AmeriCorps Job Ready

The AmeriCorps Job Ready Program of North Central Massachusetts is a three-year grant-funded partnership between Mount Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University, that places 15 full-time AmeriCorps Members at 12 community sites throughout north central Massachusetts to increase the career awareness, job readiness and career exploration skills of north central Massachusetts residents. The project, entering its third year, addresses the north central Massachusetts high unemployment rate through job preparedness and career exploration activities that assist three distinct target populations: high school and middle school students; college students and alumni; and the economically disadvantaged unemployed, underemployed, and dislocated workers.

Two Members, serving as leaders, are placed at MWCC and Fitchburg State to assist in the development and implementation of volunteer and service learning projects focused on job preparedness. Member Leaders also serve as mentors and project coordinators on service projects that address needs within the local community. Thirteen additional Members are placed in the community. Identified through a competitive selection process, each Member provides 1,700 hours of service, for a total of 25,500 hours of service to the community each year.

Examples of community-based member responsibilities include:

• developing and coordinating volunteer and service learning projects related to job preparedness and career exploration at their service site that engage students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers;
• developing, implementing and conducting trainings on careers and their educational requirements, career interest inventories, 21st Century workforce competencies, résumé writing,
• networking, interviewing, job search skills, using social media to find a job;
• providing one-on-one résumé assistance;
• leading career cluster field trips;
• coordinating job shadowing, internship, co-op, mock-interview and other experiential education programs;
• coordinating and expanding existing job and career fairs.

Training is provided throughout each Member’s term of service by MWCC, Fitchburg State and other partners.