If you’re struggling to attract early talent to your industry, you’re not alone. Many employers report rising job vacancies and declining applicant pools, especially in specialized STEM fields. But the problem isn’t just with students. It’s also with exposure.
Let’s unpack five common reasons students aren’t choosing your field and what you can do about it.
1. They don’t know your field exists.
Research consistently shows that most K–12 students can only name a handful of careers — usually around 10–15, and most of them are the familiar ones like “doctor,” “teacher,” or “engineer.” If your industry isn’t in that short list, it’s simply not on their radar.
Students need to be shown the full spectrum of opportunities — including emerging fields like renewable energy, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, or biotech — because they won’t naturally discover them on their own.
✅ Solution: Bring your industry into the classroom with ready-to-use lesson plans aligned to standards, company stories, day-in-the-life videos, and hands-on activities that mirror real-world work. Partnering with an education solutions company like WhyMaker ensures that the content is not only accurate but also accessible and easy for teachers to implement without extra burden.
2. Their teachers don’t know either.
Educators are hard-working and dedicated, but they’re not career counselors. Unless they’ve worked in your field, they may not even know your industry exists — or what pathways lead into it.
✅ Solution: Support teachers with briefings, ready-to-use lesson plans, and professional development sessions. For example, a lesson plan might include a slide deck introducing industry basics, your company’s mission and story, a student activity that simulates real tasks, and a comprehensive teacher guide. Professional development gives educators a chance to learn directly from industry experts, ask questions, and build confidence in bringing that content into their classrooms.
3. The career path seems too abstract.
Even when students have heard of your industry, they might not understand what the different job opportunities are.. Are there careers that require a four-year degree? A two-year technical program? Certifications? Jobs available straight out of high school? If that roadmap isn’t clear, they’re unlikely to explore it.
✅ Solution: Provide transparent pathways into your field:
- Share job examples and career ladders.
- Highlight training or degree options, including CTE programs and apprenticeships.
- Offer entry-level experiences such as internships, summer jobs, or mentorship programs.
When companies partner with WhyMaker, we help inspire students and make abstract career paths feel tangible.
4. They don’t see themselves represented.
Representation matters. If students don’t see people who look like them thriving in your field, they may unconsciously assume “this career isn’t for me.”
✅ Solution: Expand outreach beyond brochures. Share diverse employee stories, but also create community-based STEM activities where kids and families can experience your industry firsthand. Host community events that include hands-on STEM activities, or partner with nonprofits to reach underrepresented groups.
For example, WhyMaker partnered with NYPA to develop curriculum with hands-on activities for teachers throughout NYS to use in classrooms or after-school programs. Topics included: Energy Efficiency, Zero Emission Vehicles, Offshore Wind, and Electricity Bascis. The curriculum directly supports NYPA’s Environmental Justice initiatives. The outcome was lessons actively educating students on these topics, careers in the industry, and NYPA’s mission.
5. They’ve never done the kind of work you do.
STEM is more than just coding and math equations. It’s teamwork, creativity, systems thinking, and solving real-world problems. If students never experience those skills early on, they may wrongly assume they’re “not good at STEM.”
✅ Solution: Create project-based learning experiences that mirror the real challenges in your industry. WhyMaker can help turn your work into accessible standards-aligned classroom lessons so students can practice the same skills your employees use — whether that’s building, testing, designing, or analyzing.
Students want to find meaningful, exciting careers. They just need the exposure, access, and confidence to see your field as one of them. Let’s help them get there.
🚀 Partner with WhyMaker to bring your industry to life in classrooms through standards-aligned lessons, hands-on STEM experiences, and community engagement programs — so tomorrow’s workforce can discover their future today.
