Having caring Career Specialists on our team is one of the ways the JOG program stands out. These Career Specialists help their students see the importance of learning real-world skills for after graduation. Nalaya Lind is a great example of a caring Career Specialist who goes above and beyond to prepare her Akron students for their futures.

One of the hardest parts of learning workplace readiness is overcoming anxieties. Being new to the workplace can be a scary experience for participants who have never had a job before or have had a bad experience in the past. That’s where we come in. JOG Career Specialists are trained to be able to help work through these exact fears! From being trauma informed, to life skill training, and even a 12-month follow-up process at the end of the traditional JOG process, our Career Specialists help participants along the way to being confident and well-prepared at work through positive reinforcement tactics.

Some of the toughest things we have to deal with in life are breaking through walls we have had to put up. whether that be from past traumas or more recent fears. When Brian came to the Medina County JOG program, he was trying to overcome just that. With the help of his Career Specialist, Cindy, he was able to reach heights that he didn’t see as possible when he enrolled.

At Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG), our Career Specialists wear many hats during the day. These are things like being an educator, mentor, counselor, life planner, and so many more. A great example of someone who is great at helping participants in all aspects of their career and life is Kristen Pawcio.

A big part of work readiness is having a well-managed LinkedIn profile. But what is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a social media platform that focuses on connecting peers and companies. According to LinkedIn’s website, they say “You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.” Even if you do not use it to apply for jobs, most employers will look you up on the platform the further along you are in your career.

Workplace stressors exist for everyone in the working world, regardless of years of experience For plenty of our participants, their first job is often found through our workplace readiness programs, and they have not had the opportunity to learn how to manage these stressors. As part of the JOG curriculum, we work to make sure that participants are prepared when facing challenges that will come up in their new environment. This includes when things get stressful. Here are some healthy ways we teach our participants to manage workplace stress that can really be helpful for anyone:

This summer, we have been able to work alongside so many great local organizations as a part of the JOG Summer Youth Employment Program. These partnerships help young people get connected to worksites and achieve real world experiences to get work ready. One of these students in this program is C.J.

This July, all JOG staff came together for 3 days of training, team building exercises, learning, and reflection at MAPS Air Museum in North Canton. This year’s annual retreat was headed up by the Director of Programming, Pamela Crombie and encompassed staff from Summit, Stark, Medina, Trumbull and Ashland Counties. The event covered sharing tips on working with youth, trauma-informed care, teambuilding and a variety of other exercises.

As our recent 2024 graduates go through their first summer after achieving their high school diploma or GED, many of them will begin to look for ways to be work ready for life after school. The landscape can be tough to navigate when there are so many websites to look through, ways to present themselves to companies, and a variation of other rules to following to get what could be their first job after graduation. One of the best ways to extend opportunities in the industry a participant has chosen is through networking.

One of our main goals at Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates is to ensure students are able to be work ready to go into industries in which they are interested and can build a career with a good paying job. We do this through Career Specialist mentorship to help establish a pathway for the participant based on what they like and where their skills lie. The Career Specialists also try to help them match these skills to growing and in demand industries to improve our students’ chances of job placement and growth.

Twice a year, JOG hosts a graduation ceremony for our out-of-school students who wouldn’t have the opportunity to walk the stage otherwise. This normally happens in June and December, the end of the school year and the end of the calendar year. We are so proud of our students who have been working on their GED and to highlight their hard work, so to highlight their achievement, we put on our very own graduation ceremony at our Summit County office!

Our goal at JOG is to help our participants rise above and meet their academic and career goals. Whether that looks like achieving their GED, getting their first job, or getting into further education programs, our Career Specialists strive to help our participants get there! One Career Specialist who goes above and beyond to help students in this way is Monique Jones.

Our main goal at Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates is to help our participants through their academic goals and work readiness. We go through a variety of topics to help them succeed in this transition from school to work. One of these topics is preparing for the interviewing process. For our participants, and any other young adult preparing for an interview, here are some tips for crushing your next interview.

It’s that time of year again here at JOG, summer work kickoff! This week, our students participating in the summer work program are kickstarting their first work experiences in a variety of industries. Of course, we can’t do this without the help of our amazing employers who offer their workplaces by providing career guidance and positive learning environments for our participants.

Sometimes all you need is someone to help you realize your worth to get back on the right path. This is exactly what happened with Christopher. He was going through a tough time when his dad went to jail during the end of his freshman year and his grades were beginning to slip. He began talking to his guidance counsellor for some academic support to get through school, but eventually stopped seeing her too. Little did Christopher know, but one of his toughest moments would present a path for him to achieve some of his greatest feats in High School!

The best leaders teach by example. This is the easiest way to show both how it looks to be a good leader in action, while also putting your words into action for your audience. At JOG, our Career Specialists are leaders who do exactly this. Career Specialists get to teach our young people how to be kind and understanding, while also being a strong leader. Kelley Conley is a great example of instilling these JOG core competencies into our youth and has been a cornerstone of the JOG Stark County program since joining us straight out of college.