Types of careers in this pathway include: engineers; architects, construction, computer software developers, CAD drafter, diesel mechanics, transportation careers, scientists and more!
Explore the opportunities listed below, when you find the career exploration event you'd like to attend, write down its name so it is handy when you fill out your application.
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Career exploration days offer a great introduction to specific career fields and allow you to explore a broad scope of careers within that industry, all in one shadow experience. Career Exploration Days are a great option for initial exploration of a specific career or industry. On average, shadows are typically two to four hours in duration.
This is an opportunity to explore architecture/interior design and engineering-related careers which include Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture/Interior Design, Process Technology and 3D scanning. Cap of 50.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to create a new school, library, or fire station? Come meet our proactive, collaborative, and tenacious designers and Building Information Modelers. Explore opportunities in commercial construction design for careers in architectural technology, mechanical/electrical/plumbing system design, computer aided design & drafting. Our expertise is in Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing/Technology design and our job shadow will cover 3D modeling in Revit. Cap of 12.
Learn about the fields of interior design, drafting, construction management, carpentry and building during a visit to McCreedy Ruth Construction. Learn about the many career paths in the field of construction, classes you can take now, and options for post-high school education in each field during your day at McCreedy Ruth. Meet the design staff to learn how they use technology to help customers plan and visualize projects, take a tour of our building and custom cabinetry shop to see projects in progress, and get an introduction to the tools of the trade. This interactive day will include a nailing contest for dibs on fastest nailer. If possible, we may try to visit a worksite. Cap of 12.
Explore the many careers in the construction industry, from construction management to skilled trades with Mortenson. This job shadow will guide you through the construction process from start to finish. Visit an active construction site and speak to professionals about their careers, how they got there, as well as identify career interests and outline career pathways. Cap of 20.
If you are interested in any construction area from inception of design to final construction period, including pricing, project management, resource planning, management, coordination, and scheduling then you don’t want to miss this day. You also will have the opportunity to speak with professionals about their careers and help identify career interests and outline career pathways. Cap of 15.
Do you consider yourself to be a hard worker? Do you enjoy building things that you can step back, admire, and be proud of? Do you like living life on the edge? Ironworkers might be the career for you. Ironworkers work at great heights and underground, indoors and outdoors, building skylines and reinforcing roadways, floors, and walls with precision and craftsmanship. Ironworkers also move heavy machinery and assemble pre-engineered buildings. At this job shadow, learn about the career of an ironworker and test your skills at virtual welding. Apprenticeships are tuition-free and offer earn-while-you-learn training programs. Cap of 20.
Have you ever wondered what types of careers exist within Interior Design? Get a different perspective from Tara & Allison at The Design House in Hiawatha! Tara & Allison have been helping customers with Interior Design for over a decade. Come experience design software, color selections, furniture, cabinetry, and other designing elements. Held on Oct. 7, 2025. Cap of 10.
Would you like to have the best office view in the state? Are you looking to travel and reach your financial goals within the tower and wireless industry? Then look no further and climb to the top of your career with Viking Maintenance. If you have experience or interest in construction, roofing, scaffolding, landscape, or being a farm hand, this job shadow is for you! Led by our CEO and VP of Procurement, you will receive hands-on experience with an opportunity of doing a short climb in our climate-controlled training facility. Careers such as tower technician, field supervisor, construction manager, and project manager will be discussed. Cap of 6.
From concept to finished product, Ideal Industries designs and manufactures custom equipment at its facility in Vinton, Iowa. Participants will have a factory tour to observe how raw materials and other components come together to become a finished product. Throughout the day you will observe and visit with employees in the areas of mig and tig welding, pressbrake and laser programming, assembly and finishing, as well as engineering, pre-production and quoting. Join us for this unique opportunity to observe several different manufacturing careers under one roof! Held in late October. Cap of 12
Are you looking for a career where you can be out and about, not tied to an office? Do you like to be hands-on? Are you looking for a career where you can gain on-the-job training? Discover what it means to have a career as a heavy equipment mechanic, a fabricator (welder), a drilling service provider (for water wells) and a pump service provider. Observe a drill rig and a pump rig in action. Plus, learn about wells, aquifers and the importance of groundwater preservation. This is a full day experience from 9am-3pm, multiple job sites may be visited as part of the shadow.
Ever wonder how raw steel becomes a high-quality piece of ag equipment? In this shadow experience, you will get an understanding of the full process and all the careers needed to create the final product. From fabrication, to welding, to painting, to delivery of a top-of-the-line piece of manure handling equipment. Production consists of CNC machine operators, welders, electrostatic paint booth operators, and much more. Cap of 5.
From concept to finished product, Kinze Manufacturing designs and manufactures planters, grain carts, and tillage equipment at its facility in Williamsburg, Iowa. Join us as we begin our day at Kinze touring the Kinze Innovation Center, which highlights Kinze’s 60 years of innovation and the technology that is shaping the future of farming. We will also have a factory tour to observe how raw materials and other components come together to become a finished product. Throughout the day you will observe and visit with Kinze employees in the areas of welding, machining, assembly, powder coat painting, testing, engineering, sales, marketing, and many more. Join us for this unique opportunity to observe several different agricultural and manufacturing careers under one roof!
Are you interested in solving challenging engineering problems and creating unique exterior cladding solutions for companies like Cadillac, Jeep, Top Golf, Porsche Motors as well as local institutions like Kirkwood Community College or the University of Iowa? Explore a career in the exterior cladding industry. See firsthand how Engineering, CAD Design, and CNC Programming come together to create custom building facades around the county. See world-class performance firsthand from a local cladding manufacturer. Held November 11th from 9-11 a.m. Cap of 15.
See the process of design development and production through careers in design engineering, manufacturing engineering, project management and CNC machining. Cap of 10.
Students will have an opportunity to talk to machinists and toolmakers in each step of the tool and die process. Cap of 4.
Do you have the desire to solve problems, design new products, create processes, or find a way to improve quality and safety in a production setting? If so, this shadow experience is for you! Learn how Design Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers work together to design and create products for production. Get an understanding of the process, from designing an idea all the way to the development of the product. Learn about the skills needed and what a day in the life of design and manufacturing engineers looks like. Cap of 5.
Learn about careers in Biomedical Engineering at UI Health Care. This visit will be held at the new North Liberty Campus, giving students the opportunity to interact with biomechanics labs and biomedical engineering research, which directly impact orthopedic advances at UI Health Care.
If you are interested in Chemistry, Microbiology, and Consumer Product Testing then this day is for you! Experience the life of a quality analyst at Frontier Co-op. Learn about the main testing methods used to ensure high quality spices, culinary herbs and essential oils. Gain insight into the diverse set of quality indicators, as well as regulatory requirements used at Frontier Co-op. Cap of 12.
Have you ever wondered how many careers are available within an electric utilities company? If so, join us with Linn Co Rec to hear about the careers and departments that make up this company, such as: Lineman/Journeyman, Electrician, Electrical Engineer, GIS specialist (mapping), metering department, and energy advisors. Cap of 15.
Explore careers in mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering. This is a great job shadow, whether you have a general interest in engineering or you have a specific career in mind. Due to the business being a government-contracted organization, participants are required to be U.S. citizens. Cap of 30.
Learn about biomedical, mechanical, CAD, and manufacturing engineers from a cutting-edge medical device company, as well as do some problem-solving of your own. Cap of 25.
Did you know the very first GPS signal from space was received at the top of a building in Cedar Rapids? Come see how we design, develop, and manufacture advanced GPS technology for flexible, efficient, and highly reliable navigation and guidance solutions. Students will learn how systems, software, mechanical, electrical, and cybersecurity engineers work together to develop and manufacture this technology in our state-of-the-art facility. In addition to a tour of the engineering labs and factory, students will get a hands-on experience with circuit board design. Due to the business being a government-contracted organization, participants are required to be U.S. citizens. Cap of 10.
Curious about a future in tech? Spend the morning with ITS to explore real-world IT careers through hands-on learning, a behind-the-scenes facility tour, and Q&A with our team. Get an inside look at roles in:
Whether you're into coding, networking, problem-solving, or tech strategy, you'll see how it all fits together at ITS. Held October 22 from 9-11 a.m. Cap of 10.
Do you have an interest in the environment, resource conservation, or climate action? Learn how City of Cedar Rapids careers such as Sustainability Program Manager, Environmental Specialist, City Arborist, and Transportation Planner create sustainability products or services and/or strive to reduce the environmental impact of the City’s processes and operations. Begin the job shadow in the City Hall Council Chambers, then take a tour outside near the river to learn about the inner workings of the flood wall and see how each career works to positively impact the environment. Held April 16, 2026.
Lights, camera, action! It’s not a movie, but it’s your local news. See behind the scenes of a newscast and how news stories are written, how breaking news is handled, and how weather is forecasted and presented on TV. This job shadow will teach you about the fast paced world of TV broadcasting. Anchors and meteorologists from Iowa’s News Now will show you everything you need to know about the world of live TV news.
Are you interested in cars and like to get your hands dirty? If so, join the mechanics at Billion Auto for a hands on experience in the auto technician and auto mechanic career fields. After your tour of the dealership, you will be guided by the certified mechanics to inspect cars, change the oil, and other typical day-to-day tasks. Hear from the managers about their career, training, and education. Cap of 10.
Are you fascinated by how cars work and enjoy solving technical puzzles? Join the team at Brown's West Branch Ford for an exciting, hands-on exploration of careers in automotive service and repair! Discover what it takes to be an Automotive Technician as you get an up-close look at vehicle diagnostics and maintenance. Learn how our Service Advisors communicate with customers and manage the service process. See how Shop Foremen lead our expert teams and ensure quality repairs. You might even get a glimpse into the world of Parts Specialists and how they support our service operations. This interactive experience will include demonstrations of diagnostic tools, basic maintenance procedures, and a chance to ask our professionals about their rewarding careers. Cap of 5 students.
If you are interested in piloting, aircraft mechanics, or aviation engineering, this is the career exploration opportunity for you. During this day you will learn how to get your piloting license and ratings, available careers for pilots and aircraft mechanics. You will also get an inside look at the inner workings of an airport by touring their facilities including the Operator Performance Laboratory and maintenance shop. Cap of 18.
Students with an interest in information technology, marketing, human resources or operations can visit our corporate office in Cedar Rapids, IA. Discussions with dispatchers, customer service representatives, recruiters, and IT professionals will be included along with a tour of the facility. Cap of 10.
Lil’ Drug Store Products is the market leader for Health & Beauty Care products supplied to over 180,000 convenience stores, airport stores, and hotels in the U.S. Spend time with us to learn about career opportunities in sales, category management, marketing, supply chain, warehouse operations and more! Join our team for a facility tour, lunch, and interactive discussions with key business leaders. If you are planning to attend trade school, college, or seek a career after graduation, we hope you will join us to learn about all the different opportunities at Lil’ Drug Store Products. Cap of 10.
Do you enjoy solving problems, servicing customers, and working with fellow employee-owners? Explore the growing fields of supply chain and warehouse logistics while learning how Van Meter’s culture and employee-owner experience makes it a fun place to work! Join the team for a tour of the facility and meet with operations and automations staff to learn about a variety of careers such as project management, distribution center team member, traveling construction coordinator, engineering, sales, marketing, and finance. Cap of 20.
Students will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet with Operations staff, talk to a Driver Recruiter, and visit the shop facility. Careers covered include: Truck driver, operations/dispatch, administrative, and preventative maintenance mechanics. Held in October. Cap of 10.
Join us for an exciting experience at the Iowa Interstate Railroad's global headquarters in Cedar Rapids! This unique opportunity allows students to explore the inner workings of one of the most state-of-the-art railroads in the country. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, learn about the importance of rail transport, and interact with industry professionals within civil engineering, human resources, a train conductor, and a dispatcher. This exclusive job shadow experience ensures personalized learning and interaction with our dedicated team, operate our locomotive simulator, and observe the operations/dispatch area. Don’t miss your chance to discover the innovative technologies and operations that keep our railroad thriving! Cap of 5.
Individual/small group shadows allow for a deeper dive into specific careers, shadowing a professional(s) in that field. These small group shadows are perfect for those who are more confident in their career interests and have had some initial exposure to that career. Job shadows may be individualized or include a handful of students, depending on demand. Pick from the below list of careers and the associated career descriptions.
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Repair automobiles, trucks, buses and other vehicles. Master mechanics repair virtually any part on the vehicle or specialize in the transmission system.
Uses CAD equipment to provide support to engineers and architects by preparing routine layouts, detailed drawings, assembly drawings, sketches and diagrams. Details to include all views and dimensions necessary for manufacture, fabrication or construction. Makes copies of drawings and maintains information regarding changes to database. Makes simple decisions, but refers most questions/problems to engineers or supervisor. Has a solid understanding of drafting techniques and familiarity with engineering terminology.
Provide help and advice to computer users and organizations. Either support computer networks or provide technical assistance directly to computer users.
Set up, maintain and repair computer systems. Troubleshoot hardware problems and install new equipment. Ensure that company employees have up-to-date hardware and software to complete their jobs properly. May also be responsible for helping company employees learn how to use software programs and hardware.
Plan, direct or coordinate the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.
Diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service streetlights, intercom systems or electrical control systems.
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper and pulp by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics and engineering.
Perform engineering duties in planning, designing and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants and water and sewage systems. Research, design, plan or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation or pollution control technology.
Research, design, develop, test or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components or systems for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use.
Develop tools, implement designs or integrate machinery, equipment or computer technologies to ensure effective manufacturing processes.
The branch of engineering dealing with the design, construction, and use of machines.
Dig, lift, carry, smooth, level and pave using specialized equipment. Construction equipment operators run excavators, drive dump trucks, steer graders, direct asphalt pavers and roll rollers to build and repair roads, buildings, and other structures.
Install, service or repair heating and air conditioning systems in residences or commercial establishments.
Lubricate machinery, change parts or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
Lay out, assemble, install, or maintain pipe systems, pipe supports, or related hydraulic or pneumatic equipment for steam, hot water, heating, cooling, lubricating, sprinkling, or industrial production or processing systems.
Plan, design and furnish interiors of residential, commercial or industrial buildings. Formulate a design which is practical, aesthetic and conducive to intended purposes such as raising productivity, selling merchandise or improving lifestyle. May specialize in a particular field, style or phase of interior design.
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy-duty transmission towers. Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data gathered by surface and air stations, satellites and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
Assemble, install or repair pipes, fittings or fixtures of heating, water or drainage systems according to specifications or plumbing codes.
Software developers create the computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks. Software developers don’t just write code, they also have an understanding of the broad scope of the project or product. Developers think through all aspects of functionality, end-user engagement and security.
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial driver’s license.
Use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components, or to fill holes, indentations or seams of fabricated metal products.
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