Robert Pearl Starks

Location: phoenix, arizona

About me

Robert Starks Jr. is a Performance Consultant for MaxKnowledge, Inc. Robert has 10 years of experience in higher education and has led teams responsible for career services and alumni relations programming, as well as community outreach and public relations initiatives. Robert was recognized for his leadership and exceptional results by Career Education Corporation (CEC) with the "Above and Beyond" award for developing his institution's first alumni relations program in its 32 year history. Under Robert's leadership, his former career services team was recognized with four consecutive Best Placement Practice Awards from the Arizona Private School Association (APSA) among its 56+ member schools in the state which contributed to his institution also being recognized as School of the Year by APSA in 2008 and 2012. Additionally, the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC) recognized Robert in 2013 with the Associate Member of the Year award.

Robert holds a Master of Science in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and a minor in Sociology. Robert currently serves on the board for the Arizona Private School Association. Robert is the former Director of Media & Technology and former Membership Chair for the Arizona Career Development Association (ACDA). Additionally, Robert is the founder and publisher of Careertipster.com and serves on the Arizona Program Committee of the national non-profit, Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Interests

social media, career development, training, higher education, web 2.0/3.0, career services, leadership, marketing

Skills

social media, marketing, training, consulting, management, strategic planning

Website

http://www.careertipster.com

Activity

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

The Placement Model

Hi Maria Rosario, In what ways does your institution develop soft skills in students as part of career preparation? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

The Placement Model

Hi Sharon, In what ways has your institution made changes to address the evolution in careers you mention and to adjust the ways students are prepared to enter the 21st century job market? Where is there still opportunity to make further changes? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Institution-Wide Participation

Hi Jason, Sounds like your team has a solid process. Is this a formalized process such as through a cross-functional committee, informal, or a combination? Can you elaborate on how you're able to manage and sustain your close internal communication and collaboration? What is working and what can be improved? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Challenges

Hi Robert, In what ways do you currently address your biggest challenge? How are you incorporating social media currently or how do you plan on doing so? Have you found anything you're doing to be particularly effective in developing closer relationships with your students? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Social Media Trends

Hi Robert, I have found that whereas many career services professionals use social media for data mining and skip tracing to help them track, document, and verify employment, not as many use social media as part of an integrated marketing strategy to increase career services participation and/or foster relationships sooner. What is your experience? How are you/will you be using these tools to help? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Enrollment Management and Graduate Employment Outcomes

Hi Lauren, Whereas a size of an institution can certainly lead to specialized functional areas leading to different "departments," the size of a school alone isn't typically the only variable that should determine the division of work. It is quite typical for schools to have individuals serve in different functional capacities such as an instructor who also helps graduates with employment (typically a "Career Services" function). What is pointed out in the course is the interdependence of all aspects of the student life cycle which is similar no matter school size. For students, there is an enrollment process, a program… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Blog

Colleges are Tested by Push to Prove Graduates' Career Success

Colleges, under increased pressure to justify the cost of education, are having a hard time getting proof of graduates' success in finding well-paying jobs. Melissa Korn reports on Lunch Break. Photo: Erica Gannett for The Wall Street Journal.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Community Partnerships

Hi Lauren, I love that you use video to develop a "library" of your guest speaking program. How do you use the video exactly? Do the videos get hosted on the school's server in a "Career Services" area of a website or the student portal? Do you have a YouTube channel and use social media to further promote these videos to students? I'd love to hear the process you have in place. Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Barriers to Employment and Intervention Strategies

Hi Lauren, I can share with you a few things that worked well for my team in the past. First, our staff met with students one-on-one starting, at the very least, 6 months prior to graduation. This was because we had a large population of students that required intensive case management services. During that time, one-on-one mock interviews were a heavy priority. Career services advisors would work with students repeatedly on interviewing making them as real as possible through a standard process we created. The repeated mock interviews not only allowed us to improve students' performance but gave advisors a… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Blog

Sector Spotlight Video Interview With Alex Tabarrok: Part Three

Editor Kevin Kuzma leads the third in a four-part series of interviews with Alex Tabarrok, associate professor of economics at George Mason University.

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