INTERMEDIARY
SERVICES
We connect students and educators with classroom speakers, job shadows, worksite exploratory events, student internships, educators in the workplace, and other strategic activities. Our work focuses on career awareness, career exploration, and workplace learning in all career clusters.
FIND YOUR
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
Connection Lab Live & Recorded Events:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 2 & 3
WBL Continuum Level = Awareness
Live and recorded work-based learning content in partnership with state organization partners and presented by statewide content experts. All state CTE areas are represented with connected CTE standards and assessments.
Mock Interview (in-person or virtual):
ICAP Essential Component(s): 2
WBL Continuum Level = Preparation
Career development activity for students to practice skills to prepare for future job interviews. Mock interviews allow students to connect and network with business professionals. The interview questions should simulate questions in a real job interview situation.
Professional Skill Development
Activities & Workshops:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 1 & 2
WBL Continuum Level = Preparation
Activities designed to increase career awareness and enhance career development skills. Activities can include labor market information, resume/cover letter preparation sessions, job shadow/internship preparation, workplace ethics, workplace skills, etc. conducted by an Iowa Intermediary Network Coordinator or a business partner.
Virtual Career Event:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 2 & 3
WBL Continuum Level = Awareness
A career awareness experience where students can virtually learn about a business or career. This can include business panels, virtual activities, virtual group shadow experiences, virtual classroom speakers, etc.
Career Classroom Speaker:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 1 & 2
WBL Continuum Level = Awareness
A career awareness experience where an industry expert shares their perspectives on their career and their passion for what they do to make connections with duties and daily activities of the job. The speaker also is open for questions from students and educators.
Worksite Exploratory Events:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 3
WBL Continuum Level = Exploration
A career exploration experience where students tour a workplace to learn about careers, industry expectations, observe relevant work in progress and ask questions to industry professionals. The worksite exploratory event is focused on a career pathway, offers an opportunity to learn in-depth about several careers on-site and includes an interactive session for the students to explore the career. The worksite exploration should be organized with small groups of students that rotate among industry experts to allow ample interaction for short informational interviews with industry experts.
Worksite Job Shadow - Individual:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 2 & 3
WBL Continuum Level = Exploration
A job shadow is for the student prepared to explore a specific career of interest by observing an experienced employee performing their typical work duties in a real-world work environment. This is a temporary (2-8 hour) unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest. Job shadowing is arranged by Intermediary Coordinators and/or qualified WBL credit instructors in partnership with a district and worksite. Students should receive formalized instruction about their career choice, expectations of the job shadow, how to prepare for their visit, and reflection/follow-up. Individual job shadows have no more than 3 students shadowing with a worksite host.
Interactive Career Event:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 3 & 4
WBL Continuum Level = Exploration
These events are an exposure tool for students of all ages to learn about a variety of career options. Events should include age-appropriate, job-related, interactive activities and information. Students learn about careers through hands-on experience at booth sponsors, breakout sessions, worksheets/assessments/reflections, or other interactive features.
Internship/Apprenticeship:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 3, 4 & 5
WBL Continuum Level = Training
Internships are positions for a student or trainee to work in an organization for a limited duration, sometimes without pay, to gain work experience, satisfy requirements for a credential, and/or gain course credit. Intermediary Coordinators provide business connections and support districts starting, currently offering, or expanding these opportunities for students. Internships/MOC must be supervised by a qualified educator.
Virtual Job Shadow/Informational Interview:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 2 & 3
WBL Continuum Level = Awareness
Students formally interview (phone, video chat, email) a workplace partner about his or her industry and chosen profession. The interview includes discussion of the career itself, duties and daily activities of the job, and the level of education required to be successful. The students also explore growth opportunities in the industry and salary ranges for different occupations. An informational interview is ideally a one-on-one interaction, but could consist of up to 3 students to one business partner.
Career Immersion Experience:
ICAP Essential Component(s): 3 & 4
WBL Continuum Level = Awareness
Interactive experiences at a district, community college, 4-year institution or business such as
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a simulation trailer (STEM, construction, CDL, etc)
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Careers on Wheels
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Simulator experiences (welding, truck driving, farming, etc.),
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Healthcare simulations (cadaver lab, healthcare sim lab, etc.),
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a business/industry walking tour for career exposure,
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a field trip with related career discussions/projects