Build Your Talent Pipeline with ReadyCT: Engage Students to Diversify and Elevate Your Workforce!

250

employers partnered with ReadyCT to offer engaging, high-quality opportunities to public school students in 2024-25.

Skilled Talent is in High Demand for Connecticut Businesses

ReadyCT Prepares Students and Cultivates Future Workforce

As the demand for skilled talent continues to grow, Connecticut businesses have a unique opportunity to engage with the next generation of professionals.

By connecting with high school students, employers can bring real-world perspectives into the classroom, inspiring young minds early in their academic journeys. And who knows? Employers in their interactions may even meet — and hire — their next team member!

Along the way, students come to understand what they want to do (and not do, which is just as important).

That understanding informs their decisions so that when they arrive at your workplace, they’re not just ready. They’re ReadyCT ready.  

Ways to Get Involved!

The Value Prop

Attract Skilled Talent: Build your brand with the next generation professionals.

Innovate with Fresh Ideas: Gain new perspectives and creative solutions for your business.

Strengthen Your Community: Invest in local talent and make a lasting impact.

Take Action Today: You Have Options!

Short-Term Employee Engagements (Hybrid)

  • Guest Speaker – Speak to a class about your industry, company, available career paths, and personal journey to success
  • Worksite Tour – Host a group of students for part of the day in your workplace to expose them to the business environment
  • Educator Worksite Tour – Host a teacher or small group of teachers for part of the day in your workplace
  • Career Fair – Speak to students about your industry, company, and career paths during a school or community event
  • Informational Interview – Speak to a student in person, on the phone, or video conference to answer questions about your industry, company, personal journey to success, and the education and/or training required for available careers
  • Job Shadow – Host a student or group of students at your worksite for a half or full day to expose them to the core competencies and careers in your organization
  • Mock Interview – Conduct a simulated professional job interview
  • Mentor – Mentor students by providing guidance, motivation, role modeling, career exploration, and support with goal setting and skill development  
  • Tutor – Provide academic tutoring after school (subjects may include math, science, writing, etc.) 
Employer Interest Form

Long-Term Employee Engagements

  • Capstone Project Mentor – Provide industry expertise during a classroom project
  • Internship – Host a high-quality paid intern for at least 120 hours (after school or summer)
  • Educator Externship – Host an educator in your workplace for an extended amount of time over the summer, giving voice to the core competencies you need in entry-level talent (so teachers can work that into coursework for you!)
  • Join an Advisory Board – Comprised of business, higher education, and civic partners, advisory board members tap into their networks to bring leadership, skills, work-based learning opportunities, and resources to students. Advisory board membership is the most comprehensive way to contribute to a career pathway.
Employer Interest Form

Long-Term Organizational Engagement

  • Sponsor a career pathway – This is an opportunity for employers to provide resources for a career-themed learning pathway that can ultimately become part of an overall talent recruitment strategy

(If you are interested, please contact ReadyCT Executive Director Shannon Marimón at shannon.marimon@readyct.org to explore this exciting opportunity.)

Employer Interest Form

ReadyCT Internships: Where YOU Gain Workforce-Ready Talent!


Our interns will impress your entire team — delivering high-quality performance that results in exceptional work product.
Your intern will report With:  
  • “Employability” skills including time management, team commitment, communication, work ethic, and positive attitude
  • Training in technology applications and automation
  • Financial literacy
  • Business-oriented writing skills
  • Proof of age and U.S. citizenship/residency
Your commitment includes: 
  • A STEM-related work project (120 hours)
  • A supervisor willing to supervise the work and mentor the intern (note: great chance to begin grooming emerging young leaders!)
  • Exposure to opportunities in your industry
  • A workspace for intern

Who are the interns? 

The majority of students who we prepare for internships hail from low-income communities; they often lack both access to and awareness of the wide range of opportunities available with Connecticut employers. 

When they have the chance to work alongside professionals, they not only gain valuable, real-world experience that supports their future career goals — they also begin to envision new possibilities for their own lives. 

It’s a true win-win! Students benefit from high-quality, hands-on learning, while employers gain interns who bring meaningful contributions to the workplace.

ReadyCT stays active year-round.

There’s always room for you to join in and make a difference!

For more information, info@readyct.org.

Strong connections often begin with small, simple steps. Partnering with schools and students can start with low-stakes initiatives, leading to business-education collaborations that provide businesses with top talent and offer students opportunities to succeed.

Our Mission

To advance academic excellence and career-connected learning for all public school students in Connecticut through collaboration with business, civic, and education leaders.

Add impact to your inbox with email updates from ReadyCT!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.