Employers
Educators
Students
Parents
Why should Employers use the Opportunity
Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is a user–friendly
“one stop” process that makes it easy for employers
to invest in their future workforce by sharing their career opportunities
with students and educators. In the Resource
Exchange, employers can view resources and opportunities
that are available to them. Benefits for employers include:
- provides a one–stop process to sign up to partner with schools
- streamlines requests made of employers to reduce or coordinate calls
- helps employers be proactive in their involvement by establishing criteria and goals for participation
- gives employers a way to share career activities with schools
- enlarges the base of employers willing to provide opportunities to schools.
Who can use the Opportunity Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is available to Bay County
educators and students who are part of these school districts
- Bangor Township Schools
- Bay City Public Schools
- Bay–Arenac ISD
- Essexville–Hampton Public Schools
- Pinconning Area Schools
If I register on this site, will
I be contacted by lots of different teachers and students?
You will be contacted by a limited number of individuals
from the schools, called school coordinators. When educators
and students search through the database, they can see information
about the opportunity you are providing but not your organization’s
name or the contact person information. All requests are channeled
through school coordinators to streamline the number of calls
you receive. Your organization’s name will be available
through the View List
of Participating Organizations, and users can link to your
website through this list.
As an individual employee, can I
sign up even if my employer has not yet signed up?
Yes, you can sign up to be a speaker. You can also
discuss the Opportunity Connection with your employer and encourage
him/her to register.
As an employer, I would like my employees
to be involved but am concerned about how much time from work
this will take.
It is wonderful that you are interested in having
employees participate and we understand your concerns. There
are many things you can do to monitor this situation:
- Set a policy regarding volunteerism
- Give every employee certain time for volunteering
- Encourage lunchtime volunteering and give an extra 1/2 hour at lunch
- Reward employees for volunteering (find out what they are doing)
What else is available through this
site?
In addition to the program database, you can access
and/or suggest Other Sites. You can
also post requests of schools or browse through a list of what
schools might need through the Resource
Exchange. And, the Announcements
section allows you to share news about your business and read
about happenings in local schools.
Are there liability issues I should
be concerned about in working with students?
Basically, when a student is visiting or working in
an unpaid position, they are covered by their school or parents.
When a student is in a paid position, you are responsible as
for any other employee. For more information on liability, see
A Guide to Work–Based Learning:
Business and Industry Risk Management Plan (68K).
Is there a cost for using the Opportunity
Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is a FREE resource. The system is managed by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and is monitored by a steering committee comprised of representatives of the participating school districts and local employers.
Submit a question. (We will respond within 2 days.)
Why should Educators use the Opportunity
Connection?
By using the Opportunity Connection, educators gain
access to a larger, more centralized base of employers willing
to provide opportunities and resources to students and educators.
Who can use the Opportunity Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is available to Bay County
educators and students who are part of these school districts:
- Bangor Township Schools
- Bay City Public Schools
- Bay–Arenac ISD
- Essexville–Hampton Public Schools
- Pinconning Area Schools
Do I have to follow any rules or
guidelines when I use this site?
Yes, by using the site you agree to follow the guidelines
contained in the Terms & Conditions
for Use.
Why are organization and contact
names unavailable to me?
In most instances, the name of the organization offering
an opportunity and the name of the contact person are not available.
Users still have access to the opportunities by completing the
search process and requesting specific opportunities through
a school coordinator. By using a process that channels requests
and contacts through a limited number of people, employers are
less likely to become overburdened by requests. You can see the
names of all the organizations that have opportunities listed
on the site through the View List
of Participating Organizations and even link to their websites
if you would like to learn more about them.
Where does my request go to be processed? When
and how will I get a response?
Your request is sent to the site administrator to be processed.
The site administrator will contact a coordinator at your school, who
will then contact you and the business to discuss the requested opportunity
and any necessary arrangements. You should expect to be contacted by phone,
e–mail, or fax within two weeks from the time you submit your request.
Can I request more than one opportunity at a
time?
You can only request one opportunity per sign–up
form. However, you may submit as many requests for as many opportunities
that you would like to take part in.
What if someone else requests the
same opportunity?
There are plenty of employers who are willing to provide
different career opportunities through the Opportunity Connection.
When you submit your request, your school coordinator will reserve
your opportunity until all arrangements are made!
How often are new opportunities posted on the
Opportunity Connection?
Opportunities are continuously posted by employers and are
updated annually. Check the Opportunity Connection periodically to see
if new opportunities have been added.
Who sees my request?
The site administrator and coordinator at your school see your
request.
Am I going to get junk mail by
using the Opportunity Connection?
No. The information students, employers, and educators provide
is confidential and will not be distributed to outside organizations.
What kind of employers sign up to
be on the Opportunity Connection and where are they from? How
do they sign up and are they screened before being posted?
Employers from both the for–profit and non–profit
sectors who are interested in providing career opportunities
for students and educators in Bay County are recruited to be
part of the Opportunity Connection and can sign–up online or via mail. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce continually recruits these employers as well as screens them before their information is posted.
Will I be able to access other sites
of interest to educators through this website?
Absolutely! We have included links to many other innovative
websites that we think will be of interest to educators. If you
find one on your own, let
us know so that other educators can benefit from it too.
What if I’m
trying to find a resource other than the ones listed on the Opportunity
Connection?
Visit the Resource Exchange
to post a need or offer something for employers/organizations.
What else is available through this
site?
In addition to the program database, Other
Sites, and the Resource Exchange,
there is an Announcements
section where you can share news about your school or classroom.
Is there a cost for using the Opportunity
Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is a FREE resource. The system is managed by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and is monitored by a steering committee comprised of representatives of the participating school districts and local employers.
Submit a question. (We will respond within 2 days.)
Why should Students use the Opportunity
Connection?
By using the Opportunity Connection, students can
connect with employers that are volunteering their time and resources
to provide students with various career exploration opportunities.
Who can use the Opportunity Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is available to Bay County
educators and students who are part of these school districts:
- Bangor Township Schools
- Bay City Public Schools
- Bay–Arenac ISD
- Essexville–Hampton Public Schools
- Pinconning Area Schools.
How do I sign up?
Just use the student
sign up on the website. It will allow you to search through
the available opportunities and select the one(s) that you are
most interested in. Read the Program
Guides to learn about the process for each program.
Where does my request go to be processed? When
and how will I get a response?
Your request is sent to the site administrator to be processed.
The site administrator will contact a coordinator at your school, who
will then contact you and the business to discuss the requested opportunity
and any necessary arrangements. You should expect to be contacted by phone,
e–mail, or fax within two weeks from the time you submit your request.
Can I request more than one opportunity
at a time?
You can only request one opportunity per sign–up
form. However, you may submit as many requests for as many
opportunities that you would like to take part in.
What kind of employers sign up to
be on the Opportunity Connection and where are they from? How
do they sign up and are they screened before being posted?
Employers from both the for–profit and non–profit sectors who are interested in providing career opportunities for students and educators in Bay County are recruited to be part of the Opportunity Connection and can sign–up online or via mail. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce continually recruits these employers as well as screens them before their information is posted.
Do I have to follow any rules or
guidelines when I use this site?
Yes, by using the site you agree to follow the guidelines
contained in the Terms & Conditions
for Use.
Why are organization and contact
names unavailable to me?
In most instances, the name of the organization offering
an opportunity and the name of the contact person are not available.
Users still have access to the opportunities by completing the
search process and requesting specific opportunities through
a school coordinator. By using a process that channels requests
and contacts through a limited number of people, employers are
less likely to become overburdened by requests. You can see the
names of all the organizations that have opportunities listed
on the site through the View List
of Participating Organizations and even link to their websites
if you would like to learn more about them.
What if someone else requests the
same opportunity?
There are plenty of employers who are willing to provide
different career opportunities through the Opportunity Connection.
When you submit your request, your school coordinator will reserve
your opportunity until all arrangements are made!
How often are new opportunities posted
on the Opportunity Connection?
Opportunities are continuously posted by employers
and are updated annually. Check the Opportunity Connection periodically
to see if new opportunities have been added.
Who sees my request?
The site administrator and coordinator at your school see your
request.
Am I going to get junk mail
by using the Opportunity Connection?
No. The information students, employers, and educators
provide is confidential and will not be distributed to outside organizations.
I’m looking for summer employment.
How do I find out where the jobs are?
Easy! Connect to the local job bank through Michigan
Works! There you will find summer employment opportunities.
What other type of career information
can I access from this site?
By clicking on Other Sites
you can connect to websites that can help with employment opportunities
in Michigan and the U.S., careers that are high–tech, the
top 10 careers in the country, etc. Your search opportunities
are endless!
Where can I go to get career information
at my school?
Talk to your counselor or visit the school library.
Is there a cost for using the Opportunity
Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is a FREE resource. The system is managed by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and is monitored by a steering committee comprised of representatives of the participating school districts and local employers.
Submit a question. (We will respond within 2 days.)
Who can use the Opportunity Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is available to Bay County
educators and students who are part of these school districts:
- Bangor Township Schools
- Bay City Public Schools
- Bay–Arenac ISD
- Essexville–Hampton Public Schools
- Pinconning Area Schools
Can I sign my child up for any of
these activities myself?
No. We would like students to sign
up for their own activities. Parents can support their children
by encouraging them to search
for career opportunities and activities offered by area employers.
You can search the database and see what types of programs are
available for your student. This way, you can help guide your
child’s decision but still
let him/her take the initiative to sign up for the activity him/herself.
Are these activities going to interfere
with my child’s college plans?
Absolutely not! These activities are designed to enhance
a student’s career decision
by making his/her choices more focused and helping them to have
a clearer picture of the career they want to pursue.
My child’s school said they
are not doing some of these things. Why not?
Not every school participates in every program. If
you see a program or activity that you would like to have offered
at your school, contact your school’s
principal or a member of the school’s
improvement team.
Why is it important for my child
to participate in any of these programs?
They provide a connection between academics and occupations
so that all students—from kindergarten
through 12th grade and beyond—benefit
from focused, relevant learning that prepares them for successful
careers.
For people who do not have a computer at home,
how would they access this site?
For those people without personal computers, they can access
this site from the public library, their local community center, the local
high school, or private companies that offer public computer access.
Is there a cost for using the Opportunity
Connection?
The Opportunity Connection is a FREE resource. The system is managed by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and is monitored by a steering committee comprised of representatives of the participating school districts and local employers.
Submit a question. (We will respond within 2 days.)