Community College of Vermont (CCV) describes its Career Pathways Program as an “on-ramp for career seekers to explore industries, participate in job shadows, gain college credit, and earn cash while they learn.” Few people appreciate the program more than Copley’s former Recruiter and current Generalist, J.T. Vize.
“We got involved in 2021, when the program was a brainchild of HireAbility Vermont and CCV,” Vize said. “Our goal was to meet people who were looking for a new – or second – career in the healthcare field and introduce them to the myriad opportunities available here.”
Vize points to the wide range of career options in healthcare – in environmental services, patient access, the laboratory, nutritional services, and radiology – and to Copley’s growing need for people to fill these openings. “There’s literally an opportunity here for anyone looking to work in a local, stable, and friendly environment.”
This year, there are five students in the program who come to Copley every Tuesday and shadow two departments a day. This summer’s cohort is mostly comprised of students looking to make a career change, Vize said, but there are also some college-aged students. “We try to show them ‘a day in the life’ of a department and hope they see something they like.”
This is exactly what happened for Amara Gates, who found her way to radiology through this very program and now works part-time at Mansfield Orthopaedics while she finishes her degree in Radiologic Science at Vermont State University.
“The program was awesome,” Gates said. “I got to know the various departments at Copley and found I was most interested in radiology. I asked to spend more time shadowing there, and by the end of the program I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Gates came out of the program with three college credits and a part-time job. She’s now cross-training in other areas at Mansfield while working towards her associate’s degree.
Chris McCarthy, a current student, heard about the program from a friend and is equally excited about the potential outcomes. “I wanted to further my education in the sciences and get training in a science and service-related field,” he said. “ This is turning out to be an ideal way to accomplish that goal.
“Long-look interviews.” That’s how JT Vize likes to describe the program. “This is a perfect opportunity for managers to meet potential employees and for job seekers to get to know Copley. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
To learn more about this program or to participate, contact Copley Hospital’s Human Resources office at 802-888-8329.