For Students

Inspire WI is here to help you explore careers, meet professionals, and get real-world experience, so you're ready for what's next after high school.

Explore Upcoming Events

Explore Career Pathways

Upcoming Career Events

From company tours and career fairs to workshops and hands-on experiences, our events are designed to help you explore careers in real-time.

Check out what's happening soon and sign up to get involved!

Explore Upcoming Event's

Don't see any event you are interested in?

Let us know what you are looking for!

Complete Our Student Interest Form

What Are Your Next Steps?

Whether you're just starting to explore careers or already have a path in mind, Inspire WI helps you take real steps toward your future. Use the guide below to explore, connect, and prepare for what’s next, whether it’s a Youth Apprenticeship, college, or your first job.

Step 1

Discover Your Future

Start your journey with our Career Pathways. Explore industries, uncover different types of jobs, and see which ones spark your interest.

Step 2

Get Inside the Action

Go beyond reading about careers, experience them! Join Inspire WI events to meet professionals, ask questions, and see firsthand what a day in their work world looks like. These experiences help you decide where you want to go next.

Step 3

Take Action with Capstone Experiences

You’ve explored. You’ve prepared. Now it’s time to go all in. Request a Job Shadow to spend part of the day in your chosen career and confirm it’s the right fit. Or complete a Youth Apprenticeship interest application to work in the field during your junior or senior year.

Career Pathways

Youth Apprenticeships

What to Know About Events

Attending an Inspire WI event is more than just showing up, it’s about being prepared, engaged, and responsible. The guidelines below explain how to register, verify attendance with your school, and represent yourself and your school professionally.

Event Registration

Students must register in advance and attend approved Inspire WI events to receive credit and documentation.

Attendance Forms

Students will receive an official attendance form at each event to return to their school for verification.

Student Engagement

Students are expected to actively participate, ask questions, and interact respectfully with business professionals during events.

Requesting a
Job Shadow

A job shadow is your chance to step into the real world of work and see what a career is really like. You’ll spend time with a professional, ask questions, and observe what they do day to day. This experience can help you figure out if a career path is the right fit for you.

Why It’s a Capstone Experience

Job shadows are considered a capstone experience, meaning they are designed for students who have already shown career readiness through earlier Inspire WI activities. Think of it as the “final step” in exploring a career: you’ve done the preparation, now you get to see it in action.

Who Can Participate

Job shadows are available to students who have:

Completed Inspire WI activities (like events, tours, or career chats).
Demonstrated professionalism and readiness.

What You’ll Do

Request a Job Shadow: Fill out the form on our Career Pathway page.
Get Consent: A parent or guardian must sign off.
Be Prepared: Placement is based on your readiness and professionalism represented in your application.
Show Up Ready to Learn: Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and bring thoughtful questions.

Explore Career Pathway's

My experience was very informative and gave me great information on my possible future YA job.

Freedom High School Student, Smith Pharmacy Showcase Tour

Today was very insightful! My eyes were widely opened to various different types of law. This event has allowed me to put my foot in the door for my future opportunities. The event reassured my interest surrounding around child law!

Mayville High School Student, Dodge County Law Day

I have attended many different events through Inspire the last couple of years. These events have helped me figure out what career path to go down. I am very glad Inspire Wisconsin is able to offer such a great opportunity for high school students!

Neenah High School Student, Behind the Build with Lunda Construction and Road America

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Frequently Asked Questions

: Inspire WI connects students like you with real-world career experiences. We partner with schools and local businesses to offer tours, events, and career exploration tools that help you discover what’s possible after high school.
: You can visit our Events page! Visit this page to explore events that you are interested in, and register today!
: You can view the full event calendar on our Events page. We update it regularly with tours, industry immersions, virtual events, and more.
: Most Inspire WI events do not include transportation. Check with your teacher or counselor to confirm how your school is handling transportation for a specific event.
: Yes! Students can attend Inspire WI events during the school day with school approval. At each event, you’ll receive a name badge when you arrive. At the end of the session, you’ll complete a reflection, submit an event evaluation, and receive a “Back to School” document to verify your attendance. Some schools may have additional requirements, so be sure to check your school’s attendance policy ahead of time.
: Check both the event registration page and your confirmation email you’ll receive after registering. Most events include a recommended dress code in those materials, just follow the guidance to dress appropriately for the occasion.
: Yes! Inspire WI encourages students to attend with a friend who shares similar interests. Exploring careers together can make the experience more fun and meaningful—and having someone to reflect with afterward can help you make even better decisions about your future.
: We love hearing from students! If you have an idea for an event or a career topic you’d like us to explore, talk to an Inspire WI consultant at one of our events or ask your school to reach out on your behalf. We’re always open to new ideas and do our best to bring opportunities that reflect what students want to learn about.
: While Inspire WI doesn’t directly organize full campus or program tours, we do have strong connections with colleges, apprenticeship programs, and military recruiters. These options are often highlighted at our events, and students are encouraged to speak with an Inspire WI consultant while attending. We’re always happy to help connect you with the right contacts to take the next step.
: Visit the Career Pathways page, and explore the pathway that you are interested in. From there, you can request an individual Job Shadow from our partners. If you are looking for more, talk to your school counselor, teacher, or career coach, they can help you fill out a request form or contact the Inspire WI team directly.
: We usually respond within 3–5 school days. If your request involves setting up a special experience like a job shadow or mock interview, it may take a bit longer to coordinate with local businesses.
: Yes! We share local part-time, and summer job opportunities on our website and through our school partners. Ask your school counselor how to access these listings.

If you are looking for a Youth Apprenticeship position, you can visit that website by clicking the link below.

YA Wisconsin
: The Virtual Career Library is an online collection of short videos, career profiles, and resources from real professionals in Wisconsin. It’s a great way to explore different industries and jobs, anytime, from anywhere.
: Wonderful! Please go to our Stay Connected tab, and let us know!

Student Resources

Explore helpful links, tools, and tips to make the most of your Inspire WI experience, from career exploration to event prep and everything in between.