Expectations for Compact Employers

Compact schools have come on board because they are dedicated to the success of Pittsburgh area students in the classroom and beyond. Stay tuned to outreach from the schools, as various opportunities for partnership and school involvement will come throughout the year from Compact schools. As regional employers and members of the Pittsburgh Regional Compact, we ask that each company volunteer at least one employee, at least once a year, to participate in a career symposium. These are industry-focused, half-day, interactive career fairs that give students a chance to meet local professionals in their fields of interest. In addition, if your company initiates opportunities to get involved with students in the area, please post these opportunities on the Connector portal so that interested schools can contact you.

Five tips for contact with Compact schools:

• Be receptive to requests for partnership – with the recent implementation of the CEW (Career Education and Work) standards, many students in Pennsylvania must now complete career and experiential learning activities in order to graduate. Each school has their own way of realizing these standards. The Compact has highlighted nine of them, but there are many ways to get involved with our region's schools.

• Ask questions – the more information you have about the school and the students you'll be with, the more comfortable and prepared you will be for the event.

• Verbalize your scheduling needs – schools may be able to match you with a particular activity that accommodates your schedule.

• Read about it – the Pittsburgh Regional Compact Employer Career Education Manual provides tips, to-do lists, and more information about each of the career education activities offered through the Compact.

• Spread the word! Tell your colleagues about opportunities to get involved with the Compact – they might be looking for an opportunity to get involved with the community and reach out to the school that their children attend, or even the own high school district that they graduated from!

The Pittsburgh Regional Compact is an employer-driven initiative collaboratively
sponsored by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, business
leaders, educators, students, educational institutions and workforce development
organizations across the 10-county Pittsburgh region.