Guiding You to Your Next Steps After Graduation, and Life

Econ Dev Show 121- Beyond Traditional Education: Nate Clayberg's Vision for Tomorrow's Workforce

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:47:42 -0600

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane talks with Nate Clayberg CEcD.

Nate Clayberg's approach to education is all about getting students ready for a future job market, including careers that might not even exist yet. With his varied experience in fields like broadcasting, sports, and economic development, Clayberg sees the importance of changing the way education is delivered. He suggests moving away from the traditional classroom focus and instead, developing skills that are versatile and crucial for a wide range of future jobs.

Clayberg emphasizes starting career exploration early. He believes in exposing students to a variety of job options, especially those in their local areas, to expand their understanding of possible career paths. This is vital in connecting what they learn in school to real-world scenarios. He advocates for an education that involves hands-on, project-based learning, where students work on actual problems faced by businesses. This method makes learning more relevant and interesting.

A crucial aspect of Clayberg's idea is to bridge the gap between the education system and the evolving job market. He highlights the role of economic developers in bringing together schools and local businesses. This collaboration aims to create educational models that are in tune with both current and future job market requirements. It's about ensuring that the education system works closely with businesses and industry experts to make learning more dynamic and directly applicable to the workforce needs of tomorrow.

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Episode Links

Nate Clayberg | LinkedIn
NateClayberg.com
@NateClayberg / X
Student Professional Study Programs - CAPS Network
The Network Podcast: Episode 7 - It's A Life Thing — Corey travels to Cedar Falls, IA to talk with Ethan Wiechmann and Nate Clayberg. Amid a busy CAPS visit, Corey, Ethan and Nate discuss the strategic partnerships that have helped launch CF CAPS to a position of success. Education for life is showcased as Nate and Ethan share students' stories from the CAPS program, high ed, and in the working world.
Choosing the Life You Want, Not Just the Job - 2022 Iowa CAPS Summit — On November 7, 2022, Nate Clayberg presented to nearly 40 instructors, counselors, and school administrators about taking CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) student associates from being prepared for their purpose to creating the Pathway to Purpose.
Economic Development and Education with Nate Clayberg - YouTube — Nate Clayberg helps students to envision their future so that they can navigate a pathway to purposeful life beyond education. Through the Career Adventure Academy, Cedar Valley CAPS and host of the That's a Job? Podcast
That's a Job? Podcast with Nate Clayberg
From Come Rain or Shine Podcast: Preparing Youth for the Future — On this episode of Come Rain or Shine, Nate Clayberg, Founder of Career Adventure Academy, joins the show to discuss his role as a student mentor and career coach.

What do you want school to be for you? - Peter Hostrawser, Disrupt Education (E.042)

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:04:00 -0600

Peter Hostrawser took full advantage of getting his Valpo University education paid to earn a degree in broadcasting but realized that wasn’t what he was wired for. Even though his father told him not to do it, he aspired to the classroom.

As an active high school business teacher, Peter has found that he isn’t a “check the box” teacher. He has taken a growth mindset to influence entrepreneurship methods to build skills and a portfolio to head into life after high school.

He believes that learning doesn’t end in school but continues throughout your life. He is taking learning from K to Gray.

And he has been called by his students as the Gary Vaynerchuk of education.

Follow Peter Hostrawser

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-hostrawser-09565546/

https://twitter.com/peterhostrawser

https://www.instagram.com/peterhostrawser/

https://www.facebook.com/peter.hostrawser

https://www.peterhostrawser.com/

---

Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

Be fully confident in your student's next step after graduation. Get your FREE 10-Step Checklist to Launch Students Into a Great Life After Graduation.

If you are connected to a student looking to gain confidence for their pathway after graduation, invite them to www.nateclayberg.com and get the free 10-step checklist to help them launch into life with a purpose beyond graduation.

Now, go Live your life with a Purpose.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Launching into Season 3, the Pathway Beyond Graduation (E.041)

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 13:37:43 -0600

How did we get through 40 episodes? It began as an idea that took off in 2022 to talk to people from around the globe in different professions, bringing new stories and connections that have impacted a lot of listeners.

Talking to 15 different people over Season 3 also brought some essential advice about how your professional network is a trait that impacted each of these people’s lives personally and professionally. It also continues to hold through where people think they will be and doesn’t head that way in their work.

Season 3 will continue to have guests sharing their stories about their work and the pathways they followed to get there. But we will do more solo episodes where we will dive further into answering questions that students have asked me over the last year on developing their pathway in life after high school.

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Continue enjoying this journey, sharing, and subscribing to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

Be fully confident in your student's next step after graduation. Get your FREE 10-Step Checklist to Launch Students Into a Great Life After Graduation.

Now, go Live your life with a Purpose.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Being a Builder to Have an Impact - Lindsay Leahy, Founder of the Restoration Project (E.040)

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 08:15:50 -0600

Lindsay Leahy believed that going to college to go to college was the path she needed to be on when she enrolled at the University of Nebraska. As classes began, she struggled to find the actual value in how she was spending her time.

After a short stay in Lincoln, she ended up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She found a direction at Mount Mercy University that led her to opportunities to stay in Eastern Iowa. She gained experience in the financial services industry and the chamber of commerce but was still looking for more.

As a “builder” she has found that she is in her prime when helping to create and grow something or even someone. That led her to found her company, the Restoration Project, where she supports people looking to take their life and leadership to the next level.

Follow Lindsay Leahy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayleahy/

https://www.the-restorationproject.com/

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Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

Be fully confident in your student's next step after graduation. Get your FREE 10-Step Checklist to Launch Students Into a Great Life After Graduation.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - Loren Kelly, Career Coach and Consultant (E.039)

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 09:16:59 -0600

Loren Kelly was deadset on becoming a high school business teacher but realized how awesome yet challenging secondary education can be. Her husband is a Naval Aviator, so as a military spouse, she saw how her life would change based on their location domestically and abroad. Making these uncomfortable changes for two people from small midwest towns became a career advantage for both.

She set her sights on getting into higher education and evolved into working outside of the W2 world as a Career Coach, Career Consultant, and Resume writer. This career option developed when her family moved to the United Kingdom. It opened up opportunities for online connections and remote workshops and training.

Loren found that she was good at doing the career and training work even though she didn’t believe how good she was. Once she reflected on that work and the success she had with engaging people in that work, she trusted herself to move her career forward. Imposter syndrome became real because it was something she had not formally done before. But her mentors helped her bring that vision they saw to reality.

Loren Kelly

https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-kelly/

https://lorenkellycoaching.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lorenkellycoaching/

https://www.instagram.com/lorenkellycoaching/

---

Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

Be fully confident in your student's next step after graduation. Get your FREE 10-Step Checklist to Launch Students Into a Great Life After Graduation.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Building a Workplace People Want to Work At - Marc Reifenrath, CEO of Spinutech

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 07:21:38 -0600

In this episode, we talk to one professional who followed a pathway to purpose with a marketing focus and built a national company that focuses on serving its customers and having an engaging culture.

In his junior year at the University of Northern Iowa, Marc Reifenrath studied sales and advertising and decided to start an internet company with his friends as a resume builder. Unbelievably, the company was hugely successful and has grown for over 22 years, now employing 165 people. Spinutech is a web design company that focuses on high-end development.

Key takeaways— When leading a company, be open to change and create a positive work environment you want to work in. Spinutch never says, “that’s how we’ve always done it.”

0:47 High school and college

2:07 Starting business in college

6:46 Scaling Spinutech

10:40 Leadership and delegation

14:08 Finding talent

18:04 Company culture

21:35 Advice to young people

26:10 Spinutech

Marc Reifenrath

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcreifenrath/

https://twitter.com/spinuser

http://www.spinutech.com/

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Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

Be fully confident in your student's next step after graduation. Get your FREE 10-Step Checklist to Launch Students Into a Great Life After Graduation.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Don't Check the Box To Not Disappoint Others - Stephanie Short, America Succeeds

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 07:47:22 -0600

Stephanie Short is the Vice President of Partnerships at America Succeeds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy-advocacy organization committed to improving education and preparing students to succeed in the workforce.

She went into college as an undecided major and took a break from school to work in the real world at various jobs. She found that she was checking the boxes for others on her career path not to disappoint others. The increased anxiety made her feel like a failure and had a chip on her shoulder because she didn't take the straight path to a career.

She discovered a passion for marketing and went back to school for marketing and business. Part of her work now is educating people on the importance of “durable skills.”

Biggest Takeaway— We need to build students’ durable skills, so they can adapt to the changing work economy and succeed.

0:50 High school and college

3:30 Taking a break from college

9:34 First marketing jobs

11:14 Starting own consulting business

13:06 America Succeeds

16:00 Durable skills

20:04 Workforce shortage

23:30 How to teach kids durable skills

Stephanie Short

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniefshort/

https://twitter.com/stephfshort

https://americasucceeds.org/

https://americasucceeds.org/portfolio/the-high-demand-for-durable-skills-october-2021

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Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

CHECK OUT THE NEW COLLEGE & CAREER DISCOVERY COURSE; get lifetime access at www.nateclayberg.com

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

How to Launch into a Great Life After Graduation, 10-Step Checklist

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 20:42:52 -0600

"What questions do your children have about choosing a path after high school?"

This is a question I have been asking students over the last couple of months when I hold my regular Career Discovery Workshop with the CAPS programs of Northeast Iowa.

Many of the answers I would get from these 17 and 18-year-olds didn't surprise me.

How much does college cost?
When should I apply for college?
What do I need to know about jobs I am interested in?
Where do I search for careers?

However, there were answers I did not expect to hear.

How do you stay motivated to work 9-5 jobs early in life?
What benefits do I get from the Army since my Dad passed away?
What is something that I should’ve done when I was younger to set myself up for success?
At what point is a career decision not worth the risk anymore?

I found that these students have had these questions in their heads but didn't know who to talk to about these questions or even if they could ask them.

Two key responses that stood out to me were, How do I separate what I want and what my family wants? and WHERE DO I START?!

Determining what the child wants to be compared to what others want is another article I will need to write. It will get more into the actual and perceived pressures these students have on themselves as they are coming up through school and looking to move into the world beyond their family's home.

The students who asked where they should start weren't necessarily underclassmen, which can be expected at that age. The question of where to begin the pathway is young people that can see spring graduation day on the horizon. This data, unfortunately, confirms that schools, parents, other influencers of students, and even the students themselves are not as prepared for life after graduation as they should be.

In my work, I have found that there is not one individual you can point a finger to blame for not knowing where to start. It is a collective of people that have given influence and guidance to the student as they move from childhood into their teenage years. Each of these people probably has meant well in helping the child in their school work, sports, music, social life, and more. However, looking at pathways where these students are heading beyond their education can seem monumental.

The traditional linear method takes the child from birth to kindergarten. Then through elementary, middle school, and into the high school experience. Parents, teachers, counselors, and students know that most graduates go on to college. The process is clear from high school to college. It is easy to learn more about how to get into college, how to pay for it, and what colleges excite your interests and budgets. Even as clear as this process is for college, students still struggle to know where to start deciding what college they should attend.

But when a student is asked to choose a career, job, profession, or vocation, it isn't as clear how to get there as the college has become.

If you are a member of Generation X like me or are a member of a generation before that, getting a college degree was a genuine lock to get a good job after you graduated college. However, in today's world of fewer workers and more jobs that Bachelor's Degree is not as valuable as it used to be.

As a parent, I want my kids to have a college experience like their mother, and I did. But do they want it or need it?

BEGINNING THE PATHWAY TO PURPOSE

The first piece I have students work through in my process is identifying jobs that fit them and where they feel they want their life to be. I get challenged by many who question how I can expect these kids to know what job they want to have for the rest of their life. I don't!

If you have come through 12 years of school and don't know your next step and why - that is what I am more concerned about.

Making that choice on what job or career path to follow is challenging. There are about 150 million jobs in the country, and the titles and types of work in those roles change daily. Who knows what kind of work is done in those 150 million jobs? No one can know all of them. That is where the internet comes in. At least one good use for the world wide web.

Shameless plug, check out my podcast "That's a Job?" it's on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts - learn about jobs you maybe didn't know about, but also jobs you know but don't know what the work is and how to follow that path.

You should know you are not alone in worrying about your child's decision about their path after graduation or lack of a plan.

When students graduate high school, the path isn’t always straightforward for them about what direction their lives will take them after being a student, which can cause concern about finding the right track.

The pathway to a college education is the next step for 60% of high school students who will receive their diplomas, and 60% of those students move on to that next step in their life as they begin a career. However, about 30% of those young professionals will find a job with a career path they can enjoy and find engaging.

So how can your child be passionate and engaged in their work when they become adults? This is a question many parents and students think about as high school graduation approaches.

That question is why I created the Launch to Life Checklist to help guide that high school student on a Pathway to Purpose.

For generations, checklists have been used to get stuff done by people in many jobs. Working through a thought-out process has helped surgeons, engineers, and astronauts reduce mistakes and increase productivity in their work.

For the college-bound student, you can find different types of checklists to discover the best ways to choose a college, get accepted to that college, and how to pay for that school's tuition. It’s almost like you need a checklist for all of the checklists.

The Launch to Life Checklist shows students and their families key ways to succeed in college and beyond.

I am so passionate about helping launch students with confidence into their life beyond school because I have helped hundreds of high school students identify their Pathway to Purpose. A plan that can be rewarding for not only that young person but their family when they launch into a life they can enjoy and be engaged in the work they are wired to do.

The Launch to Life Checklist sets the stage for that student’s success after graduation.

✓ Be confident in knowing what kind of work fits your child.

✓ Identify why that job/ career/ profession/ vocation is right for them.

✓ Understand where your child can gain the education and training needed to get a job doing that kind of work.

✓ Know who they can connect with to learn more about that role.

✓ Learn how they can gain more exposure and experience in that profession.

✓ Create a timeline with goals and objectives for executing the items they need to meet.

Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut and even went to Space Camp. There, I realized the schooling I would need to follow to reach that ambition was beyond my true ambition. I discovered through that experience that communication was at the core of my ambition.

From that point, I followed a Career Adventure in broadcasting, sales, marketing, economic development, education, and training. With these experiences, all rooted in the foundations of communication, problem-solving, and developing others, I found the work that truly fits my ambition.

I have gone from wanting to launch to space on board a rocket to helping families launch their students into college, career, and beyond.

Let the countdown begin, and get your Launch to Life Checklist now!

If you don't love what you are doing, why are you doing it? - Leon Costello, Athletic Director, Montana State (E.036)

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:00:04 -0600

After Leon Costello graduated high school, he played basketball and studied exercise science at Loras College.

Realizing he didn’t want to work in medicine, he got his masters in sports administration at Western Illinois University.

Wanting to make a meaningful impact on students, Leon chose a career in college athletics over a career with a professional team. Today, he loves his job as the Athletic Director at Montana State and credits his success to networking, personal connections, and sacrifice.

Key Takeaway— Sports careers are highly competitive and demand sacrifice. Leon’s first job as a university intern barely paid the bills, and had extremely long hours.

0:00 School days

2:52 Boston Celtics

5:00 University of Northern Iowa

10:15 Networking

14:10 Creating a positive atmosphere

17:20 Changes in college athletics

22:36 What is Division I?

25:54 Advice to younger self

29:15 Closing words

Leon Costello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-costello-16377425/

https://twitter.com/leonmcostello

http://www.msubobcats.com/

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Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

CHECK OUT THE NEW COLLEGE & CAREER DISCOVERY COURSE; get lifetime access at www.nateclayberg.com

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production

www.nateclayberg.com

Choosing the Life You Want, Not Just the Job - From the '22 Iowa CAPS Summit (E.035)

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 23:15:55 -0600

On November 7, 2022, Nate Clayberg presented to nearly 40 instructors, counselors, and school administrators about taking CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) student associates from being prepared for their purpose to creating the Pathway to Purpose.

Nate presents questions to the high school seniors and juniors, "What questions do you have about planning your life after high school.?"

This question is asked more specifically than, "Do you have any questions?" actually brought out some great info that the CAPS programs will focus on to support these young people before high school graduation.

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Continue to enjoy this journey, share, and subscribe to 'The That's a Job? Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The That’s a Job podcast is presented by Career Adventure Academy - Discover the work you are wired to do.

Do you know a high school student looking to figure out their next step after graduation?

CHECK OUT THE NEW COLLEGE & CAREER DISCOVERY COURSE; get lifetime access at www.nateclayberg.com

Let the Adventure Begin!

Nate Clayberg is a COLLEGE & CAREER NAVIGATOR that has guided hundreds of students to envision their future to purposeful life beyond education.

Connect with Nate Clayberg on Social Media:

This podcast is a need10 Media production