General Circular No. 001311



To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors



Subject: March Career Month



Issue Date: February 4, 1998





Once again this year, the Governor has proclaimed March as Career Month in Louisiana. By designating March as Career Month, the Governor emphasizes the need for private, public and academic resources to join forces to educate members of Louisiana's current and future workforce about the many and varied employment opportunities available in Louisiana. As one of the largest employers, the State of Louisiana must be in the forefront of "Career Month."



LSU's Career Services department is spearheading this state-wide celebration of Louisiana's great employment potential. As in the past, state agencies are encouraged to host events to highlight their employment opportunities. Some suggested activities for March include an After-School Open House for employees' children or other local student groups. Ideas for additional career month activities are listed on the enclosed form.



Please appoint a member of your staff to coordinate your Career Month activities in your Department, agency or facility during March. Enclosed is the Career Month in Louisiana Participation form. Please have your delegate return the Participation Form to Mary de la Houssaye Belleau, Assistant Director, LSU Career Services at 1502 CEBA, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.



This is a great opportunity for each state agency to showcase its programs and strengthen connections in the community. We encourage you to participate as fully as possible.



Sincerely,







Allen H. Reynolds

Director





MARCH 1998 CAREER MONTH IN LOUISIANA



A partnership between statewide employers and educators from schools, colleges, and universities who together provide a community service to educate people of all ages about the changing world of work.



Employers - hold open houses as a community service to show-case Louisiana's workplace; invite employees' children and student groups to attend the open houses to learn about workplace opportunities.



Educators - provide programs and resources; encourage students to read and write about careers and to get career-related experiences; invite alumni to speak to classes and groups about careers.



"Workers will have an average of 8 to 10 jobs in their working lives." -U.S. Department of Labor

The question "What do you want to do when you graduate?" has become "What are SOME of the things you want to do when you graduate?"



Join other Louisiana educators and employers in bridging the gap between education and the world of work for a better informed and more productive workforce!



For more information or contact: Mary delaHoussaye Belleau - LSU Career Services, 1502 CEBA Baton Rouge, LA 70803, 504-388-2162 career@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu



SUGGESTED CAREER MONTH ACTIVITIES for EMPLOYERS:



Pick any day(s) in March to hold an OPEN HOUSE of your division(s) (If you are already involved in a community partnership activity, it could be incorporated.)



Suggested hours are 3 - 5 p.m. (after school) Monday through Friday.



Invite employees' children.



Invite targeted groups to recruit as potential employees.



Invite community leaders.



Tour participants to inform them of the work performed by your employees.



Hand out brochures, if available.



Give away promotional item(s), if available.



Show promotional video, if available.



Refreshments are optional.



Invite the media to cover your community service.



Cover the event in your company's newsletter and in-house publication.



Recognize employees who coordinate open houses or participate in career-related activities in the community.



SUGGESTED CAREER MONTH ACTIVITIES for EDUCATORS:



Schedule career-related activities during the month of March.



Have career-related bulletin boards.



Have career-related displays in the library.



Have students read or be read to about careers.



Have students write papers on career choices.



Invite alumni and students' parents to speak to classes and student groups about careers.



Sponsor a Career Day/ Week.



Coordinate a field trip to a local company's workplace.



Encourage student organizations to have career-related projects i.e. visit a local company's workplace.



Cover the event in your school newsletter / paper.



Recognize outstanding career-related projects by a counselor, teacher, group, department, or college.



Remember to promote education as a career.



CAREER MONTH IN LOUISIANA Participation Form



Employer_____ or Educator_____

Contact_______________________________________________________________________

Organization___________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________

Phone_____________________________FAX________________________________________



EMPLOYERS' Activities: (Please attach a brief description of the activity)



_____ Promoted event in newsletter (copy attached)

_____ Held open house; number attended _____

Employee activities during Career Month:

_____ Spoke to class(es) at:______________________________(school, college, university)

_____ Spoke to student group(s) at:___________________________(school, college, university)

_____ Spoke to professional group(s):_______________________________________________

_____ Other___________________________________________________________________



EDUCATORS' Activities: (Please attach a brief description of the activity)



_____ Sponsored a Career Day _____ Career Week

_____ Students read or were read to about careers

_____ Students wrote about career choices

_____ Guest speakers on careers

_____ Students visited a local company's workplace

_____ Recognized outstanding projects

_____ Other___________________________________



Please use the following sentence in promoting your career-related activites:

(Name of Organization) is sponsoring (Name of Event) in support of Career Month in Louisiana.



Thank you for your participation!