Employers, Students Explore Job Paths At Connecting the Dots Career Simulation
Students asked to overcome qualification obstacles and engage real-life job holders in career exploration exercise
By News Channel Nebraska
PERU – The Peru State College campus hosted the University of Nebraska career search simulation Connecting the Dots on Friday.
Over 120 freshman and sophomores from four schools participated with employers and career specialists from southeast Nebraska.
The simulation focused on exploring career clusters, overcoming educational obstacles and talking with professionals about career choices.
UNL Extension Educator Dawn Lindsley said the career exploration simulation has been an exceptional success.
Lindsley: “We’ve had over 10,000 students go through it on an annual basis in the last couple of years and it seems to be really effective in helping them think about their future and what they want to do, so they are not wasting as much time, money and energy later on.”
University extension assembles the representatives of business and industry, as well as military and post-secondary representatives, who will interact with students.
Lindsley: “That is a great part of the simulation. It wouldn’t work without them. It’s nice to hear -- coming from the horse’s mouth -- really what it’s like out in the workforce and really what employers are looking for and what kind of things they need to do now, in order to be successful later.”
State Sen. Julie Slama encouraged students to keep their social media history job ready. Employers also advised students on valuing education, searching for opportunities to job shadow and commit to life-long learning.
