Career Connections (Open House/Road Show version)

Activity	Career Connections
Overview	Participants play a word-matching game to discover the variety of careers that can result from your technology program.
Time	10 minutes
Materials	2 sets of Career/Word Cards (Word) 2 Career Descriptions handouts (Word) Note: If you are unable to open the customizable Word documents, you can view the contents in PDF format. (OPTIONAL) Success Stories video Computer

Customize for Your College:

1. Choose the technology program(s) you wish to highlight.
   
   
2. Prepare the Career/Word Cards Template by doing the following:
   • Identify 4-6 career fields that relate to your technology program(s). Enter each career field name on a "Career Card." For example, studies in manufacturing technology could lead to a career in nanofabrication. (If you are having graduates speak about their work, be sure to include their career fields.)
   • For each career field, think of an interesting product or application. Then choose two words that describe that product or application and enter them on the "Word Cards." Select words that might be an unusual pair. For example, a technician in nanofabrication might engineer artificial capillary systems (words: nanometer and capillary system).
   
   
3. Prepare the Career Description Template by filling in each matching word pair and the corresponding program and career. Add brief descriptions that show the connection between each career and matching word pair. See Sample Career Cards (PDF) and Sample Career Descriptions (PDF) for sample career cards, technology fields, and career descriptions.
   
   

Set Up:

1. Make copies of the completed Career/Word Cards and Career Descriptions handouts. Cut out the Career/Word cards. If possible, laminate the cards and Career Descriptions handouts for durability.
   
   
2. Invite a few graduates, professors, or industry representatives to staff the table and answer questions about careers that relate to your technology program(s).
   
   
3. (OPTIONAL) Set up a computer to play the Success Stories video.

Procedure:

1. Invite participants to match each of the careers with two words that relate. For example, the words encryption and networks relate to the career of cybersecurity.
   
   
2. When they're ready, ask participants to compare their word pairs to those on the Career Descriptions handout.
   
   
3. Follow up the game by talking with participants about the careers and technology programs that interest them. Offer participants additional materials you have that describe your technology programs and related careers.
   
   
4. (OPTIONAL) Show related segments from the Success Stories video, which profiles six community college graduates and their career paths in engineering technology, modern manufacturing, and information and communication technology.