Rapid City, South Dakota – In an effort to expand opportunities for job seekers and address workforce needs, Elevate Rapid City proudly announces the launch of a new micro-credential program: CareerLIFT – Learning for Industry, Future, and Transformation.

CareerLIFT is a free online education platform. It is comprised of courses, resume-building resources, interview preparation and job offer connections to uplift and empower individuals to achieve career success and improve their overall quality of life.

The courses, created in partnership with Western Dakota Technical College, address essential soft skills and knowledge of the healthcare or construction industries. Upon completion, participants are guaranteed a job interview with the respective pathway partner, Scull Construction or Monument Health.

 “Healthcare and construction are the highest in-demand industries in our region,” said Reese Niu, workforce planning director for Elevate Rapid City. “These industries not only have a lot of entry-level need, but also offer several pathways of upward mobility to someone in this career field.”

The goal of the program is to create opportunity for individuals who are seeking opportunities to start or advance their careers to achieve economic mobility. A lack of access to education and life events can often result in limited career opportunities both financially and professionally. Through CareerLIFT, the goal is to give people an opportunity to start something new in a field they may not have considered or realized the growth potential.

"I’m excited to introduce a program that creates real opportunities for those in our community who face barriers to employment,” added Niu. “By providing participants with industry knowledge, soft skills, and guaranteed interviews, we’re opening doors to sustainable careers and offering them the tools to achieve economic mobility."

The guaranteed job interview does not guarantee an offer of employment. However, the soft skills assessment and other resources hope to equip the candidate with skills needed to have a successful job interview.

Two years of development went into CareerLIFT, with financial support of the ACCE Foundation. The goal is to eventually expand the program to additional high-demand industries.

This is a free resource. To access CareerLIFT go to www.careerliftrc.com.