Dr. Susan Schulz

Jeanette, You are right - alumni impact so many areas of the school. They can refer friends, family, and co workers and therefore increase enrollment. They can help students and instructors in class and increase retention. They can tell you about job openings and new training needed. MaxK offers a course on developing return on investment from Alumni. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Jeanette, Good points Jeanette. There probably is a lot to learn from the retail side of the career sector. Very important is customer service. It's the basic rule of building a business. In this case it is a focus on student success and satisfaction. Sometimes urgency has to be tempered when dealing with student enrollment. Sometimes a prospective student has to enroll when the time is right for them. Pushing enrollment when the individual isn't ready or has problems in their lives won't work and will result in student drop out. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Jodi, We agree. We also see the benefit of ongoing engagement and even required workshops or courses in employment search skills. Students enroll to get jobs but have little training to make that happen. In addition to skills, students also need confidence. That takes a while to build. We think that discussions about the job search process should be going on every day and in any way possible. This means in class too. Alumni can help with working with students on resume building, mock interviews, and just getting rid of the nervousness. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Loni, These are great ways to get employer names and reach out to them. We feel there should be one person assigned Community Outreach. They should be out in the community all day calling on employers, prospective employers, and networking with community organizations. They goal is for everyone to see your school as THE placement for training and staffing. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Ronda, So true Ronda. Very important to network with community organizations like local Chambers. There are also the professional organizations related to your training. All these are a source for referrals and contacts to get feedback on your training. Good point about employers who allow their staff time to train. These employers might offer tuition benefits so they are great sources for other students. Communication with all employers is so important. You can get feedback about your training and also be the first to learn about new training needs. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Loni, Job shadowing or volunteering, apprenticeships, or other ways to get work experience is always great. Job shadowing takes someone to shadow! That is why it is important to stay in touch with Alumni. They can help. Volunteering or externship type experiences give students the opportunity to gain resume-worthy experience. Often students are hired from the externship site. Great ideas. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Stephan , Great idea Steve. This gets students used to learning about the job opportunities in their area or wherever they want to work. You may have students who go to your school but intend to work elsewhere. It sounds like you are giving them the job search skills to apply anywhere. You are also helping them look at the job opportunities and evaluate the type of business they want to work for. Is it a large company or small? Or a department within another organization. Very good idea. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Loni, Very true, Loni. The reality is students want jobs and that's what they want to hear about when they interview. That is why many career schools now place Career Services staff right with their admissions staff. It makes it easy to bring in someone from Placement to talk about jobs, what services are provided, where grads are working, and the process. Often student success stories are what help to sell the student on attending your school. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz

Stephan , Great. We feel that talking about the job starts in admissions and continues throughout the students' experiences at school. It is easy to do that when teaching technical courses like HVAC. Instructors can constantly talk about their on-the-job experiences when presenting each new skill in class. It makes the workplace real and the transition from school to the job easier. Thanks, Susan Dr. Susan Schulz