Robert Pearl Starks

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

Activity

Hi Fernandel, Finding a student's employment status is typically the "low hanging fruit." Do you use other signals to modify your approach with students such as the examples discussed in the course? For instance, when I see signals of things that interest students such as their music preferences, or the things they've "liked" on Facebook, those have often been ways to engage students in conversation to simply open dialogue. Then, as you build rapport with "MIA" students and/or re-engage them, you strategically steer the conversation down the path that is your goal but don't open with "career conversation." Have you… >>>

Discussion Comment
Hi Viola, I like that you mention awards. Does your office have an awards program to recognize professionalism, communication skills, or other "soft skills?" I've seen more and more career services offices developing training programs to help students develop these professional skills. Adding an awards program could incentivize students and allow them to build more achievements for their resume. Do you do anything like this? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Kristine, What is it that you do to help your less experienced students understand how to convey their non-industry experience, or, transferable skills? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Fernandel, When you mine for data, how do you use that data in your communication strategies? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Viola, Do you find that these privacy concerns are of higher concern due to age of your typical student or some other unique demographic variable? Also, do you find that students who are interested in entrepreneurship also have privacy concerns or are they more inclined to promote themselves and/or their business in order to get business? Robert Starks Jr.

Relationships with friends and professors make or break a student’s college experience. That deceptively simple observation has big implications for making higher education better. In How College Works, Daniel F. Chambliss, a professor of sociology at Hamilton College, and Christopher G. Takacs, a former student at Hamilton and now a doctoral student at the University of Chicago, use evidence from a longitudinal study of Hamilton students to explore how the college experience unfolds, and what students and especially colleges might do differently.

The Chronicle of Higher Education sat down with Mr. Chambliss earlier this year to learn more about the… >>>

Hi Joyah, Glad to have you in the course. I love the idea of using trivia questions to engage students. In what ways are you hoping to transform the increased contact into meeting department objectives? Robert Starks Jr.

Integrating technology into the classroom is all about letting the students guide you instead of the other way around. Put technology tools in the hands of the students and ask, “What would you do with this?” They might come up with ideas you’ve never thought about. In this short video, Mark Valenti CTS, President and CEO of The Sextant Group, discusses the 4 Cs that help teachers integrate technology into the classroom: Create, Consume, Collaborate and Communicate.


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Discussion Comment
Hi Viola, I agree. Working with young students who are inexperienced both in work and in marketing themselves can be a challenge. Perhaps the biggest challenge is that we must teach them so much in a short amount of time while competing for their attention among so many other things during college. A combination of workshops, one-on-one appointments, classroom presentations, etc. helps tremendously in ensuring career marketing skills are addressed and that students get feedback while building confidence. Robert Starks Jr.

Hi Vanessa, I hear what you are saying and I personally think that it may be a simple matter of practicality. In other words, do you even have time to train students to do video resumes given there are so many other things to teach them and help them with that have greater priority? I know the reality is that it can often take quite a bit of time to work on resumes, cover letters, and other traditional marketing collateral let alone online profiles and video resumes. One must prioritize. However, there are many benefits to video resumes that have… >>>

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