 | As the school year kicks off, businesses have a prime opportunity to connect with students, inspire future career paths, and build their talent pipeline. Drawing from the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance’s Employer Engagement Guide here’s a streamlined approach that works for any industry: |
1. Understand and Prepare
2. Build a Clear Engagement Plan
Industry Highlight: Manufacturing (and Beyond)
This guide centers on manufacturing, but its principles apply across sectors such as technology, healthcare, retail, services, and more. Engaging students early in the year fosters awareness of diverse careers, your business and strengthens local talent infrastructure.
Local Engagement Opportunity: Manufacturing Day @ Toledo Technology Academy
One standout event is Manufacturing Day, happening on October 3, 2025, hosted by the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA) at the Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering. It’s a hands-on, immersive chance for manufacturing employers to engage directly with students and bring the guide’s advice to life.
Your involvement makes a difference!
👉 Learn more and register your company at NOMA’s Manufacturing Day webpage.
For more information, please reach out to Lauryn Vargas, Workforce Initiatives Manager, at [email protected] or 567.420.1226.
- Familiarize yourself with local labor market trends and industry needs.
- Clarify what your business can offer; guest speaking, mentorship, job shadows, classroom support, etc.
- See students as collaborators, not just participants.
- Upcoming Opportunity: On September 24, 2025, the Talent Trends & Best Practices mini conference will spotlight regional workforce alignment strategies and sector collaboration, which is great for gaining insights and connecting with educational and industry partners. Register here.
2. Build a Clear Engagement Plan
- Develop outreach strategies tailored for schools and students. Highlight the mutual benefits.
- Offer flexible levels of involvement such as talks, tours, mock interviews, and internships.
- Keep communication consistent and proactive.
- Student-facing engagement provides exposure and exploration.
- Employers benefit from building goodwill and shaping talent development.
- Maintain dialogue, solicit feedback, and iterate on your approach.
- Not every engagement must include an internship. Opportunities may include guest lectures or job shadowing that are impactful too.
- Align opportunities with student readiness and your businesses’ capacity.
- Collaborate with schools and intermediaries to smooth logistics.
Industry Highlight: Manufacturing (and Beyond)
This guide centers on manufacturing, but its principles apply across sectors such as technology, healthcare, retail, services, and more. Engaging students early in the year fosters awareness of diverse careers, your business and strengthens local talent infrastructure.
Local Engagement Opportunity: Manufacturing Day @ Toledo Technology Academy
One standout event is Manufacturing Day, happening on October 3, 2025, hosted by the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance (NOMA) at the Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering. It’s a hands-on, immersive chance for manufacturing employers to engage directly with students and bring the guide’s advice to life.
Your involvement makes a difference!
👉 Learn more and register your company at NOMA’s Manufacturing Day webpage.
For more information, please reach out to Lauryn Vargas, Workforce Initiatives Manager, at [email protected] or 567.420.1226.
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