Facebook launches ‘Career Connections’ program in Arkansas

Social media giant Facebook is accepting applications for an initiative that provides Arkansas college students with “soft skills” and other workforce-ready tools necessary for entering the workforce.

The program is called Career Connections. It connects local businesses with college-aged students for three-month-long fellowships. The program, according to a news release, provides both businesses and students with access to exclusive Facebook training and professional development opportunities. It is designed to bolster the success of local businesses, train college students for the 21st-century workforce and develop career pathways to retain and strengthen the state’s local talent pipeline.

As part of the program, students entering the workforce are interviewed and vetted by Facebook. They participate in exclusive Facebook training on social media and digital marketing to equip them with skills needed for the 21st-century economy.

In addition, each Fellow is matched with a Facebook employee mentor who can guide and support them through their three-month fellowships.

“We are passionate about retaining and investing in the state’s top talent, and Facebook’s Career Connections creates opportunities for students to get a first-hand look at the state’s leading career opportunities,” Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said in a statement. “We are proud to have this initiative in Arkansas, and are excited to see the new jobs created for motivated students entering the workforce.”

The program is open to college students in Arkansas with an interest in digital marketing and social media management. Students must be at least 18 and roughly half-way through a post-secondary degree at a two- or four-year institution. They also have to demonstrate financial needs and preference is given to first-generation college students and underrepresented students.

Applications are due by Feb. 14. The summer fellowship will go from mid-May to mid-August. The Skills Summit for businesses and students will be offered in Central Arkansas on March 14 and 15.