Human Services Career Exploration

Explore the many exciting career opportunities available at our Adult Day Care Health Centers where we serve a variety of people age 18 and older!  Our social workers assist with care plans, funding, and problem solving every day community needs.  Nurses monitor medications, work with community physicians, and complete health assessments.  Patient Care Assistants do many of the same tasks as a CNA such as, safety awareness/fall prevention, bathing, activities, and meal assistance.  Program and activity specialists, and our habilitation staff engage our participants in programming, outings, special events, and individualized programming that helps them meet their goals. Our dining staff make sure we are following special diets and honor personal choice.  We would love to have you join us and show you not only what it takes to do their work day to day, but how roles interact to meet the needs of our participants!

Here is your opportunity to learn everything you need to know about a variety of athletic careers!  You will have the opportunity to visit with an athletic director, athletic trainer, and a couple of coaches. You will learn what the daily tasks are in their jobs along with the education required. You may also have the opportunity to observe a basketball practice to see some of these individuals in action!  Held December 12, 2024 from 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Would you like to be involved in sports and athletics with high level athletes in a college atmosphere on a daily basis? If you love to compete and be around competitive individuals striving to be the best version of themselves, then please join us at Mount Mercy University to explore career paths as an athletic trainer, athletic director, sports information director (SID), and college coach. Held spring 2025.

Do you have a passion for sports and athletics?  Learn more about careers in athletics such as coaching, sports marketing and athletic training. Held April 30, 2025, starting at 3 p.m.  

The Baking part of the shadow will include an introduction and demonstration using a store-bought cupcake. How do you wow with that? The Culinary aspect of the shadow will include a brief introduction and demonstration on simple kitchen techniques for making soups. There will be an open conversation with question and answer session. Cap of 10.

Experience a commercial kitchen environment in the Kirkwood Community College Baking and Pastry Lab during a live, hands-on lab session instructed by Kirkwood Hospitality faculty. Participants will learn more about the careers of bakers and pastry chefs, and be involved in production utilizing some fundamental kitchen techniques.  You won’t go home hungry!

The Anamosa State Penitentiary will be offering an opportunity to learn more about the following careers within the Penitentiary: Correctional Officer, Treatment (Correctional Counselor/Psychologist/Activities Specialist), Correctional Trades Leader, Correctional Food Service Coordinator, as well as an overview of Iowa Prison Industries. Students will have a chance to learn what a typical day consists of for staff in all of these areas. The last hour of the day will consist of a question and answer forum. Will be held on a Tuesday or Thursday morning in late April or May. Job shadow will last approximately 5-6 hours. Must be 18 years of age. Cap of 5.

Come explore a career in beauty and wellness at our spring career day. Capri offers advanced training in Cosmetology, Esthetics and Massage Therapy. During this career exploration day you will have the opportunity to interact with students and staff, learn more about each program, tour the building and so much more. Plus, you will have the opportunity to see firsthand what it is like to learn from our licensed Cosmetology instructors during our hands-on mini classes. If you are interested in becoming a professional stylist, skin care specialist, licensed massage therapist or makeup artist this event was made for you. Held spring 2025.

Come join PCI Academy for an inside look at what the world of cosmetology, esthetics, and massage therapy looks like. See how exciting and amazing your future career can be.

Do you like working with children? Want to make a difference? Learn about careers in education such as elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, school counselor, special education teacher, and paraeducator. Hear about the daily tasks in their jobs along with the required education.

Learn about a career in healthcare that is outside the four walls of a hospital. A career in EMS as an EMT or Paramedic is a rewarding profession. Receive an inside look at this potential profession from current ground and flight EMS providers. Along with getting hands-on experience with life-saving skills such as airway management, bleeding control, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. Spring 2025.

Go behind the scenes of one of Cedar Rapids’ largest community events during this job shadow with the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival staff. Learn about all the planning and marketing efforts that go into this three-week festival that is the state’s second largest festival (behind the Iowa State Fair) and the state’s largest 4th of July fireworks display. If your career interests include: Event Planning, Marketing, Advertising, Graphic Design, and Community Outreach this is the job shadow for you. Cap of 7.

Investigate how to embark on a career path with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI hires professionals in several criminal justice focused specialties, such as special agent, linguist, SWAT team member, intelligence analyst, and victim specialist to name a few. The FBI also offers opportunities for early educational and professional experience to include a yearly Teen Academy and a 10-week paid college Internship program. This job shadow will take place at Kirkwood’s Linn County Regional Center in Hiawatha. Spring 2025.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department is a dynamic and diverse organization that provides an outstanding opportunity for those interested in a public service career. If you’d like to learn about the skills and education it takes to be a firefighter/paramedic, then this is the event for you!  Individuals in these careers will give you all the details regarding what they do, plus provide some training exercises to show you first-hand what it feels like to be in this career field. Held January 24, 2025 from 9:00am-11:00am.

Visit Kirkwood’s on-campus luxury 4 Diamond Hotel and learn about all of the professional management careers needed to create great experiences in hotels, resorts, events & conferences, and vacation destinations. Explore the world of hospitality management in a variety of careers including: Hotel, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Sales & Event, and Club Management as well as Theme Park Operations & Senior LIving Management. Come and see why your generation is finding happiness and success traveling and working all around the globe as well as right here at home.

Interested in a career in the legal profession? Come speak with a variety of individuals who work in the legal field to learn more about their careers. You will have the opportunity to have a conversation with them and also receive a tour of the courthouse.  Held March 2025.

Held at the United States Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, you will have the opportunity to hear from professionals in a variety of legal fields, such as a judge, an attorney panel, probation officer, and U.S. Marshal.  If scheduling works, you may also be able to observe a court proceeding. These legal professionals will provide information and details about their specific careers and allow time for questions. Cap of 25. Spring 2025.

Interested in helping people live better lives? Through small group, round table discussions you will have the opportunity to hear and ask questions from individuals in a variety of career disciplines, including social work, counseling, psychology, and social services.

Have you ever been interested in knowing more about the military and how they operate from a job/career perspective? This job shadow will allow you to hear from the following branches of the military: Air Force, Army, Marines, National Guard, and Navy. The goal is for you to spend time with representatives from each branch so you have a broad understanding of how each operates. They will share with you about what makes their branch unique, career opportunities available (other than combat); how schooling, college, and other specialized training is handled, as well as various lifestyle factors to consider.

Come attend a mini police academy and learn about what it takes to become a police officer, enjoy hands-on experiences with a number of our specialized officers, and investigate different stains! This will be a daylong event from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You will be given a tour of the facility in addition to hearing about a variety of careers in law enforcement including dispatch, K-9, bomb technician, police officer and crime investigation to name a few!  Spring 2025.

Johnson County Ambulance Service provides an exciting experience for those interested in a public safety career. If you’d like to learn about the skills and education it takes to be a paramedic, then this is the event for you! Paramedics from Johnson County Ambulance Service will give you all the details regarding what a typical day looks like on the job.  They will demonstrate a medical emergency call scenario and the teamwork it takes to work in this field. Held April 2025

Interested in learning more about what it means to be an Agent of Change? Here at the 6th District Department of Corrections, we honor our obligation to community safety by facilitating behavior change in the individuals entrusted to us for correctional community supervision, otherwise known as probation and parole. Come learn about two critical factors when it comes to community safety-care (support) and control (accountability) and hear from staff who have served, or are serving, in the critical roles of Residential Officer and Probation/Parole Officer, and what it takes to be a highly effective officer. You will also have the opportunity to tour one of our residential facilities. Cap of 10. Spring 2025.