Sheri Leach

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Manuel, A strong relationship between a school and their alumni is absolutely crucial. What opportunities does this provide for a career services department? Sheri Leach

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Barriers to Employment and Intervention Strategies

Manuel, Establishing a relationship early on with the students is one of the key factors to their employment success. It allows time for you to earn the trust of the students so that they will be more receptive to any soft skills and career advice you may offer. Getting to know the students early in their lifecycle provides you the opportunity to give advice and have take the time to process the messages that you are giving them. Sheri Leach

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Barriers to Employment and Intervention Strategies

Manuel, You have noted several very real barriers for our students. Our students have more opportunities to be successful when our institutions recognize and address these barriers. How do you identify which students have barriers and when does that occur? Sheri Leach

Sheri Leach CHEP

Blog Comment

Career College is a Path to Job Placement and a Better Life

People don't care what you know until they know that you care. It is no different for our students. If they trust that you value them as people, and believe in what you are doing they will take your advice and counsel. We, as career college professionals, always have to remain genuine and caring. That is not to say that we can't deliver some hard facts to our students when needed. This will translate to successful students and successful outcomes.

Sheri Leach CHEP

Blog Comment

Time Management

I find that using Microsoft Outlook calendar (or similar electronic notification/reminder system) to schedule tasks and to use as a reminder tool is very helpful. By doing this, I am not only able to keep track of things that need to be done and appointments that I have, it provides peace of mind that I won't forget something.

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Event Programming

Lazara, most students learn by doing. A great best practice is to conduct mock interviews and host a dress for success day. Can you think of another event that would help teach job skills?

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Event Programming

Vivian, student - employer interaction can be a powerful learning experience. Not only will students gain real world perspective from their conversations, they will gain confidence and not feel as intimidated when speaking to an employer during an interview. Have you organized or participated in an event that produced these results?

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Event Programming

Chasminh, job skill competition events not only benefit the participants, but other students on campus can learn as well. Keep everyone on campus informed of events and timelines, invite non-participating students to be spectators or judges. This will help raise the awareness of the career center and may help other students feel more comfortable with the advisors. Can you think of any other benefits?

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Targeting Intervention Strategies

Vivian, it is generally the ones that do not seek our assistance that would benefit the most. Think about how to implement a total campus wide strategy to identify when an intervention may be appropriate. Think about how to form partnerships between those responsible for job placement and others on campus. The instructors spend the most time with the students, can you think of ways to partner with them regarding intervention strategies?

Sheri Leach CHEP

Discussion Comment

Targeting Intervention Strategies

Chasminh, I think you are in the enviable position of having the framework to meet with your students as you describe. For those institutions who are trying to work out their structure, can you shed light on a few things: at what point in the student's life cycle and at what intervals do you meet with them? Do you find that meetings at certain times are more effective than others?