How to motivate student to take part in Career Service activities.
It has been very difficult to motivate student to come to activities that are sponsored by the Career Service department. We have tried many ways including giving prizes, offering food, and giving extra credit from their instructors. We feel bad having area business people give up time during their day to come and do presentation when student do not attend. Does anyone have additional ideas that may help use with this problem?
Leah,
Announcing graduate success can be very motivating to other students and grads. It is important that all information is verifiable and accurate. The information can also be used when talking to employers, new students and more. Again, it is essential that all information can be proven and that you have documentation about any placement statistics. Good idea, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
What are your thoughts about posting how many grads were placed this month/week to current grads in a monthly newsletter?
Ingrid,
Great Ingrid. Let us know the results. You might also consider all the other offers you can make to alumni. Alumni are a great resource to the school. Once you get them engaged ask them to assist with admissions, mentor students, help review resumes, and tell you about job openings. Be sure to give them a lot of recognition, help them with employment if they lose their job, and provide discounts and services. MaxK offers a course on Alumni that outline how to make this all happen. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Dr. Schulz,
I will approach campus management with posting student success stories thoughout the campus. Thanks for the suggestion.
Also, a monthly newsletter is emailed to present and alumni and I will suggest highlighting a graduates success story there as well.
Ingrid
Ingrid,
Yes, visibility definitely increases student contact with career services. Your bulletin board is a great idea. You are showing the successes and challenges of real students who other students can relate to. Have you thought of posting student success stories throughout your campus? There is nothing better than testimonials. We believe that employment skills training should be required. Students should also definitely have to work with career services staff at every step of the job search process. In case your have limited staff available, suggest that you develop a core of alumni who can assist. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I think the more visible you are that more the student will feel connected to Career Services. We have placed a Career Services bulletin board next to the student lounge to post job leads, a list of the top ten companies that hire our graduates, and soon there will be a testimonial letter from one of our graduates.
The testimonial letter includes a paragraph regarding how the graduate approached her clinical site as if it was a working job interview every day. After graduating, she applied for a job there and was hired!
Leticia,
Really great, Leticia. We totally agree that the career services staff should be part of the admissions process. Career services have verified placement and salary information - required when talking with students or prospects about job opportunities. And the reality is that applicants really want to know where the jobs are and how much they will earn. Unfortunately they don't care as much about the course work! Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
What we decided to do at our campus is make Career Services a part of the admissions interview. Prospective student can visit with Career Services and talk about the choice in career and what the job demand is so that the prospective student can make a more informed decision about the choice of career.
Cheryl ,
Good points Cheryl. This points to many things. One is that Career Services has to work closely with Admissions staff to be sure they understand what the programs train for. Perhaps part of the admissions tour should be sitting in on classes. Another thought is that modified internships, job shadowing, and mentoring occur early on so the student can make a change if s/he realizes the program is not for them. Another thought is to pair Alumni with new students or have Alumni volunteer in the Admissions department to tell it is it is in the workplace. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I find many students have no idea what field they want to get into - they are either persuaded by a family member, or just going with whatever hits them first. The down the line when they are in externship or have graduated realized its not what they wanted to do initially. Unfortunately many admissions departments are focused on the enrollment numbers by getting the seats filled for the new start and not educating the potential student of the life choices they are making.
Kathy,
We believe in the concept of requiring students to complete career services training. This includes all the usual skills as you pointed out. Plus lots of practice sessions to build confidence. We feel that training should be ongoing from the time of the student's first class to the last. Learning how to search for a job takes a lot of skills and knowledge. You can ask Alumni to assist. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Maybe including a required class for resume writing, mock interviews, including how to dress for success would be a great addition to your curiculum.
Marita,
Sounds like you have a good plan to get students to attend employment skills training. What is interesting is that we expect students to demand lots of training. Instead we have to cajole them. This is why we feel that students be required to take career services workshops and attain certain competencies. Students enroll in training to seek employment. Perhaps they forget while in class. Perhaps they think it takes no skills. Schools are required to show placement results. That's why we promote classes to teach job search skills and that's why we think they should be required for graduation. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Hello-
We have our students register for the workshop ahead of time, then follow up with them via email and personal reminders. We have found that workshops with a speaker from the industry draw a bigger crowd, though our 'how to' workshops (such as resume writing) have also been a success.
Jymy,
Good point. Admissions must carefully screen students to be sure applicants understand the field they are training for. Many really don't know. That's why prospective students need to sit in on classes and talk to alumni already working in the field. Students should definitely be excited about being able to get a job in the field in which they are training. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
maybe the admissions department should screen a little bit more the kind of students they are enrolling, because usually the students should be really happy about interacting with people from the same field, other wise if that doesn't get them excite they are in the wrong field.
Hope,
Good points Hope. It's our job to assist grads to get jobs and we are measured by placement. So - why not make career services activities required? Sometimes that is simply the easiest way to get things done. Eventually the word will get out about great they are and of value. Also suggest you involve alumni. Successful grads can be very motivating. And to students, these peers may seem more approachable. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
