MiCareerQuest Southwest is not your average career fair. In fact, it’s not a career fair at all. It’s a career exploration experience.
MiCareerQuest Southwest is the region's largest interactive career exploration event that will draw thousands of eighth grade students in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties and will take place in-person on October 25 & 26th, 2022.
It exposes students to a broad range of exciting, rewarding career opportunities as they prepare for their futures as students will be meeting with working professionals who have built successful careers in a variety of fields. Local employers highlight careers within four high-demand industries: information technology, health sciences, manufacturing, and professional trades.
In addition, young people will have the opportunity to touch, feel and work with the equipment, tools and technology used by people every day in a broad range of in-demand jobs. Students engage with professionals and participate in activities that highlight various high-growth occupations, opening their eyes to opportunities for great careers in Southwest Michigan.
The goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world jobs and their requirements. Students also will discover engaging workplace opportunities, such as internships, job shadowing and more.
Additionally, representatives from educational institutions help students make the connection between training, education, and careers.
MiCareerQuest Southwest is the region's largest interactive career exploration event that will draw thousands of eighth grade students in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties and will take place in-person on October 25 & 26th, 2022.
It exposes students to a broad range of exciting, rewarding career opportunities as they prepare for their futures as students will be meeting with working professionals who have built successful careers in a variety of fields. Local employers highlight careers within four high-demand industries: information technology, health sciences, manufacturing, and professional trades.
In addition, young people will have the opportunity to touch, feel and work with the equipment, tools and technology used by people every day in a broad range of in-demand jobs. Students engage with professionals and participate in activities that highlight various high-growth occupations, opening their eyes to opportunities for great careers in Southwest Michigan.
The goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world jobs and their requirements. Students also will discover engaging workplace opportunities, such as internships, job shadowing and more.
Additionally, representatives from educational institutions help students make the connection between training, education, and careers.
MiCareerQuest History
Did you know:
37.5 million Baby Boomers will retire in the next decade, yet only
21 million workers will enter the workforce to replace them?
21 million workers will enter the workforce to replace them?
So, how can we address these impending workforce shortages as a region?
MiCareerQuest was created in 2015 by Michigan Works! Kent, Allegan & Barry Counties (now West Michigan Works!), Kent ISD and the Construction Workforce Development Alliance (CWDA) in response to employers’ need for future talent in construction, health care, information technology and manufacturing. In 2016, MiCareerQuest's first affiliate event was held right here in Kalamazoo!
Today, employers and industry alliances across the country are hosting CareerQuestUSA events to expose students to the wealth of career possibilities in their regions.
MiCareerQuest was created in 2015 by Michigan Works! Kent, Allegan & Barry Counties (now West Michigan Works!), Kent ISD and the Construction Workforce Development Alliance (CWDA) in response to employers’ need for future talent in construction, health care, information technology and manufacturing. In 2016, MiCareerQuest's first affiliate event was held right here in Kalamazoo!
Today, employers and industry alliances across the country are hosting CareerQuestUSA events to expose students to the wealth of career possibilities in their regions.