From classroom presentations to career fairs and company site visits, Monah Stenger is finding ways to tell high school students how exciting it is to work in the manufacturing industry. As the HR Recruiter for Cardinal Insulating Glass (IG) in Fargo, ND, she recognizes the benefits of reaching students while they are still making their career decisions, getting important information to them early, and sparking an interest in working for the company.
“I want them to see the work that’s done here and have that in their minds so they can consider it later,” she says. “Students really like the automation we use at Cardinal IG and the variety of jobs and tasks. We talk a lot about how there’s more than production roles, including maintenance, engineering, and various office roles.”
It’s why Cardinal IG Fargo turned to Golden Path for support. Thanks to a company page and three Career Profiles in the online platform Compass, Cardinal IG is reaching thousands of students across North Dakota and Minnesota with its message. Golden Path staff personally introduce her to students who show interest in the company, and Compass helps Stenger stay informed of upcoming school events and opportunities.
“I really like having access to the school events,” she says. “Compass serves as a one-stop shop for everyone to stay informed.”
In operation since 1998, Cardinal IG is part of Cardinal Glass Industries, North America’s leading manufacturer of glass products for the residential window and door industry. The Fargo factory produces as many as 10,000 units per day of insulated glass, which is double- or triple-pane glass separated by spacers and filled with argon.
Stenger wants high school students to see first-hand how they could build a satisfying career at the Fargo location. She shares printed versions of the Compass Career Profiles at career fairs, visits with students introduced by Golden Path regularly by phone and email to help them understand the variety of jobs, and welcomes classes to the Fargo plant to tour the production floor and ask questions.
She’s also working closely with a local high school to develop an internship program. Currently, company safety restrictions prevent anyone under 18 from working at the facility, but there are often exemptions at businesses if students are part of a work-based learning (WBL) program. The new internship could include a variety of opportunities, including learning more about job responsibilities and observing employees at work.
Employers in similar situations can turn to Golden Path for guidance on employment law and insurance questions related to WBL opportunities.
Overall, Stenger recommends that companies work together to draw interest to their industries, prioritize reaching out to high school students while they are still making career decisions, and partner with schools to create new opportunities. Working with Golden Path Solutions supports all of those efforts, she says.
“We are staying active with Golden Path,” Stenger says. “They are doing lots of things for workforce development that are constantly changing. As we evolve, it’s valuable for us to maintain this partnership.”
For more information on Cardinal IG, visit www.cardinalfargo.com.
To learn more about Golden Path employer solutions, visit our website or contact us.