Partner with CareerConnect

• Students in grades 6 – 10 hear live from professionals in a Chat and/or Challenge format
• Chat: Professionals discuss their careers, their company and their industry. These fun live chats are caught on video to reach as many students as possible.
• Challenge: Companies engage students in a real-life industry challenge, such as designing a web page for a department or developing a marketing plan for a new product. Students submit their solutions by deadline and companies select the winning student or team of students.

• Students get a first glimpse into a career field and connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real-world careers during a workplace visit that includes hands-on activities.
• Typically for high school freshmen but other grades may also participate

For companies

• Time Commitment: Xplore workplace events typically last three to four hours. We recommend a one-hour planning session with our staff and a job shadow rehearsal, typically one to two hours, prior to the event. We also ask that you host a minimum of two to three job shadows during the school year.
• Average Student Age: 14-15 years old
• Average Number of Students: 14-28
• Financial Commitment: None, we provide transportation and chaperones.

• Students meet one-on-one with someone from the industry they’re interested in and, over the course of a school year, they map out a potential academic and career plan
• Typically for high school sophomores but other grades may participate

For companies

• Time Commitment: Mentoring requires four hours per month during the school year (24 hours total), including two in-school visits by corporate volunteers and one worksite visit by students each month. Prior to mentoring, we recommend a one-hour planning session with our staff and a two-hour orientation session for mentors.
• Average Student Age: 15-16 years old
• Average Number of Students: 10-16 students
• Financial Commitment: None, we provide transportation and chaperones as needed.

• Students gain first-hand experience in an industry aligned to their coursework and develop skills to succeed in the world of work
• Typically for high school juniors and seniors but other grades may participate

For companies

• Time Commitment: Internships are 100-120 hours and occur in the fall semester, spring semester or during the summer
• Average Student Age: 16-17 years old
• Average Number of Students: Company chooses how many interns to host
• Financial Commitment: $900-$1,100 per student

• Provides an immersive multi-year experience in which students work for a company while attending school. Apprentices continue to take both high school and college classes during the week, while getting paid to work for one of our company partners.
• As students progress in each year of their apprenticeship, they take on more hours at their job and more classes on their college campus. Most apprenticeships are three years while others last two to four years.
• Offered in six high-growth fields: Advanced Manufacturing, Business Operations, Information Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services and Education.
• Students must fill out an application and typically begin the program while high school juniors. This means the program typically continues past graduation, during which time the student completes a year of postsecondary education.
• Leading up to the first post-high school year, apprentices are supported with strong academic and career advising and encouraged to continue their education in parallel with their apprenticeship to reach their goals. In some cases, employers provide tuition reimbursement for college coursework.

For companies

Time Commitment: Students work about 24 hours per week in your company for two to four years; the typical apprenticeship lasts three years. DPS CareerConnect staff provide support for the student and company partner throughout the apprenticeship.
Average Student Age: 17-20 years old
Average Number of Students: Company chooses how many apprentices to host
Financial Commitment: Varies but typically about $3,000 per student per year