Placement has a significant impact on several departments of the school and community. It affects admissions because to a potential student, placement is key. Most of time, the reason for students choosing a career school is for training, especially on-the-job training. If placement is high, then potential students see a great opportunity for advancement. Placement impacts education because current students will stay enrolled in order to be placed. Usually students choose career schools due to unemployment and are seeking a career change. So high placement is a plus with current students. Also, it affects moral. Faculty and students seem to take pride in their school. The community builds rapport and the school receives a great reputation for excellent education and student placement.
Yes, the prospective student really wants to know what job they will get and when they can get started! The Admissions people can do a lot by thoroughly describing the career services offered at the school. This is a reason why your department has to coach Admissions in what to say about your offerings. Students want details and to know that career training is as important as classroom skills. Alumni services also tell the prospective student that your school is a school that never leaves them. Your school is a resource to students long after they graduate. Thanks for your great comments and insight. Susan
Placement of a student impacts enrollment very directly. The student's goal is not just the education. Instead the education represents the means to achieve their goals. Usually they want a job in the field they've chosen so they can provide a better life for themselves and their children or finally be able to pursue a career they are passionate about. Also during the admissions process, the potential student can become very impressed by the placement percent achieved by the Placement Department. They are relieved to realize they are not just given the education and sent on their way with a pat on the back and wishing them well. Their is assistance with finding a career in the field they've chosen to pursue.
Ubaldo, Interesting point. You might want to think more about the impact of placement services on the rest of the school. For example, how can placement statistics and services help the admissions department. What information can you provide admissions to help them talk effectively with prospective students. How can great placement affect student retention. Hint - when students see that grads get jobs they are often motivated to complete training. And how does placement impact on your school. Another hint - if you don't achieve required placement stats you will have a problem with your regulatory bodies. So suggest you think of all ways that placement impacts your entire school and look at the placement and career services that you offer. Thanks, Susan
I think that a good and effective Placement Department could be a reflection of a Great University.
Placement services are very important to the school. It not only helps the placement dept., but also admissions for potential new students who always ask, where do most of your graduates work? And if we reply with one of the biggest and most prestigious companies in the area, that potential student will be attending our classes in the next semester.
Very true Jennifer. The reality is that most prospective students really want to know about where they are getting a job. Few are truly interested in the course work. They just want to graduate. That's a reason we think the Placement Department should be part of Admissions. Or at least the school tour should include a visit to Career Services. Placement stats do more to enroll a student than most other facts. The focus is not only on getting a job but the quality of the job. Takes as much student preparation to get a job as to train for one. Thanks, Susan
I guess the thing to say is that not many people would want to enroll in career training if no one was actually getting a career afterwards. Good placement rates will always affect the enrollments for the school. The more enrollments a school can get and effectively place will keep the campus doors open longer. Actively helping others to get training and go to work immediately after should always be the focus of any school. Being able to show placement rates or proof of this happening will encourage more people to enroll in our training.
Really good strategies, Marcy. Placement Departments need to have new focuses and reach out to the community. If the placement person is sitting at a desk, they are in the wrong place. To serve the employers in your area it is important to know what the employer wants in a job ready worker. That means your entry level grads have to be super prepared. And this is a reason to stay in touch with your alumni. They can fill higher level jobs. And even though you don't get "credit" for placing alumni, you are building a great alumni association and can reap those benefits. You are right that internship opportuniities are great for students, grads, and alumni. Helps to keep there skills current and gives them something to put on their resumes.
Thanks
In tough economic times, a well-run, effective Placement Department is critical.
With so many experienced professionals out of work, it has become an "Employer's Market" with prior experience often required. Of course, new graduates do not have on-the-job experience in the field for which they've trained.
Therefore, it's crucial for the Placement Dept. to surface internship opportunities that provide OJT, to help students showcase transferable skills on their resumes, and to prepare students for interviews by offering practice sessions and providing information on proper interview attire.
Marcy Lambert
Great summary, John. Yes, more qualified students are likely to enroll when they learn about your employment skills training and job placement rates. Students enroll to get jobs! That's why we think Placement people should sit in the admissions office. And yes, retention is increased when students can see that there are jobs waiting for them. Programs stay current and meet workplace needs when employers are involved on a regular basis. And yes, grads can pay their loans if they have jobs they were trained for. Thanks, Susan
Admissions - more success
Education/Retention - Students stay in school if they are working
Education - Enhances the College's reputation with employment community so we are able to get higher attendance at advisory board meetings.
Financial Aid - employment keeps them up to date and on time with monthly payment.
Motivating other directors about the value of placement is important. But more important is to educate them about what is being offered from career services and the role of everyone else in the success of grads getting jobs. Placement Departments have to get involved in every other department and show how that department benefits from successful placement. Staff need to know to train students in successful job search and work ethic preparation. Also staff can be asked to spread the word about your school throughout the community and introduce you to hiring decision makers. The success of a grad in getting a job is up to everyone at the school. Thanks, Susan
Placement Services has an impact in all the departments in the school. The article is fantastic to motivate all the School Directors to realize that Placement Services is the most important department at the schools.
When you believe how vital a placement department is you'll be a great advocate and get a lot of results for your school. YOu are right that all the online class posts provide all the challenges and all the solutions you'll need. And you are right that regardless of the current economic situation the job of the career school is to assist grads to get jobs. Students enroll for the job. Few are interested in the course work! By creating an innovative placement department you do distinguish your school as THE place to turn to for training and work ready grads. Lots to do. thanks, Susan
You point to an interesting situation. Few placement departments put plans in place to measure the impact on the rest of the school. If this is a new school it's a great opportunity to put assessment plans in place right now. First you can measure enrollment. Be sure the admissions people know what to say about placement such as where the jobs are, the training placement offers, the assistance and handholding. Have the prospective student meet with a placement officer. Then measure results when or if the student graduates. It takes time but having an evaluation state of mind will point to other things to measure. Placement can also measure the number of contacts at employers and potential employers. And how many jobs and how many enrollment referrals come from the workplace as a result of placement folks visiting with them. And measure student retention as well. When students see the role of placement in their lives it could increase retention. Lots to measure. Thanks, Susan
Since our Placement department has just been implemented there is no current data to know how it will impact the other departments in our school. My feelings are that it will have a profound effect, as the school already has a new buzz and excitement since announcing the opening of the placement department.The enrollment will be impacted most likely by increasing admissions as the students see that an active and vibrant placement department is in place. The school now has in effect, a beginning, middle and end. Though the end will continue to evolve as grads will return to share there experience.
I have just been hired to develop the placement program at our school.It has been enlightening Reading through all of the informative posts from the instructor and students in this course. I can see how important the placement department is on all of the departments in the school. In this current economic situation our placement departments will need to find creative and innovative ways to assist our students in setting themselves apart from others in the job market.
Hi Angela, All good points. Sounds familiar! The key to Placement services is to ensure that grads have the skills, knowledge, and self confidence to get a job in the field they were trained for. So many grads report they got a job. The Placement Dept needs to find out if it was for the job trained for. There's a difference between working in a hospital as a medical assistant, for example, or just working in any job at a hospital (which could be in the laundry room!) If the grad isn't working in the right job it is important for placement to contact the employer and find out why. Perhaps your programs didn't train the grad to be work-ready. Important information. So the Placement department has a big job. And the sphere of influence is throughout the school - admissions, education, and of course placement. Thanks, Susan
Good points, Vanessa. A great Placement Department can be structured so grads get jobs in careers they were trained for. There is a big difference between a career position and just getting a job. And it makes a difference in salary. We believe so much in how Placement makes an impact on enrollment that we suggest the Placement Director sit in the same offices as Admissions and be part of the admissions process. The reality is that students enroll for the job and not always for the courses. High placement is not only about the numbers. It is also about having grads to contact who are working and can tell you about other jobs where they work or introduce you to the hiring decision makers at their employment. Thanks, Susan
