Types of careers in this pathway include: engineers; architects, construction, computer software developers, CAD drafter, diesel mechanics, transportation careers, scientists and more!
Explore the opportunities listed below, when you find the career exploration event you'd like to attend, write down its name so it is handy when you fill out your application.
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Career exploration days offer a great introduction to specific career fields and allow you to explore a broad scope of careers within that industry, all in one shadow experience. Career Exploration Days are a great option for initial exploration of a specific career or industry. On average, shadows are typically two to four hours in duration.
This is an opportunity to explore architecture and engineering-related careers which include Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Process Technology and 3D scanning. Held November 14, 2024 8:00 a.m.-noon.
If you are interested in any construction area from inception of design to final construction, including pricing, project management, resource planning, management, coordination, and scheduling then you don’t want to miss this day. You also will have the opportunity to speak with professionals about their careers and help identify career interests and outline career pathways. Held in October 2024. Cap of 15.
Would you like to have the best office view in the state? Are you looking to travel and reach your financial goals within the tower and wireless industry? Then look no further and climb to the top of your career with Viking Maintenance. If you have experience or interest in construction, roofing, scaffolding, landscape, or being a farm hand, this job shadow is for you! Led by our CEO and VP of Procurement, you will receive hands-on experience with an opportunity of doing a short climb in our climate-controlled training facility. Careers such as tower technician, field supervisor, construction manager, and project manager will be discussed. Cap of 6.
Are you looking for a career where you can be out and about, not tied to an office? Do you like to be hands-on? Are you looking for a career where you can gain on the job training? Discover what it means to have a career as a heavy equipment mechanic, a fabricator (welder), a drilling service provider (for water wells), and a pump service provider. Observe a drill rig and a pump rig in action. Plus, learn about wells, aquifers and the importance of groundwater preservation. This is a full day experience from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., multiple job sites may be visited as part of the shadow.
From concept to finished product, Kinze Manufacturing designs and manufactures planters, grain carts, and tillage equipment at its facility in Williamsburg, Iowa. Join us as we begin our day at Kinze touring the Kinze Innovation Center, which highlights Kinze’s 60 years of innovation and the technology that is shaping the future of farming. We will also have a factory tour to observe how raw materials and other components come together to become a finished product. Throughout the day you will observe and visit with Kinze employees in the areas of welding, machining, assembly, powder coat painting, testing, engineering, sales, marketing, and many more. Join us for this unique opportunity to observe several different agricultural and manufacturing careers under one roof!
Are you interested in solving challenging engineering problems and creating unique exterior cladding solutions for companies like Cadillac, Jeep, Top Golf, Porsche Motors as well as local institutions like Kirkwood Community College or the University of Iowa? Explore a career in the exterior cladding industry. See firsthand how Engineering, CAD Design, and CNC Programming come together to create custom building facades around the county. See world-class performance firsthand from a local cladding manufacturer. Cap of 15.
See the process of design development and production through careers in design engineering, manufacturing engineering, project management and CNC machining. Cap of 10.
Do you have the desire to solve problems, design new products, create processes, or find a way to improve quality and safety in a production setting? If so, this shadow experience is for you! Learn how Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers work together to design and create products for production. Get an understanding of the process, from designing an idea all the way to the development of the product. Learn about the skills needed and what a day in the life of design and manufacturing engineers looks like. Cap of 5.
Join Infrastructure Technology Solutions (ITS) for an overview of careers, facility tour, and workforce needs. Featured roles and topics include: IT security – products and tools for monitoring and managing machines and users; CTO/CIO – Methods of performing CTO/CIO duties as a contracted partner and as an internal employee; physical security – video surveillance and door access control – products, technologies and integrations; network engineering and installation, with an emphasis on network security; software engineering, APIs and the Internet of Things; computer repairs/hardware, business development roles; office manager and technical sales, performing standard business roles within a high-tech environment. Held October 23, 2024. Cap of 10.
Discover careers in information technology. Learn about a sampling of IT careers including: data infrastructure, application development, software development, AI/Robotics, and embedded systems.
Do you have an interest in the environment, resource conservation, or climate action? Learn how City of Cedar Rapids careers such as Sustainability Program Manager, Environmental Specialist, City Arborist, and Transportation Planner create sustainability products or services and/or strive to reduce the environmental impact of the city’s processes and operations. Begin the job shadow in the City Hall Council Chambers, then take a tour outside near the river to learn about the inner workings of the flood wall and see how each career works to positively impact the environment.
Lights, camera, action! It’s not a movie, but it’s your local news. See behind the scenes of a newscast and how news stories are written, how breaking news is handled, and how weather is forecasted and presented on TV. This job shadow will teach you about the fast paced world of TV broadcasting. Anchors and meteorologists from Iowa’s News Now will show you everything you need to know about the world of live TV news.
Discover the career of an air traffic controller and learn about the movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. You’ll also take a deeper dive in understanding how air traffic controllers authorize, regulate and control flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Are you interested in cars and like to get your hands dirty? If so, join the mechanics at Billion Auto for a hands on experience in the auto technician and auto mechanic career fields. After your tour of the dealership, you will be guided by the certified mechanics to inspect cars, change the oil and other typical day to day tasks. Hear from the managers about their career, training, and education. Cap of 10.
Students with an interest in information technology, marketing, human resources, or operations can visit our corporate office in Cedar Rapids, IA. Discussions with dispatchers, customer service representatives, recruiters, and IT professionals would be included along with a tour of the facility. Cap of 10.
Do you enjoy solving problems, servicing customers, and working with fellow employee-owners? Explore the growing fields of supply chain and warehouse logistics while learning how Van Meter’s culture and employee-owner experience makes it a fun place to work! Join the team for a tour of the facility and meet with operations and automations staff to learn about a variety of careers such as project management, distribution center team member, traveling construction coordinator, engineering, sales, marketing, and finance. Held on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 from 10 am - 12 pm. Cap of 20.
Students will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet with Operations staff, talk to a Driver Recruiter, and visit the shop facility. Careers covered include: Truck driver, operations/dispatch, administrative, and preventative maintenance mechanics. Held October 2024. Cap of 10.
Individual/small group shadows allow for a deeper dive into specific careers, shadowing a professional(s) in that field. These small group shadows are perfect for those who are more confident in their career interests and have had some initial exposure to that career. Job shadows may be individualized or include a handful of students, depending on demand. Pick from the below list of careers and the associated career descriptions.
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Repair automobiles, trucks, buses and other vehicles. Master mechanics repair virtually any part on the vehicle or specialize in the transmission system.
Uses CAD equipment to provide support to engineers and architects by preparing routine layouts, detailed drawings, assembly drawings, sketches and diagrams. Details to include all views and dimensions necessary for manufacture, fabrication or construction. Makes copies of drawings and maintains information regarding changes to database. Makes simple decisions, but refers most questions/problems to engineers or supervisor. Has a solid understanding of drafting techniques and familiarity with engineering terminology.
Provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. Either support computer networks or provide technical assistance directly to computer users.
Set up, maintain and repair computer systems. Troubleshoot hardware problems and install new equipment. Ensure that company employees have up-to-date hardware and software to complete their jobs properly. May also be responsible for helping company employees learn how to use software programs and hardware.
Plan, direct or coordinate the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
Diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service streetlights, intercom systems or electrical control systems.
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper and pulp by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics and engineering.
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants and water and sewage systems. Research, design, plan or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation or pollution control technology.
Research, design, develop, test or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components or systems for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use.
Develop tools, implement designs or integrate machinery, equipment or computer technologies to ensure effective manufacturing processes.
The branch of engineering dealing with the design, construction, and use of machines.
Dig, lift, carry, smooth, level and pave using specialized equipment. Construction equipment operators run excavators, drive dump trucks, steer graders, direct asphalt pavers and roll rollers to build and repair roads, buildings, and other structures.
Install, service or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences or commercial establishments.
Lubricate machinery, change parts or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
Lay out, assemble, install, or maintain pipe systems, pipe supports, or related hydraulic or pneumatic equipment for steam, hot water, heating, cooling, lubricating, sprinkling, or industrial production or processing systems.
Plan, design and furnish interiors of residential, commercial or industrial buildings. Formulate a design which is practical, aesthetic and conducive to intended purposes such as raising productivity, selling merchandise or improving lifestyle. May specialize in a particular field, style or phase of interior design.
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy-duty transmission towers. Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data gathered by surface and air stations, satellites and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
Assemble, install or repair pipes, fittings or fixtures of heating, water or drainage systems according to specifications or plumbing codes.
Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. Software developers don’t just write code, they also have an understanding of the broad scope of the project or product. Developers think through all aspects of functionality, end-user engagement and security.
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial driver’s license.
Use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components, or to fill holes, indentations or seams of fabricated metal products.
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