Career Connections: Community Resources
Information for Our Business, Industry, and Community Partners
Westbrook Students Have Big Dreams. Can You Help?
Students can make their dreams come true in many ways. Access to engaging, quality teaching and learning is certainly important. Career Connections experiences help students see how high school coursework is relevant to their future careers, whether they enter a career directly from high school or after college or other post secondary training. Westbrook High School invites industry, business and community partners to support students as we work to build the talent pipeline and prepare students for their futures.
Career Connections activities enhance student learning through a continuum, including industry and career awareness, career exploration and career training/lifelong learning. These activities help students develop a realistic vision and plan for their future careers and, most importantly, connect what they are learning in high school to future careers. Of course, the benefit for our community partners is a more talented and prepared workforce.
We invite you to take a look at the Resources for our Community Partners below where you will find additional information about Career Connections. You will find:
- Westbrook High School Career Connections Framework: An overview of the Career Connections initiative which guides planning and implementation of student and teacher activities
- 2020-21 Proposal for Career Connections Activities: A proposal for partners interested in assisting with Career Connections activities (describes Career Connections activities planned for the 2020-21 school year)
- Mentor Guide: A guide for hosting a student intern
- Employer Application for Internship Site: Required by CT Departments of Labor and Education for all unpaid student internships
- Career Connections Guide for Teachers: Ideas for implementing Career Connections within the classroom
- Career ConneCT web address. During the 2021 legislative session, Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly passed historic legislation investing in Connecticut’s workforce. The Office of Workforce Strategy is helping to bring their vision to life with CareerConneCT. The State is awarding grants to innovative workforce development programs that help unemployed people, historically marginalized groups, and students prepare for high-demand, high-quality careers. If you are interested in helping to build a workforce for your industry as a collaborative partner, you may want to look into this State of Connecticut grant program. The program is focused on reskilling and upskilling, mutual success, and inclusiveness and effectiveness.
Leslie Carson, Career/College Readiness Coordinator, serves as the liaison between community and the school and coordinates all Career Connections activities. She can be reached by email at lcarson@westbrookctschools.org or by phone at 860-399-6214.
Career Connections for Our Community
From time to time, the school's Career/College Readiness Coordinator will discover Career Connections experiences that may be valuable to members of the Town of Westbrook community. These opportunities will be described here with contact information or links to gather more information. Students, of course, are our first priority, but we like to share information with the Westbrook community at-large when we find it.
Please note that, for safety reasons, Career Connections experiences planned for the student body are not open to the public.
The Connecticut Small Business Development Center (https://ctsbdc.com/) offers professional, confidential, no-cost business advising services. The Connecticut Small Business Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and the University of Connecticut. A pre-recorded webinar, How to Start Your Business is available at https://ctsbdc.
Tips for Virtual Interviews provides tips for successful virtual interviews. See Resources for Our Community.
Tips for Writing a Compelling Resume provides suggestions for writing a resume that will gain attention. This resource is geared to a high school student reader, but it delivers tips community members can use to improve their resume writing skills. See Resources for Our Community.
Attending a Career Fair is a valuable tool for seeking employment or if you are looking to improve your current employment situation. You will want to be prepared when you attend by dressing professionally, taking copies of your resume with you, and having a set of questions ready that will make an impression. The Questions You Can Ask at a Career Fair to Make an Impression is a resource that may help. The questions in the resource are also great questions to ask at an interview. See Resources for Our Community.
Apprenticeships: Registered apprenticeship programs are operated by private industry - employer or labor/management sponsors. Program sponsors pay virtually all training costs as well as progressively increasing wages to their apprentices. Registered apprenticeship programs range from one to six or more years in length. For the apprentice, this translates into an "industry scholarship" worth $40,000 to $150,000. Since the content of the training program is determined by industry needs, an apprenticeship produces workers with high demand skills. See the Apprenticeship link listed below under Resources for Our Community.
Workforce Alliance is gearing up to assist individuals 18 years old and older who are ready make an impact on their resumes. Workforce Alliance has some leading programs that set individuals up for success. These include:
- Introduction to computer literacy-We want to help build Computer Literacy Skills! Attend ALL four classes and become eligible for a free refurbished computer! Please register for these and future courses at https://www.cfalct.org/ or Call us at (475)-285-6500
- Skill Up – this program focuses on securing positions in the manufacturing sector. Through this training, students go through a 5-week hybrid course in and out of the classroom. Students will receive 175 pre-apprenticeship hours as well as Six Sigma certification and OSHA 10 certification. They also receive a cash stipend during their training.
- Software Engineering – Through our collaboration with DAE we offer an exciting opportunity for individuals 18+ to go through a 4-month software engineering program. Through DAE’s program, students learn to build websites and web applications. Their days will be spent working on real projects with state-of-the-art technology. Full scholarships are available.
- Project CEO – this program is open to ages 16-24 living in South Central CT and not currently attending high school or college. Offered FREE of charge. With Project CEO participants practice interviewing, create a resume, and have access to paid work experiences as well as on-the-job training in Greater New Haven and Middlesex Counties.
- Health Careers Advancement Program (HCAP) -- provides funding for short-term job training for individuals seeking to enter employment in health care or looking to advance in their healthcare career. Workforce Alliance also provides job placement to eligible job seekers. Call 203-867-4030 ext. 220 for more information.
- SkillUp CT-Metrix Learning- is a free online learning system that helps job seekers enhance their skills and gain certifications to secure employment. About 5,000 courses are available in areas like IT, business analysis, customer service, project management, digital literacy, and more. Sign up here http://ow.ly/zOgS50JVTcR.
Have questions about the program? Chat with one our specialists now! www.workforcealliance.biz
Employment Opportunities
HR departments for a variety of employers in the Westbrook area contact the school with employment opportunities for Westbrook High School graduates and members of the community.
- Honeycone Cream Co. is seeking part time ice cream servers. Honeycone is located in Chester. The job involves scooping icre cream, making beautiful sundaes, and various other ice cream creations as well as customer assistance, restocking, organizing, working the cash register, cleaning, assisting with baking and food prep. It is primarily front of house position working direction with public. The shop is a grab and go, so there no tables to bus or waiting on tables. the shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 3p.m. until 8p.m. and on Sundays from 11a.m. until 6p.m. The shop is seeking afterschool and weekend availability. No minimum shift requirements at the moment. The pay is $14 to $15 per hour depending upon experience. Applicants with more experience could start at a higher rate. Cash and credit card tips are also available. To apply, send a resume and letter of interest to honeyconecreamco@gmail.com. The letter of interest should telling something about yourself, your interests and why you would want to work at Honeycone. You must be at least 16 years old to apply.
- The Water's Edge is hiring at 1525 Boston Post Road. You must be 18 years old to work at The Water's Edge. They are currently hiring full-time, part-time, and seasonal managers, supervisors and line staff for banquets, front desk, housekeeping, culinary, restaurant, and spa. For more information, call 860-399-5901, extension 2012.
- Louis Marina is looking for part time now with possible full time employment in the summer. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to work and to learn. This is a great opportunity to move into the marine industry from the bottom and work your way up. Contact Hunter Bromson at hbromson@louismarine.com. Mr. Bromson is a Westbrook HS graduate recently visited Mr. Pessoni's class and explained how he is an example of how to start at the bottom and work up the ladder!
- Pier 76 Marina is looking for employees. No experiences is necessary. You must have a willingness to work and to learn. If you have some mechanical abilities, they will incorporate your skills into the work you complete. The pay rate is $14 to $15 per hour. Call Pier 76 Marina for more information and to schedule an interview: 860-399-7122. Come see Ms. Carson for help putting together a resume and if you would like more information about the job.
- Essex Savings Bank seeks part-time and full time tellers. They are looking for candidates who enjoy interacting with people! Written and verbal communication skills are important as well as strong organizational skills with attention to detail. Cash handling experience is helpful but not required. There is information on their website (www.essexsavings.com) under Connect > Employment Opportunities and on Indeed.
- Tower Laboratories is currently hiring a variety of positions in Essex and Centerbrook. View their careers page at www.towerlabs.com for more details. They offer full time with benefits and are currently hiring Maintenance Electricians and Technician, Marching Operators, Packers, Process Technicians, Warehouse Personnel, and Mechanical Engineers. Email resumes to hr@towerlabs.com.
- Right at Home is currently hiring home companions, paying $14.00 to $15.00 per hour. Paid training is provided. Right at Home is located in Old Saybrook but serves clients along the Shoreline. Call 860.330.5299 or visit https://www.rightathome.net/old-saybrook.
- Bausch Advanced Technology Group in Clinton is hiring for a variety of positions. Contact Kathy Tanner, Accounting/HR Manager at 860-552-0318.
