I am fairly new to the organization and although the Placement Department is just getting off of the ground, it is obvious that all other Departments have played an active roll in assisting the students with placement. I am looking forward to strengthening the links between the departments and Placement. It seems our new enrollments have the closest bond with the Admissions team therefore developing tools that Admissions can utilize during recruitment will be a huge benefit. I believe a well organized and implemented Placement Department increases retention which benefits the entire organization.
Very well said Varsha. What do you think it would look like if the placement department sat next to or in the same area as the admissions people. The fact is that potential students mostly want to know about jobs. That is why they are enrolling. The career services people are essential to success. So why not have them meet up right away. Susan
The placement department at our school is extremely important in gaining enrollments. We need to provide job placement statistics to potential students and as we are working towards accreditation, this is not only pertinent to have but required. One of the items that our Admissions Representative covers in the enrollment process is the job placement statistics and various careers and salaries within the industry we are training for. This information alone has a direct impact on whether or not the student will enroll.
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
Career Services has a huge impact on enrollments since that it one of their top questions which is "What types of opportunities will Career Service have for me?" I get this all the time from our Admissions Staff.
The Placement Department, or who we call Career Services now, is a very important department in our school, but it also impacts some of our other departments.
It impacts our admissions department because many of our students are referal based, and if they are getting referals because our students are getting placed in big named hospitals, it defintiely makes it easier for our admissions department to enroll new students when we can show we are placing students in good locations after graduation.
Our operations team is impacted because we have to ensure we are meeting the state minimum of % of students being placed. If we are doing a great job with placement, this is just one mroe area we will not need to worry about as much.
We also believe that. There are many ways placement impacts on enrollment. When you reach out to employers and potential employers for jobs you also have the opportunity to see if those companies have training needs for their employees. There's a huge source for students among working people. And many times the company will pay for the employee's tuition. Thanks, Susan
Great strategies Patricia. We know of a school that has the placement and admissions people sit in the same office and new students are definitely part of the tour! And you are right - everyone on staff Must be placement and career services oriented. That's why people enroll - to get a job and to prepare for being successful in the job market. For that reason you are right that employment skills training Must start long before graduation day. We think there should be a career services course for every semester or term the student is enrolled. The focus on grads is very important. That's why more career schools are setting up alumni communities. Grads are a huge resource for enrollment, retention assistance, and of course jobs. Thanks, Susan
THE IMPACT OF PLACEMENT SERVICES
I believe that placement impacts every department in the school.
Admissions: The Placement Dept. should be part of the tour when prospective students are checking out schools. The prospective student will want to ask the placement person questions about the placement process, what jobs are available. Where they have placed their graduates, etc...
Education benefits from a great placement dept. since the students are more serious and motivated in hopes of landing a great job! Retention improves with these motivated and inspired students.
Placement begins in Admissions, continues throughout the entire course. All of the staff should be trained to encourage the students to be gainfully employed.
We hold "Graduate Orientations" prior to a student completing their hours. Career fairs are well accepted and they are opportunities for the students to meet with prospective employers while still attending school. In addition, the employers truly enjoy meeting the students and the whole process improves industry relations.
Also, working graduates (for the most part), pay back their student loans and the schools default rate should improve.
Great placement Services make for great schools!
Thanks,
Patricia Johnston
Hi Susan,
I believe that placement impacts every department in the school.
Admissions: The Placement Dept. should be part of the tour when a prospective students are checking out schools. The prospective student will want to ask the placement person questions about the placement process, what jobs are available. Where they have placed their graduates, etc...
Education benefits from a great placement dept. since the students are more serious and motivated in hopes of landing a great job! Retention improves with these motivated and inspired students.
Placement begins in Admissions, continues throughout the entire course. All of the staff should be trained to encourage the students to be gainfully employed.
We hold "Graduate Orientations" prior to a student completing their hours. Career fairs are well accepted and they are opportunities for the students to meet with prospective employers while still attending school. In addition, the employers truly enjoy meeting the students and the whole process improves industry relations.
Also, working graduates (for the most part), pay back their student loans and the schools default rate should improve.
Great placement Services make for great schools!
Thanks,
Patricia
In my opinion the placement department would impact the most in the admission department, because if you offer a good service people would not hesitate in recommend the school to others
We also agree that placement needs to stay in close touch with the admissions department. In fact, we believe that the placement and admissions departments should be together. Students enroll in order to work. They really don't care a lot about the program. It's all about where they will work. So the more information they get during the enrollment process the more likely they will enroll and stay through graduation. This is where alumni can help by talking to people considering enrolling in your school. Thanks, Susan
i believe placement dept. has a huge impact specially in the admission dept. as a matter of fact, i have been called a lot of times to explain my duties in the dept and the sucess we have getting graduates into jobs.
This is great Carey. Are you keeping track of the exact numbers of enrollments, retention, and placement? It's always effective when you have great stats behind what you say. It helps when asking for an increase in your budget! We think it is essential to keep in touch with grads. In fact, many schools are putting in Alumni Associations and inducting grads right on graduation day. When you stay in touch with alumni you have new sources of referrals, help in the classroom and with career services, and you can ask them about job openings where they work. Thanks, Susan
The Placement Department impacts our Admissions Department directly with future students/enrollments based on our success/placement percentage. Our Student Services Department is also affected by the success of our Placement Department as our current students are generating ideas and getting excited about working in the industry. They are constantly networking with our graduates too. With a high placement percentage, our enrollments are increased as it provides confidence in our future students, that they will be working in the industry and we are here to assist and support them.
HI Joyce, Very well said. We share the view that placement starts during the admissions process. Students need to know that class work and work with the career services department are equally important. The entire school has to share the responsibility of helping the student/grad get a job. Each has to ask - what am I doing to give the person skills, confidence, and the ability to go through the job search process. Keeping in contact with grads after graduation can be made easier with an Alumni Association. Something to consider. Thanks, Susan
I want to emphasize the inportance of being a "team player" in regards to job placement. It starts the minute the potential student walks in the door - before they even talk to anyone in admissions. First impressions say it all! Everyone should be involved in placement services! It isn't just one persons responsibility to help the student be successful, it is everyones, including the student. I go into the classrooms during Career Development training and get to know the students by actively teaching them about resume writing and interviewing techniques, etc. The sooner they get to know who I am and what I can do for them the more likely they are to keep in contact with me after graduation...which seems to be the hardest part of placement.
Hi Shalondra - Sounds like you are doing an amazing job given that you just started. Great going! There are many solutions to getting through a gatekeeper. (And that is a common problem in any job.) One is to contact your grads and ask them to tell you who the hiring manager is and even make an introduction to you. Another is to get out into the community so you can meet people face-to-face. Another is to contact your grads for as far back as you can. If you set up an Alumni Association you'll have lots of things to offer these grads to get their attention. And so they can tell you what is happening where they work. When a grad is placed ask permission to contact the hiring person to build a relationship and find out what the grad is doing and what additional training might be needed. And on and on. It is like planting seeds. You have to know where and what to plant and the best places for good growth. You are on a great start. Thanks, Susan
I am a newly placed Placement Coordinator. Our president felt I had the disposition so after my class, I work on placement. Right now I'm familiarizing myself with the protocols. Currently, I have made some good contacts but have not had any placement. I was given this position in December 2010. What I am currently doing is putting together a packet that I can introduce myself with. The main problem that I am facing is getting past the gatekeeper to speak with the hiring manager because everyone seems to think their position is in jeopardy.
Thanks Shalondra. This is exactly our thinking. People enroll in school to get jobs and lots of documented placement information is going to get their attention. That almost says that the entire school should be focused on career services, doesn't it? That's our point of view. Show me great placement stats and you will see word of mouth referrals, great and required career services activities, satisfied students, great community reputation and lots more. Can you give us the details about how you are running your department and what you measure? Thanks, Susan
