While all employers can benefit from connecting with high schools and students to build their future workforce, it can be challenging to even get started. Perhaps work-based learning (WBL) programs are just getting organized at the schools in your region or you don’t yet have established points of contact or a clear plan for creating student opportunities. You might already have a few established ways of engaging with students, such as through a few career fairs each year, but you are looking for more ways to foster connections.
Developing a systemic way of engaging with schools and students is key to making the most of your efforts. By taking a thoughtful and intentional approach to your engagement you can reach a higher number of students and in more impactful ways.
We’ve identified five strategy-focused steps for building your engagement with students. You can start implementing these today on your own, or you can partner with Golden Path Solutions for advice and guidance along the way. Our new Partnership Package, for example, leverages the tools we’ve built in Compass, the connections we’ve developed over the years, and the best practices we’ve identified in this field – all to help employers like you find the best route to building your future workforce.
Here are five strategic ways to engage with students:
1. Connect with high schools teaching the skills you value.
In high school, most students take at least one career and technical education (CTE) class, such as business, shop, computer programming, manufacturing, health sciences, construction, etc. These hands-on, career-centered courses get students thinking about their futures and what they may want to do. By reaching out to schools and CTE professionals, you can help influence what they teach students. Share the skills, training, and careers that are important to your company. Join the Connections Database in Compass or a high school’s CTE advisory board to get started.
2. Work with postsecondary institutions on programs you need.
Most postsecondary schools are open to learning what skills and technologies you need for your future workforce. Often, they will even help design programs to create the talent you want to hire. We’re calling more attention to these partnerships in Compass as we understand the benefits to students, postsecondary schools, and employers. We can help you get connected.
3. Provide students meaningful opportunities to understand what you do.
WBL opportunities through Compass, such as internships and apprenticeships, are some of the best ways for students to learn more about your company and culture, understand the skills you require, and build relationships. In addition, Career Profiles in Compass give students a better sense of the big picture – what a career at your company entails, the required education, classes and activities that can help build essential skills, and more. Building a strategy for these opportunities and working through all of the logistics, such as insurance rules for having students on your worksite, timing of when students are deciding what to do, even if you should pay students or not, will enable you to make the most of these offerings. For more information, watch our webinar with the North Dakota Department of Labor, WSI, CTE, and Job Service. You can find the recording here.
4. Expand your reach.
Working with one or two schools may be easiest, but you may miss out on students who are a perfect fit but don’t know about your company. Consider expanding your reach to schools outside your area or even across state lines. Golden Path can help you determine what schools to connect with. We are familiar with a variety of schools and their processes and can help you navigate that world.
5. Offer incentives to secure future talent.
Incentives such as sponsorships (tuition reimbursement for a work commitment) and student loan repayment programs (including ND Career Builders, Minnesota’s PROMISE Act, and loan reimbursement programs for underserved communities) can be an excellent way to reach students and build your future workforce. Golden Path can help by alerting students to your offerings through our marketing activities and by connecting you with students who are both interested and have the skills you’re looking for.
Building a comprehensive strategy for connecting with students can seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. If you are already taking some of these steps, Golden Path can help amplify your efforts through additional connections, creating a Career Profile, or helping you with WBL programming. If you aren’t sure where to begin, start with the list above or contact us about the Partnership Package.
It’s time to get your company and careers in front of students.
Additional Benefits of the Partnership Package
- Connect you with education and workforce leaders
- Reach more high schools based on their specific course offerings and programs
- Inform you of upcoming school and career-related events
- Point you to other systems if schools are not yet using Compass
- Connect you with programs that can help you pay for services, including grants and initiatives
- Help you work with career and technical student organizations (CTSO) such as DECA, FFA, and Skills USA for sponsorships and activities
- Help manage your Compass account and maximize your offerings
- Associate your company and careers with a post-secondary institution