC Chair.

RECENT INITIATIVES:

1^st Job-Lincoln (2013 – current)

In 2013, the Workforce Readiness Committee (WRC) piloted an initiative called “1st Job-Lincoln,” which provides paid summer internship opportunities to Lincoln high school youth in the information technology field. The two primary goals are to: (1) help prepare a foundation for youth who are seeking a career in this field, and (2) provide employers an opportunity to seek out qualified candidates for future employment needs. 1st Job-Lincoln seeks out “Champion Employers” who “champion the way” for our community’s youth to access a professional, on-the-job experience at an early age.

Since its pilot inauguration, 1^st Job-Lincoln has provided job coaching to over 100 high school students who participated in our program. We have engaged stakeholders that positioned us
to work with 24 different employers in our community. This has resulted in the employment
of 43 high school students in paid, professional IT internship settings.

The WRC works closely with both participating students and Champion Employers before and during the internship experience to ensure students are well prepared to enter the job site and to assist the Champion Employers with any concerns or challenges encountered during the students’ summer employment. Each participating student is required to partake in a formal workforce preparedness program designed and delivered by human resource/other workforce professionals to create awareness in the students of the importance of attitude, appearance, and accountability in their work as an applicant and intern. This also includes technical assistance with job application preparation (cover letter, resume, application), mock interviews, and preparing to attend a job fair that is sponsored by the WRC. While the goal is that every interested student will receive an interview to gain that real-life experience, this is also meant to be a competitive process for selection of interns by the Champion Employers.

1st Job-Lincoln wants to give students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning, while also giving our local employers benefits, which include:

Demonstrating career opportunities to our youth as well as an economic reason to stay, learn, and work in Nebraska.
Impacting the education of our community’s youth through the natural “career counseling” that takes place during the internships.
Students generate fresh, new ideas for their employers.
Being recognized for their involvement and participation in an innovative initiative that develops and maintains a vibrant workforce that drives the economic future of our community.

Like us on Facebook to view our journal of program activities at: (https://www.facebook.com/1stJobLincoln),

RESOURCES:

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Members of the Workforce Readiness Committee are currently involved with many activities associated with our 1st Job-Lincoln initiative. Members can expect to have activities assigned (outside of monthly committee meetings) that span a majority of the calendar year. This includes brainstorming ways to continually improve the program and participating in special events: job coaching activities such as resume assistance, mock interviews, how to apply for a job; sponsoring a job fair; working with community employers (Champion Employers) and high school students; and ending with a “Celebration Event” to recognize participating employers and interns. We strive to have an active on-line presence with our 1st Job-Lincoln Facebook page and other information that needs to be kept updated on LHRMA’s website. Critical to the success of 1st Job-Lincoln is our collaborative work and relationship-building with community stakeholders, such as the new Career Academy, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, and the Greater Lincoln Workforce Development Board.

Workforce Readiness Committee members for 2020-2021:
– Micah Lindblad, Chair
– Susan Becker
– Cindy Heider Kaliff
– Toni Simons
– Jill Watkins
– Deitra Payne

Community Partners
Dan Hohensee, The Career Academy
Andy Huls, Greater Lincoln Workforce Development Board
Kaylie Hogan-Schnittker, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development

CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CHAIR:

Are you interested in volunteering on the Workforce Readiness Committee?

Do you have questions we can help with?

Contact the Workforce Readiness Chair at micah.lindblad@nelnet.net