Dr. Susan Schulz

Interesting situation Dwayne. You can learn a lot about your school and make significant changes if you can determine how some students fall through the cracks. The solution might be as easy as making career services projects and assignments required. And in your staff training be sure that everyone on staff knows about your services and is encouraged to send students to you. An Alumni Community helps to stay in touch too. Susan

Sounds great Vicki. We believe that employment skills training should be required throughout the program and also should start at the time of admissions. Students enroll to be able to get a job. So they have to know that the school is doing everything possible to make that happen. Susan

We totally agree that placement services start as early as enrollment. People enter career schools to train for a job. That's their focus. So real important to show them all the services you offer to help them before, during, and after the job search. And then offer career training on day one. Thanks, Susan

Maybe this points to more involvement with the admissions staff. Perhaps career services needs to sit in the admissions department to be able to talk with every applicant and tell them first hand the kind of job search assistance they will get. Susan

That's what we think too. Students enroll to get a job. So teaching them job skills throughout their time at your school is a very effective way to do that. It takes a long time to build confidence. So starting at the beginning is a good idea. Thanks

That's a good start Mona. But in our opinion students need 10 to 20 tasks to complete to learning employment and job search skills. Even an entire course devoted to learning how to be effective and successful when searching for a job. We think the school should be very very active in offering career services. Not just when the student graduates. Thanks, Susan

Can you create a fuller plan? That will help you create goals, objectives, and tasks so that your team has consistent ways to approach past employers? Having someone out in the community is a must in our book. That means staying in constant touch with employer - past and present and future. Ask them lots of questions about how your grads are doing, what other training they need, job openings, and more. Susan

Hi Patricia - Actually we feel that placement services should be occurring throughout the student's experience. Starting from day 1 and yes, starting at time of enrollment. Yes, students need to see what is out there in the workplace And it is great that salon owners like students to visit. Everyone likes to have a part in a student's success. Interesting that students want jobs before graduation day. We think that is a great goal. Keeping the carrot (the job) in front of students definitely does impact on retention. Thanks, Susan

This is great Patricia - a model of the many assignments a student needs to complete to be ready for the job search process. What is great is that you give students the employer/employment prospective from many angles. Your grads and Alumni can probably assist. You might want to ask your Alumni to visit with your students and talk about their job search experiences and how they are advancing on the job. Alumni are a great resrouce to any school. My guess is you have thousands. Thanks, Susan