profile updated Sep 5, 2008, 12:30 PM
Here's Career Corner Digital's elevator pitch: "Career Corner Digital develops Gen Y Web 2.0 recruiting and employment marketing solutions for employers, as well as high-tech career exploration products for students."
We couldn't have said it better, though we might have added something about the solutions being video.
Career Corner Digital (CCD) produces occupational videos that promote specific jobs and companies to students and young workers. CCD started out pitching "day in the life" videos to the automotive industry, teaming up with the industry's non-profit Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). The 20 videos and companion occupational profiles eventually produced were distributed through the company's career education site, VirtualJobShadow.com, to high school students across the country.
Today, VirtualJobShadow.com offers video occupational profiles sponsored by hospitals, hoteliers, clothiers, railroads, and restaurant chains.
The program works this way: an occupation video is created in a sort of cinema verite style. The video is supplemented by occupational data such as salary range, experience and credentials needed, demand outlook, description of the work and, in some cases, a mentoring component. Besides giving students a glimpse into the work life of someone in a certain occupation, the videos also sell the sponsoring firm.
The finished product is available for the company's career site or other recruiting use. But it also goes on VirtualJobShadow.com where it becomes part of the offerings sold to high schools, college career centers, teachers, counselors and others
The videos are polished productions, effective in their own right. Add to them the occupational data and, for companies willing to participate and pay for the privilege, there's an email mentoring program that works through the profile interface. A high schooler can ask whatever kinds of questions they want to someone working in the file. In exchanged, the sponsoring company gets a lead to a possible future worker.
It's a helpful and clever way for a company concerned about worker shortages to cultivate a future workforce now. It's also a clever way to get the schools to help reach the target market and pay for the privilege.
News & Updates 
Products & Services
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VirtualJobShadow.com
VirtualJobShadow.com is a for-profit, award-winning career exploration product used by colleges and high schools nationwide. Teachers, guidance counselors, career centers and individuals can buy access to the career videos and related career- and company-specific information, which is part of the branding and recruiting services offered by Career Corner Digital. -
Video profile
Professionally done, unscripted cinéma vérité styled job videos targeted at students and entry-level workers. The emphasis is on giving students (especially) a glimpse of the work life of young professionals at sponsoring companies. The company sell is soft, but present with the message and the educational aspects enhanced by a significant amount of supplemental information, including salary ranges, schools offering related degrees, internships and more. All profiles automatically are included in the Virtual Job Shadow career education offerings of Career Corner Digital. -
Mini-CD
The video profile on a mini-CD. These can be a supplement to the video profile, or a campaign can be built around using the mini-CD as a primary recruiting tool. There's a case study on the show explaining more about how the mini-CDs can be used as part of a recruiting campaign. -
e-Mentoring
A clever service that helps an employer establish a relationship with students and others interested in the field. Students can email industry and job-related questions directly to a mentor via an interface on the employer's video profile. Service works through the educational component, VirtualJobShadow.com.