By Bailey Grams
When you think of places where students can get advice on their future, you probably first think of parents, teachers, counselors, and other school staff. But they aren’t the only ones who have valuable knowledge to share with the next generation! Many local employers take a great interest in the success of their local students. They want to see them grow and thrive and become a valuable part of the local community.
We have had many discussions with businesses throughout Indiana in industries all across the spectrum, and so often they express that they wish they had stronger connections with their local schools. They want to assist in career discovery for the young people in their community, they want to open their facilities for students to explore, and they want to help guide students on their career journey and hopefully lead them back to jobs right in their own backyards.
In our discussions, we usually ask employers what advice they would give those who want jobs at their companies. We hear a lot of the same things in every industry. In this blog, we’ll share the top five things we consistently hear employers telling students.
Show Up
So often in life, we feel like we can’t start something until we know we’ll be perfect at it. We’re scared to try something we’ve never done before. The same is often true with jobs. But many employers we speak to aren’t so concerned with that impossible goal of perfection. They say that for entry level jobs and students just starting out, the best thing they can do is to just show up and show up consistently.
The student who gets their first job and shows up day after day, ready to learn and to work, is an exemplary employee. Businesses each have their own way of doing things, so no matter what level of experience a new employee has, they are going to need to be trained. If a high school student or recent graduate comes to work with an open mind, prepared to be taught, then it doesn’t matter if this is their first job or their twenty-third – they’ll find success more often than not.
Keep Discovering
High school is the perfect time for career exploration and discovery. Many of the employers we speak to are in very niche fields, such traffic engineering or manufacturing by-product recycling, and yet have a very loyal workforce who love being a part of the team. If students don’t get the chance to expand their horizons and discover all the possibilities available to them, they may never know that the perfect job for them was right around the corner!
This is why our employer partners are always so excited to be able to offer Career+™ Chats and Tours to their local high schools. They want to be a part of that discovery for those in their community. Students can find many opportunities available to them, if they just take the chance to look!
Focus on Transferable Skills
No matter what kind of job you’re looking for, there are some skills that you can use anywhere you go. The employers we speak with typically encourage students to strengthen these transferable skills so that they can be successful even if they decide to change careers. Transferable skills are core abilities that students can learn in any life experience they have, whether that be a previous job, volunteer work, club participation, in school, or even just in daily life.
Some key examples of transferable skills that employers look for include communication, teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Students who have practiced these skills in other aspects of their life will already feel comfortable utilizing them during the day-to-day tasks required of them on the job. Employers value these skills because they help new employees integrate with the team that’s already present. Having solid skills in things like organization and time management also means that the employer can focus their training on the technical aspects of the job, rather than waste time teaching a new employee how to manage their own tasks. Regardless of what industry a student is entering, they will find that work comes easier with a few of these transferable skills under their belt.
Keep Learning
No matter what a student wants to do after graduation, employers encourage them to realize that learning doesn’t stop after high school. Whether they’re interested in a 4-year college program, an apprenticeship, a certificate program, or just going straight into the workforce, they should be prepared to expand their knowledge and realize that continuing to learn can be a humongous benefit for any career.
The more a student learns, the more they are able to take on at their job. Those who acquire specialized knowledge might even be able to advance to higher paying positions or leadership positions in a company. Employers love to see their employees grow with them. This is why many employers offer tuition assistance for workers who want to enhance their skills by earning certificates or degrees in their industry. The more skilled each individual worker is, the stronger the company is as a whole.
Take Initiative
The final thing that we hear employers tell students is to take initiative. Once a student has done their career exploration and decided what they want to do after high school, they should reach out to employers in their area. Our employer partners are constantly looking to strengthen their ties with the community. Many of them would love to connect with interested students to tell them more about the company, the industry, and how they can get started. All they are waiting for is interested students to knock on their door asking to learn more.
Whether a student is interested in healthcare, construction, or something more unique, there are businesses across Indiana who are excited to support them and welcome them to the team. Those of us at Career+ Pathways™ are excited to help make those connections happen.
Bio
Bailey Grams is a senior instructional designer and an employer engagement specialist with Career+ Pathways™ . She has a background in English and communication studies and has been working with Skyepack as an instructional designer for over five years. She has also studied graphic design and uses that knowledge to help guide her development of new materials for students and teachers. Outside of work, she can be found reading for her book club, learning a new craft, or playing board games with friends.
