For Students: Build Your Future

You have the skills. We have the network. Let's translate your talent into a high-paying career.

You spend your days mastering a craft, honing your skills, and building real-world expertise. But a traditional paper resume can't show the quality of your weld, the precision of your wiring, or your diagnostic genius. It's time to close the gap between what you can do and what you can prove.

Dirigo Career Pathways was built to solve this problem. We don't just find you a job. We provide a complete platform to document your skills, connect you with mentors, and place you with premier Maine employers who are actively searching for talent like you.

Untapped Pools

Through our "Keystone Initiative" (Women in Trades) and "Focused Hands" (Neurodiversity Support) programs, we cultivate and connect you with dedicated, highly skilled professionals from often-overlooked segments of the workforce.

This is more than a job search. It's a career launchpad.

  • The Living Resume™ & Digital Logbook

    This is your unfair advantage. The Living Resume™ is a dynamic, verified portfolio of your work. We help you document your projects with photos and videos, log your on-the-job (OJT) and volunteer hours in your Digital Logbook, and showcase your certifications. When our B2B partners see your Living Resume™, they don't see a list of claims; they see undeniable proof of your skills.

  • The AI-Ready Artisan Program

    The future of the trades is here. Our proprietary curriculum includes a three-course "AI for the Trades" specialization, giving you the knowledge to work with the next generation of smart tools and systems. We also connect you with critical industry certifications from leaders like Procore, Autodesk, and ASE, making you one of the most sought-after professionals in the state.

  • The Dirigo Guild™ (Your Mentorship Network)

    You never have to go it alone. As a Dirigo candidate, you gain access to The Dirigo Guild™, our exclusive mentorship program. You'll be connected with Master Tradesmen and proven professionals who have walked the path before you. They provide guidance, share insights, and help you navigate the start of your career.

We are committed to building a stronger, more diverse workforce for Maine.

The skilled trades are for everyone with the talent and the drive. We proudly champion and support all members of our community through dedicated initiatives designed to remove barriers and create opportunity.

The Keystone Initiative

Our dedicated program for empowering and advancing women in the trades. We provide targeted mentorship, networking opportunities, and partnerships with employers who are actively building inclusive and respectful work environments.

Focused Hands™

A comprehensive support program for neurodiverse individuals. We work with you and our employer partners to create structured pathways for success, focusing on leveraging unique talents in environments where precision, focus, and alternative thinking are valued assets.

Here's what our program costs you: $0.

Let's be perfectly clear. Our services are 100% free for students and candidates. There is no tuition, no placement fee, and no hidden cost for you, ever.

We are a social-impact business funded through two primary channels: our B2B partners, who pay a contingency fee only when they make a successful hire, and our community-focused "Dirigo Keystone Fund." Our mission is to invest in you, not profit from you. Your success is our success.

Take the first step toward your new career today.

Applying is simple. It begins with creating your Living Resume™ profile and telling us about your goals. A Dirigo Student Success Advocate will connect with you to guide you through the next steps.