In mid-November, the MIT Job Connector completed its 5th Fall Flagship Program, Introduction to the Building Trades, which helps Cambridge residents with a high school diploma develop skills. The 18 graduates spent six weeks learning about the construction business, including hearing daily from speakers who work across the building trades at different employers.
Some of the speakers were graduates of the Job Connector. “It’s personally rewarding to see graduates come back to share their success,” said Sarah Gallop, director of MIT’s Office of Government & Community Affairs. The program also covers general employment skills and advice in navigating applications and maintaining jobs.
Annalisa Bhatia, associate director of Government & Community Affairs at MIT, said the program helps applicants “develop general employment skills and advice in navigating applications and maintaining jobs.” The program has students begin applying to jobs starting in their first week.
“Not all of us have mentors or understanding of how to handle employment situations,” said Anthony D. Galluccio, former Cambridge mayor and an instructor in the program along with Gallop and Bhatia. “We prepare them for both opportunity and setbacks. We also introduce these candidates to our network of employers and opportunities.”
The free workforce development hub started in 2019, as part of MIT’s Volpe zoning agreement. Its Spring Flagship Program trains administrative assistants, and it runs other programs throughout the year.
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