QC Family Focus: October 2014

What job
fits you?
Kirk Marske
Director- Career Cruising Quad Cities
As I watched a tree trimmer suspended high above the
ground dismantle a heavy tree limb with a chainsaw, assisted
by co-workers on the ground helping to ensure people and
property were unharmed in the process, I was certain that
a mishap was eminent. Surely, I thought, part of the tree
would break loose and crash down onto the house below.
Fortunately that never happened and the tree was skillfully
cut down without incident.
But seeing this raised some questions. How did this tree
trimmer learn his skills and how does his employer begin the
task of hiring new employees? Do you hire someone and
train them on the job, or are you looking for fully qualified
employees for new-hires? Is the talent pool adequate in your
line of work?
I see a variety of jobs and careers in my daily routine
and those questions never really cross my mind. I suppose
the need for skilled workers is more apparent when the
employee is suspended high above the ground and capable
of causing serious injury (to himself or others) and property
damage without warning. One slip by the employee and the
employer has worker’s compensation or liability issues on its
hands. Too many mishaps and the business won’t survive.
The truth is, those questions could be asked about
any career – surgeon, teacher, biologist, software engineer,
welder, and hundreds
of others.
Career Cruising
Quad Cities (CCQC)
has resources to
help employers and
future employees
align to create a
qualified workforce.
Students in grades
6-12 can discover
their career interests
and explore those careers with the help of local employers
and professionals related to those occupations. And by
participating in CCQC, employers can actively develop
their future workforce by connecting with students to
get them on a pathway to their career of choice. Using
CCQC, students will know exactly what they need to
pursue their career interests and employers will have
access to trained, educated, and experienced employees
to help their business succeed with a locally developed
workforce.
Your student’s future career may not involve
extreme heights, dangerous equipment, or the potential
for damage and injury, but getting the right training,
education, and experience will build the foundation they
need to find success on their career pathway.
Career Cruising Quad Cities is a web-based career exploration
program administered by Junior Achievement of the Heartland in
partnership with The Moline Foundation. For more information, visit www.
CareerCruisingQuadCities.org.
20 October 2014 - QC Family Focus