{"id":146,"date":"2022-01-20T09:07:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T16:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.workmorphis.com\/resources\/?p=146"},"modified":"2024-05-31T13:55:40","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T20:55:40","slug":"5-steps-to-inspire-youth-about-careers-in-your-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.workmorphis.com\/resources\/5-steps-to-inspire-youth-about-careers-in-your-industry","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Inspire Youth About Careers in Your Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many industries struggle to attract younger generations of workers, with comments like the following becoming increasingly common in conversations with employers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t an \u2018IT\u2019 company, but we are hiring 50 software developers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople still think careers in our industry are dark, dirty, and dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur employees [use the latest technologies \/ learn to code \/ fly drones \/ build models in virtual reality \/ program robots]. Why aren\u2019t kids interested?\u201d<\/p>\n

So, why is it so difficult to find young people who are interested in careers in your industry?<\/p>\n

Seeing is believing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Young people may not realize certain jobs in any given industry exist, let alone feel inspired by them. Children learn by absorbing information from the world around them, but few regularly visit workplaces to observe and learn. Exposure may be limited to what these young people hear from the adults in their lives. Let\u2019s take manufacturing as an example.<\/p>\n

Manufacturing: Then and Now<\/h2>\n

Many decades ago, manufacturing plants were crowded places where people moved heavy objects and completed repetitive manual tasks, putting them at risk for injury. While the first \u201crobot\u201d by modern industry standards was launched in the 1930s, the robotic arm was not introduced until the late 1970s, revolutionizing the way companies manufacture products.<\/p>\n

\"old
\nhttps:\/\/www.assemblymag.com\/blogs\/14-assembly-blog\/post\/91070-what-is-the-oldest-assembly-plant-in-the-world<\/small><\/p>\n

By comparison, here\u2019s what a modern manufacturing facility looks like today.<\/p>\n

\"new
\nhttps:\/\/fortune.com\/2021\/08\/02\/toyota-cars-chip-shortage-semiconductors\/<\/small><\/p>\n

For many Americans, the word \u2018manufacturing\u2019 conjures up ideas or images from earlier eras, despite how much has changed since then. When a child first wonders how cars are made, they may ask a teacher or family member what it would be like to make a car. Unless the person they ask has worked in or around modern manufacturing, their memory may conjure up outdated images. Thus, the awareness and stigma issues continue.<\/p>\n

Inspiring the next generation about careers benefits all members of a community. Business leaders have the unique opportunity to open their company\u2019s doors to students, literally and metaphorically, to create career exposure opportunities for students.<\/p>\n

Getting Started<\/h2>\n

Offering career exposure opportunities to inspire young people can be as simple or involved as your company can manage. Here are five ways your company can get engaged today:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Participate in an existing event (see examples below)<\/li>\n
  2. Host a company tour or open house for students\/parents\/educators<\/li>\n
  3. Offer internships or job shadowing days to local students<\/li>\n
  4. Contact your local middle or high school and offer to be a guest speaker<\/li>\n
  5. Engage in planning and curriculum through your local school\u2019s business advisory council<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Examples of Career Exposure Opportunities<\/h2>\n

    Manufacturing<\/h3>\n