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Incentive for Businesses

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Businesses in every industry-sector need skilled workers, but employers often struggle to find these workers.  There are two critical ways to help bridge this gap:

  1. Contribute insight(s) into curriculum in order to foster relationships with teachers and support their development.
  2. Supporting work-based learning opportunities.

Direct Benefits

  • Creates a pool of skilled potential future employees.
  • Provides employees with opportunities to serve as ambassadors for the company.
  • Improves employee retention.
  • Reduces training/recruitment costs.
  • Develops new projects with student assistance.
  • Advances company reputation in communities as supporters of education and providers of good jobs.
  • Positive impact in the development of your region.
  • A stake in shaping curriculum and working with local teachers.
  • Assisting in the development of a home-grown workforce.

If you are a local business and you're interested in participating with Work- Based Learning,
here are some are tips for engaging youth as a guest speaker:

Make it your own:

  • Make it personal. As you talk about your work, use anecdotes from your own experience.
  • Make it interactive. Get the students involved as quickly as possible: ask questions and encourage them to do the same. Asking questions about their exposure to your profession breaks the ice and simultaneously gives you a better feel for your audience.
  • Make it concrete. Give specific, hands-on examples and use props and audiovisuals whenever you can. Discuss the tools of the trade: computers (PC, laptop), terminology databases, the Internet, email, fax, computer programs, etc.
  • Make it fun. Use audiovisuals and/or a game format to keep your presentation lively and interesting. Photos, figures and icons work as visual memory triggers. Minimize verbosity.
  • Make it count. Leaving something tangible behind will magnify the effect of your visit. Give the students souvenirs, and give the teacher a resource handout with pointers to more information on careers. Even a flyer about your job or a brochure on your employer that the students can keep will help them remember you and your talk.

Describe your work

  • Typical workday routine
  • Work environment
  • Current or projected job market for individuals in your field
  • If you have knowledge regarding other jobs within your industry, consider discussing similarities/differences in responsibilities, skills, work environment and educational requirements.

Use Communication Openers like

  • Let’s have a show of hands. How many of you think/agree . . . ?
  • Can anyone give me an example of . . . ?
  • How many of you have/think/agree with . . . ?
  • Who knows/has ever experienced/appreciates . . . ?
  • Can anyone tell me what (blank) means?
  • What do you think is the most important/interesting . . .?
  • Under what circumstances do you think (blank) happens/is necessary?
  • Can you think of a reason/possibility when. . . ?
  • Does (blank) sound familiar to any you?
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