Engaging Business in SOS

A strong working relationship among students, businesses, and the school system is the center around which a successful SOS project is built. The value that work-site supervisors see in the students they manage and mentor gives those students a foundation of confidence on which to build a career and a future. And the value that businesses derive from the interns' work is the clearest demonstration of the validity of this model.

Projects typically start by building a relationship with one employer, and from there reaching out to the business community as a whole. The most effective SOS projects typically concentrate on industries with the strongest prospects for job growth in the region. That ensures both an expanding base of possible internships and a wide range of career opportunities for graduating students. In the best case, when businesses are active partners, they can also help strengthen the project's relationships with industry groups, workforce organizations, and economic development programs that can provide additional services and eventually help with fundraising.

These are the steps by which SOS projects forge solid, effective partnerships with businesses and industry groups in their communities:

Stage 1

Start working with a single business; get to know the wider business community.

In the first semester, start planning an internship with a single employer that will begin in the second semester. In the second year, expand it to two semesters.

Gradually expand to a second business, and then more as the project and its resources become sustainable.

Continually build a relationship with the business community as a whole, in preparation for future work sites and post-graduation career development.

Stage 1, Step-by-Step

Step 1: Develop a relationship with a single internship host. In choosing the company, consider:

• The diversity of available positions. For example, Hospitals and universities usually have a wide variety of job types for students to explore.
• The geographic accessibility of the business to the school and the students.
• The overall demand for jobs in this business's industry. For instance, in most markets, the need for a variety of hospital staff is prevalent.

Step 2: Work with site supervisors to help them cultivate a mentor relationship with students Download a copy of the SOS Mentor Manual

Step 3: Introduce the SOS project to the business and economic development community through organizations like the Chambers of Commerce and small business associations

Step 4: Build a relationship with the One-Stop Career Center, introducing the project to their business outreach team. (Note that not every center has a dedicated team for this; sometimes it may be a loose collection of cross-agency staff.)

Step 5: Be alert for ways to collaborate with and take advantage of the One-Stop's efforts

Step 6: Invite leaders from the host business and other local business leaders to attend or participate in the students' year-end ceremony

Stage 2

Strengthen the internship program and begin to expand it.

Solidify the relationship with the first work site.

Recruit additional businesses as needed.

Expand the range of career preparation opportunities.

Stage 2 Step-by-Step

Step 1: Expand the students' recognition ceremony with greater involvement by the business hosts, including:

• Creating prominent roles for mentors and business leaders.
• Inviting business staff and leaders of other local businesses.
• Conducting the ceremony at a work site if possible.

Step 2: Work with the leadership of the current business site to continually expand internships to new departments and job types, based on student interests

Step 3: Disseminate information on SOS to business organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and economic development organizations such as small-business associations. These groups will be interested in new sources of talent for growth industries and they might be interested in becoming worksites themselves

Step 4: Work with the One-Stop Career Center to channel information on the SOS project to the local Workforce Investment Board. The WIB is a business-dominated oversight board for local workforce development services

Stage 3

Ensure Full Business Involvement in the Local Service-Delivery Network.

Engage business and industry groups as active partners in funding the SOS project and building a network of services for students.

Ensure that the project addresses business priorities and focuses on areas of likely employment growth.

Stage 3 Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Make sure that economic development and workforce programs view the school system as a critical part of their systems

Take part in coalitions, hearings, and policy forums in these systems, to keep the project and the school system visible as a key source of strength in local employment and economic growth.

Step 2: Be sure the SOS project is aligned with the high-growth priorities of local business organizations, so as to take advantage of funding opportunities they may offer. Get more information about high-growth priorities

Step 3: Expand the project to work with a variety of small and mid-size businesses, either directly or in tandem with other employment programs, to customize internship and career opportunities for individual students

Step 4: Help reorient the school system's career development activities around a dual-customer approach—one that provides equal benefit to both students and businesses