Career Corner

• Transportation careers support a wide variety of industries.
• Increasing demand for workers and large numbers of openings has driven median wages higher than typical in the region, to $20.37 per hour in 2020.
• Transportation/Warehousing is the second fastest growing industry in South Central and Southwest MN, adding almost 1,300 jobs in the last decade (2005 - 2020).

Click Here for more labor market infographics.

Check out the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for career information in the transportation industry. State median salary and future outlook is available.

Automotive Technology

Aviation

Collision & Repair

Diesel, Equipment & Truck

Marine & Powersports

Speciality (Automotive Engineering Technology, Nondestructive Testing, Transportation Management)

Technology Education

Truck Driving

Minnesota Careers in Automotive Repair & Service (MNCARS) - MNCARS helps students, parents and influencers overcome misperceptions of the industry and attract the qualified employees the industry needs. Along with career information, the MNCARS provides information about the misconceptions in the industry on its myth buster page.

Are you graduating senior who will be continuing your education and are interested in a career in transportation? Check out some information about the Seeds Program in the video below and at this link: Seeds Program - Careers - MnDOT (state.mn.us). Seeds is not an acronym, but a concept for MnDOT growing its own workforce talent. Launched in 1993, the Seeds Program helps the workforce better reflect the communities MnDOT serves, and has placed many successful program students into permanent, full-time MnDOT positions.

Knowing your skills

Being able to identify, communicate and prove your skills during the job search process is essential. If you can't identify your skills, how will the employer know what you can offer to them?

Where to list your skills

During the job search process, you are a salesperson and selling your qualifications and skills to employers. Employers want to know what skills you have and how they relate to the job. Make sure to sell your skills on applications, resumes and during interviews.

What is a skill?

According to Wikipedia, a skill is a learned ability to do something.

Type skills

The following are several types of job skills indicated on MyMNCareers.

• Basic skills, like listening, speaking, reading, and writing, are necessary for all workers.
• People skills, or soft skills, like negotiating, persuading, and coordinating with coworkers, help people to work well with others.
• Management skills, like keeping track of time and money, assist people to keep things organized.
• Technical skills, like operating or repairing computers, and installing and maintaining other machinery, help people to work with equipment.

Remember skills can be transferable. Transferable skills are skills that can be transferred or used in other jobs. Some examples of transferable skills are communication skills, computer skills and leadership skills.

Help on identifying your skills

If you struggle with identifying your skills, you are not alone. Some studies have indicated that 80-85% of people cannot identify, sell and prove their skills during the job search process.

• Help yourself identify your skills by thinking about what someone else would say about your skills. What would your teacher, supervisor, peer, parent or friend say are your skills?
• The transferable skills checklist (attached below) can help you start identifying your skills.
• Visit a CareerForce location for assistance in helping you identifying your skills.

This certification through Customized Workforce Education at South Central College is a course that is customized to your schedule. Start Anytime!

Program Highlights:

• An approved training provider that meets the new federal CDL training regulations
• Road training one-on-one with an instructor
• Behind-the-wheel training style. Select from either online self-paced with access to a knowledgeable instructor or an in-person classroom training
• Convenient location in North Mankato, MN or arranged at your place of business
• Eligible to take the CDL Class A road test with no restrictions on your license
• Affordable fee structures where you only pay for what you need

To find out more about his program follow this link:

https://southcentral.edu/Workforce/commercial-driver-s-license-cdl.html

Interactive 3-day summer camp experience for students in grades 9-12 to learn about careers in transportation! Learn about:

• Automotive Technology
• Auto Body & Collision
• Medium and Heavy Truck Terminology
• Diesel & Heavy Equipment
• Agriculture
• & More!

Follow this link to register: https://www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?id=18997

MVAC’s Young Adult Career Development Programs provide services to individuals in our communities across South Central Minnesota that need assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

How can MVAC'S Young Adult Career Development assist you?

- Paid work experience/internship to learn skills needed to succeed in the current job market

- Career path planning

- Assistance getting enrolled in/completing an educational goal

- Referrals to other area services for them and their family

- Connections to apprenticeships

- College scholarship opportunities

- Possible funding for transportation, educational, or employment needs

Find out more information and eligibility requirements at www.mnvac.org/programs/employment-training/young-adult-services/

Check out other Career Corner Newsletters at http://www.workforcecouncil.org/career-corner-newsletters/

Develop and Maintain a Quality Workforce for South Central Minnesota

Email: abby@workforcecouncil.org
Website: www.workforcecouncil.org
Location: 706 North Victory Drive, Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: 507-345-2408
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scworkforcecouncil/