State, Ivy Tech offering free career coaching to all Indiana residents

A virtual career coaching program through Ivy Tech Community College and InsideTrack is being made available to any interested Indiana resident.

The service, announced Tuesday by the Indiana Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and Ivy Tech, will provide up to four months of one-on-one career coaching via InsideTrack, a not-for-profit organization that works with educational institutions to improve enrollment, persistence, completion and career readiness.

Both unemployed and working adults can utilize the career coaches from InsideTrack, which will provide one-on-one guidance. The Portland, Oregon-based organization has  partnered with Ivy Tech and other Indiana institutions in the past, proving coaching to more than 2.5 million students since 2001.

Ivy Tech plans to spend more than $1.2 million on the program out of the $3 million it received in federal pandemic relief funds through Indiana’s $50 million Rapid Recovery initiative.

“As we chart a path to full recovery from the economic crisis of the past year, it’s critically important that we provide individualized support to help workers not only get back on their feet, but ultimately emerge stronger as the pandemic subsides and we build the economy of the future,” said PJ McGrew, executive director of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, in a written statement. “This work is about empowering working adults with the sort of skills and support they need to plan their next career move, identify the right training and education options, and stand out in today’s competitive job market.”

The Governor’s Workforce Cabinet was formed in 2018 and is focused on Indiana education and employment needs. The cabinet is made up of members from the Indiana business community, K-12 representatives, postsecondary institutions, Indiana lawmakers and leaders from Indiana state agencies.

Interested residents can enroll online at careercoaching.yournextstepin.org. The virtual sessions will be available via phone, email and text. In the fall, the career coaching from InsideTrack will expand and serve online learners enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College.