What do you do when graduates turn down a job?
One of our challanges is graduates that feel they can wait to start working. There is no waivers for refusal to work so this presents a challange.
Mayra,
Very good point. That is a reason to spend time building the confidence level of each student. It takes a while and is not just a workshop at the end of their training. This is a reason why career services needs to be involved from the start. Alumni can help students gain self confidence. Pair grads with students to work on getting ready for the workplace. It's hard for students to leave the safety of their classrooms, teachers, and friends. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I think sometimes students turn down jobs because they are afraid of failing and facing the real world. It takes a lot of patience and coaching on our part to give the student that boost of confidence, that yes, they can do it!
Josephine,
It is an interesting situation when graduates refuse work or refuse to even get into the job search process. We think it might be due, in part, to lack of confidence. Therefore career services staff has to work hard on building confidence along with skills. Confidence building takes time and a different approach. It can be lengthy. Perhaps these students can spend time in an extended externship. If your school or training programs don't require externships, this is something to evaluate. Should externships be required or optional for all programs? How can they be used to build confidence? Your decision to encourage reluctant grads to take part time work, etc. sounds good. How are you tracking results and what are you learning from it? Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Yes, it is a difficult pill to swollow for us in Career Services when a graduate refuses to look for work. Like you said, there is no waiver for these situations-so what do we do? For us, we have such a diverse population of stay at home parents, students with disabilities that can't work outside the home, and people that do not want to give up their day job. We explain the pros and cons of their decision from an employer stand point as well as diminishment of skill set. One of the first questions we ask the graduate is "Let's go back to the beginning, why did you enroll for this program with us?" From there we try to remind the student of their goal and investigate what has changed since that time til now. Sometimes walking through the change, can help us identify a solution. If that doens't work our focus shifts on not fighting the situation but looking for alternatives. What we have decided to do as a team, is not force our traditional services on the students but focus on non-traditional resources. For example, we often lead students to freelance work or telecommuting jobs. We lead students to finding jobs that can capitalize on a niche or see how they can relate their current industry.
ARIELYS,
Interesting situations. Grads will likely stay with the job that pays the most and may not switch to the job they trained for if it pays less. Perhaps the situation can be remedied in admissions. Admissions reps need to have data to show salary ranges. If presented then the prospective student will have more realistic expectations. The issue of schedules is a challenge. Again, it might start in admissions with an explanation about the work place. Is it a 9 to 5 job or are nights and weekends required? Perhaps the focus should be on full disclosure to meet expectations. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
We have had the challenge of students turning down job opportunities because at their current job they make more money, other reponse has been because the schedule is not convenient for them. On the other hand, how do you deal with this situation?
Len,
Good points. We recommend an Alumni Community if you don't already have one. It just makes good sense. For Career services Alumni can assist in a lot of ways, introduce you to their HR department, tell you about job openings at their place of work, work with grads on employment skills training, and much more. MaxKnowledge offers a great course on how to set up an Alumni Community. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I can't speak for other schools obviously, however, I strive for 100%. I show I care to the students when I speak with them, teach a class for them, whatever. I show concern, but tell them the truth at hand. By associating myself with the students while they are here makes it easier to have them contact me about employment after they graduate. It is impossible to please everyone every time, but if you stay consistent with everyone it will assist in the majority staying in contact.
So, yes, I strive for 100% and if I miss, well.....I am over the minimum!!
Len,
What would it look like if career schools did aim for 100% placement rather than just meeting minimum requirements? We think that career services would be very different and results great. It would also change the expectations and actions on the part of the students and everyone on staff at each school. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
But of course. In a perfect world 100% placement would be possible. However, it is an imperfect world we are dealing with, with less than perfect folks.
Len,
Sometimes we have the let go of the crazy people in our lives.
Dr. Susan Schulz
Actually an instructor came to me and stated her boyfriend called him and suggested I do not call as she is not interested in speaking to anyone. I feel something has happend in her life and she sees the world, the whole world, as against her. So, no mam, did not call, I felt it would be not in the best interest. Oh,I forgot, I did e-mail her, congratulate her on the birth of her child and received an e-mail back "Go kill yourself!" Thing is I inherited this person, never met her, have no idea who she is. So, again, guess I'll just take the hit on this one.
Len,
Very interesting challenge. Let's see what other people have to say. Unfortunately this is not unique. We assume you phoned the graduate also. What would happen if you sent her some questions to respond to in email. if carefully crafted perhaps that would yield information to meet requirements? Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
You're so correct! I recently had a graduate that got pregnant right after graduation, I asked her for a waiver, she said she wouldn't sign anything. I told her I would still assist her in her employemnt search after she had the baby, still, no was the answer. Now she has the baby, I sent an opportunity and she asked me to stop sending her anything... Guess she has changed her mind all together about working. now what? Still can't get a waiver 'cause she doesn't want to work. The only thing is, let it go and take the hit. Only thing I can think of.
Leticia,
Grads who don't want to work are always a mystery to us. We believe they do want to work but have very low self confidence and are really afraid. They have finally gotten accustomed to going to school and feel secure with their classmates and faculty and staff. This makes the next step of going out into the scary world of work very frightening. We think this points to doing a lot more employment skills training and confidence building. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
