Using the Event Calendar - Partners

Keep your customers up to date on upcoming events in your area by using the Illinois workNet Event Calendar. Your partners can also use the calendar to add their events, that way your customers only need to look in one place to find local events.

Getting Started

When you submit an event to the calendar, the Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) Coordinator and Manager are notified to approve the entry by email. It can take up to 5 days for an event to be approved. If the event is still unapproved after 5 days, then Illinois workNet will review and approve the event for you.

You have two main options for using the Illinois workNet Event Calendar to advertise events:

1. Add events directly to the main workNet calendar, which can be found on the Event Calendar page.
2. Use our calendar widget on your website and add events from there.

Adding Events to the workNet Calendar

This option requires no initial setup. Once your events are approved, they will show immediately on any place using the Illinois workNet calendar. This includes populating the jobPrep App and any websites using the Illinois workNet calendar widget.

If you choose this option, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Event Calendar page where you will be taken to a page showing a list of added events.
   
2. Click the "Add Event" button, then read and agree to the terms of service.
3. You will be provided an electronic form to add your event information. Fill out the form, then submit it by clicking "Add Event" at the bottom of the form.
4. Once your event is approved, it will show on the workNet event calendar.

Using the Filters and Icons on the workNet Calendar

Filters can be of great help when you or your customer are trying to narrow down a search. On the Event Calendar, you can filter your search to find specific events you would like to add to your calendar. Besides the filtering options of city/zip code, keywords, and date range, you also have the following additional filters that can improve your search:

• Approval Status
• LWIA
  
• Distance
• Audiences
• Grade Levels
• Fields of Interest
• Event Types

You can also use these filters to see what other events are being hosted in Illinois and nationwide!

There is an option to add the event to your calendar at the bottom of an event page. Click "Add to Calendar" and select the calendar type of your preference to add the event to your calendar. If a partner would like to print the event for a customer, just use workNet's printer-friendly icon at the bottom of the event page. Once you have the events you want to be filtered you can export your findings on the Event Calendar to an Excel sheet.

Using the Calendar Widget

The calendar widget lets you use an Illinois workNet Event Calendar on your own website! Copying and pasting a snippet of HTML code is all that is needed to bring the Event Calendar to your site.

Users can interact with the widget once it is on your site. You can also add events directly from your Calendar. If you add events this way, they will be visible on all Illinois workNet Event Calendars. Also, the calendar widget gives you plenty of customization options including the ability to only show events based on the filters mentioned above.

To include the Event Calendar widget on your website, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Embeddable Widgets page located in the footer of any workNet page.
2. Go to the Browse Widgets Section and select the Event Calendar option:
   
• Event Calendar (Illinois workNet LWIA)
  
• This Illinois workNet Event Calendar widget shows events that have been added by our office, local partners, and other users that have events to share. Event examples include Job Fairs, WIOA Orientation, Job Search Workshops, Conferences, and more.
  
3. Go to the Configure your own section (below the sample calendar) and select the Calendar Code Generator link.
4. Complete the form that follows, copy the short HTML snippet, and paste it into your website's HTML.
   

LWIA Management of the Event Calendar

Illinois workNet Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) Coordinators and Managers can manage events for their LWIA. LWIA Coordinators and Managers will be notified of any unapproved events via email. If you are an LWIA Coordinator or Manager, log in to your account, go to My Dashboard, and click on Partner Tools to find the Illinois workNet Event Calendar Administration tools page.

Once you are on the Event Calendar Administration page, select the approval filter to "Unapproved." All events that are pending and require approval will display in the results below. Review the information in the event(s) to make sure there are no typos and that the description, location, time, event type, intended audience, and LWIA designation are correct. Once you have confirmed that the information is accurate, click the "Approve" icon. If you have had a change to your LWIA Coordinators or Managers, please contact info@illinoisworkNet.com with the updated contact information so that partner access can be provided.