Employers: Build Your Talent Pipelines with Aspire Career Discovery Meetings
Aspire Johnson County’s work with educators and employers has been part of an ongoing effort to build talent pipelines for local businesses and stimulate the economy by ensuring that the next generation of the workforce is prepared to thrive.
Aspire was issued a capacity building grant from the Commission for Higher Education to facilitate Career Discovery Meetings.
“The State Legislature has required for our high schools to offer students the opportunity to participate in a 30-minute meeting with either a college, an intermediary (Aspire’s designation) or a labor organization,” said Amanda Rubadue, Vice President of Economic Development at Aspire.
At these meetings, business leaders will talk to students about their own career paths, present their companies, their products and services, and share any information on training and internship opportunities that the attending students may be interested in.
The requirements for the Career Discovery Meetings permit up to five students at a time and must be done during the school day. The last five minutes of the 30-minute session must be allotted to students to complete a form that is for the Commission for Higher Education’s data.
Rubadue says over 80 employers indicated interest in connecting with students and Aspire is approaching all area high schools in Johnson County and southern Indianapolis to support their Career Discovery meetings.
Employers like Crossroads Engineering and Endress+Hauser are signing up because they provide an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on high school students who will be entering the workforce in the next year or two. These meetings also support area businesses by introducing students to industries and career paths even if they may not go to work for the presenting employer after graduation.
Aspire needs small businesses and companies from advanced manufacturing and the technology industry to participate! Employers from any industry should contact Aspire’s School to Work Specialist, Jennifer Hollingshead at jhollingshead@aspirejohnsoncounty.com to connect with students at a Career Discovery Meeting.