MiCareerQuest Southeast event provides 8,000 high school students with career experiences

The November 2024 MiCareerQuest Southeast is now in the books. The initiative is the region's largest career exploration event that offers opportunities for students to experience the following areas: Construction, health and human safety, advanced manufacturing and information technology.

As part of MiCareerQuest, local businesses are required to bring hands-on exhibits that offer the students the chance to physically experience each career. Students performed simulated appendectomies, programmed robots, used spider cranes, immersed themselves in virtual reality and so much more. It was a great opportunity for students to experience a variety of careers in one day and for employers to expose these students to what it is that they do.

The first CareerQuest event, MiCareerQuest™, was held in 2015 and included the counties of Allegan, Barry and Kent on the west side of the state. It was organized in response to employers' need for future talent in West Michigan's high-demand industries, including: construction, health sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing. Since then, the event has been replicated all over the nation, with Michigan dividing MICareerQuest by region. Michigan Works! is responsible for designing and supporting the event. It acquires participating sponsors, volunteers and businesses.

This year, the Novi Suburban Showplace hosted the event. There were more than 8,000 high school students who attended from Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe counties. The event was well organized, with Michigan Works! scheduling several virtual meetings to prepare volunteers and business leaders for the big day.

Why should your business participate in MiCareerQuest next year?

As a participating exhibitor, businesses have a unique opportunity to engage students through conversation and demonstration - to show them firsthand what it's like to be a registered nurse, foreman, robot programmer, mechanical engineer and more. Businesses are helping to develop the workforce of the future by exposing students to potential careers today.

To get involved in this event in 2025, contact Jennifer Weot at [email protected]. There's no cost to be an exhibitor, simply time, talent and an interactive exhibit. If you are interested in getting involved but don't know what to do or where to start, you can also attend next year's event simply as a spectator through a VIP tour. We would love to see Macomb County businesses represented in all areas and our team is here to help guide you through the process.

Jennifer Weot is a senior outreach specialist for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development