ICR’s population is growing faster than the national average. Not only do we have people seeking new opportunities, we’re also attracting individuals who want to return to ICR when the right opportunity becomes available. With an annual pipeline of thousands of graduates from the University of Iowa, Coe College, Cornell College, Mt. Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College, our local employers regularly report that we have some of the best, brightest, and most ethical workers in the nation.
Educated. Talented. Growing.
Talent Attraction
ICR Talent Hub
The ICR Talent Hub is a pool of professionals interested in new career opportunities in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids. Candidates are identified through targeted marketing campaigns implemented by ICR IOWA and then connected with local employers through bi-weekly electronic lists. What makes these candidates unique? Their interest in moving (or moving back) to ICR! They are identified through campaigns that specifically target professionals who want to be here, which often leads to a higher capture rate and a longer retention rate. We talk with each candidate individually to identify their skills, interests, and hopefully an ideal career match.
Employers must be members of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or investors in the Iowa City Area Development Group at the $1,000+ annual level to receive ICR Talent Hub candidates.
Handshake
Handshake is a network that allows employers to connect with college talent across the nation. The platform is used by all of the colleges in our region and over 700 university career centers nation-wide. The platform allows your job postings to reach multiple schools across Iowa, the Midwest, and the nation.
Iowa Layoffs
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to give 60 days advance notice of covered plant closings and mass layoffs. A log of the notifications issued in Iowa can either be downloaded in PDF form or viewed directly in a dashboard maintained by Iowa Workforce Development. For employers searching to fill openings, the WARN notices can provide insight into workers who may be searching for new opportunities.
Marketing Tools
Attracting talent from outside our region takes more than just the promotion of a job….it takes the promotion of our amazing communities. ICR IOWA has developed a variety of resources our local recruiters can add to their own toolkit to promote Iowa City-Cedar Rapids as an amazing place to live.
Candidate Website: add this website link to the recruiting page on your website and national job postings to showcase the region as an amazing place to live.
Career Fair Booth Materials for New Grads: add an ICR IOWA banner and rack cards to your career fair booth to promote the region along with your job opportunities. The materials are designed to appeal to new college graduates and designs are free. Let us know if you need access to certain files for your printer of choice.
Significant Others: share a link to the ICR Talent Hub to help your candidate identify job opportunities for a significant other.
Candidate Brochure: share a copy of our candidate brochure with your hopeful hire when they come for a job interview. The brochure includes a pocket that is ideal for other materials including tourism and livability guides. A limited number of brochures are provided free of charge to Economic Alliance and ICAD investors. Employers can access those copies by sending a request to ICR Iowa at info@icadgroup.com. Employers may also order copies of the brochure for the cost of printing through ICR IOWA.
Candidate Tours: arrange a tour of the community with a Wingman, a community ambassador who can showcase the region during a candidate visit. Note: Wingman candidate tours are free for employers who invest in the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or the Iowa City Area Development Group at the $5,000+ annual level.
Career Fairs
A variety of career fairs are held annually by local organizations and schools including:
Corridor Career Fairs
Website
Contact: Liz Kennedy, 319-368-8970, Liz.kennedy@thegazette.com
Kirkwood Career Fairs
Contact: Danielle Ebaugh, danielle.ebaugh@kirkwood.edu
University of Iowa Career Fairs
Website
Contact: Allan Boettger, Pomerantz Career Center, allan-boettger@uiowa.edu
Iowa State Career Fairs
Website
University of Northern Iowa Career Fairs
Website
Concierge and Newcomer Services
Wingman
Wingman is a program designed to help Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) newcomers navigate their new home. Through the program, newcomers are connected to a Wingman, a community champion with a robust network and knowledge of Iowa City – Cedar Rapids (ICR). Our Pre-Flight Checklist is used to match newcomers with the ideal Wingman, a first friend who can answer questions, make connections, and help our newest neighbors take flight in ICR IOWA!
Newcomer Resources
Give your candidates and newcomers the best experience possible in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids by leveraging these resources, provided at no cost by ICR IOWA and our partners:
Candidate and Newcomer Website: make sure your candidates and newcomers from outside the region have access to the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) candidate and newcomer website by sending them the link early on in your recruiting process.
/people/get-connected/”>Diversity Resource Guides: share our online diversity resource guides with candidates and newcomers who may benefit from them.
Wingman: arrange a tour of the region with a Wingman during candidate interviews and make sure your newcomers enroll in the newcomer program. Note: the concierge portion of Wingman is provided at no cost for employers who are members or investors at the $1,000+ level with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or the Iowa City Area Development Group.
Significant Others: make sure candidates know about the ICR Talent Hub as a way to seek assistance for a significant other who may need a new job opportunity in ICR.
Finding Interns
The colleges and universities in ICR use a national platform called Handshake to connect students with internships and jobs. If you are searching for an intern, you should consider posting the opportunity on Handshake to connect with local candidates.
For additional information or seek assistance in developing an internship program, contact:
University of Iowa Pomerantz Career Center
Contact: Allan Boettger, allan-boettger@uiowa.edu
Website: https://careers.uiowa.edu/employers/internships
Coe College
Contact: Barb Tupper, 319-399-8662, btupper@coe.edu
Website: https://www.coe.edu/academics/coe-difference-centers-and-programs/center-creativity-careers/careers/employers
Cornell College
Contact: Jason Napoli, 319-895-4458, jnapoli@cornellcollege.edu
Website: https://www.cornellcollege.edu/berry-career-institute/Internships-research-opportunities/index.shtml
Mt. Mercy College
Contact: Nate Klein, 319-368-1323 or ext. 1630, nklein@mtmercy.edu
Website: https://www.mtmercy.edu/career-services
Kirkwood Community College
Contact: Danielle Ebaugh, danielle.ebaugh@kirkwood.edu
Workplace Learning Connection (high school internships)
Contact: Sarah Shepherd, 319-398-2584, sarah.shepherd@kirkwood.edu and Sue Neil, 319-398-4828, sue.neil@kirkwood.edu
Website: http://www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?p=38584
Ignite ICR
Ignite ICR is a program for college students and interns working in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) region. This summer event series gives students the opportunity to meet one another, explore our incredible culture, connect with young professionals, and imagine a future for themselves in ICR. Ignite ICR is hosted by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Iowa City Area Development Group and MEDCO.
2023 Schedule
Thursday, June 8th | 4-6 pm | Ignite the Summer Kick-Off Party
NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
We’ll ignite the fire for summer as interns are officially welcomed to the region at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids. Activities for the afternoon will include a speed networking event, fun activities, and information about how to make the most of their time in ICR over the summer.
Thursday, June 29th | 4-6 pm | Spark Your Mind with Trivia
Big Grove Brewery and Taproom, 1225 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA
Through a fun and engaging event, interns will gain insight into the diverse industries that drive the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids region. Interns will have a chance to discover all that the ICR Iowa region has to offer and an opportunity to connect with other interns in a fun and interactive way!
Thursday, July 20th | 5-7 pm | Stoke the Flames Send-Off Party
Cedar Rapids | Iowa City | Marion
We are taking a new approach for the final event and will be hosting a community dinner in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Iowa City. Interns will get to select which location they want to attend – attendance will be limited! Dinner will be provided and interns will have the opportunity to extend their festivities with events happening in each community.
Register your summer interns for this exciting summer program NOW!
Looking for more things to do this summer?
Check out the calendars below for fun events happening all summer!
Download the Ignite ICR Itineraries card to explore the area!
Inclusive ICR
Formerly Employee Resource Group Consortium (ERGC)
A coalition of local employers and organizations working together to support and grow inclusion and diversity in our workforce. The coalition meets monthly with a focus on:
- Developing diversity and inclusion resources for employers.
- Connecting diverse professionals through social and professional networks.
- Increasing the number of diverse high school and college students who intern with ICR employers.
Training Opportunities
Kirkwood Corporate Training
Looking for assistance in customized training programs for your staff? Connect with the Corporate Training Team at Kirkwood Community College! They offer scheduled training products along with customized options and support for the development of apprenticeships, earn and learn models, and more.
Eastern Iowa Human Resource Association (EIHRA)
The Eastern Iowa Human Resource Association is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management. Whether you are new to the HR field or have many years of experience, they are a great local starting point for networking, information, professional development and continued support of excellence in Human Resources. EIHRA hosts a variety of valuable training opportunities throughout the year.
Employers' Council of Iowa (ECI)
Employers’ Council of Iowa (ECI) is an advisory group, located in each Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) region, and offers no-cost membership open to all businesses in the community. Its purpose is to guide IWD’s business focus, address topics of concern to employers, sponsor training initiatives, and assist IWD in meeting critical human resource needs.
Local Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov
Workshop Calendar
Iowa Workforce Development
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) offers a variety of services to benefit employers, including recruitment assistance, tax credits to hire new employees and outreach to targeted groups. Their programs include:
Hire A Veteran (Home Base Iowa)
Business Services
Employer Incentives
Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov.
Employers Council of Iowa - Region 10
Employers’ Council of Iowa (ECI) is an advisory group, located in each Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) region, and offers no-cost membership open to all businesses in the community. Its purpose is to guide IWD’s business focus, address topics of concern to employers, sponsor training initiatives, and assist IWD in meeting critical human resource needs.
Contact: Kate Pine at katherine.pine@iwd.iowa.gov
ICR IOWA Workforce Coalitions
ICR Talent: Talent Attraction and Retention
ICR Talent is a coalition of employers and organizations working together to attract and retain talent in ICR. The coalition guides a collection of strategies designed to attract and retain new talent in high-demand occupations in ICR.
Current strategy teams include:
- ICR Talent Hub: Recruiting High-Demand Talent
- Wingman: Concierge and Newcomer Service
- Ignite ICR: Recruiting and Retaining College Interns
Inclusive ICR: Diversity and Inclusion
Inclusive ICR is a coalition of employers and organizations working together to support and grow diversity and inclusion in our regional workforce. The coalition guides a collection of strategies designed to support employers, employees, and students.
Current strategy teams include:
- Employer Resources: provides resource to ICR employers looking for guidance on implementing diversity and inclusion (D&I) workforce initiatives including: Employee Resource Group (ERG) implementation, D&I advisory council development, and connecting staff with colleagues and resources in ICR.
- Employee Resources: develops, supports, and promotes region-wide networks and resources that allow diverse professionals to connect, engage, and thrive in ICR.
- Student Resources: connects employers with resources to help them build programs and connect with diverse candidates for their internship positions.
ICR Future: Developing our Future Workforce
ICR Future is a coalition of employers, educators, and organizations working together to make Iowa City-Cedar Rapids (ICR) the best place in the nation for career-connected learning.
Current strategy teams include:
- Career Exploration and Pathways Program of Studies
- Work-Based Learning
- Computer Science
- Problem-Based Learning and 21st Century Skills
ICR Iowa Sector Partnerships
Sector Partnerships are comprised of diverse businesses within an industry, as well as education, workforce, economic, and community organization partners. These business led partnerships develop goals and strategies, and implement and evaluate strategies to meet the workforce needs of a given industry.
Click on the following link to see how industry sector partnerships in the ICR Iowa Region are working together to assist students and the available workforce in completing an interest assessment and exploring careers opportunities right here in the ICR Iowa region that align with their personality type.