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CareerSpark-You’re Hired!

2025-2026

Join the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement of Central Illinois for the 5th Annual CareerSpark-You’re Hired! & JA Inspire experience – a virtual, interactive, work and career readiness initiative for young people in our region. Spark your interest in the exciting companies and careers available throughout Central Illinois by exploring 24/7 through June 2026!

Within the CareerSpark virtual platform, students will be able to enjoy activities, videos, and documents showcasing our region’s most critical industry clusters including manufacturing, healthcare, innovation and technology, business and finance, and more.

If your school or organization has not registered to participate, please contact us to get started!

Sally Eastman, Community & Workforce Development Director

sally.eastman@ja.org

Destinee Wilson, College & Career Readiness Coordinator

destinee.wilson@ja.org

Koehler Miller, Program Manager

koehler.miller@ja.org

Junior Achievement of Central Illinois

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can we expect from this virtual experience?
Students can expect to explore jobs and companies organized by career clusters 24/7 through June 2026! There are 8 career clusters represented based on the most high-growth, high-demand occupations in the central Illinois region. Videos, job postings, online activities, and other uploaded content are in each virtual booth. There are also many career exploration resources in the virtual lobby as well as live, virtual, and on demand webinars in the Auditorium. Students will learn about specific company hiring needs, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and corporate cultures.
What if students want to visit the CareerSpark-You’re Hired! - JA Inspire booths again?
No problem! The CareerSpark-You’re Hired! - JA Inspire exhibits and resources in the virtual platform are available through June 2026. Students and their parents/guardians may explore as often as they’d like!
Will students be able to keep any documents or files from the booths?
Yes! Files a student saves in their virtual backpack are stored in their account within the virtual platform, which is accessible through June. These files may be sent to an email to download and save. If not downloaded and saved by the close of the event, the files may no longer be available.
Who should I contact if there are troubleshooting issues?
Educators, school personnel, and parents/guardians may email anyone on the JA of Central IL team for assistance. Students should contact a teacher or parent/guardian for assistance.
Where will the event be held?
This is a virtual experience during the 2025-2026 school year and ending June 2026.
What do students need to participate?
If not using the self-registration option, student logins may be provided by participating teachers or other organizational staff. Internet access is required. No webcam or software download is needed. Students are encouraged to complete the JA Inspire Advanced modules through the resource links in the virtual Lounge preceding exploration in the CareerSpark-You’re Hired! vFairs platform. Educators or other school personnel who do not have the Educator Guide may contact destinee.wilson@ja.org or sally.eastman@ja.org for assistance.
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