Wisconsin online career-matching resource launched

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Kerry G. Hill

A new online career-matching initiative aims to promote job opportunities across Wisconsin for young people and build the state’s information technology workforce.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center on Education and Work (CEW) helped to develop this resource, which allows Wisconsin companies and organizations to publicize information technology internships to students seeking exciting career opportunities.

The collaborative initiative was announced October 24 by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and the Information Technology Association of Wisconsin (ITAWi).

CEW’s Wisconsin Careers unit is providing technical support and promoting the online resource — www.itawi.org — to students throughout the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College systems.

“This innovative initiative is designed to connect Wisconsin-trained students with jobs right here at home,” Lawton said. “It directly addresses pressing issues for Wisconsin by putting people to work in great jobs, letting young people know we want them to imagine their future right here, and building a workforce to attract 21st century businesses and drive economic growth.”

“Most all companies and organizations in the state need IT support to one degree or another,” said Bill Mortimore, ITAWi’s acting president and board chairman, who conceived the idea for the project at a conference hosted by Lawton. “This new website will help IT workers get jobs, and companies to get IT workers.”

Wisconsin Careers has been delivering career-development materials and services in a variety of media and formats to schools, job centers, and higher education campuses across the state for more than 30 years. Today, the unit offers a wealth of useful information to students and adult clients through its popular, subscriber-supported WISCareers website.

“Our collaboration with ITAWi is an excellent example of the ways we hope to work all of our state industries,” said Dr. V. Scott Solberg, CEW’s associate director of research and director of Wisconsin Careers.

“By using WISCareers to help connect youth, college students, and job-seeking adults to training and occupational opportunities throughout Wisconsin, we hope to keep more youth and young adults in Wisconsin and make it easier for job seekers to find occupations within our state.”

At the time of the announcement, seven companies — including Miller/Coors in Milwaukee, Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point, Nielsen in Green Bay, and American Family Insurance in Madison — already had posted 80 internship opportunities on the website. Companies and organizations can submit technology internship opportunities for posting through the www.itawi.org website.

“We are looking for the most creative people we can find for these exciting IT careers available in Wisconsin,” said Mortimore. “Students don't need to move thousands of miles from friends and family for opportunity: this new initiative will enable graduates and potential employers to get to know each other through internships.” 

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