Robert Pearl Starks

Location: phoenix, arizona

About me

Robert Starks Jr. is a Performance Consultant for MaxKnowledge, Inc. Robert has 10 years of experience in higher education and has led teams responsible for career services and alumni relations programming, as well as community outreach and public relations initiatives. Robert was recognized for his leadership and exceptional results by Career Education Corporation (CEC) with the "Above and Beyond" award for developing his institution's first alumni relations program in its 32 year history. Under Robert's leadership, his former career services team was recognized with four consecutive Best Placement Practice Awards from the Arizona Private School Association (APSA) among its 56+ member schools in the state which contributed to his institution also being recognized as School of the Year by APSA in 2008 and 2012. Additionally, the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC) recognized Robert in 2013 with the Associate Member of the Year award.

Robert holds a Master of Science in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and a minor in Sociology. Robert currently serves on the board for the Arizona Private School Association. Robert is the former Director of Media & Technology and former Membership Chair for the Arizona Career Development Association (ACDA). Additionally, Robert is the founder and publisher of Careertipster.com and serves on the Arizona Program Committee of the national non-profit, Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Interests

social media, career development, training, higher education, web 2.0/3.0, career services, leadership, marketing

Skills

social media, marketing, training, consulting, management, strategic planning

Website

http://www.careertipster.com

Activity

Robert Pearl Starks

Blog

Career College Central's Video Interview With Noah Black

During the 2013 Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities Convention and Exposition, Career College Central Editor Kevin Kuzma visited with a number of sector leaders at the magazine's booth space. He was joined by Noah Black, Vice President of Communications for the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU.)

In this interview, Black explains the value of the APSCU organization and his plans for handling communications.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Social Media Trends

Petra, When you say your department uses social media to "keep up with graduates," can you elaborate on what you mean? What does "keep up" mean, how do you keep up, how does this strategy contribute to your goals and what made your department decide to incorporate social media as a tool to use? If your department has determined it is important to use as a tool, regardless of your personal use, how do you stay informed regarding social media trends and/or how do you intend to keep yourself educated? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Blog

Closing the Skills Gap with New Career Programs

Today, only 4 in 10 U.S. adults possess a two- or four-year degree and approximately 3 million jobs go unfilled because employers can’t find people with the right skills. While the U.S. is falling in its proportion of college graduates relative to global competitors, the need for postsecondary education is rising for jobs in the 21^st century global economy. If the U.S. is to close the widening skills gap, it will require more than increasing the number of graduates from existing career programs. Postsecondary institutions will also have to design new career programs to prepare students for emerging… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Blog

Career College Central's Video Interview With Jenny Faubert

During the 2013 Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities Convention and Exposition, Career College Central Editor Kevin Kuzma visited with a number of sector leaders at the magazine's booth space. Jenny Faubert, Director of Communications for the Imagine America Foundation, joined him for an on-camera discussion.

Faubert is responsible for developing new projects such as Imagine America Foundation’s Financial Planning Made Simple and the Student Success Zone. As the Director of Communications, she also oversees the Foundation’s website, marketing, PR, and publications including the Imagine America Foundation's annual Fact Book. Imagine America, in partnership with MaxKnowledge, also offers comprehensive… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Institution-Wide Participation

Myhisha, I see. Thanks for explaining. Of all the things you do, where would you say are your top 3-5 areas where you could use help? Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Enrollment Management and Graduate Employment Outcomes

Myhisha, If the institution makes decisions based on both employment projections from research and actual employment outcomes, do you know how decisions are made on eliminating programs or creating new ones if there hasn't been any tracking of data historically? I'm confused because I don't see how an institution can make data-driven decisions without data. As I understood from your previous statements, your institution has just recently formed a Career Services department in which you are the only one serving in the Career Services function. I imagine that very little data has historically been collected if this is the case.… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Institution-Wide Participation

Myhisha, If I am hearing correctly, it sounds like although some student services staff have been designated to "help" in career services, the reality is that this is not working. With a truly one-person shop handling 6 campuses, this is not sustainable and will produce an extremely limited result unless you have adequate staffing to achieve the goals that have been identified by the institution. If staff in different functional areas have been designated to "help," the "help" they provide must be clearly defined and goals must be established for them just as any staff member in Career Services would… >>>

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Barriers to Employment and Intervention Strategies

Myhisha, It sounds like you have identified an opportunity for your institution as well as a feasible strategy to partner with Admissions. What would it take to advocate for what you suggest? Looking at program outcomes is absolutely essential to evaluate mission success. Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Social Media Management

Aliza, What tools (listening Posts) do you use to curate content to share on your platforms? Do you have any favorites? Do you use any other tools to manage your accounts or to automate posts such as HootSuite, BufferApp, or IFTTT? I'm wondering what your experience is with other third-party apps to help you manage your accounts. Thanks for sharing with the group. Robert Starks Jr.

Robert Pearl Starks

Discussion Comment

Interventions

Aliza, I think this is a personal decision and our job as Career Professionals is to simply educate students on the pros and cons of disclosing and sharing information on social platforms. As with anything, there are pros and cons and I think students must be able to make informed decisions about how they disclose, share, protect (to the extent possible) and manage what they choose to disclose and publish on social media platforms. This entire process is part of the skill of building and managing one's personal brand. This is how I respond because, ultimately, it is a personal… >>>

End of Content