Rocio,
Sounds great. A true brainstorming session generates a lot of ideas. Suggest you create an open environment where every idea is treated with enthusiasm. It usually encourages more ideas. Let us know your innovations. Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Next week we are going to have a brainstorming session and discuss how can we work together and what materials do we need to develop. Thank your feedback.
Rocio,
Great idea to have placement and admissions work together. Prospective students want to know about the jobs they will get. Why not have Career Services involved during the interview process? In fact, we know schools who combine career services with admissions in the same office. It works. Placement activities and results gets a lot of attention from prospective students. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Rocio,
Great. We agree that great placement rates say a lot about the institution. It sounds like you spend a lot of time on Community Outreach in a variety of ways. We think Community Outreach is essential for a school. Your placement department is doing a great job by working with students from the beginning. You are right that working with students on employment and job search skills improves retention. Career services should definitely be involved with the admissions department. Prospective students think mostly about the job they can get. It seems you have figured a lot out for new school. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Hi Eric, I agree with you. That's what our College is trying to do... team up both departments. Although it seems obvious, it's not all the time. This is a weak point in my institution and I'm learning a lot and taking good ideas with this course. Thank you!
The main impact I think is on the Admissions Department and also on the Academic Department. We are a new college, offering a "boutique" training experience. That combined with good placement rates are giving us a good image for the possible students.
We are growing as an institution that helps the community and also some government programs that specializes on vocational rehabilitation. We help our students to improve their skills, start a new career and/or get back to the working-force market. Our placement department, from the beginning identifies the strengths and weakness of our students (we have a small number of students, we are a boutique college), and we develop many different activities for them.
The initial result is good so far, we have increase our placement and retention rate. Also, we are teaming up with the Admission department so we can develop a small brochure with placement, job and salary rates of the field that help them to attract more students. I think, we need to work harder on this matter. Both areas can and will gain a lot if we work as a team.
Michelle,
We totally agree. Career services that are comprehensive and start from the time of the admissions interview and continue past graduation truly serve the student. The benefit is increased enrollment, retention, and placement. Another benefit is connecting with the community so your school is seen as THE source for training and work ready grads. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Placement Services has an interoperability which dynamically affects all aspects of campus activities ranging from Academics to Student Services.
Programs as measured by pass rates, attendance, retention, and placement. Successful placement rates drive enrollment, and in turn, gives hope to pending graduates.
Michelle,
Yes, we agree that employment and job search skills have to be offered early and persistently throughout the students tenure at the school. The results are higher placement rates, job success, and great relationships with the community including employers. Other results are increased enrollments, qualified enrollments, and retention. Thanks for reminding us of this. Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The impact of Placement Services is multi-fold. Building a rapport with each student individually at the onset of education is paramount.
Has anyone experienced higher placement rates, and improved graduate reporting of employment, due to early involvement of Placement Services in the students' educational processes?
Ivania,
Great to hear that. Yes, admissions departments should feel the benefit of great placement stats. If you keep them up dated admissions staff can speak knowledgeably about jobs grads can get. Placement can be experienced in the classroom so students get experience about what it is like on the job. It means that instructors have to focus on how skills and knowledge are used in the workplace. Every employee has to be trained on how to talk about the workplace. In this way new grads will feel comfortable transitioning to the world of work. It sounds like you are doing everything right so that your community, including employers, see your institution as THE place for training and for work-ready grads. Great job. Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The impact that Placement Services has had in our school is significant. We have been able to supply our Admission’s Department with information and tools that they are able to provide to new/potential students in order to aid them in making an informed and therefore the best decision regarding their career. This has assisted our faculty in that the students we do send to them truly want to be in that classroom to learn that specific subject matter and work within that field.
I’ve also seen a vast improvement in our current student’s over all demeanor. They are more hopeful and self confident. They believe that they can truly become professionals and gain better employment opportunities that will in turn enhance their personal lives as well. I’ve seen a development in their attendance and their grades. They seem more focused and eager to learn when in class. They have verbally expressed to the school how grateful they are for this department and our services. This has caused our students to recommend our school to their friends and families and we’re therefore getting more and more enrollees coming in.
One of the best things that have come out of this is that I’ve already started receiving phone calls from local businesses regarding recommending some of our students for current job openings. This is fantastic as it not only helps our institution, but the students and the community as a whole.
Susan,
Very good points. We think the goal of every new student is mostly on employment. That's why we believe that career services must be offered hand-in-hand with the course training. Great idea to create a networking environment within the school. Creating an environment where students view faculty, staff, and each other as a valuable network is great for when they leave school and enter the work force. An Alumni Community will keep that going. MaxKnowledge offers a course to set up and run effective Alumni programs. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The Placement Department in schools are important because of the positive impact they have on faculty, staff, and most importantly students. Each student enrolls with an end goal in mind, one of which is employment. When a school provides services to assist students in realizing this goal and provide steps to achieve the goal it injects motivation not just for the student, but in the people involved in helping the student along the way. The Placement Department should be present and involved with students from the beginning. This helps to boost retention and contribute to individual student success. It also is the first exposure students have to a professional network which build lifelong skills.
SHIKIRA,
Great that you meet regularly re retention and placement. You are right that documented employment information is very valuable to the admissions department. Instructors can be guided to focus on knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. You also point out the need for all faculty and staff to work as a Team on behalf of each student. Placement definitely impacts on all areas of the school. All employees need to understand their roles. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The placement department contributes many specific and positive impacts on other departments at my place of work. Currently, we gather and meet to discuss the retention and the employment rate of the students. The satisfactory rates encourage the admissions department to real in additional potential students. The instructors are then motivated to teach the necessary information to the new students. In addition, when we come together and work as a team, much more success is gained throughout all departments.
Latika,
It's about a focus on great placement rates. That's why students enroll - to get jobs. It's vital to keep detailed placement records. That tells you how you are doing and lets everyone else know that your school is serious about job placement. It's critical to have all faculty and staff working toward student placement. Great placement impacts admissions, retention, and of course placement. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Susan,
I believe that a Placement Dept. is just that, a department that is made up of team members that all contribute positively to a candidate's success. A team approach to placement that is focused on the following areas creates value for all involved:
1. Clear and positive communication
2. Helping students to achieve their goals
3. Helping students to understand the most appropriate ways to engage employers and carry out a job search
4. Creating a series of engagement points that enable students to incrementally prepare for a successful job search as follows:
a. Self Awareness
i. How do you view yourself
ii. How do others view you
b. Goal Identification
i. What is your ideal job
ii. What is a realistic job for you at this point in time
iii. What is your stretch goal
c. Resume Writing
i. What does a resume do for you
ii. Why do employers need to see your resume
iii. How do you write a resume that gets you hired
d. Interview Skills
i. How do you present yourself
ii. How well do you listen
iii. How well do you answer questions
iv. Can you survive- Mock interviews
1. Practical skills
2. Technical Interviews appropriate to job search level
e. Dressing for Success
i. What not to wear to an interview
ii. Why they always hire people that dress for success
f. Technical Knowledge
i. Detailed discussion of the right knowledge to carry into the interview
ii. How to present yourself during a technical interview
iii. The critical pieces
1. Listen
2. Think
3. Perform
iv. Too much information is just as bad as too little
1. Knowing when to listen
2. Knowing when to respond
3. Knowing when to act
g. How to deal with a job offer
i. What questions to ask
ii. What issues to clarify
iii. What expectations to have
h. How to survive your first 90 days on the job
i. What to do to stand out
ii. How to set realistic expectations and then exceed them
i. How to create value for your employer
j. How to work with others
Placement Departments have a large impact on admissions departments. Prior to enrollment, many people inquire about life after graduation. This isn't necessarily the admission representative's expertise. Very often people have concerns about finding work, and who wouldn't in this withered job market? To prevent the individual from getting discouraged by a lack of answers, the Placement Department is there to provide that extra information about the light at the end of the tunnel. Placement Services is there to prepare students for the challenges they will face and how to overcome them. They inform students of job openings and other opportunities. They provide that additional motivation people need to enroll. Potential students see that they will not only receive an education but also training for how to market themselves successfully so they can greatly improve their chances of hearing those golden words: You're Hired!
Good placement rates can provide great information for the admissions department to motivate potential students to attendance that particular school.
