Step Into 300 Careers Without Leaving Sparta

Sparta residents will have an opportunity to step into more than 300 different careers next week without ever leaving town, thanks to a two-day virtual reality workshop at Motlow State Community College.

Motlow State's Sparta site is partnering with RIVET (Rural Investment in Virtual Education and Training) and Upper Cumberland Workforce to host the workshop Nov. 4–5. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at 603 Roosevelt Drive and is open to community members, students, educators, employers, and others interested in exploring career opportunities. The workshop is a drop-in event, with most visitors expected to spend between 15 minutes and an hour exploring the technology.

Participants will use virtual reality headsets and handsets to experience interactive simulations of different workplaces. The technology allows users to explore the responsibilities and skills associated with hundreds of occupations, including HVAC, dental hygiene, cybersecurity, clinical laboratory technology, city planning, and commercial truck driving.

Other available simulations include hotel front desk operations, paramedic vital signs, and supply chain management.

“Career exploration is most meaningful when people have the opportunity to experience what a job actually involves,” said Thomas Turner, director of Motlow. “This workshop will allow participants to step into virtual work environments, explore careers they may not have previously considered and discover new possibilities for their future.”

RIVET is a regional workforce initiative developed through Workforce Connections and the Upper Cumberland Local Workforce Development Board. The program partners with Transfr to provide virtual reality experiences that help individuals explore career options before making decisions about education, training, or employment.

The workshop is designed to introduce participants to careers they may not have considered while providing a closer look at what different jobs involve. The technology also offers educators and workforce professionals another way to help people identify career interests and potential training opportunities.

Those interested in attending can register online.

Additional information about RIVET is available at ucwork.org/rivet.