Careers Conference to focus on turning challenges into opportunities

For the first time in U.S. history, four distinctly different generations are working side by side, and each of them — Matures, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y — is guided by a different set of values, beliefs and expectations.

At this year’s Careers Conference, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Center on Education and Work, author Jason Ryan Dorsey will talk about strategies for building on common ground in a way that reinforces a culture of cross-generation communication, innovation, trust, teamwork and high-level performance. Dorsey has written a number of bestsellers, including “Graduate to your Perfect Job,” “My Reality Check Bounced” and “50 Ways to Improve Schools for Under $50.”

The 24th annual conference will be held Monday, Jan. 25-Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Madison Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton St.

This year’s conference will focus on innovative strategies and approaches for career-development experts and educators help job seekers address the complex challenges created by the global recession. The nation’s postsecondary institutions have been filled in recent years with adults seeking retraining and new or updated skills. At the same time, the vast majority of K-12 students are focused on acquiring the education and skills to best prepare them for green jobs, the changing 21st century economy and other growing industry sectors. As education and training programs across the U.S. provide hope, skills and opportunities for an uncertain future, the work of career development professionals has never been more important.

Sessions with national experts and practitioners, along with workplace tours, keynote and featured speakers, and workshops, will provide professional development opportunities to help educators, counselors and practitioners engage youth and adults in the kind of planning that can lead to productive and satisfying careers.

Conference keynote speaker Robert Chope, professor and former chair of the department of counseling at San Francisco State University, will speak at 8 a.m. on Jan. 27 about the influence of families on career choices. Participants will learn how family background, history, motility, support, conflicts, nurturing and exposure to new ideas influence the career counseling process.

Dorsey will speak at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Workplace tours will also give participants the opportunity to learn firsthand through visits to employers what skills and training are needed for tomorrow’s careers. This year’s workplace tours include visits to the Mazomanie Heritage Center Food Incubator, ioGenetics, Sologear, Silatronix, Aova Technologies, Virent Energies, WiCell Research Institute, UW–Madison’s Camp Randall Stadium, Madison Area Technical College Career Center, Henry Vilas Zoo and Dean/St. Mary’s Cardiac Center.

For a full agenda and details on conference sessions, speakers and registration, visit http://www.cew.wisc.edu/careersConf/default.aspx.