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2 0 1 7 • S T U F F 23 Two Semesters to Career..Not just a Job ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY QUINEBAUG VALLEY Community College 742 Upper Maple Street, Danielson, CT 06239 an innovative and creative CAREER Advanced Manufacturing Technology (34 credits) Mechatronics Automation Technician (30 credits) our graduates get JOBS Paid internships and job placement assistance 95% job placement of recent graduates we can save you MONEY In-state tuition for Massachusetts residents 0 Federal student debt from QVCC graduates This program is funded (in whole or in part) by the Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, TC-25448- 14-60-A-9, as implemented by the United States Employment and Training Administration www.QVCC.edu/manufacturing 9 Steps to a manufacturing career D o you like to make things? Are you good at hands-on work, problem-solving and working with computers? Modern manufacturing is a desirable and potentially lucrative career pathway for peo- ple who enjoy participating in the successful fabrication and delivery of a product, or supporting areas like finance, facilities, human resources and management. 1. Use career exploration tools. Sites like O-Net have de- tailed descriptions of opportu- nities in manufacturing. e website for "AMP it up!" offers manufacturing videos and resources to help you explore the industry. 2. Explore manufacturing job listings. You can do this through search engines like mon- ster.com and indeed.com, as well as LinkedIn where you can look for groups of interest. 3. Contact your local community college. A look at the website for Mount Wachu- sett Community College (www.mwcc.edu/ manufacturing) provides information about training, employment opportunities and labor statistics. 4. Obtain national, industry-recognized credentials. e Manufacturing Institute has a broad list of certifications spanning many manufacturing fields, and employers are increasingly valuing specific competencies. 5. Leverage your network. Use social media such as Linkedin or Facebook to reach out to a manufacturer. Ask what position the person holds, about the day-to-day job details, opportunities for ad- ditional training and advance- ment, and work conditions. You can also do this kind of networking offline, such as touring a local facility or meeting with a human resources department. 6. Find a manufacturing club or organi- zation. ese can include a robotics club, an entrepreneurial center, a makerspace organization, trade associations, and Do It Yourself groups. 7. Attend workshops and events in celebra- tion of Manufacturing Day, held in the first week of October. Started by the National As- sociation of Manufacturing, this day features equipment demonstrations at schools and tours at manufacturing companies. 8. Participate in work-based learning. An internship, apprenticeship or another type of on-the-job training opportunity is an invalu- able way for you to explore your suitability in a particular career, and to demonstrate your value to a potential employer. 9. Visit your local career center. Career center services are available to everyone – not just the unemployed. ey work with other organizations to provide training opportuni- ties and have resources for those interested in manufacturing. Career centers work directly with companies with job openings to fill and provide assistance to job seekers in resume writing, interviewing and similar skills. Jacqueline is vice president of lifelong learning and workforce development at Mount Wachusett Community College. By Jacqueline Belrose S Jacqueline