Career Development Conference & Career Expo

August 20, 2024

Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates Annual Golf Outing

July 22, 2024

Leadership Development Conference

November 6, 2024

Staff Interview: Nalaya Lind

October 25, 2024

Having caring Career Specialists on our team is one of the ways the JOG program stands out. These Career Specialists help their students see the importance of learning real-world skills for after graduation. Nalaya Lind is a great example of a caring Career Specialist who goes above and beyond to prepare her Akron students for their futures.

JOG the Web: Positive Reinforcement and Preparation

September 23, 2024

One of the hardest parts of learning workplace readiness is overcoming anxieties. Being new to the workplace can be a scary experience for participants who have never had a job before or have had a bad experience in the past. That’s where we come in. JOG Career Specialists are trained to be able to help work through these exact fears! From being trauma informed, to life skill training, and even a 12-month follow-up process at the end of the traditional JOG process, our Career Specialists help participants along the way to being confident and well-prepared at work through positive reinforcement tactics.

Student Success Story: Brian

September 13, 2024

Some of the toughest things we have to deal with in life are breaking through walls we have had to put up. whether that be from past traumas or more recent fears. When Brian came to the Medina County JOG program, he was trying to overcome just that. With the help of his Career Specialist, Cindy, he was able to reach heights that he didn’t see as possible when he enrolled.

Staff Interview: Kristen Pawcio

September 9, 2024

At Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG), our Career Specialists wear many hats during the day. These are things like being an educator, mentor, counselor, life planner, and so many more. A great example of someone who is great at helping participants in all aspects of their career and life is Kristen Pawcio.

JOG the Web: LinkedIn 101 for JOG Participants

August 19, 2024

A big part of work readiness is having a well-managed LinkedIn profile. But what is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a social media platform that focuses on connecting peers and companies. According to LinkedIn’s website, they say “You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career.” Even if you do not use it to apply for jobs, most employers will look you up on the platform the further along you are in your career.

JOG the Web: Healthy Ways to Manage Workplace Stressors

August 8, 2024

Workplace stressors exist for everyone in the working world, regardless of years of experience For plenty of our participants, their first job is often found through our workplace readiness programs, and they have not had the opportunity to learn how to manage these stressors. As part of the JOG curriculum, we work to make sure that participants are prepared when facing challenges that will come up in their new environment. This includes when things get stressful. Here are some healthy ways we teach our participants to manage workplace stress that can really be helpful for anyone:

Student Success Story: CJ

August 5, 2024

This summer, we have been able to work alongside so many great local organizations as a part of the JOG Summer Youth Employment Program. These partnerships help young people get connected to worksites and achieve real world experiences to get work-ready. One of these students in this program is C.J.

JOG Staff: All Staff Retreat 2024

July 29, 2024

This July, all JOG staff came together for 3 days of training, team building exercises, learning, and reflection at MAPS Air Museum in North Canton. This year’s annual retreat was headed up by the Director of Programming, Pamela Crombie and encompassed staff from Summit, Stark, Medina, Trumbull and Ashland Counties. The event covered sharing tips on working with youth, trauma-informed care, teambuilding and a variety of other exercises.

JOG the Web: Building a Professional Network

July 24, 2024

As our recent 2024 graduates go through their first summer after achieving their high school diploma or GED, many of them will begin to look for ways to be work ready for life after school. The landscape can be tough to navigate when there are so many websites to look through, ways to present themselves to companies, and a variation of other rules to following to get what could be their first job after graduation. One of the best ways to extend opportunities in the industry a participant has chosen is through networking.

JOG the Web: Ohio’s In-Demand Industries

July 3, 2024

One of our main goals at Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates is to ensure students are able to be work ready to go into industries in which they are interested and can build a career with a good paying job. We do this through Career Specialist mentorship to help establish a pathway for the participant based on what they like and where their skills lie. The Career Specialists also try to help them match these skills to growing and in demand industries to improve our students’ chances of job placement and growth.

Student Success Story: June 2024 Graduation

June 28, 2024

Twice a year, JOG hosts a graduation ceremony for our out-of-school students who wouldn’t have the opportunity to walk the stage otherwise. This normally happens in June and December, the end of the school year and the end of the calendar year. We are so proud of our students who have been working on their GED and to highlight their hard work, so to highlight their achievement, we put on our very own graduation ceremony at our Summit County office!

Staff Interview: Monique Jones

June 24, 2024

Our goal at JOG is to help our participants rise above and meet their academic and career goals. Whether that looks like achieving their GED, getting their first job, or getting into further education programs, our Career Specialists strive to help our participants get there! One Career Specialist who goes above and beyond to help students in this way is Monique Jones.

JOG the Web: Tips for Acing an Interview

June 21, 2024

Our main goal at Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates is to help our participants through their academic goals and work readiness. We go through a variety of topics to help them succeed in this transition from school to work. One of these topics is preparing for the interviewing process. For our participants, and any other young adult preparing for an interview, here are some tips for crushing your next interview.

JOG the Web: 2024 Summer Work Kickoff

June 12, 2024

It’s that time of year again here at JOG, summer work kickoff! This week, our students participating in the summer work program are kickstarting their first work experiences in a variety of industries. Of course, we can’t do this without the help of our amazing employers who offer their workplaces by providing career guidance and positive learning environments for our participants.

Student Success Story: Christopher

June 3, 2024

Sometimes all you need is someone to help you realize your worth to get back on the right path. This is exactly what happened with Christopher. He was going through a tough time when his dad went to jail during the end of his freshman year and his grades were beginning to slip. He began talking to his guidance counsellor for some academic support to get through school, but eventually stopped seeing her too. Little did Christopher know, but one of his toughest moments would present a path for him to achieve some of his greatest feats in High School!

Staff Interview: Kelley Conley

May 21, 2024

The best leaders teach by example. This is the easiest way to show both how it looks to be a good leader in action, while also putting your words into action for your audience. At JOG, our Career Specialists are leaders who do exactly this. Career Specialists get to teach our young people how to be kind and understanding, while also being a strong leader. Kelley Conley is a great example of instilling these JOG core competencies into our youth and has been a cornerstone of the JOG Stark County program since joining us straight out of college.

JOG the Web: Sponsorships & Outreach

May 6, 2024

We are so lucky at JOG to be able to have such a strong community of local partners. From donating time to bring JOG participants in JOG students for work opportunities and teaching valuable educational skills, to donating money to help expand in-class training, all donations are valuable, and we welcome them with thanks and open arms. One way that helps us provide quality events is through direct sponsorship for our events.

Student Success Story: Miah

April 29, 2024

We all run into difficulty in life, whether they involve subjects we struggle with, family problems, and anything in between. At the end of the day, these challenges present opportunities to grow and become a better person! Miah is a JOG student who faced her challenges and with the help of her Career Specialist, Heidi Phillips, she was able to make significant strides.

Partner Showcase: Noel Powers – Like a Boss Session

April 23, 2024

The Like a Boss program at JOG offers our students (and staff) the opportunity to engage directly with our partners on a variety of topics. This can range from direct information into a field, the story of the employer and tips on how to succeed like they did, and even some more broad advice that can apply to a variety of career paths in the future. In one of our Like a Boss sessions, Noel Powers spoke on how online messaging and communication is key to building your future.

JOG the Web: Alumni Engagement

April 16, 2024

Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates is proud to have been able to make an impact on our community since 1987. Over this time, we have been able to impart career preparation and academic skills on generations to help build up our workforce. One great way we can keep these programs running so well is through great alumni engagement! Here are some direct ways that JOG alumni help perpetuate JOG’s mission and vision.

JOG the Web: Ways to Engage

April 5, 2024

As Spring Break ends for many of our schools we are going into the homestretch for this school year. Before the end of the school year, JOG’s mission is to work with our students to ensure they have absorbed the career preparation lessons we teach and are ready to enter another year of soft skill training. For our students who have been though the program for a little while, we work to place them into a career-position, whether it be a job, a job shadow, an internship, or a summer job. We are always looking for more employers to engage with our students to build up tomorrow’s workforce. Here are a few ways you can engage with JOG to do exactly that!

Student Success Story: Rainbow

April 3, 2024

At Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, it’s all about helping our participants take crucial first steps into their educational and/or career path. When Rainbow joined JOG, she didn’t know what she was expecting. She joined to learn more about getting into a career with animals but didn’t know how to take those next steps to achieve her goal. Here is how Rainbow has been able to overcome her roadblocks to success.

Staff Interview: Lukas McCoy

March 25, 2024

It takes passion to be a solid Career Specialist at JOG. Passion to help young people, passion to teach, and passion to push people to go above and beyond. Lukas McCoy came to JOG after graduating from college with that exact passion. He has been a shining example of being able to execute on JOG’s mission to help grow the skills of today’s young people into tomorrow’s workforce.

JOG the Web: Career Development Conference

March 18, 2024

What’s more fun than a fun challenge of your skills? Our annual Career Development Conference (CDC) gives students from across our 5 counties that exact chance! Our competitors get to put the educational and vocational training they have gained to the test in a variety of career-based topics. The events are built to cover a wide array of soft skills training topics that competitors will need when they are entering the workforce. These competitions range from classic head-to-head style challenges to presentations of work that has already been achieved, like the Cover Design and Students for Service competitions.