IN THE CLASSROOM

Featuring guest speakers or career panels in the classroom provides an opportunity for high school students to learn about a business, its industry sector, its role in the economy, and careers in the industry!

Create an opportunity for high school students to learn about a business, its industry sector, its role in the economy

Help to inspire and illuminate the pathway options for high school students that lead to fulfilling careers

Sharing stories from professional experience or demonstrating the practical use of knowledge can enhance classroom learning

EVENT DAY

Overall, a great guest speaker experience for high school students involves a well-structured, informative and interactive presentation that allows students to hear about a potential career field.

We asked JCPS students and educators what they wanted to do, hear, and learn from this experience; use these as objectives in planning:

Understand your mission and the services/products your company provides. Explain why the company chose to partner with the school, demonstrating a commitment to education and community engagement.
Cover available jobs at various skill levels, from entry to upper management, and explain why the company values its partnership with the school.
Incorporate engaging elements like appropriate responses to student questions, interactive tasks, and group activities to enhance student involvement.
Deliver engaging content and insights into current challenges the company is addressing, along with a description of the work environment.
Make a connection to the type of skills needed to work in the industry and connect the work with the type of post secondary education needed for the various jobs.

We kindly ask that you do not:

Speak with disrespectful or negative commentary, use bad language, or give information that is too personal.
Arrive unprepared or unmotivated; show a slide deck with just words and the speaker reading directly from them.
Plan a short, rushed event without time to fully hear, learn, and ask questions about the company.

AFTER THE EVENT

Spread the word on social media! See links below.

Follow up & continued guidance:

Providing resources, further information, or guidance on potential next steps, such as internships, educational paths, or industry-related events, extends the impact beyond the tour day.
Networking Opportunities: Encouraging students to network with other professionals or employees in related roles within the organization can broaden their understanding of different career pathways.

Start planning your next student engagement activity! See more guides to creating student experiences here.

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