Golden Path Newsletter – December 2024

by | Dec 11, 2024 | Blog, News | 0 comments

Mineer speaks at ACTE's CareerTech VISION 2024 conference

We recently returned from the ACTE CareerTech VISION 2024 conference in San Antonio, TX, with a continued drive to provide meaningful connections between employers, schools, and students.

Nearly 5,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors attended the conference, where Golden Path Founder and CEO Patrick Mineer was honored to be part of two presentations. First, he presented with the Grand Forks Public Schools team for the Career Z Challenge national competition of which they were a finalist for their work-based learning programs. Second, he presented “Driving State Alignment of K-12, Postsecondary, and Careers Through WBL,” in partnership with the State of North Dakota and XAP, the organization that created RUReady.ND.gov.

The conference highlighted the breadth and depth of work done across the country to help prepare students for their careers and build connections between educators and employers for future workforce. It was also clear how widely the different systems, processes, and contacts can vary from state to state or even district to district. We already benefit from one system in North Dakota and we can use the same employer data for Minnesota with one entry point for employers. We’re seeking to expand that feature to make it easier to participate and provide an effective system for employers, while also accommodating a variety of systems.

Here’s what else is new for December 2024:

How Holland Codes help employers

We use Holland Codes within Compass to match students with recommended Career Profiles and work-based learning experiences. Students, teachers, and counselors already use Holland codes in the classroom and for some assessments. We recommend employers look up their roles on the national career database O*NET Online and be aware of the Holland Codes associated with those roles. It’s another great way to connect with students at career fairs, classroom visits, or other events highlighting company offerings.

These six one-letter codes (R, I, A, S, E, C) are used in career exploration to help identify personality characteristics and skill sets that match well with careers across all industries. Based on what students enter in their Compass student profile for classes, hobbies, interests, activities, and personality assessment results, Compass generates the corresponding Holland Codes and then uses those codes to make recommendations. Careers are typically associated with two or three Holland Codes listed in order of significance. The codes are also associated with careers listed O*NET Online, which we also reference in Career Profiles.

What do the codes stand for?

  • R – Realistic. These are people who like well-ordered activities or enjoy working with objects, tools, and machines.
  • I – Investigative. Investigative people like activities that involve creative investigation of the world or nature.
  • A – Artistic. Artistic people like unstructured activities and enjoy using materials to create art.
  • S – Social. Social people enjoy informing, training, developing, curing, and enlightening others.
  • E – Enterprising. These people enjoy reaching organizational goals or achieving economic gain.
  • C – Conventional. Conventional people enjoy manipulating data, record keeping, filing, reproducing materials, and organizing written or numerical data.

Compass now available to college students

We’re thrilled to open Compass to interested college students and we’re looking into a broader plan to include this age group in the ecosystem. College students can create their own student profiles with their college classes, activities, hobbies, interests, and personality assessment results. They can also search for and browse Career Profiles, employers, colleges, and fields of study participating in our college pilot program, and even careers in a geographic region. Compass will use Holland Codes to recommend opportunities that may be a good fit. To get started, go to Compass, select “New User” and then “I am a college student.”

Building interest in healthcare careers in Watford City

Golden Path Solutions is partnering with Watford City, ND to launch the next wave of efforts to attract workers to the community. Thanks to the North Dakota Workforce Innovation Grant (NDWIG), we are using Compass and a very targeted marketing campaign to help adults and college students outside of the region learn more about healthcare careers in Watford City. The campaign will highlight careers at companies including McKenzie Health and Legendary Smiles. Explore the Watford City opportunities in Compass.

How we connect students to employers

Compass actively matches students with employers and opportunities, but did you know that Golden Path staff can also personally make these connections?

For employers: Depending on what services were purchased, Golden Path will refer students to an employer, directly make that introduction, or even follow up through the entire interview and hiring process.

For students: By selecting “Connect me with employers” in Compass, students consent for us to reach out to them by email or phone to start the connection process. Our staff will schedule a 15- to 20-minute visit to discuss career interests, goals, and schooling plans. Based on that conversation and their student profile, we’ll suggest companies and opportunities that might be a good fit and make the appropriate introductions. There’s no cost to students for this service!

Contact us for more information or to get started.

Share your events with us

Be sure to add your events to our new events calendar. Please submit your events to events@goldenpath.net. Watch future communications for when and where the events calendar will be available.

Important dates

Connect with us

Keep up with the latest opportunities and information here:

More information

Contact Patrick for more information or to connect about opportunities with Golden Path Solutions.