Developing concrete relatioships with employers is the only tool to provide opportunities for students that have past felonies and DUI's. Employers tend to be more lenient when they trust your judgement on a potential worker and will negotiate to provide an opporutnity for those students who have felonies.
Sounds like you are doing an outstanding job, Dolores. It is great you are helping students overcome bad backgrounds. One thing to watch is professions where students who are felons or have DUI convictions are simply not allowed to enter these fields. These individuals need to be disqualified from admission for failure to meet criteria. It's sad but a fact of life. Best wishes, Susan
Many of our students enroll with us who have past felonies and DUI's. Their past, even though they are ready to change their lives, haunt them when it's time to find the career of their dreams. Most corporations and larger companies require background checks that go back 7 years or more as well as a good driving record and pre-employment drug screen. I am finding that the sooner I work with a student prior to graduating and as I continue to build relationships with employers, I am able to match wants and needs of both graduates and employers.
Well said, Millie. It is our job to identify barriers that are preventing students from interviewing successfully. You gave a great example. You say that the graduate was shy and you put plans in place to overcome the shyness and give him skills and practice he could rely on. You won't make him less shy. But you did give him the knowledge so he can perform. Very impressive. Susan
It is certainly a challenge. But it is important to look at each graduate as an individual. Evaluate skills/strengths etc. I am currently working with a grad who is very shy and it is very hard for him to interview. We have now done one in office mock interview and one on the phone. He is making great progress. We will be taking him to an informational interview with a company that has an opening in his field. From there he will then interview with the person making the hiring decision.
Hi DeAndre
I think you mean less than favorable resume?? Of course that's why students are in school - to get training and qualifications to get a job. That means they have to excel in the classroom and build experience. That means the placement department has to work with students so they gain confidence and can articulate their new skills to the employer. It is quite a challenge. But with a comprehensive plan you can motivate students to be all they can be. Thanks, Susan
