Are You Aware of What's Available in Stark County?
As adults, how many times have you driven by a business and thought, “I wonder what they do?” Our lack of awareness is likely the result of a busy schedule preventing us from searching out the information and the fact that the information does not touch our lives personally at that moment. However, this lack of knowledge base acts as a detriment to the young people graduating from area high schools and colleges unaware of the Stark County corporate landscape and the numerous quality employment opportunities available. The problem is amplified by the fact that many local companies are experiencing talent shortages preventing them from maximizing their own potential and contributing fully to local economic vitality.
Stark Education Partnership is working to break down this knowledge gap for students, and helping businesses build a potential talent pool by collaborating with local companies on a new video series. The purpose of the videos is to make students in area middle and high schools aware of local companies and career pathways.
Student Led Videos Highlight Local Companies
The new Stark Career Pathway Explorer Series – featuring four videos of local companies – has recently launched on SEP's website and is being shared in our local participating schools. Aultman, Hilscher-Clarke Electric, Ohio Gratings and Winkle Industries have each funded their own video for the series in collaboration with SEP’s vision to make sure our young people graduate with a career plan and the potential to grow roots in Stark County.
Each video features an area high school student who tours the business’s facility and interviews three employees. The first interview, usually with a company executive or human resources representative, identifies the mission, vision and benefits available at the company. The student then asks each interviewee about their education and career pathway to the job and the daily tasks and expectations for success at the company.
Viewers take away a new knowledge of the company and high-demand careers that they may have interest in pursuing. No longer will our young people need to pass by one of these business and ask, “I wonder what they do?”
The videos’ use of a student anchor gears them towards our middle and high school population, and provides the student(s) – usually in a media or broadcast arts program – with the valuable opportunity for experience in their desired future career area.
