The winter/spring 2025 job shadow application portal is now open through Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. 

The summer 2025 internship portal is also open for current sophomores and juniors in high school until Feb. 7 at 3 p.m.

Connecting Today’s Students to Careers of Tomorrow

At WLC we are continually adjusting our job shadow and internship offerings to meet student and industry needs. As part of that work, we strive to show students a broad array of careers and make them aware of high-demand fields and the careers of tomorrow.

As the workforce continually shifts, we keep a pulse on in-demand careers and regional needs. This school year we have added numerous new career opportunities for students to explore. A few examples include lineman/journeyman/telecommunication technician; social worker; urban planner; landscape architect; farmer; and healthcare careers in retirement communities. There is growth and need in each of these areas.

T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative hosted three lineman job shadows in the fall. They were excited about this opportunity to engage with students. “Having students come to the cooperative to job shadow gives the students firsthand experience of what it is like to work here,” says Janet Faas, staff assistant with T.I.P. “It also gives students the chance to engage with cooperative employees and ask questions, which gives them a better understanding of what it’s like to be an employee of an electric cooperative.”

In our first school year with lineman/journeyman/telecommunication technician as a career-specific option, we had 11 students select this field. Seeing this interest drove us to create and add an Electric Utilities Career Day, which will be hosted this spring with Linn County REC.

Another example of a new opportunity we provided this school year was a Harvest Experience and Combine Ride-Along in Jones County. Students were able to ride in a combine and experience how grain is harvested and moved from the combine, auger cart, and semitruck to the grain-handling setup. Local farmers and producers hosted this experience and were eager to share their industry and the growing need for more students to go into farming.

What will be the in-demand careers of the future? We will have to see, but data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and mental health professions all seem poised to be big contenders.

WLC and CCHS Programming Leads to More In-Depth Experiences and Postsecondary Success

Each year WLC places thousands of students in job shadows and hundreds of students in internships to help them explore future career opportunities, network with local employers, and learn about training opportunities to reach their goals. We strive to help students begin the career exploration process to help relieve some of the stress that comes with the “what’s next?” decision. We want students to be able to make informed decisions and be confident in their path post high school. At WLC we build a foundation of career exploration opportunities, starting in middle school, that support a student’s progression into more in-depth experiences such as internships, College Credit in High School programs, and apprenticeships.

But how does this progression of experiences, from job shadows to internships to concurrent enrollment, lead to postsecondary success? Let’s take a look at the numbers:

• Students who participate in at least one WLC job shadow or internship are 148% more likely to enroll in concurrent credit courses compared to the general high school population.
• In turn, these College Credit in High School (CCHS) students are more likely to go on to postsecondary training. Between 2016 and 2022, 76% of CCHS grads went on to postsecondary enrollment, compared to only 47% of graduates without concurrent enrollment credit.
• Students who take concurrent credit are 30% more likely to enroll at Kirkwood post high school.
• CCHS grads also have higher three-year graduation rates. When looking at CCHS grads (2017 – 2020) who went on to Kirkwood, CCHS grads had a 43% graduation rate versus a 33% graduation rate for non-CCHS grads, an increase of over 30%.

“Through our K12 Partnership programs, we believe in empowering students with the experiences and knowledge they need to make confident, informed decisions about their futures,” says Kristy Black, executive dean for K12 partnerships at Kirkwood. “By providing hands-on opportunities like job shadows, internships, and concurrent enrollment, we are not only preparing them for the workforce but also building a strong foundation for their continued success in higher education and beyond, and we take great pride in that."

Alburnett Middle School Student Editorial: My STEAM Experience!

Workplace Learning Connection’s STEAM Institute gives area seventh grade students the opportunity to explore careers and pathways within the STEAM fields — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Through engaging, hands-on presentations led by area professionals, students are able to explore career fields, get a glimpse into the world of work, explore local opportunities, connect classroom learning to real-world jobs, and start the conversation about career self-discovery.

Over the last two months, WLC has hosted STEAM Institute events in Linn, Washington, and Johnson counties. Over 5,000 students from 39 different middle schools participated. Students got to do such things as explore how water tables work, try out an auto paint simulator, learn how to install a window, how to properly use a stethoscope, make lip balm, and so much more.

Hear from Alburnett Middle School Student, Kaylee Burke about the impactfulness of her STEAM experience:

1. What did you find most interesting?
   The fashion class was my favorite because that’s something I am interested in doing when I’m older. I really liked doing the activity where we traced our designs on the paper. I liked that it was hands-on.
2. What were some things you learned?
   I learned how to use a welding simulator, which was really fun. I also learned about the different careers out there. I also learned about the different types of fabric and even got to smell burnt fabric!
3. How did STEAM get you thinking about future career opportunities?
   I already knew what I wanted to do before going on this field trip, which is to be a fashion designer. I was excited I got to explore that field as one of our rotations. I got to understand what goes into a career in fashion.
4. What are your thoughts on the STEAM experience?
   I still want to be a fashion designer but I know for sure that being a physical therapist is not for me. I think all kids can learn from this experience. Especially if they don’t know what they want to do when they are older.