Making connections with future employees can help set your company apart in today’s competitive employment environment. Engaging with students early in their academic careers allows you to develop relationships with candidates who possess the skills necessary for your work environment.

Ivy Tech offers a broad menu of opportunities for employers like you to engage with Ivy Tech students to help them learn about careers in your organization.

Ways to Engage with Students

Key characteristics of an employer Q&A (question-and-answer) panel:

  • Professionals are able to speak firsthand about their experience working in a particular field/career
    and share information related to majors, skills, and career paths that led to their current position

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of one hour
  • In-person or virtual

Example of an employer panel:

  • Individuals from a hospital, a plasma bank, and an at-home center participate in a conversation
    facilitated by an Ivy Tech staff member aimed at exposing students to various careers and work settings within the healthcare industry

Key characteristics of an informational table on campus:

  • The employer requests to connect with students to inform them about available positions
  • College handles all necessary logistics (virtual or in person) based on confirmed time and date
  • Students attend/visit the session based on availability to learn vital information about the employer
    and industry sector

Employer participation:

  • No minimum number of hours
  • In-person

Example of an informational table:

  •  An insurance company sets up a table in the business hallway and shares information and pamphlets about their company with students as they move to and from their classes

Key characteristics of an employer-led workshop:

  • A workshop is more extensive than an informational table; it includes planned interaction to inform and equip students in meeting an objective
  • A college department or office conducts a workshop or an employer requests a workshop or the college invites the employer to host a workshop
  • The college sets up a room at the pertinent building(s) at the established dates and times
  • Participants come to the workshop to learn vital information about the department and its services
    or about the employer

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of one hour
  • In-person

Examples of employer-led workshops:

  •  A construction management company schedules a 1-hour workshop to provide pertinent
    information about their company and available careers, and discusses the skills and competencies needed for those careers
  • Information technology CEO presents their company and open positions with an added-value bonus
    of a small workshop on how to deliver outstanding customer service

Key characteristics of an informational interview:

  • Helps students understand the day-to-day of the industry
  • Typically happens in groups
  • Employer partner provides an overview and students ask questions to learn more about the career field and to receive career advice

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of one hour
  • In-person or virtual

Examples of informational interviews:

  • A group of students meets with a local business owner to learn about entrepreneurship by asking specific questions prepared in advance
  • A student interested in design meets one-on-one with an architect to ask questions about the required training and software expertise needed to be successful in the field

Key characteristics of internship fairs and career fairs:

  • Employer representatives share information in an informal setting
  • Small group or individual conversations between employers and students
  • Often leads to additional networking or interview opportunities for students
  • Multiple career fields or sector-specific (i.e., “All Majors” vs. “Information Technology”)

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of one hour
  • In-person
  • Fairs are hosted by local campus Career Link offices

Key characteristics of a job site tour or industry tour:

  • The employer takes a small group (10-12 students) dependent on the size of the job site
  • A brief overview of the company, followed by a walking tour
  • Students sit down for a question-and-answer session with an employee panel
  • Students are responsible for their own transportation

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of 1.5 to 2 hours

Example of a job site tour:

  • A group of students participate in an overview of an advanced manufacturing company, are given a facility tour, and conclude their visit with a question-and-answer session in one of the company’s training rooms

Key characteristics of job shadowing:

  • Focuses on career exploration
  • The student observes the day-to-day responsibilities of a given job
  • Takes place at the employer's worksite
  • Aligned to student program area or area of interest

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of 3 hours
  • In-person or virtual

Examples of job shadowing:

  • Humanities faculty facilitate a project where students spend half a day with a local agency
  • A hospitality student observes the inner workings of a professional kitchen at a local restaurant

Key characteristics of a guest speaker:

  • Helps students understand the day-to-day of the industry
  • Similar to a group informational interview
  • Some guest speakers might offer additional “added value” content like “how to provide outstanding customer service in IT”

Employer participation:

  • Suggested minimum of 1 hour
  • In-person or virtual

Examples of class guest speakers:

  • A local company conducts a Zoom chat in partnership with an Ivy Tech supply chain class to discuss job opportunities and tips for the job search
  • A healthcare specialist class hosts a guest speaker to discuss tips for networking in healthcare and provides feedback to students on their LinkedIn profiles
  • An information technology professional shares their journey from Ivy Tech to their current position in data analytics, and what the field is currently looking for in candidates

REGISTER FOR ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

HireIvy is Ivy Tech's internship and job board and the place to register for student engagement and recruiting events. Work with your Talent Connection Manager to set up engagement events like industry tours, career and internship fairs, and panel Q&As. To learn how to create your complimentary HireIvy account, view our HireIvy Quickstart Guide (PDF), which also includes other features available to employers.

CREATE A HIREIVY ACCOUNT

WORK-AND-LEARN EXPERIENCES

Our Talent Connection Managers can work with you to develop opportunities at your company for students early in their education. These experiences help students develop skills aligned to your specific workforce needs. From internships to clinicals to micro-internships, work-and-learn experiences help set your company apart in today’s competitive employment environment.

EXPLORE WORK-AND-LEARN EXPERIENCES

Questions About Engaging with Students?

Contact Your Talent Connection Manager

Your Ivy+ Career Link Talent Connection Manager is available to assist with exploring opportunities for engaging with students in ways that make sense for your company and building a customized talent pipeline plan.

Find Your Local Talent Connection Manager

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