I have found that not only having a work facebook but having an active and interactive constantly updated facebook page for the school I get more responses. For example, I had been trying to reach a student unsuccessfully so I wrote him on facebook with no response. Once I started actively posting job related advice, or interesting information, or commenting on his and other graduates pictures he responded. I've also noticed that being interactive with current students on facebook really creates a bond between myself and the students. They always want to know who's monitoring the page, its it me or someone else, and then we joke about it in the halls at school. This makes the students very comfortable and more likely to stay in touch post graduation.
This is great Jennifer. By keeping in touch with grads you help to ensure you have their contact information. And you can determine what is preventing them from getting a job. In that way you can prepare workshops to overcome these issues. Great that you also stay in touch with your alumni. In addition to finding out how they are doing you can also ask them about job openings where they work and who their hiring manager is. You can also invite alumni back to work with students to encourage student success. Seems like you are doing everything right to stay in touch with alumni and keep their contact information up to date. This is critical for follow up, placement stats, and will impact on enrollment, retention, and of course placement. Thanks, Susan
I have made it part of my weekly goals to contact all of my graduates who are not currently working twice weekly. I also make sure to call all of my placed graduates at least 3 times to make sure they are comfortable with their new job. Prior to a student graduating I meet with each student individually to make sure both their resume and contact information are correct. I also make sure to get an email address and our Financial Aid Department collects references of family members and friends when the students enroll. So far, these steps have been very helpful in keeping contact with our graduates. We offer hands on training in a mechanically inclined industry and a large amount of our students are computer illiterate. Taking the time to meet with each person helps us to get a lot of our information from the students/graduates.
You bring up a challenging problem. Staying in touch with grads. There are two areas of focus. One is to locate the grads you have lost track of. The other is to put plans in place so you don't lose contact with new grads. This can happen with an effective alumni association. Before the student graduates be sure their contact info is current. Ask for contact info from a family member or friend. Ask to "friend" the student on facebook. Then after they graduate stay in touch every 2 weeks for a while and then at least once a month forever! Be sure you offer the grad a lot of reasons to stay in touch with your school. Then when you need information for placement or feedback about programs or a grad to visit the school - you'll have lots of contacts. And you won't have to spend time with skip tracing, etc. Thanks, Susan
We use outside resources like The Work Number to help locate grads. We also go through all of their files for other contact numbers like references. We have also done skip tracing to see if we can locate the grad. We have them do their resume and references in the first 2 weeks of school so we always go through thoes numbers first.
Hi Heather. Unfortunately every school has a hard time keeping in touch with grads or dropped students. Yet it is soooo essential to stay in touch and be the school that never leaves the student. There are many strategies. One is to constantly stay in touch with students while they are in school so you know of changes. Always get the cell phone and who to call in emergency. At the exit interview have the interviewee "friend" the student or grad. Convert the grad into an alumna or alumnus immediately and send lots of periodic newsletters and information to keep the grad attached to the school. This will get results. Not %100 but more than you are getting now. Thanks, Susan
