Over the past month, we’ve explored how employers can actively shape the future workforce through intentional engagement:

• Week 1: Do a Job Shadow – Easy way to give students a first-hand look at careers and workplaces.
  
  
• Week 2: Update Profiles – Helped employers make their brand engaging and consistent across multiple platforms.
  
  
• Week 3: Post a Video – Demonstrated how a single piece of content can inspire students and communicate your opportunities.
  
  

Now, it’s time for the final challenge: Show Up. While digital content, profiles, and job shadows build awareness, there’s no substitute for real, in-person engagement with students.

Why Employers Must Be Intentional About Showing Up

Employers often say, “We can’t find the talent we need.” Yet, the talent is already in classrooms across your community—the missing piece is your presence.

Research shows the power of showing up:

• Over 80% of students say that in-person career fairs or employer visits influenced their interest in an organization (NACE).
  
  
• Students who experience career-connected learning in high school are 2x more likely to pursue postsecondary programs aligned to their career interests (Strada Education).
  
  
• Face-to-face interactions create brand impressions 34x more memorable than digital-only outreach (Deloitte).
  
  

When you attend a career fair, host a workshop, or visit a classroom, you’re creating human connections that leave lasting impressions—shaping how students perceive your brand, your industry, and the opportunities you offer.

Key reasons to show up intentionally:

• Students are your future pipeline. Early engagement builds awareness and interest in careers students may not have discovered.
  
  
• Presence builds credibility. Consistent visibility strengthens your reputation as a trusted community partner and employer of choice.
  
  
• Engagement creates equity. Not all students have equal access to professional networks; your presence ensures opportunity is visible and inclusive.
  
  

If you want a strong workforce tomorrow, the work starts today—inside schools.

The Challenge: Book Three School Engagements

For our final Workforce Development Month challenge, we’re asking you to book at least three engagements at local schools through SchooLinks.

Move from intention to action by connecting directly with students in their learning environments.

A Quick Guide to Showing Up Effectively

1. Set a Territory in SchooLinks
Define your geographic or district territory. This will autopopulate schools and events in your area, making it easy to identify opportunities.

2. Select More Than One Type of Event
Mix it up to maximize impact:

• Career fairs – Meet a broad group of students and raise awareness.
  
  
• Classroom visits – Have deeper, meaningful conversations.
  
  
• Workshops – Teach a skill or provide insight into your industry.
  
  

3. Plan for Impact and Optimization
Before attending, ask: What do I want students to walk away with? Bring visuals, stories, or interactive elements. Follow up afterward—connect on SchooLinks, share resources, or invite students to future opportunities.

Final Word

Workforce pipelines aren’t built overnight—they’re built through consistent, intentional engagement. Showing up in schools isn’t just about awareness—it’s about building relationships, inspiring students, and shaping the workforce of the future.

Take the challenge: book your three school engagements today. Need help? Sign up for a webinar here.