On May 4, 2023, MiCareerQuest™ Northeast introduced students to in-demand careers in northeast Michigan. The hands-on, career exploration event coordinated by Michigan Works! targeted 6th-12th grade students, offering interactive exhibits in construction, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and technology. The purpose of the event is to create awareness of the rewarding careers available throughout our region, many of which have a talent shortage today and are anticipated to have even greater demand in the future. This year the event was held at the Ellison Place in Gaylord, MI.
Over 1400 students from 22 schools across the 11-county region (Alpena, Alcona, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon) attended. The event featured 55 exhibiting organizations, showcasing more than 125 in-demand occupations. Over 60 volunteers from Michigan Works! agencies, partner organizations, local community groups, and businesses assisted with the event to make sure everything ran smoothly. More than 300 working professionals participated in the event, volunteering their time and eager to share their passion for their respective industries.
MiCareerQuest is unlike anything most students have experienced before. At MiCareerQuest, students explore four industry quadrants and get to touch/feel/use actual tools, machines, and materials that they’d encounter during a day working in that industry. In addition to interactive exhibits, students had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with experts from the region’s high-demand occupations, learning not only what to expect in a standard “day on the job”, but also learning about the many opportunities available for good careers in northeast Michigan.
Participation in MiCareerQuest Northeast is free for exhibitors and students. The costs associated with hosting MiCareerQuest are covered by a variety of event sponsors who understand the importance of exposing young people to career opportunities in our region. Special thanks to our 2023 Main Event Sponsors – Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity - Workforce Development (LEO-WD), MiSTEM Network, and LiUNA! Local 1098. This event is only possible because of the hard work and commitment of our exhibitors and volunteers, and the generous support of event sponsors.
“This is the best career experience I have ever seen in my 43 years as an educator. Touching on all the different career opportunities in each of the 4 pathways was enlightening!” – Marilyn Dimick, School Counselor with Rogers City Schools
Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with statements such as “I learned that there were a lot of careers I might enjoy that I didn’t know about before”, “I liked how passionate people were about their jobs. It was really inspiring”, “There were so many hands-on activities. I learned a lot about so many jobs and learned things I didn’t know before”, “It was really stimulating. There were so many different things to do and learn about”, “I liked being able to explore different options for after I graduate. I got some good ideas about what I might enjoy”, “It was actually quite fun and I enjoyed my time there, it also greatly expanded my knowledge of jobs and helped my think about my life after school”, “I absolutely loved the MiCareerQuest - my favorite part was the nursing and medical center, it really gave me a good glimpse of what that industry is really like.”