This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Development Foundation is bringing conference-style networking and recruitment to five regional high schools through a series of Talent Draft Day events. The goal is to connect tomorrow's workforce to the business community.

Why it matters

  • The goal of Talent Draft Day is two-fold: connect employers with potential future hires, and expose high schoolers to the wide variety of industries they can enter when they join the workforce.
  • The Sioux Falls Development Foundation started the event in 2018, but for the first time this year, they're bringing the event directly to the schools. Juniors and seniors will all participate at all four public Sioux Falls high schools, as well as Brandon Valley High School.
  • Students will be able to network with 50 colleges and as many as 100 businesses during the events, and they'll also have a chance to attend workshops to hone skills like writing a cover letter and being smart on social media.
    • And businesses will get a chance to connect with students who may become interns and, ultimately, employees.
"Every time you get the opportunity to spend time with high school students, you realize the talent that's here," said Denise Guzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Foundation.

Tell me more

The events are designed to expose students to a wide variety of industries. Guzzetta noted the vast majority of people won't apply for a job unless they have some type of connection to a business.

  • Talent Draft Day helps facilitate those connections.

The Talent Draft Day events are also a way to help employers start building relationships with future employees, as well as helping find talent that aligns with the company's culture and values.

"It's really about getting the right person that's going to be immersed in the team, that has your values, cares about the cause – that is all transcending throughout the day," Guzzetta said.

How can I sign my business up?

There are five events in total, each of which will be four hours long, and there's still space for a few more employers to join.

The events will take place on the following dates (registration information linked below):

All juniors and seniors at each school will be participating – meaning businesses will connect with as many as 1,000 kids per event.