CAREER MENTORING

Workforce Development Starts with Career-Based Mentoring

Mentors play an important role in career exploration and development. Whether you are a company interested in helping young people learn about jobs in your organization, a professional seeking to share your knowledge, or a high school or college student or young adult looking at job or career options, MENTORSTARK is here to help create connections that strengthen our community and create pathways to success. Check out Stark County’s career-focused mentoring programs and contact them to get involved. If you don’t find one that meets your needs, complete the How Can We Help? form and we will provide the connections!


To get started in career exploration, check out these resources: 


Get in a career-focused mindset.

Check out these short (less than 2 minute!) videos to see the wide variety of jobs out there!


Take a career profile assessment.

Take this 20 minute assessment to see what jobs match up with your personality and preferred work environment.


Explore military careers.

 There are thousands of careers in the military.


Learn about credentials.

Earning an industry credential can make you a more appealing job candidate and may help you start at higher pay. Many high schools offer opportunities to earn credentials through their courses. Talk to your guidance counselor to learn more.


Learn about the Building Trades.

Due to the high demand for skilled tradespeople, young Ohioans have a tremendous opportunity to begin training for rewarding, lifelong careers in one of 12 dynamic building and construction trades. Ohio is home to more than 80 Building Trades training facilities where registered apprentices earn competitive pay and benefits while training with skilled journeymen to learn their craft. Working on actual construction sites during the day, Building Trades apprentices are building their futures as they help build their communities.


Create a LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn is a social network that focuses on professional networking and career development. If you are a high school student or beyond, create a LinkedIn profile following these easy directions and become part of the MENTORSTARK LinkedIn group. Mentors who are part of this group will help you enhance your profile and learn how to use social media to network and build connections with people in our community.


Investigate these internship and job-hunting resources.

Ohio Means Jobs, Starkjobs.com, Indeed.com


If you are a business who would like to get involved in mentoring or offer work-based learning experiences, please fill out our How Can We Help? form and learn more on our Resources page.

  • ACE Mentoring Program

    Description: Introduces young people to careers in architecture, construction, engineering, and related areas of the building design and construction industry through after-school activities.


    Mentor Opportunities: Seeking industry professionals to mentor student teams through a simulation of designing and constructing a project.


    www.acementor.org/akron


  • CAMP (CAST Apprenticeship and Mentoring Program)

    Description: Provides comprehensive business training, career exploration and development to talented and driven students in the Early College High School program in Canton City Schools.


    Mentor Opportunities: Seeking mentors and companies interested in providing career exploration opportunities for students.


    CAST (Caring and Serving Together)

    (330) 806-5742

    castserves@gmail.com




  • Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio

    Description: Serves K-12th grade students with volunteer-driven programming that fosters work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills.


    Mentor Opportunities: Seeking adult volunteers to share personal and professional experience while facilitating JA curriculum in classrooms across the county.


    www.jaofnco.ja.org

    4353 Executive Circle NW

    Canton, OH 44718

    (330) 433-0063

    Contact: Lori McCleese


  • Ohio Means Jobs Career Readiness Seal Mentor

    Mentors for the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal are committed to helping work-ready students stand out to employers and postsecondary institutions. Mentors give students first-hand information on what it takes to be successful in the next step of their career path. The seal gives students an extra credential that not all applicants will have and gives them a unique recommendation from each of their mentors. As a mentor, you have the power to help these students succeed and gain a competitive advantage.

    Mentors can be from three environments: school, work or community



    OMJ Career Readiness Seal Mentoring

    To get involved, contact your local school district. 



  • PAX Tech Camp

    Description: PAX TechCamp serves inner city youth ages 7-17 who are partipants in our summer Technology Camp where they learn to code, build, and program robots, gaining skills in science, technology, engineering, and math. 


    Mentoring Opportunities: Seeking college technology students, and/or adult mentors to help guide youth participants in the building, programming, and coding of their robotics projects. 


    Held at Coleman SE Community Center

    1400 Sherrick Rd. SE

    Canton, OH 44704

    330-265-3787

    markbigsbee@yahoo.com

    Contact: Mark Bigsbee

  • Project Rebuild

    Description: Serves youth ages 16-24 who are not in school, assisting in obtaining a high school diploma or GED and building job readiness skills.


    Mentor Opportunities:  Seeking adult mentors who have an interest in helping re-engage young adults through connection, encouragement and skill development. Mentoring opportunities are flexible and can be customized based on mentor goals.


    www.projectrebuild.org

    406 Shorb Ave NW

    Canton, OH 44703

    330-588-3205

    Contact: Joanna James

  • She Elevates, Inc.

    Description: She Elevates, Inc exists solely to equip girls ages 8 – 14 to be confident leaders, entrepreneurs and CEOs. Our pathways are through the She Elevates Academy, Shadow Mentorship Program, Confidence Conference and the National She Elevates Day.


    Mentor Opportunities: Partners with businesses, governments, non-profits and other

    organizations who are interested in empowering young girls to become future business owners and leaders.


    www.sheelevates.org

    901 Tuscarawas St. E

    Canton, OH 44707

    877-550-1751

    assist@sheelevates.org

    Contact:  DeLores Pressley


  • Success Club

    Description: After-school based program for middle school students that focuses on learning new skills and exploring college and career opportunities.


    Mentor Opportunities: Seeking area professionals and business organizations interesting in partnering to help students with career exploration.


    Contact: Spencer Geraghty

    geraghty_s@ccsdistrict.org


  • Walsh University DeVille School of Business Mentoring Program

    Description:  Provides Walsh University business students with the opportunity to gain a working knowledge and understanding of business practices from seasoned professionals within the business environment.


    Mentoring Opportunities: Seeking top level business professionals to meet monthly in person or remotely over a 6-24 month period with Walsh business students.


    www.walsh.edu/mentor

    rmanse@walsh.edu

    Contact: Ron Manse

  • yStark!

    ystark! is an initiative committed to improving our community through knowledge, leadership and participation of our area's young professionals. We’re focused on helping YPs grow their careers. Whether you’ve got a great job, are on the hunt for the next one, or just starting out, our contacts, connections and professional development opportunities will help you forge a lifetime career-building network.


    Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce yStark!

    222 Market Ave N

    Canton, OH 44702

    (330) 456-7253

    ystark@cantonchamber.org

    Contact: Kelly Piero