SPARKING THEIR INTERESTS

Thanks to a partner company, Electrical Systems students can find work-based training beyond class.

Electrical Systems instructor Ramie Robinson is dedicated to helping his students achieve success, especially when this means connecting students to their future employers. Electrical Systems offers several opportunities for involvement beyond the classroom, including an annual Habitat House wiring project, SkillsUSA competitions, apprenticeship positions, and work-based learning.

This year, CVCC partner Century Furniture approached Robinson with a new idea. While Century Furniture had CVCC Furniture apprentices and other Work-Based Learning students in the past, no one considered adding Electrical Systems students in the mix. The prospect of expanding into Electrical and Maintenance programs sounded like a terrific opportunity to grow this partnership.

Ramie was happy to discover that Rance Smith, current Electrical Systems student, wanted a Work-Based Learning experience that fit his work ethic and career goals.

“I enjoy learning, but I’m a more visual and hands-on type of person,” says Smith. “I do that better than learning off a piece of paper.” Ramie also helped Smith find in-person lectures that could keep him engaged with the coursework. Applying classroom knowledge to a tangible situation is key to achieving one’s potential. That’s the focus of WorkBased Learning—to take what you study in college and immediately apply it in the workplace.

Smith receives one-on-one mentoring at Century Furniture, including a mid-semester evaluation and the chance to explore areas of Industrial and Residential Systems in greater depth. As he prepares to graduate in the Spring ‘23 semester, he is excited to find his niche in the industry and launch his career.

Rance and his supervisor, Dennis Ester, understand the importance of taking the time to find the right fit in their work environment. Learning curves are expected, whether it’s introducing students to new equipment or helping them get acclimated to the job. There’s a right fit for everyone, somewhere. Still, when students come to the door with the right attitude and the right fundamentals, it’s a winning situation for everyone involved.

“There is the importance of putting the student with another employee to see their potential,” says Ester, Maintenance Supervisor at Century Furniture. “If you don’t fulfill the employee’s needs, they will move on.”

But if employee satisfaction rises as a result of meeting these needs and encouraging their talents, the entire team will yield much better results. After the business and the Work-Based Learning student commit one semester to discover strengths, personal character, and workplace dynamics, a student may find a job with the same company upon graduation.

Keith Nichols, Vice President of Manufacturing at Century Furniture, is encouraged by CVCC’s efforts in training the next generation of employees. Nichols explains that there are lots of reasons for WorkBased Learning experiences like this to continue at Century Furniture, and the company intends to expand. This would be a game-changer for several students like Rance, who are eager to learn and develop relationships with future employers.

“This is what our community colleges are supposed to do,” says Nichols. “They are supporting what industries need. Doing more of this is only going to be good for us, the college, and the students of the college.” change your whole mood. It might take a while to get used to the rhythm of the workplace, but no one wants to work with someone who is unhappy. If you need to go outside and get some sunshine, don’t be afraid to step away from the desk for a few minutes...you might even save yourself some mistakes in the future.

Your career is unique to you. Don’t compare. It can be difficult when your career path doesn’t work out exactly as you planned, or if your friends/classmates land the job you’re searching for. Don’t give up on your search! Discovering the right position – and the right work/life balance –takes time, effort, and patience.

You will make mistakes, but coworkers are eager to help. It can be hard to admit you need help, even though we all feel this way at some point. Please remember you are part of a team for a reason: to help each other reach your goals!

Sometimes it’s better to ask often and be the squeaky wheel than to start a project with no direction at all. Seriously, this one can be difficult to do, but it’s necessary to get a job done well. Imagine working for hours on a project unable to visualize the outcome or the final product. Make things easier by clarifying the project goals before you find yourself too far off in the wrong direction.

Content and communication are more digital than ever before. Have online backups—and backups for your backup. This one seems easy, but it’s also easy to forget. Thanks to platforms like GoogleDocs and OneDrive, most content can be saved on the desktop and the digital cloud. It’s also wise to scan physical documents (such as signed forms, campaign flyers, or HR papers) and save them in a personal backup account.

Take a lunch break. You’ll return to work with a clearer mind. Unless you’ll lose focus of the daily grind, a lunch break is the perfect time to re-focus on your personal goals, to socialize, and just breathe. Whether you like to make your office a cozy spot or you enjoy leaving campus for a bit, take time for you.

Getting the job done can be better than perfection. You can be your own worst critic. Trust coworkers to let you know when content needs to be fixed – and when it is good to go. Remember, in the ups and downs of meetings, ideas, and deadlines, it’s always better to have something completed than to worry about details until you fizzle out.

Everyone’s work style is different. Have you explored your own working style? Knowing this can help you develop the best methods to get tasks done while at the office. It can also help you understand coworkers’ perspectives, especially when there are different opinions of a project or final goal.

Yeah, you might have a day or two where work comes home with you, but don’t let it keep you up at night. Late emails, hard deadlines, and urgent requests can get the best of us. Try to keep your office work the office and your home life at home...if you have an extra hard day, maybe give yourself a break or little treat to de-stress.