Amy,
Wow, that's very impressive! I have no doubt that your commitment to the students and ongoing motivation must help ensure this high percentage of interviews.
Elizabeth Kemler
I make it a point to stay in constant contact with my job seeking grads. It is easy to get "out of school mode" and get lazy once they have a degree/diploma in hand. Constant encouragement is key. I frequently invite my grads to come in to use fax lists that I've compiled of "in field" employers and "mass fax" their resumes out. This has proven extremely successful and this produces interviews 99% of the time which puts the grad back "on fire" for finding a job.
Rocio,
I think your plan of action sounds right on target, especially the idea of analyzing the why and how response to any rejections.
Elizabeth Kemler
This is a situation that could be avoid if we set a individual plan, clear objectives and analyze the ideal job requirements. If the students know where they are starting, their initial point, they will be aware of the path they need to walk to get to their ideal job. That's why we need to help them to set their job search plan at the beginning.
Also, communication and feedback during this process will help them to see their "job rejections" as an opportunity to analyze: WHY and HOW we can improve their job searching skills.
Veronica,
Do you have any ways of keeping them motivated during the job search process? Sending inspiring emails, talking to people working in the field already-perhaps graduates?
Elizabeth Kemler
I will help my students in two ways. 1st have them identify the areas of interest for them when choosing an employer and targeting a job. 2nd by explaining that finding employment can be exhausting but this is part of the process.
Felicia,
I'm glad to hear it; I also think this is a great idea.
Elizabeth Kemler
Someone wrote that staying in contact with them is a great idea, because after a student have finished his/her training the career counsel should definitely set aside time in his/her schedule to contact graduates. This is something that I myself plan to work.
Nicole,
What a great idea! Their is nothing better for morale than success stories :)
Elizabeth Kemler
I have had a lot of great success from a lot of the students and graduates that I work with and I make sure to document all the feedback I get so that I can use it when students get discouraged and give them some great success stories and examples of students that allowed me to help them and persevered.
Hector,
Do you also have anything like a newsletter or phone check in's to help keep them motivated and on track?
Elizabeth Kemler
be with my students every step of the way and let them know its hard out there but never to give up..
nicolas,
This is so true and it's a shame when you have a great candidate but the wrong job.
Elizabeth Kemler
I think job matching is key everyone fits somewhere but not everyone fits everywhere so its key to match the right employer to the right graduate
Hector,
Great advice. You really can't go wrong by getting yourself out there wherever and whenever you can.
Elizabeth Kemler
I tell my Students never to give up , Getting a job in a barbershop is not the easiest thing, but they can talk to owners in the mean time and help them clean around the shop while learning new cuts, also i tell our students to volunteer, at the YMCA, Churches, do some free haircuts. they never know who is watching.
Susan,
Your school sounds so supportive-if only they were all this attentive!
Elizabeth Kemler
Career services is in contact weekly with graduates seeking employment, offering support with resume review, interviewing skills and over all encouragement to keep at it! Sometimes I find that a reminder to break it down and go step by step can help get them back on track if they are feeling overwhelmed by the process.
I love this idea! While my school has previously had online classes to cover these skills, it is now back in the classroom and I have arranged to have employers come in to do mock interviews. After that, Career Services will continue mock interviewing with those who feel they need it or if we see a need.
Kevin ,
This sounds like a great approach; using something positive as a means of connecting undoubtedly makes the students more receptive as does engaging them through these different modes.
Elizabeth Kemler
