Passaic County Community College Partners with Where Trades Go for Student Success

PCCC Partners with Where Trades Go for Trade Studies

In an exciting development for students pursuing careers in trades, Passaic County Community College (PCCC) has officially partnered with Where Trades Go, a specialized networking platform designed for trade professionals. This new collaboration, announced on May 14, 2026, aims to invigorate PCCC’s Trade Studies program, attracting prospective students and teachers while enhancing job placement opportunities for graduates.

The Impact of Where Trades Go

The Where Trades Go platform introduces an innovative profile-based system that effectively replaces traditional resumes. This approach allows tradespeople to showcase their skills and experiences through images, videos, and documented achievements, providing potential employers with a comprehensive view of their capabilities. By moving away from conventional resumes, which often fail to adequately convey a tradesperson's value, this platform addresses a critical concern within the industry.

Jon H. Connolly, Acting Dean of Science and Technical Studies at PCCC, emphasized the significance of this partnership in shaping the future of New Jersey's workforce. He stated, "This platform will help attract prospective trade students, recruit new college instructors, and place graduates in the workforce. Employers often struggle to find the skills they need, and Where Trades Go is a game-changer for connecting them with qualified talent, as well as for graduates eager to apply their skills."

Engaging the Community

PCCC is actively promoting the Where Trades Go platform through various community events, including college fairs and high school outreach initiatives. This engagement strategy has already yielded positive results, as evidenced by the college successfully filling all 16 dual-enrollment seats for the upcoming academic year. Notably, alumni from the dual-enrollment program are returning to undertake further specialization, such as the American Welding Society (AWS) Level II certification.

To fully utilize the platform, PCCC’s Trade Studies faculty and career placement partners are committed to increasing student job placements. The college has set an ambitious goal of achieving a 100% placement rate for Trade Studies graduates. Currently, the program boasts a commendable placement rate of 90% for welding graduates, and the introduction of Where Trades Go is expected to help bridge this gap further.

In the words of Richard Genco, the Welding program's Instructor and Coordinator, "Where Trades Go provides our students with tools for lifelong success, evolving with them as they progress in their careers. This offers them greater value than the traditional resume support we've provided before."

Integration into Curriculum

The Where Trades Go platform is being integrated into the Welding curriculum and will be introduced to new students during their orientation. Existing students and alumni are also getting onboarded with the platform, where they will cultivate their profiles by documenting milestones and achievements through photos and videos of their work.

PCCC student Robert Santiago shared his positive experience with the platform, stating, "Setting up my Where Trades Go profile was easy and empowering. Seeing all my accomplishments showcased has boosted my confidence and pride in my work."

Supporting the Future Workforce

Brian Drucks, CEO and Founder of Where Trades Go, highlighted the platform's design as supportive of trade schools' efforts. He remarked, "Our ecosystem saves time and resources for career placement teams, enabling them to assist more students in achieving success than ever before."

As this partnership unfolds, both PCCC and Where Trades Go anticipate offering significant advancements in the recruitment and placement processes for students entering the trades. For more information about the programs, visit the PCCC or Where Trades Go websites.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Passaic County Community College and Where Trades Go is set to revolutionize trade education, significantly improving the pathways for students and ensuring a skilled workforce for the future.