Partnering with local high schools and districts to support work-based learning has far-reaching benefits for students, businesses, and the broader community. These school-business partnerships not only support student learning, they allow businesses to inform schools on current economic needs, partner on workforce training, and, ultimately, ensure plentiful skilled workers for their businesses. Building this talent pipeline–early and with intention–allows businesses to reduce hiring gaps and strengthen their workforce long-term. 

There are many ways that businesses can partner with schools, but volunteering to present to a group of students at the high school can offer a meaningful first step in getting to know a school’s work-based learning program and meeting key contacts. Use the tips below to create an impactful visit with high schoolers.

Know Your Audience

Before the visit, take time to connect with high school counselors or Career and Technical Education (CTE) educators to learn more about the students that will be in attendance. Ask about students’ grade levels as well as their career-related interests, experiences, or coursework. All of this information can help to tailor messaging to students–with earlier-grade audiences eager for more general information and later-grade audiences, with more developed career awareness and increased opportunities for career exposure, excited to hear about the details of a particular field. Consider asking counselors if a more personalized invitation, sent to a select group of students, might increase student participation and excitement. Counselors can help to identify students who would benefit most from this outreach by looking at students enrolled in relevant pathways or those with related interests and goals.  

Show What the Work Looks Like 

When preparing for the presentation, determine what tools, materials, samples, or visuals could be brought to help describe a typical day or demonstrate a particular workflow. Finding ways for students to visualize a worksite or the various types of work happening can help them to better understand what a certain career or field might be like. To further engage students, consider if there is anything that students could try out themselves during the visit. Exploring equipment, solving a problem, or walking through a real scenario can provide students with interactive, hands-on experiences that make careers feel tangible, while sparking curiosities and interests in the field. 

Highlight the Skills that Matter 

As you share about the work, take time to note the skills that are valuable to the profession along with ways to build those skills through coursework, certifications, volunteering, apprenticeships, and postsecondary learning and training. Offer real stories about how specific skillsets are used in different roles, including both technical and transferable skills. In addition, be sure to share the full range of careers within the field including entry-level, technical, skilled trades, administrative, and leadership positions. By showcasing all of the ways to contribute to a particular field and sharing stories about how various employees developed their skills or transitioned between roles, students will learn about multiple entry points to the field in ways that feel both realistic and accessible. 

Stay Connected 

Be sure to keep presentations short, leaving students energized and wanting to learn more. It can be valuable to share contact information with both counselors and students, as these high school visits can be valuable springboards to future conversations, connections, and hires. And if the high school visit was a first step in partnering with the school or district, consider the even larger impact of continued involvement and commitment. From job shadowing, to career fairs, to mentorships, to internships, to apprenticeships, to alumni hiring events, the full spectrum of work-based learning is ripe with opportunities for students, schools, and the local workforce. 

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