If you can make insightful online videos about certain in-demand careers, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) wants to know if you’re up for a challenge – specifically, the Career Videos for America’s Job Seekers Challenge.
A prize of $1,000 and bragging rights are at stake.
With submissions being accepted only from May 10 through June 18, a tight deadline looms, so following the guidelines will be crucial.
Here’s the deal:
The department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is looking for one- to three-minute “day-in-the-life” videos that focus on the daily tasks of one of 15 “high-demand” occupations. The videos also need to focus on what kind of KSAs (that’s labor-speak for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) workers need for the job, as well as career pathways to the job.
You can only submit one video, and it has to be about just one of the 15 occupations.
The department will screen the submitted videos, and then give the public – including job seekers and workforce development specialists – a chance to vote for the top video in each occupational category by visiting www.DOLVideoChallenge.IdeaScale.com.
The top videos will be posted on department websites, such as www.CareerOneStop.org, www.Workforce3One.org and www.DOLETA.gov. Creators of the top videos in each occupational category will receive a $1,000 prize.
The goal of the contest is to create material that will help increase the workforce development system’s ability to help job seekers understand more about the 15 occupations and what kind of training is required to get these jobs.
The 15 kinds of workers the ETA wants the videos to focus on are:
- Biofuels processing technicians
- Boilermakers
- Carpenters
- Computer support specialists
- Energy auditors
- Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers/ testing; adjusting and balancing (TAB) technicians
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Medical assistants
- Medical and clinical lab technicians including cytotechnologists
- Medical records and health information technicians including medical billers and coders
- Pipe fitters and steamfitters
- Radiological technologists and technicians
- Solar thermal installers and technicians
- Weatherization installers and technicians
- Wind turbine service technicians.
The top videos will be selected in August.
On May 11, the ETA will host a Webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss the challenge in more detail. For more information contact your regional ETA office.
