CAREER EXPLORATION
For the South Bend - Elkhart Region
Career Exploration may be defined as the process of engaging a learner in researching, evaluating, and investigating modern career opportunities for the purposes of supporting said learner’s identification of a career pathway. Career exploration occurs in many spaces whether the setting is academic or not and may relate to an individual learner at any stage of their career span, whether the learner is pre, mid, or a late-career individual. The LIFT Network is investing in resources to improve systems level delivery of career exploration models – that support the quality of career advising support provided by educators, advisors, and/or career coaches within regional K-12 and adult education environments.
As observed in the 2018 Career Coaching and Navigation Report, commissioned by the Indiana Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, “Students must be systematically exposed to a full range of potential career opportunities through well-coordinated exploration activities that include regular visits by area employers, workplace tours, career interest inventories and classroom instruction that incorporates career focused topics and concepts to connect what they are learning to activities outside the classroom.”
LIFT NETWORK
Virtual Manufacturing Day
The Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) Network is sponsoring the South Bend - Elkhart region's Virtual Manufacturing Day for 2020. Leadership across Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph County are partnering with nine regional manufacturing firms to provide insights to career pathways, opportunities, and more within the region's manufacturing sector! Employers include Daman Products, Elkhart Plastics, General Stamping & Metalworks, Hoosier Racing Tire, ITAMCO, Lippert Components, MORryde, NISCO, and Robert Weed Corporation.
Check out the MFG Day inspired videos created in collaboration with our regional partners and local manufacturing firms!

VIRTUAL MFG DAY
October 2 - 9, 2020
MFG DAY RE-IMAGINED
Career Exploration for the K-12, 2020 – 2021 academic year has been re-imagined across the South Bend – Elkhart region.
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
Regional partners came together to form the Regional LIFT Career Exploration Taskforce with the goal of supporting a Virtual MFG Day this fall.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Videos were created for nine employers across the Advanced Manufacturing sector to highlight key career information related to the industry.
MFG DAY
About the Program
MFG Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner. The Institute grows and supports the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The Institute’s diverse initiatives support women, veterans, students and workers through skills training programs, community building and supporting the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Institute is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges. Learn More at creatorswanted.org.
