Careers in Construction Month is Here! Words: Jennifer WilkersonCareers in Construction Month is a nationwide celebration and recognition of the career opportunities that exist in the construction industry. It occurs each October and is led by NCCER and its Build Your Future (BYF) initiative to increase public awareness and inspire the next generation of craft professionals. So far this year, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., have all proclaimed Careers in Construction Month. Throughout the month, schools, contractors and organizations partner locally to host events or activities that introduce students to rewarding construction careers. To make it easier for these groups to team up, NCCER has created a connection map that identifies educators, contractors, SkillsUSA organizations and ACTE state directors from across the country that are looking to collaborate locally based on shared interests and needs. BYF also offers a Field Manual for organizations to learn how to develop an event plan, create interesting activities and promote an event. Another great resource from BYF is the How To: Plan a Career Day guide that includes a sample budget, save-the-date, event flier, sponsorship form, exhibitor form, school registration form, parent/guardian consent form, volunteer form, career day survey and helpful hints. Organizations can even register their events at BYF.org for added promotion. For organizations that do not have the time or resources to create a career day event, BYF has math, writing and art classroom activities that can be easily downloaded for students to do. To get students excited about the industry, BYF has revitalized its Go Pro video series and will be adding new videos throughout the month. In celebration of Careers in Construction Month, NCCER and BYF are also hosting their "I BUILT THIS" video contest again this year to give aspiring craft professionals the opportunity to showcase their construction projects. The contest is open through Oct. 23 to students and instructors in secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs. In the videos, contestants describe their projects, share their favorite construction careers and explain what they enjoy most about the industry. First-place winners will receive GoPro HERO cameras and second-place winners will receive Google Chromecast streaming devices. For official rules or to submit a video, visit nccer.org/I-BUILT-THIS. With shortages of craft professionals across the country, now is the time to promote construction careers in every state. Recognizing October as Careers in Construction Month generates publicity for the construction industry and helps promote career opportunities to individuals who may not have otherwise considered construction as a career choice. To learn more, visit byf.org. For the latest news and updates on career events visit facebook.com/BYFcampaign and follow twitter.com/buildyourfuture.