Setting Up Graduates for Success
I sometimes feel a school's goals for shareholders can be misaligned with setting up a graduate for success. Personell involved with a student must ensure they are educating the entire person, preparing them for success, and not simply "placing" her at a site to meet Career Services goals. When the entire person is educated, it betters the institution, brand and most importantly the graduate.
Doris,
So true. From the time the student enters our campuses the environment and the message that we send should be about employment and long term job success and fulfillment. This is not achieved overnight and not with the first job. Activities and classes on campus should be reinforcing this message.
Sheri Leach
Setting up students for Success is the overall responsibility of the college and the student as well. We can educate and prepare them for the work force with the tools for gaining employment. But if the student is not focused or determined to work it will be impossible to help them. it must start from the time they enter the college campus until or after graduation.
Student must stop focusing on little thing like how much the job is and focus on having a job.
D. Hampton
Margaret,
Does you institution have an alumni organization or club? Do you invite alumni to speak to students and help motivate them with their personal stories?
Sheri Leach
I agree with this. The long term goal is to place a graduate. However, we want them to be successful for the long term. As a school we give our alumni access to Career Services long after they graduate. We work with them when interviewing for new positions, resume building or simply assistance is searching for a new position.
Kristine ,
Kristine, it is very true that many of our students are inexperienced and lack self-confidence. I know a Career Services Professional who takes a graduate or student about to graduate with her when she visits employers. This makes the meeting real for the employer - the not only get to hear about our great programs and students, but they get to meet one. And, by being present at the meeting, the student will see proper behaviors and it gives them the comfort of meeting employers while having someone take the lead. These meetings will make the student feel more confident when they are meeting employers or interviewing on their own. Several of these students have received offers from the employers that they originally meet with their Career Services Director!
Sheri Leach
Many of our students are inexperienced in looking for work. Therefore, because of this inexperience, they are often in need of more intensive coaching in the soft skills necessary to find the perfect place of employment. The job search itself, terrifies many of them. I'm looking for new ideas to assist them to feel more confident in their abilities. Often a strong handshake and a smile, is a good beginning to a positive outcome.
Kayla ,
Anything worthwhile takes some effort. Have you thought about having the students partner with you in finding appropriate sites? They could bring you names of sites that they would like to be placed at. When they invest their time they will tend to be more successful on the sites. And perhaps more externships will turn into placements!
Sheri Leach
I believe that every student should be placed at a site that is conducive to the students needs and wants. Although it does take some work, when working with the individual one on one and allowing ourselves the opportunity to understand the students, it helps to ensure better placement of the student.
Ken ,
Recognizing what needs to be done and what can be done to improve any situation are fundamental first steps. I applaud you for recognizing what your opportunities are. A suggestion would be for the campus Managment team to meet to discuss these issues now that they have been identified. Then as a team, prioritize them, assign responsibility and start to tackle them as is appropriate for your campus. Any step forward, will help you move your students towards success.
Sheri Leach
Robert,
I think career schools could do a better job laying a foundation for success early. I know mine could. We already have the data we need to identify where the needs lie - or if we don't we have the source of that data: the faculty and staff who interact with our students every day...our employers...our advisory boards, etc. A life skills course, early in the program, with modules focused on basics our students typically lack and which aren't part of their program: study skills; conflict resolution; decision-making; giving effective feedback; budgeting; how to find social resources (child care, legal, etc.), even basic social skills. We can't fix everything but there's more we can do.
Mario,
There are several other things I can think of that can help drive home the importance of preparing for a successful job search. Remember, students have to see the the value of what you at teaching for them to internalize it and it needs to be personal to them.
Invite successful graduates to come back to the classes to tell their stories. Encourage alumni who had a hard time in school or challenging personal circumstances to share their stories.
Create activities or homework assignments for the students that require them to research potential employers or successful people that have overcome personal hardships.
Have students act out successful and non-appropriate interviews - make it a fun, group activity. If they are involved, they will learn.
I agree Jennifer with your last statement, the technical training is an obvious but some students do fail to see the importance of learning on how to look for a job, which includes create a resume, cover letter, personnal portfolio, and of course keeping the job. At our school, we have 10-15minute presentations presented during diferent modules on each of the topic's I mentioned aboved. Is thaere any other aspects or topics that you may mention that will benefit the student?
Jennifer,
It is important that our students feel supported and that appropriate resources are available to them at appropriate times. Dedicated time in the classroom (especially an entire class!) is a way to drive home to students the importance of proper preparation for their career and career search. All students receive their technical training, but often fail to see the importance of learning how to look for, obtain and keep a job.
Sheri Leach
At our school, we have a Business Fundamentals class, which educates the students all about the different types of employment situations available, helps them design resumes, business cards, etc., and Career Services is here full time to help them define their goals, review job interests, apply for various certifications/state licensure, etc.
We all work very closely at my college to ensure that graduates have all the skills needed to succeed. Between staff and faculty and Career Services everyone works together!
Every employee at the school must work together to ensure that graduates are prepared for the appropriate jobs in their chosen field. This includes reviewing their resume to ensure that their skills are highlighted and showcased. Prepare them for interviews through mock interviews. Schools must see to it that graduates would have room to grow in a particular company.
Hi Candace,
Well stated. "When the entire person is educated, it betters the institution, brand and most importantly the graduate" - this is the long view vs. the short view of simply "placing" a graduate at a site as you mentioned for the purpose of hitting the "Career Services" goal. What are some interventions that can be implemented within your own institution that might help support this goal?
Robert Starks Jr.
