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An excellent education is a major building block for a better future and a great career. But a college degree is only part of the puzzle. A great résumé, online access to job opportunities and effective interviewing skills all help students to leverage their academic strengths and previous work experiences to land that dream job.

Thanks to a new partnership between ������ at Geauga and the OhioMeansJobs Geauga County Center in Chardon, the quality and quantity of employment and training resources for the local workforce have been greatly enhanced. According to their new agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, “By working together, Kent State Geauga and the public workforce system can make it easier for job seekers to access employment and training services that can lead to better jobs, improved career pathways and sustainable wages.” 

For example, Kent State Geauga and OhioMeansJobs are co-sponsoring a job fair for all Geauga County high school seniors on April 11 at Berkshire High School. Students can browse opportunities ranging from the military to healthcare, agri-business, manufacturing, the automotive industry, trucking and more. Along with approximately 70 representatives from the business and not-for-profit community, Kent State Geauga delegates will be on hand to share employment and higher education opportunities for graduating seniors.

Amy Murfello, Marketing and Communications Manager (Interim) at Kent State Geauga, pursued this partnership with Margo Reda, Geauga County Director of OhioMeansJobs (a state agency under the Department of Job and Family Services). “I saw the need for our campuses to have a more formal relationship with agencies in our community,” she explains. 

”I knew Margo and we talked through the possibilities, realizing we could partner together for increased student engagement and acquisition of soft skills that are so important for success on the job. We want to see our students employed by the time they graduate. This partnership will offer them training, testing and employment opportunities, right here in Geauga County.”

OhioMeansJobs Geauga County will provide training to Kent State Geauga staff; share resources (including job training); encourage access to the website and its resources; assist students with creating website accounts and online job searches; publicize employment opportunities and workforce education opportunities within the county; and offer financial literacy resources, services and tips for the Geauga County jobseeker.

The agency will also offer workshops or informational sessions at Kent State Geauga will include Kent State staff on recruitments, job postings and notifications; will maintain literature from Kent State Geauga in their Career Center, and will participate in shared public events, such as school jobs fairs and career fairs.

In turn, Kent State Geauga will maintain OhioMeansJobs Geauga County literature in the Student Services department; will participate in agency partner meetings for increased collaboration opportunities; and will participate in agreed-upon public events.

“With the way the economy is now, we need to build these collaborations to bring these great students into the job market and strengthen the local workforce,” Reda says. “This partnership with Kent State Geauga will help us accomplish this mission.”

Murfello adds, “This collaboration between Kent State Geauga and OhioMeansJobs Geauga will truly benefit our local communities. It will create a network of local talent made up of Kent Geauga students and the county’s high school seniors who are looking to pursue employment close to home. Whether students are graduating from vocational school, high school or college -– there will be options for all!”

Creative collaborations like this prove to make our great communities even stronger. It’s a vital piece of the puzzle.