Students need to learn about what careers are available and have opportunities to explore them to envision themselves in those jobs in their futures. A new career exploration resource will do just that.
The Career Ready Greater Lehigh Valley platform connects Lehigh Valley students and schools with businesses that are offering opportunities such as internships and summer employment that allow students to get a taste of what careers entail. The website was developed by Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21, in collaboration with Colonial Intermediate Unit #20. 
The recently launched and rapidly growing portal lists businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations that offer career-building opportunities such as summer employment, internships and externships, job shadowing, mentorships, and career speakers. Businesses also can list current employment openings, which may benefit job-seeking parents who are using the website with their children.
The website will help students to align their learning with career interests and is a resource that builds connections and offers experiences that help students make informed decisions about their futures. The Lehigh Valley’s businesses and broader economy stand to benefit from a stronger, better-prepared workforce.
“The site is built to connect our students in schools directly to local employers, so that they can get early experiences and early exposure to career readiness,” said Eric Lech, Director of Curriculum & Instruction/Educational Technologies at Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21. “It's about helping make those connections.”
Students and educators can search the website by industry or by type of experience they are seeking.
“A student or a parent might come in here and say, ‘What kind of experiences can my student get involved in?’ And they can pick by categories - science and health, engineering, technology, human services. They can look for types of experiences, everything from coming on a tour of the site, to a mentorship or mock interviews, things like that,” Lech said.
“Building concrete connections with industry and expanding career awareness and experiences among students is critical to every region’s economy. This tool is a key to making that happen here,” said Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Regional Partnerships & Talent Strategies at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., which collaborates with educators, businesses, and workforce development organizations to ensure the region’s employers have the talent they need.
Career Ready Greater Lehigh Valley mirrors the Career Ready Berks and Career Ready Bucks portals.
Career Ready Greater Lehigh Valley is working to increase the number of businesses and other providers who are participating in the portal. Those that are interested can sign up here. The platform is currently being introduced to the region’s schools as well.
(Photo by Rick Kintzel)