Lack of confidence, anxiety, transportation, scheduling, financial issues. But we as an institution are here to help, support, assist and train them to be successful
Lazara, the lack of jobs in a geographical area is a challenge. In an area with many career colleges, the challenge you face is to become the number one source and the first call employers make when they have an available position. How can you differentiate yourself and your students/graduates so you will get those calls?
Vivian, you make two great points. Availability of jobs and market fluctuations can definitely be a challenge to employment.
As we know, relationships are the key to our success. How do you maintain a healthy relationship with employers who do not currently have job openings?
I want to say, Kudos to you for educating your students on how to become self-employed. Self-employment can be very fulfilling, but also difficult. What are some best practices that you share with your students to empower them to become successful and maintain gainful employment as a self-employed professional?
Chasminh, failing to meet the state mandated requirements for employment is definitely a common barrier. There are strategies that can be applied to ensure more students take the exams and pass. What are some examples of the specific training that you have initiated for your students, and have you seen positive results?
Some of the most common barriers that affect employability that I see students encounter include meeting state regulated requirements to work in the field as a professional.
Because students are failing to meet the state's requirements to work in the field, we are seeing lower employment rates.
We have initiated specific training inside and outside of our curriculum for the students to drive up the percentage of graduates who pass their state licensing exam.
I feel the most common barrier our students face in todays job market would have to be ratio of jobs available per job seekers. We live in an area over populated with career colleges and not enough jobs.
Thanks,
Lazara
The most common barrier that our students have encountered that have affected their employability would definitely be fluctuations in the job market and availability of massage therapy jobs.
Our institution specifically addresses this issue by forming strong community relationships with massage therapy employers in our area so that we may provide ease of access to speaking with hiring managers and also be made aware of job postings as soon as they are available. We also teach a Business & Marketing component in our program that focusing not only on employment working for others, but in creating an independent practice for self-employment. Sometimes if the job market is poor we can turn that around by making employment for ourselves!
