Michels is leveraging innovative technology to transport students to an interactive construction site.
The new virtual reality (VR) program provides young people the opportunity to see what happens at a Michels jobsite—from putting on personal protection gear and performing stretch-and-flex exercises to completing the job safety analysis and inspecting heavy equipment. The Michels VR Experience concludes by placing the student in the cab of one of our excavators, where they learn how to control the equipment and then dig a starter trench, dropping the dirt into a nearby dump truck.
A robot named Mikey serves as the virtual instructor and spotter, guiding visitors through the simulation.
“Michels and the construction industry have a great variety of career opportunities for people with all kinds of interests, goals, and experiences,” said Ryan Vecitis, Director of Talent Acquisition. “Our VR Experience lends a unique perspective at one way to start a career at Michels.”
The Michels VR Experience—a collaboration involving our HR, IT, and Marketing teams—debuted at high school career fairs earlier this year. The setup includes VR goggles, a pair of controllers, and big screens on which students can watch peers test their skills.
This creative approach to career fairs has proven to be a big hit, reaching young people who might not otherwise consider a career in construction.
In addition to these on-site interactions at high schools and universities across the country, we reach young talent at our annual Career Day at our headquarters, during which about 100 local students benefit from interactive experiences at our massive yard in Brownsville, Wis.; through the Architecture-Construction-Engineering (ACE) Academy, which prepares high school students for a post-graduation career through core curriculum courses and key technical classes; and via social media applications, such as Handshake, which connects Michels with more than 1,500 higher-education institutes and more than 15 million students.
All of these initiatives open the door to additional opportunities, including our Youth Apprenticeship Program, summer seasonal positions, college internships, and permanent positions at Michels.
By immersing students in virtual simulations as well as real-world scenarios, we continue to cultivate the next generation of construction employees, grow our own talent pool, and shape the future of the industry.
