4 ways Worlds of Work will help your company recruit tomorrow’s top talent.
Article By Taylor Babington, Bham Now
WOW: Brought to You By Central Six AlabamaWorks!
WOW is hosted by Central Six AlabamaWorks!, a nonprofit focused on workforce needs in our region. It serves the six-county area—Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker, to be exact.
Their mission is to support our diverse population and employers through quality job opportunities.
WOW exposes eighth through twelfth grade students to local industries including manufacturing, healthcare, IT and more, so they can make better career decisions in the future.
Here are the top four reasons your organization should consider registering for WOW:
1. Connect Your Company
WOW allows you to get in front of students at a critical time when they’re beginning to plan for their futures. It’s hard for students to know what they want to do with their lives in the eighth grade, but you can help them connect the dots and see the steps they need to take to get the career they want. It’s never too early to start planning!
2. Recruit the Next Generation
There’s always a pipeline to fill. You can engage directly with our future workforce at the event—over 5,000 students attended last year! This includes SkillsUSA competitors—the students at the top of their career and technical education programs—from across the state.
“This event is important as industry has an opportunity to foster their future talent supply.”
Antiqua Cleggett, executive director, Central Six AlabamaWorks!
3. Provide a Hands-On Learning Experience
“Worlds of Work at SkillsUSA is an annual event that gives students and industry the opportunity to have deeper engagement. At WOW, students will get the chance to experience hands-on, real-world simulations that will provide exposure to future career opportunities.”
Antiqua Cleggett, executive director, Central Six AlabamaWorks!
Examples of simulations include:
- Work in a mock operating room
- Weld
- Operate a manufacturing robotic arm
- Alabama Power simulated lineman training
- Work onscreen as a talk show host
A local career coach explained the significance of the event for local students.
“It is important for my students to see various professionals represent their career. Students often want to pursue a career in what they know. When they see a professional in a career they are unfamiliar with, it creates an opportunity for my students to learn about a pathway that could possibly lead to a high-demand and high-wage career that was never an option before they attended the event.”
Shelley Kaler, career coach, Pell City schools
4. Mentor the Future Workforce
Do you wish someone had walked you through career options before you jumped into a field or went to college? Now you can be that person for our local students.
“WOW is important because it allows students to engage in hands-on activities while supervised by experts that can offer valuable career advice.”
Shelley Kaler, career coach, Pell City Schools
