Human Services Career Exploration

Explore the many exciting career opportunities available at our Adult Day Health Centers where we serve a variety of people age 18 and older!  Our social workers assist with care plans, funding, and problem-solving every day community needs.  Nurses monitor medications, work with community physicians, and complete health assessments.  Patient Care Assistants do many of the same tasks as a CNA, such as safety awareness/fall prevention, bathing, activities, and meal assistance.  Program and activity specialists and our habilitation staff engage our participants in programming, outings, special events, and individualized programming that helps them meet their goals. Our dining staff makes sure we are following special diets and honor personal choice. We would love to have you join us and show you not only what it takes to do their work day to day, but how roles interact to meet the needs of our participants! 

Here is your opportunity to learn everything you need to know about a variety of athletic careers!  You will have the opportunity to visit with an athletic director, athletic trainer, and a couple of coaches. You will learn what the daily tasks are in their jobs, along with the education required. You may also have the opportunity to observe a basketball practice to see some of these individuals in action!  Held in early December 11, 2026.

Would you like to be involved in sports and athletics with high-level athletes in a college atmosphere on a daily basis? If you love to compete and be around competitive individuals striving to be the best version of themselves, then join us at Mount Mercy University to explore career paths as an athletic trainer, athletic director, sports information director, and college coach.  Held Spring 2027.

Do you have a passion for sports and athletics?  Learn more about careers in athletics such as coaching, sports marketing, and athletic training. Held April 28, 2027, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Experience a commercial kitchen environment in the Kirkwood Community College Baking and Pastry Lab during a live, hands-on lab session instructed by Kirkwood Hospitality faculty. Participants will learn more about the careers of bakers and pastry chefs, and be involved in production utilizing some fundamental kitchen techniques. You will be making a cream puff dessert to enjoy! Cap of 12. Held on March 9, 2027.

Explore the careers that keep a school district running. During this job shadow experience at the Cedar Rapids Community School District Educational Leadership & Support Center (ELSC), high school students will tour district facilities and hear directly from professionals working in technology, human resources, accounting, food & nutrition, buildings & grounds, and other operational departments. Students will gain insight into the many impactful careers in education that happen beyond the classroom, while learning how these teams support students, staff, and schools every day. Held on Thursday, April 8, 2027 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Cap of 30.

The Anamosa State Penitentiary will be offering an opportunity to learn more about the following careers within the Penitentiary: Correctional Officer, Treatment (Correctional Counselor/Psychologist/Activities Specialist), Correctional Trades Leader, Correctional Food Service Coordinator, as well as an overview of Iowa Prison Industries. Students will have a chance to learn what a typical day consists of for staff in all of these areas. The last hour of the day will consist of a question-and-answer forum. Held in late April or May 2027. The job shadow will last approximately 5-6 hours. Must be 18 years of age. Cap of 5.

Ready to explore a career that’s creative, hands-on, and all about helping people feel their best? Join us at Capri College Career Day Experience— a one-of-a-kind event focused on all things Beauty and Wellness!

This open house-style event lets YOU choose where to spend your time — whether it's styling hair, trying new nail art, learning more about skincare, makeup trends, or benefits of massage. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our campus, meet real Capri students and instructors, and participate in multiple HANDS-ON CLASSES led by licensed professionals.

If you’ve ever imagined yourself as a Cosmetologist, Barber, Esthetician, Massage Therapist, or Nail Technician, this is your chance to experience what that future really looks like. Held Spring 2027. 

Come join PCI Academy for an inside look at what the world of cosmetology, esthetics, and massage therapy looks like. See how exciting and amazing your future career can be.

Experience a commercial kitchen environment in the Kirkwood Community College Culinary Lab during a live, hands-on lab session instructed by Kirkwood Hospitality faculty. Participants will learn more about the career of a chef and be involved in production, utilizing some fundamental kitchen techniques. You won’t go home hungry! Cap of 16. 2 sessions held: April 27, 2027 & April 28, 2027.

Do you like working with children? Want to make a difference? Learn about careers in education such as elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, school counselor, English Language Learner (ELL) teacher, special education teacher, and paraeducator. In roundtable discussions, hear and engage with a variety of educational professionals about the daily tasks in their jobs along with the required education. Held on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Learn about a career in healthcare that is outside the four walls of a hospital. A career in EMS as an EMT or Paramedic is a rewarding profession. Receive an inside look at this potential profession from current ground and flight EMS providers, and get hands-on experience with life-saving skills such as airway management, bleeding control, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. Held in Spring 2027.

Johnson County Ambulance Service provides an exciting experience for those interested in a public safety career. If you’d like to learn about the skills and education it takes to be a paramedic and EMT, then this is the event for you! Paramedics from Johnson County Ambulance Service will give you all the details regarding what a typical day looks like on the job.  They will demonstrate a medical emergency call scenario and the teamwork it takes to work in this field.

Go behind the scenes of one of Cedar Rapids’ largest community events during this job shadow with the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival staff. Learn about all the planning and marketing efforts that go into this three-week festival that is the state’s second-largest festival (behind the Iowa State Fair) and the state’s largest 4th of July fireworks display. If your career interests include: Event Planning, Marketing, Advertising, Graphic Design, or Community Outreach, this is the job shadow for you. Cap of 7.

Visit Kirkwood’s on-campus luxury 4 Diamond Hotel and learn about all of the high-demand professional management careers needed to create great experiences in hotels, resorts, events & conferences, and vacation destinations. Explore the world of hospitality management in a variety of careers including: Hotel, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Sales & Event, and Club Management, as well as Theme Park Operations & Senior Living Management. Come and see why your generation is finding happiness and success traveling and working all around the globe, as well as right here at home.

Interested in a career in the legal profession? Come speak with a variety of individuals who work in the legal field to learn more about their careers. You will have the opportunity to have a conversation with them and also receive a tour of the courthouse.

Learn about careers as a legislator, lobbyist, advocate, writer, and researcher as regional elected officials and professionals walk students through a role-playing exercise of legislative action.

Interested in helping people live better lives? Through small-group, round table discussions, you will have the opportunity to hear and ask questions of individuals in a variety of career disciplines, including social work, counseling, psychology, and social services. Held in Spring 2027.

Learn about what qualities are important for therapists to have, possible environments you may work, duties and responsibilities you will have as a therapist, and the difference between mental health counselors and social workers.

You will enjoy a tour of the police department in addition to having individuals from the Crime Scene Unit, Hazardous Devices Unit, K-9, Special Response Team, and Patrol Division speak to you about their careers. The shadow will conclude with learning some defense tactics. This is a full-day job shadow event held in Spring 2027.

Come attend a mini police academy and learn about what it takes to become a police officer. Enjoy hands-on experiences with a number of our specialized officers, and investigate different stains! This will be a daylong event from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

You will be given a tour of the facility in addition to hearing about a variety of careers in law enforcement, including dispatch, K-9, bomb technician, police officer, and crime investigation to name a few! Cap of 20. Held Spring 2027.

Interested in learning more about what it means to be an Agent of Change? Here at the 6th District Department of Corrections, we honor our obligation to community safety by facilitating behavior change in the individuals entrusted to us for correctional community supervision, otherwise known as probation and parole. Come learn about two critical factors when it comes to community safety--care (support) and control (accountability) and hear from staff who have served, or are serving, in the critical roles of Residential Officer and Probation/Parole Officer and what it takes to be a highly effective officer. You will also have the opportunity to tour one of our residential facilities. Cap of 10. Held Spring 2027.

Go behind the scenes of the wedding planning process and discover what it takes to bring a couple’s dream wedding to life! During this job shadow, you'll explore the roles of both a Wedding Coordination Manager and a Wedding Venue Manager. Learn about the planning, communication, organization, and attention to detail required to execute a successful wedding. From client meetings, venue tours, and vendor coordination to event setup, timeline management, and wedding-day logistics, you'll gain firsthand insight into the many moving parts that make a wedding day unforgettable. Held in February or March 2027. Cap of 10.