Now is the Time to Connect with Schools and Students

Jul 28, 2026 | Blog, For Employers

Two students at a career fair meet with a health professional at a booth featuring CPR training

Student career connections, like those made at the Health Tech Trades Career Fair in Fargo last winter, are an increasingly important part of students' educations. We encourage employers, like you, to take advantage of the momentum and get your company involved. (Photo: FMWF Chamber of Commerce)

There’s widespread energy around student career connections – locally and across the state and country – and we encourage you to take advantage by getting your company involved. By connecting with schools and students now, you’re building valuable pathways for securing future talent. You’re also helping students explore and prepare for their futures.

“We’re seeing incredible momentum right now in breaking down the barriers between education and industry,” says Wayde Sick, State Director at North Dakota Career and Technical Education (NDCTE). “At both the state and federal levels, the focus is on work-based learning and driving real-world interactions between students, schools, and employers. As an employer, there is no better time to get connected with schools and students.”

By creating an account in Compass, you can share your company, careers, work-based learning experiences, and events with high school and college students, all in one location.

Here are some of the ways schools and communities are helping students prepare for their careers and how you can join the efforts:

Schools driving more hands-on career experiences

Student opportunities for career exploration and planning are growing across the region and the country. Career and technical education (CTE) classes enable students to learn valuable skills, discover new interests, and even earn certifications. Courses vary from the trades like shop and automotive to health sciences, business, computer science, and more. Career clubs and organizations like FFA, DECA, and FBLA give students hands-on opportunities to try out their new skills.

Work-based learning opportunities like internships allow students to connect with employers, experience work cultures, and start learning job skills. Other career-related experiences include career fairs, classroom presentations, job shadows, and more.

School professionals understand how important it is to foster connections with employers to ensure students are learning what they need to succeed in the future.

“There has never been a better time for employers to engage with our schools and CTE centers,” says Lyle Krueger, Assistant Director of the Central Regional Area Career and Technical Center (CRACTC) in Bismarck, ND. “Students are eager to explore careers and participate in work-based learning opportunities, like internships. Through strong partnerships with business and industry, we can provide meaningful career awareness, work-based learning, and real-world experiences that prepare them for success.”

Workforce organizations seek more student connections

Initiatives at the state and federal levels are fostering even more collaboration between employers and schools. The Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) now includes a Work-Based Learning Division and a WBL Alliance to provide guidance and development for these career experiences. State CTE programs are growing in scope, often partnering with departments of commerce or job service to approach work-based learning systematically. Together they provide work-based learning initiatives, pre-apprenticeships, youth skills training grants, or conferences to bring education and industry together. Examples include the North Dakota Professional Development Conference and CTE conferences in Minnesota and South Dakota.

At the regional level, economic development corporations and chambers of commerce are promoting student and employer connections through programming, collaborations, and events. The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce in Fargo is leading a campaign in partnership with Golden Path and area schools to expand work-based learning across the region. We’ve just announced a similar effort with The Chamber – Grand Forks/East Grand Forks.

“At the Cass County Career & Technical Education Center (C3TEC), we believe every student deserves meaningful opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world careers,” says Dr. Denise Jonas, Director for Career and Technical Education for C3TEC. “Through our partnership with the FMWF Chamber, Golden Path Solutions, and the collaborative efforts of Central Cass, Fargo, Moorhead, Northern Cass, West Fargo Public Schools, we are building a unified regional work-based learning system that expands opportunities for every learner.”

Students are eager for career insights to help them figure out what’s next

While more students are participating in work-based learning and career-related events, much of what students learn about careers still happens in the classroom, through their own research, or working with parents. That means that even if you can’t offer work-based learning experience, you can still reach students. By sharing your company and career information in Compass, you give students the information they need to make better decisions.

Similarly, as more colleges join Compass, high school students can identify potential careers and which regional postsecondary programs will get them there. You, as an employer, are providing students with information to help them find their path. You are also driving awareness of your company and industry and helping build your future workforce.

Start connecting in Compass today

Take advantage of the current momentum by joining the more than 800 employers already in Compass. Our platform is available to all North Dakota middle school, high school, and soon college students. It’s also serving students in several schools across Minnesota.

Here’s how to get started or extend your current Compass reach:

Create or update your Compass account in just a few minutes.
Choose or update your preferred connections through our Employer Connections Database. You can select everything from career fairs and classroom presentations to volunteering, working with students with unique needs, and serving on CTE advisory groups.
Connect with school professionals. Use these connections to help educators understand the specific skills needed for your company and careers.
Consider offering work-based learning. Schools are expanding their initiatives and seeking companies like yours. Offering a part-time job, semester internship, or other hands-on experience. It can all be managed through Compass.
Consider offering a job shadow. These 2- to 3-hour, one-time experiences allow you and a student to meet, share more about a career, and introduce them to your company. It’s a great way to discover if you’d like to offer that particular student a work-based learning experience.
Create a complete footprint of your in-demand careers. Take advantage of Golden Path membership to either build your own Career Profiles or have us write them for you. Help students understand a day-in-the-life of a career at your company and how to get there. It helps them picture themselves in a role at your company.

Your engagement matters

As we head into the next school year, we want to ensure your company is included in the drive toward career preparation and student-employer connections. We encourage you to create a free Compass account or expand your offerings with a paid membership. Your engagement will support your future workforce and today’s students. Reach out for more information or assistance getting started.

Compass resources for employers

Categories: Blog | For Employers