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Engaging Employers. Elevating Industry.

Thank you for considering Irvine Valley College for your business and employment needs. IVC is invested in the education of our students and dedicated to providing opportunities that will lead toward career success. Our employer partnerships are an integral component, and we commit ourselves to responding to the workforce needs within our community. Partner with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to connect with IVC students and to assist with your workforce training needs.

Irvine Valley College fosters economic and workforce development through strategic partnerships with business, government and educational networks. We offer a wide range of Career Education programs in 21 industry sectors designed for entry-level employment, upskilling employees, or building a pipeline of future talent.

Engage with IVC

The importance of employer engagement cannot be understated. Such partnerships help boost program capacity, update and align course curriculum, provide crucial professional development opportunities for educators and more.

If you are interested in learning how Irvine Valley College can help your business, please contact our Office of Economic and Workforce Development. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your employer needs. There are several opportunities employers can partner with IVC to include:

  • Post Career Opportunities
  • Participate in a Advisory Committee
  • Find an IVC Intern
  • Recruit and participate in IVC Career Fairs
  • Host Industry Field Trips
  • Classroom Guest speakers

Engaging with the Orange County Community

Building relationships with students, faculty and staff can help your company increase visibility. We drive workforce and economic development through programs, services and relationships that align with identified needs of business, industry and community. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development strives to connect with businesses in the Orange County area to identify their needs and seek partnership opportunities.

Employer needs are individual, but could include student employment, internships/apprenticeships, partnerships or training and development.

Through this engagement process our team can …

  • Identify qualified students and alumni for internships or employment.
  • Identify IVC programs that benefit your company.
  • Connect employers with job training and upskilling opportunities.
  • Develop community partnerships.

Ready to Collaborate with IVC?

Economic & Workforce Development 
949-367-8304
ivc-ewd@ivc.edu

Interested in:

Employers partnering with IVC

What was so cool about this project was it was truly a real career experience for the students. It mattered to them to get to work on an actual product launch, but it also mattered to us as a company.

NICKIE HUGHES, OPERATIONS MANAGER
Slunks Athletic Wear

There's enough discipline in the program to produce students who are highly employable. Not only that, the students benefit because they are building their portfolios with professional products.

THOMAS PRATT, PRESIDENT
CraneMorley Partners

Engaging Employers.
Elevating Industry.

Download our free PDF to see how regional employers are boosting their bottom lines and expanding their impact by partnering with Irvine Valley College.

View Now (PDF)

Irvine Valley College offers many ways for regional employers to collaborate, develop their talent pipeline, and achieve their industry goals.

IVC invites employers to serve on advisory committees.  Employers provide vital direction and guidance to strengthen and enhance IVC’s CTE programs and to meet industry standards.  By collaborating with our industry partners, IVC will continue to provide high quality workforce training and education to our students are prepared to compete and succeed in today’s global economy.  IVC industry sector areas:

  • Accounting
  • Administration of Justice
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Administration/Business Management
  • Computer Information Management
  • Dance
  • Digital Media
  • Engineering 
  • Drafting
  • Design Model Making & Rapid Prototyping
  • Electrical Technology
  • Electronic Technology
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Child Development
  • Fitness
  • Interactive Media Arts
  • Live Entertainment Management
  • Music
  • Paralegal Studies
  • Real Estate
  • Sustainability & Resource Management

The IVC Career Center assists enrolled students with each step of their job search and career development and to transition from college life into the workforce. 

The IVC Career Center partners with Handshake, an online platform connecting employers and students.  Connect and recruit IVC students, post jobs, and register for on-campus hiring events.

Career Center 
Student Services Center, SSC 230 
T: 949-451-5431 
E: ivccareercenter@ivc.edu 
W: ivc.edu/career-center 
handshake logo

Through Cooperative Work Experience, a work-based learning program, employers can expand access to a diverse talent pool, directly recruit and screen potential employees, and develop a quick reliable source of skilled labor. Employers agree to provide support to students as they work to achieve approved learning objectives.

Cooperative Work Experience (CWE) 
Student Services Center, SSC 230 
T: 949-451-5717 
E: Lynn Buller 
W: https://www.ivc.edu/cwe 

IVC’s Career Center offers “Employer Spotlight” and career development programs throughout the year designed to help students explore career pathways and gain employability skills. Regional employers are invited to participate as a way to build awareness about their business and recruit potential employees.

The purpose of a Faculty Externship is to provide an opportunity for our faculty to observe and learn real world applications from industry in their area of academic focus. The intent is for our faculty to learn from this experience and improve our Career Education programs. A Faculty Externship will enable the instructor to effectively develop instructional activities for use in classrooms and labs. Through this Faculty Externship, IVC faculty will have an exceptional opportunity to engage with employers on hiring and training needs.

Deepen your partnership with IVC by offering industry site-visits for students.  Industry tours provide career exploration activities for our students in which they can learn about the business and industry sector, ask questions, and observe work in progress.  Tours can be designed to meet specific learning outcomes, and build awareness of the local business and industry sector as well as career opportunities.

Industry tours are designed to: 

  • Enhance workplace knowledge and build career awareness.
  • Illustrate how key academic concepts are applied in real-world settings.
  • Offer students a chance to ask questions and observe work in progress.
  • Promote student interaction with professional adults.
  • Provide career exploration to a variety of jobs in several industry sectors.

Allow IVC students to experience how the skills they are learning in the classroom directly apply to the workforce and careers. Internships are a win-win for businesses and students alike. Businesses can fill entry-level workforce needs while getting to know potential future employees, while students gain important real-world experience, build their resumes, and can earn academic credit. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and full-time or part-time.

Whether your business is interested in recruiting and hiring IVC students, getting involved with our CE programs and participating in our Advisory meetings, or partnering with IVC to develop customized training programs for your company, contact:

Irvine Valley College - Economic & Workforce Development
Martha Payán-Hernández
Director, Economic & Workforce Development
T: 949-367-8304
E: ivc-ewd@ivc.edu