The modern job market demands a diverse skillset, and the Grow With Google Career Readiness Program is designed to equip Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) students with the digital skills necessary to thrive. A partnership between Grow with Google and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), this initiative is a significant step towards bridging the digital skills gap and empowering the next generation of professionals. Google’s $2 million investment underscores its commitment to training 200,000 students by 2025, ensuring they are well-prepared to secure internships and jobs and build successful careers.
This comprehensive program offers both pre-matriculated and post-secondary students a unique opportunity to enhance their career prospects. Through curated content, students will engage in career development opportunities, professional brand training, and hands-on digital skills workshops. The program’s goal is to act as a catalyst, shaping a future workforce ready to excel. It achieves this by providing semester-long virtual and in-person workshops, offering free educational tools, and extending support to recent alumni as they navigate their path to internships and employment.
What is the Grow with Google Career Readiness Program?
The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program is more than just a series of workshops; it’s a structured curriculum designed to provide students with practical, in-demand skills. Leveraging Grow with Google’s expertise in digital education, the program offers five flexible learning paths, each focused on specific career development areas. These paths are designed to be adaptable, allowing students to learn at their own pace and focus on the areas most relevant to their individual career goals.
Here’s a closer look at the five learning paths that form the core of the Grow with Google Career Readiness Program:
Path 1: Build Your Digital Skills: This foundational path introduces students to a range of Google digital tools. Students learn how to effectively utilize these tools to boost productivity, both in a professional setting and in their daily lives.
Path 2: Explore Career Paths: Career exploration is crucial for making informed decisions. This path guides students through the process of researching various career options to identify the best fit for their interests and skills. It culminates in creating a personalized career plan and initiating networking strategies to enter their desired field.
Path 3: Land a Great Job: This path focuses on the practical aspects of job searching. Students learn how to leverage digital tools to find job openings, craft compelling resumes and cover letters, and excel in interviews. Emphasis is placed on effectively communicating their personal brand to stand out to potential employers.
Path 4: Succeed at Your New Job: Starting a new job requires more than just technical skills. This path equips students with essential workplace skills such as running efficient meetings, managing projects effectively, and delivering impactful presentations to stakeholders.
Path 5: Start Your Own Business: For entrepreneurial-minded students, this path provides the groundwork for launching their own ventures. Students learn how to identify business opportunities, develop a comprehensive business plan, and estimate the financial resources needed to bring their business ideas to life.
The program employs a dynamic “watch, do, and meet” learning model, ensuring an engaging and effective learning experience. Students actively participate by:
- Watching informative Grow with Google Career Readiness Program videos.
- Doing relevant assignments and activities to reinforce learning after each video.
- Meeting with peers, career counselors, or professors to discuss lessons and address any questions.
Benefits for HSIs and Students
The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program delivers substantial benefits to both participating HSIs and their students. For institutions, the program offers:
- Micro-grants up to $50,000: These grants provide crucial financial support to implement the program effectively, enabling HSIs to enhance their career services offerings.
- Comprehensive Student Curriculum: The program provides a ready-to-use curriculum focused on career readiness, personal brand development, and essential digital skills, saving institutions valuable time and resources in curriculum development.
- Grow with Google Student Certificates: Upon completion of the program, students receive valuable certificates from Grow with Google, enhancing their resumes and demonstrating their newly acquired skills to potential employers.
- Dedicated Program Support: Both HACU and Grow with Google teams offer ongoing support throughout the program, ensuring smooth implementation and addressing any challenges that may arise.
- Intuitive Learning Management System (LMS): Access to an easy-to-use LMS simplifies the delivery of the Grow with Google curriculum, making program management efficient for both administrators and students.
- Grow with Google Program Swag: Program participants receive branded merchandise, adding an element of engagement and recognition to their participation.
- Access to Google Career Certificate Scholarships: Students gain access to scholarships for Google Career Certificates, further expanding their opportunities for professional development and specialized skills training.
- Enhanced Career Services for First-Generation Students: The program is specifically designed to bolster career services for first-generation students, providing targeted support to help them succeed in their career journeys.
For students, the benefits are equally compelling, providing them with a competitive edge in the job market and setting them on the path to successful careers.
Grant Opportunities and Participation
The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program is made accessible to HSIs through a grant application process. These grants enable institutions to implement the program and offer these valuable resources to their students.
Institutions interested in becoming sub-grantees for the HSI Career Readiness Program can find detailed instructions and download the application here. The sub-grantee application itself can be accessed here.
Selected institutions receive an initial payment of $25,000 during the first semester to kickstart the program. An additional $25,000 is awarded for the second semester based on program evaluations, incentivizing successful implementation and student engagement. The initial $25,000 request should cover program expenses between January 2022 and December 2022, and a tentative budget is required as part of the application. A budget example is available here to assist with the application process.
Stay Connected
For any inquiries regarding funding or further information about the Grow with Google HSI Career Readiness Program, please reach out to Jeanette Morales, Executive Director for Student and Pre-K-12 Services, at [email protected].
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HACU also provides ongoing support through weekly Zoom virtual office hours every Friday from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm CT, starting January 21, 2022. This provides a platform for program participants to connect, ask questions, and share best practices.
The Grow with Google Career Readiness Program represents a significant investment in the future workforce, empowering HSI students with the digital skills and career readiness they need to succeed. By participating in this program, HSIs can significantly enhance their career services and provide their students with invaluable tools for lifelong career success.
