Career Exploration & Work Readiness Programs

Having the knowledge and/or technical skills for in a specific career or job is only part of the story. Career planning skills, opportunities for career exploration, development of transferable essential soft skills, and the ability to try out career interests through internships or job shadowing will make students ready for life and lead to greater success in the workforce. JA’s community volunteer-based approach not only ignites a new or increased spark within students, but the partnerships validate key skills and knowledge needed in the future workforce. The student journey will facilitate discovery of their interests and skills, support more intentional high school course planning, and encourage students to pursue careers they might not have otherwise considered.

51%

OF JA ALUMNI GO INTO THE CAREER OR FIELD OF THEIR JA VOLUNTEER

Jr. Apprentice (JrA)

$3,000 per student

Designed as an education to employment link meant to enhance and strengthen student motivation to graduate high school with robust pathways to a successful work life while simultaneously breaking down barriers youth face in the job market. This year-long work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy initiative for inner-city Hartford students involves weekly training, off-site experiential learning at businesses and institutions of higher education, and culminates with each student earning a paid internship at a local business. Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

Career Connections for Young Women (CCYW)

$3,000 per student

Inspire and prepare young women to focus on careers, professional goals and financial responsibility. Through a series of ten-sessions, students will participate in a variety of workshops, activities and lessons from one of JA’s most powerful high school curriculum, JA Career Success. In addition, the lessons will be enhanced with experiential learning through industry specific panel discussions, soft skill training and career exploration. This program is aimed to provide young women with practical advice and wisdom about the world of work, from how to get hired to understanding your personal brand, and a network of support as they navigate what comes next.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, financial literacy DEI

JA Career Speaker Series

$1,000 per class

This program brings professionals and the working world to the students – helping to erase the mystique of the workplace, providing advice and stories, and inspiring them regarding their career goals. Professionals from a variety of industries share their experiences in their fields as well as the career process via live or recorded video conferencing. Topics may also include researching job opportunities that correlate with personal interests and skills, the job application process, and resume writing and interviewing. This program focuses on individual speakers and their personal stories with the intention to build meaningful connections for students.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

Resume Review & Mock Interviews

$1,000 per class

This experiential workshop is for high school students who are preparing for both career and college. Students learn the importance of personal branding and what criteria belongs on a resume as well as identify worthy achievements and what not to include. Students prepare a resume and participate in a mock interview with volunteers. They learn to identify appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills for an interview, demonstrate professional behaviors, including preparedness, professional attire and respectful presentation. They will develop confidence in relation to their interviewing skills.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

JA Job Shadow

$5,000-$10,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 50-100 students) Students visit a professional work environment either in person or virtually, which can take on many forms depending on the business. The day includes kick off remarks by an executive. The students participate in programming and face a series of challenges related to career exploration by their workplace hosts. Students will continue to learn how to research career opportunities and witness the skills needed to land and keep their dream job in the career or industry of their volunteers.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

Career Panels

$5,000-$10,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 100-200 students)

Four to five local business members participate in an interactive panel discussion. Panelists share the history of their career paths, allowing students to understand that there are many ways to achieve goals in life, and encouraging the mindset of staying open to opportunity as it will result in the achievement of personal and professional growth. Though primarily offered virtually, some Career Panels may be held in person.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

Industry Exploration Days

$5,000-$25,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 50-250 students)

JA partners with several industry leaders and local businesses to provide a day-long virtual or in person experience for students that centers around real-world explanations and experiences shared by employee volunteers as well as career opportunities in Connecticut. Programming includes a keynote speaker, panels and presentations through which volunteers share about their own pathways to success. Additional program components may include virtual job shadows, live demonstrations and videos. The goal is for students to see themselves in roles within specific industries or careers, and learn what it takes to get there.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

JA Career Days

$5,000-$25,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 50-250 students)

JA works with the school to customize topics/career clusters based on student interest and feedback. This live virtual or in person program includes several speakers telling their career story, interacting with students and answering questions, speaking for approximately 15-20min each. Some volunteers also create presentations, videos, virtual visuals for student engagement.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

Career Walk

$5,000-$10,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 50-100 students)

Through this experience, students visit a variety of businesses in a series of mini Job Shadows: banking, finance, marketing, insurance, retail, and other industries in brief sessions, back-toback across a single day. Literally walking from business to business, students are provided with an opportunity to learn about different careers and receive an inside look at local businesses.

Investment Focus: Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, DEI

In addition to our stand-alone programming, JA has multiple curriculums used by volunteers in K-6 classrooms as part of our JA Day or JA in a Week program as well as through a series of weekly Traditional sessions. Below is a list of these workforce readiness focused curriculums:

• JA It’s My Job (soft skills)

• JA Community Coders

• JA Career Success

• JA Our Nation

• JA Excellence through Ethics

• JA Marketing Principals I & II

Career planning skills, opportunities for career exploration, development of transferable essential soft skills, and the ability to try out career interests through internships or job shadowing will make students ready for life and lead to greater success in the workforce.