Placement Services works to deliver on the promise of education and career focused training. Guiding students to the goal of working within their career of choice is not only beneficial to students but makes an outstanding selling point for the admissions department. In our school, we work to bring all the departments on board by involving them in the work of helping students reach their career objectives.
Laura - You are definitely doing everything right. We like that fact that your management team understands the value of career services within a school. Hopefully they know the importance of community outreach as well - which is part of the placement department efforts. We hope that your department issues a newsletter of some sort to all your staff plus employers, students, and alumni. Which brings us to another important group in your school - alumni. A great source for new jobs, feedback, and students. Thanks for the input. Susan
We are fortunate that our management team considers Placement a very important department at our school. And we try to impact every other department. Certainly placement numbers and expectations affect the success of Admissions. We start interacting with students within their first two weeks of class and stress the partnership we have with the faculty for graduate evaluation and eventual placement. We emphasize how important grades, certifications and attendance will affect their job choices. We see the students in the classroom four times for instruction and always invite them to stop by anytime to ask questions or get help.
Very good Roland. Details about placement does belong in the admissions tour. Students do want to know exactly how the school assists them in preparing to find a job and for the job search. It's scary for them. So the more the admissions people can say about placement activities, the better. This is another reason why your career services department people need to talk to admissions on a regular basis. Thanks, Susan
when touring a prospective student our creditability is greatly enhanced when i can tell them we will assist you with finding employment,thank god i don't have to worry when a student asks "do offer placement assistence", there are schools that do not offer it.When we offer assistence it has a possitive impact on our school as a hole in specifiaclly when i talk to my students they a more possitive attitude toward there school work, noing we have the dept in place and waiting to assist them, we consider them a student untill they start work and not there graduate date.
Very good point, Walter. The smaller the school the more important the placement department. As you can see, we think placement is THE most important department in a school! The reality is that you have the ability to network in the community and get referrals for jobs and new students. If you do a good job your school will be seen as THE resource in your community. That's better than any paid advertisement or billboard! Thanks, Susan
You brought out a great point, Nora. Every department in a school does need to know what the other department is doing. Students expect answers from anyone they ask at a school and don't necessarily know that things are organized by departments. As for placement, that tells me that the placement department needs to issue weekly reports about services being offered, job openings, and graduate success. Get everyone at your school aware of your services and on your team! Thanks, Susan
Thanks, Nora. Yes, every department and person within your school needs to know what the placement department does. When instructors understand your role, for example, they will integrate more job information into their content to keep the student enthused about their career. When admissions reps have proven placement stats they have great information to share with leads who can make informed decisions about the career they want to train for. And of course the more success and satisfaction the student has, the more likely he or she will recommend your school and return for addtional training. Thanks,Susan
In order for a school to be successful, every department needs to meet, if not exceed their students & graduates expectations. We must communicate effectively, keep updated with other departments and be able to take feedback in order to make changes & improvements for our students and graduates.
Placement has a tremendous impact on enrollment because if our students and graduates are successful, they will be content with the services that were provided to them throughout their studies. And this is usually reflected when the current student or graduate refers a friend, co-worker or a family member to the school.
Placement services offered by any school is crucial and essential to all other departments. Sometimes it may appear as if departments do not have an effect on eachother and YES they do. We see this when prospect students ask..."What companies do your graduates woork for?" "What is the placement percentage rate?""will I have a job when I graduate?"
In realiity the success of graduates reflects not only the success of placement but also the success of the school and services that were offerd to them through out their studies.
When studnets & graduates are satisfied with a school's services we see this reflected through their continued referrals to the school.
I feel that with the Placement Dept. working directly with admissions, FA,and instructors, gives the department direct exposure, that in-turn gives the students drive to do well in what ever they are studying and get ready to for their externship which could and do turn into direct hire's.
We are a smaller school and have seen the greatest tool for enrollment is the placement of our grads. It helps with word of mouth between friends,family, and offices around the area. We get referrals from Doctors who have had grad as MA come back to take Ultrasound course's to expand the Dr's services offered at his office.
Good points, George. Many times students really don't know what they are doing in the career training they signed up for. If you have more than one program you might watch for the struggling student who belongs in a different trainng. Placement skills training, in our opinion, is an every day occurence. You have started a list of good tools to use. Yes, involve employers, grads, everyone to provide skills and information to the student about to enter the workforce - a scary thing for most. Thanks, Susan
Placement Services are a great responsibility of the school. We are here to guide our students towards a successful career, and we must take that seriously. Students really have no idea what they are doing, so with out our guidance, they will do just that, nothing. Through a successful placement dept, we will increase job placement, build relationships with current and new employers, build a reputation as an effective institution, inspire new prospects with the success of past students which should increase enrollment.
Hi Sally - You totally get it. Now you need to be sure that your school directors also understand the role of career services so you get the funding and support you need. As a member of the career services department it is also your job to put comprehensive services in place for students and to be sure that everyone on staff knows about them. Ideally students will be required to complete career services assignments. Employers will only know about your great grads and your placement department offerings if you contact them on a regular basis. Find out what they need in a work-ready employee. Follow up re their suggestions. Suggest changes that might be needed in curriculum. Provide information so admissions people can use your data to do their job. Best wishes, Susan
The Placement Department impacts the Admissions Department dramatically. If Placement is doing a good job, then students and potential students will see the results and be much more motivated. Potential students will want to attend your school due to the awesome placement assistance that they will receive! Employers will contact the school's placement department for referrals when they have an anticipated need for employees. Placement is a very important player in the overall success of the school.
HI Danielle, You have quite a challenge being in the placement department for just a week. Very good that you decided to take this course. Hopefully you'll see that setting up a career services department with lots of policies and procedures and offerings will take work. But will pay off in the long run. The department can sometimes run itself, with some clerical help, leaving you the time to connect with employers, network, be creative, and evaluate progress and publicize accomplishments. Be sure to use all the resources available to you. There are lots of great publishers - www.jist.com, for example. Best wishes, Susan
I currently began this position one week ago and I am still feeling my way around. But I would say that the Placement Department impacts other departments by raising awareness to our students. It let's them know that they are not out in left field on their own. Other departments can talk specifically about other students, who were placed in their field and how well they are doing.
Ways in which placement services impact enrollment would be reassurance. So many persons who want to go to school feel that if they go to school where will they find work. Or if they get a specific degree their chosen field may not be within their reach. We can impact enrollment by letting the studens know that we will assist them with part-time employment while working toward their degree and once they are ready to graduate we will do all that we can to help them in their new profession.
Yes, Miguel - we agree that the Placement Department is very important to the school and for student success and satisfaction. With the right offerings it is possible to build student confidence and overcome all the fears a student has about going to school and then seeking a job. Sometimes graduation is the scariest part of going to school if the student hasn't been prepared for the job search process. That's why we feel that career services should be offered and even required through the students school experience. Thanks, Susan
I didn't know what important is the Placement department, now I'm very satisfied because I know that Placement department is a very good job and is one important key in the student confidence and really offering and secure a position where students will stay and be able to advance on the job
Yes, Stephen. A placement department can positively impact on the entire school. It does take cooperative effort. The means meeting with the admissions people regularly to tell them about where grads work and giving them concrete information. It means talking to employers to be sure that grads are ready to work and have the needed skills and knowledge. We don't think the placement department should tell teachers how to teach. Rather it is important to tell the education department how the curriculum may need to be enhanced. Thanks, Susan
