Student job status
In addition to finding out background informaltion about a student on the first day of class, I always try to find out if they have a job, what it is or if they are looking for a job. In today's economy it is good to know where they are in this area, and if I can be of any help based on my experience.
Hi Terri,
Thanks for sharing the examples about the positions that came from classroom networking. I spend some time with my classes talking to them about networking and the value that comes from having a well developed network system.
Gary
I also like to hear about student job experiences in the classroom as well. In many situations, it provides an interesting dynamic to later classroom discussions. Young students learn about various work environments and experienced students gain confidence in sharing their experiences. Also, several of my students have gained positions in their career field through classroom networking.
Keep up to date on job postings in your field. If you see a position description that relates to the obectives of the course, share it with your students. This is a concrete example of how the skills taught in the course are applicable to the real world.
Hi James,
You are providing some value added instruction when you show the students how to use networking. Many times students don't realize the importance of connections and networks when it comes to employment and promotion. Professional networks enable individuals to secure employment in situations where they would never have heard about the position if they had to rely on their efforts.
Gary
As part of the opening of a class we, my school, run through the standard administrative items but more importantly, we accomplish student/staff introductions.
This sets the tone to understand who is in the class, what experiences they bring with them, and where they currently work. This also sets the credibility standard for instructor and student. Furthermore it allows the students to identify where to seek information from the peer group and the instructor body.
The networking piece is a bonus as some of our students will work together or have worked with second or third party associates increasing the connectivity between the students.
I teach accounting, and many of my students already work in the field. They are often like guest speakers who can validate the relevance of the skills learned in the classroom.
Hi Kerri,
The majority of jobs are gotten though networking. The students need to know how powerful networks are and how they can develop their own professional network. This is a key part of their education.
Gary
In the technical field networking can be a students greatest assest. I think it's a great idea to find out the students current jobs. It also gives you an idea of where they are right now in their life and maybe an early idea of where they would like to go.
Hi Glen,
With the sharing of your experiences and offer of help you are adding another value to the class. That is a resource as they get ready to enter the field. Networking is a powerful tool to use when seeking a position and you are helping students with this tool.
Gary
