Visibility
Involvement
Resources

Visibility Matters

What We Are Seeing.

Students begin forming career preferences much earlier than most employers expect. These early impressions are shaped less by formal recruitment efforts and more by what students see, hear, and experience over time. A single interaction rarely changes direction; it’s consistent visibility and repeated exposure that gradually build awareness, interest, and understanding of a career and/or industry.

At the same time, perceptions—accurate or not—form quickly and tend to stick. When students have limited or unclear exposure, misunderstandings can take hold and influence decisions long before hiring is even a consideration. Intentional, ongoing engagement helps ensure those perceptions are informed, relevant, and aligned with real opportunities.

Timing Matters

  • BIG Shake Round 4 Raise the Bar board members and staff with elementary students.

    Kindergarten-6th Grade

    INTRODUCTION

    Commit to showing up each year as a classroom guest speaker, sharing what your work actually looks like and what skills matter most. Take it a step further by serving as a judge at a local school’s AMAZING or BIG Shake employability skills competition.

  • 8th grade students interact with employees at Raise the Bar's Career Connections Day.

    7th-8th Grade

    EXPLORATION

    This is when students begin building their mental shortlist of careers and employers—largely through online discovery. If your local site isn’t easy to find online, it may never enter consideration. Early visibility ensures you’re included when those decisions are made.

  • High school students test healthcare equipment during Raise the Bar Career Expo.

    9th-10th Grade

    ENGAGEMENT

    Students are testing what fits their strengths, values, and personality. This is the moment to move from visibility to interaction. Show up in person—through classroom visits, job shadows, and hands-on exposure—to become real, relevant, and remembered.

  • High school students in WKXA radio station booth during Raise the Bar Career Expo.

    11th-12th Grade

    IMMERSION

    Move from being “an option” to becoming “the choice.” These students have narrowed their interests and are ready to engage more deeply. They’re seeking experiences that offer time, responsibility, and real-world expectations. Give them a chance to test out your company through internships, work-based learning, and longer job-shadowing experiences.

  • Female counseling female teen in informal setting.

    18-24 Year Olds

    INTEGRATION

    Extend beyond offering experiences to developing talent. Give consistent time, clear expectations, and real accountability to help young adults transition from learners to contributors, many capable of becoming your next hires.

  • Four WorkAdvance Findlay graduates receiving their certificates of completion.

    Adults

    ADVANCEMENT

    Invest in upskilling—through training, mentorship, and advancement pathways—employees to strengthen performance, improve retention, and create a more capable workforce. Develop your current employees; it’s a core responsibility that directly impacts individual success and long-term organizational strength.

Involvement Expectations

We get it—dedicating time, people, and resources to talent development isn’t easy. Not every role is designed for public interaction, and stepping away from daily responsibilities can feel like a tradeoff against productivity, sales, or operations.

But developing talent can’t sit on the sidelines. Employers that succeed long-term are the ones who build it into how their organization operates—not just something handled by Human Resources.

That’s why Raise the Bar encourages employers to create an internal approach that distributes this responsibility across teams. When more employees are equipped to engage—whether through classroom visits, job shadows, or mentoring—the effort becomes manageable, consistent, and far more impactful.

Talent development doesn’t require everyone to do everything. It requires a shared commitment to do something, every year.

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Local students learn about careers at area business during workplace-hosted event.

We Are Here To Make It Easier

Raise the Bar connects people, and we want:

  • More frequent, intentional interactions
    Consistent opportunities (not just one-time events).

  • Meaningful use of time
    Interactions with a purpose and clear takeaways.

  • Mutual value in every connection
    Experiences where both employers and career seekers gain insight and benefit.

  • Real understanding of the work
    Career seekers see what the job actually involves.

  • Clear connections to skills and expectations
    Opportunity to gain skills needed to be successful.

  • Opportunities to ask and explore
    Questions, conversation, and hands-on engagement where possible.

  • Consistency in messaging and experience
    Create a culture that supports talent development.

  • Clear next steps
    Every interaction ends with direction—whether that’s another experience, training, or a pathway forward.

Let us help you build these connection points into your workplace.

Female business professional presenting to classroom of students.
Elementary students interacting with Raise the Bar staff and board members during BIG Shake.
High school students work on art project during Raise the Bar Career Expo at Fastsigns Findlay.
Teenage female student learning from two business professionals in work setting.
Male assembles automotive equipment.
Female teenager smiles at business professional in workplace setting.
Male student learning from adult educator while sitting at computer screen showing a spreadsheet.
Female and male apprentices work on manufacturing equipment.
Male working on manufacturing equipment.
Photo of sign saying the Hancock County Business Advisory Council received 3 stars in 2024.
High school students collaborate on project in school library.
High school student practices interviewing skills at table with two business professionals.

Where to Get Involved

    • Arcadia

    • Arlington

    • Cory-Rawson

    • Findlay City

    • Liberty-Benton

    • McComb

    • Riverdale

    • Van Buren

    • Vanlue

    • Millstream

      • Arcadia, Arlington, Cory-Rawson, Findlay City, Liberty-Benton, McComb, Riverdale, Van Buren, Vanlue, Carey, Miller-City, Ottawa Glandorf, Pandora Gilboa, Leipsic, Findlay Digital Academy

    • Apollo

      • Ada, Allen East, Bath, Bluffton, Columbus Grove, Elida, Hardin Northern, Perry, Shawnee, Spencerville, Wapakoneta

    • Penta

      • Anthony Wayne, Benton-Carroll-Salem, Bowling Green, Eastwood, Elmwood, Genoa, Lake, Maumee, North Baltimore, Northwood, Otsego, Perrysburg, Rossford, Springfield, Swanton, Woodmore

    • Vanguard-Sentinel

      • Clyde-Green Springs, Fremont St. Joseph, Hopewell-Loudon, Mohawk, Old Fort, Put-In-Bay, Seneca East, Tiffin-Columbian, Fremont Ross, Fostoria, Gibsonburg, Lakota, New Riegel, Port Clinton, Tiffin Calvert, Upper Sandusky

    • Vantage

      • Antwerp, Continental, Crestview, Delphos Jefferson, Delphos St. Johns, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Lincolnview, Ottoville, Parkway, Paulding, Van Wert, Wayne Trace

    • Four Corners

      • Archbold, Ayersville, Bryan, Central Local-Fairview, Defiance, Edgerton, Edon Northwest, Evergreen, Fayette, Hicksville, Holgate, Liberty Center, Millcreek-West Unity, Montpelier, Napoleon, North Central, Northeastern Tinora, Patrick Henry, Pettisville, Pike-Delta-York, Stryker, Wauseon

    • Toledo Public

    • Sylvania City

    • Oregon City

    • Washington Local

    • Lima City

    • Marion Technical College

    • Northwest Community College

    • Owens Community College

    • Rhodes State College

    • Terra State Community College

    • Bowling Green State University

    • The Ohio State University-Lima

    • University of Toledo

    • Bluffton University

    • Defiance College

    • Heidelberg University

    • Ohio Northern University

    • Tiffin University

    • University of Findlay

    • University of Northwestern Ohio

    • Hancock County Business Advisory Council

      • Arcadia Local Schools, Arlington Local Schools, Cory-Rawson Local Schools, Findlay City Schools, Liberty-Benton Local Schools, McComb Local Schools, Riverdale Local Schools, Van Buren Local Schools, Vanlue Local Schools, Findlay Digital Academy

    • North Central Ohio ESC

      • Fostoria City, Shelby City, Hopewell-Loudon Local Schools, Old Fort, Ontario, Mohawk Local Schools, Seneca East Local Schools, Carey, New Riegel, Buckeye Central Local Schools, Bucyrus City, Colonel Crawford Local Schools, Wynford Local Schools, Elgin Local Schools, Pleasant Local Schools, Ridgedale Local Schools , River Valley Local Schools, Tri-Rivers CC, Fremont City, North Central Academy, Tiffin City, Upper Sandusky, North Union Local Schools

    • Vanguard Sentinel BAC

      • Buckeye Central Local Schools, Calvert Catholic Schools, Carey Exempted Village Schools, Fostoria City Schools, Hopewell-Louden Schools, Mohawk Local Schools, New Riegel Local Schools, North Central Academy, Old Fort Local Schools, Ontario Local Schools, Seneca East Local Schools, Shelby City, Tiffin City, Upper Sandusky Exempted Village*, Vanguard-Sentinel CTC

    • Leipsic Local BAC

    • Kalida Local BAC

    • Ottoville Local BAC

    • Ottawa Glandorf BAC

    • Putnam County ESC

      • Columbus Grove Local Schools, Continental Local Schools, Fort Jennings Local Schools, Miller City-New Cleveland Local Schools, Pandora-Gilboa Local Schools; "voluntary" - Kalida Local Schools, Leipsic Local Schools, Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools, Ottoville Local Schools

    • Midwest Regional ESC

      • Ada Exempted Village, Kenton City, Hardin Northern Local, Upper Scioto Valley Local, Ridgemont Local

    • Van Wert City

      • Crestview Local Schools, Lincolnview Local Schools, Van Wert Local Schools, and Vantage Career Center

    • Western Buckeye ESC

      • Antwerp Local Schools, Wayne Trace Local Schools, Paulding Exempted Village Schools, Western Buckeye ESC

    • Northwest Ohio ESC

      • Archbold-Area Local Schools, Ayersville Local Schools, Bryan City,Central Local Schools , Defiance City, Edgerton Local Schools, Edon Northwest Local Schools, Evergreen Local Schools, Fayette Local Schools, Hicksville Exempted Village, Holgate Local Schools, Liberty Center Local Schools, Millcreek-West Unity Local Schools, Montpelier Exempted Village, Napoleon Area City, North Central Local Schools, Northeastern Local Schools, Patrick Henry Local Schools, Pettisville Local Schools, Pike Delta York Local Schools, Stryker Local Schools, Swanton Local Schools, Wauseon Exempted Village Schools

    • Anthony Wayne BAC

    • Perrysburg BAC

    • Springfield BAC

    • Wood County ESC

      • Bowling Green City Schools, Eastwood Local Schools, Lake Local Schools, North Baltimore Local Schools, Northwood Local Schools, Otsego Local Schools, Penta Career Center and Wood County ESC, Elmwood Local Schools

    • ESC of Lake Erie West

      • Anthony Wayne Local Schools (stand alone and part of LEW) Maumee City Schools, Ottawa Hills Local Schools, Rossford Schools, Sylvania City Schools(KB), Washington Local Schools

    • Toledo Public Schools