Ignacio Valdez, a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), knew he wanted to advance his career, but he also recognized that achieving his professional goals would require more than ambition alone—it would take preparation and access to the right opportunities.
That’s what led him to enroll in Year Up United Career Connect, a transformative program designed to equip community college students with essential career readiness skills, such as resume building, cover letter writing, job searching, and interviewing. Offered at no cost to participants and lasting just a few weeks, the program is delivered virtually to students across the country with both synchronous and asynchronous components. It combines workplace training with a focus on practical skills, giving students like Ignacio the tools they need to succeed.
“The biggest lessons I learned were the importance of putting myself in front of opportunities and having a mindset of continuous learning,” Ignacio shared. Today, he applies these skills daily as a Business Strategy Apprentice, continuing to grow professionally.
The Career Connect program introduced Ignacio to the power of SMART goal setting, a skill that has become a cornerstone of his growth. "Goal setting by definition makes you intentional, and when you move with intention, you move with clarity and conviction," he explained.
Additionally, through his Career Connect training, Ignacio gained the essential career readiness skill of networking, helping him build connections that can open doors to new opportunities. Since completing Career Connect, Ignacio has actively sought ways to put himself in front of meaningful opportunities. As a standout example, he spoke on an Apprentice Panel during National Apprenticeship Week, sharing his journey. “That event allowed me to connect with other professionals while highlighting the value of apprenticeships,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey with Career Connect, Ignacio encourages others to invest in themselves: “Remember: It’s your future, so you should invest in it. And this is the perfect way to do so.”
At Year Up United, our goal is to impact the entire business ecosystem, which is why we partner with community colleges like BMCC to make a visible impact on the next generation of talent. The Career Connect program leverages Year Up United’s proven career readiness curriculum – developed and honed over 20+ years of experience with job training for young adults – and is led by our expert facilitators to equip community college students with the skills, resources, and confidence to pursue careers after completing their programs. We partner closely with community colleges to recruit students, strengthening our partner institutions’ career services offerings and enabling us to serve young adults at scale.
Interested in learning more about Career Connect and how this program can help your community college students to shape and embrace their professional futures? Visit our Talent Networks page for more information about our services.