For a long time our Placement Department was going though the motions and was not very successful. Recent changes in the department have driven a greater focus and I am starting to hear positive things from students who are seeing a greater number of job postings. The next step in our process is to expand our relationships with local employers through job fairs, and student service programs. We are also using our facutly to meet with local companies and to build relationships that can be leveraged by the Placement team. Overall it is a process of relationship building that will benefit both the students and the university.
They begin by helping students to compile a resume and they print these up for the students. They keep a list of dealers and shops that are hiring and they keep this list up-dated and available to the student body. As students approach their graduation date, they are asked to make a wish list of places they want to apply. The placement dept send letters and resumes to these employers for the students. If the first list is not sucessful the process is repeated. Our placement department is available for current grads and former grads for as long and often as they need them.
The placement department posts current job openings and keeps in contact with a multitude of local businesses. Our programs require mock interviews as a part of each course.
Our Career Services department reaches our to students at the end of the program in order to get them ready for their externship and job. I think that this could be improved by the Career Services department reaching out to students throughout their program rather than at the end. Even after they begin the program, Career Services could do a presentation on interviewing techniques, resume writing skills, or employers wants/needs, in order to prepare them for work while they are in school.
Again, we have areas of opportunity.
Thanks,
Shawn
What was most clear to me through this course is the value of bringing together all parts of the program. For example, orientation should be ongoing. Placement should be part of every class. This is our opportunity for improvement, our challenge.
Our school has orientation. open houses, meet & greets, other fun activities and clubs and contests for the student to met other students and become comfortable in their new surroundings. It gives them the chance to meet & talk to the chefs and other faculty.
As a chef I try to give real life examples that connects them to the lessons they are practicing.
I love to see that you are connecting months before the externship, Lizza. Also, the employment fairs and activities really help students to stay the course. The key is to frequently have students interact with future employers.
Dr. B
I think my school does a pretty good job reaching out to the students in regards to placement. They are contacted months before externship is due and after externship, they are also provided with leads for possible employment. We hold various events to introduce them with recommended and potential enployers. We also hold events with special guest(s) who have been very succesfull in the industry so that they can share their experiences with the students and hopefully, inspire them to do well on their studies and on their future jobs.
Sounds great. So, how can you get career information to students ... right from the get go... meaning, involve career services day 1 ... Why? To keep the students vision alive. They study to get "the" job.
Dr. B
We have an excellent career placement department. Our faculty and staff assist through become externship advisors. Externships eventually lead students to obtaining positions where they have been externing. Many of our faculty have contacts that are in need of our students, hence they assist students in finding positions. Our Advisory Board is made up of businesses that do hire our students or assist them in finding positions.
Good for you. Yes, more employers on campus helps students to connect if employment opportunities. Also, current students tend to related with graduates... they say, if he or she did it, I can, too.
Dr. B
We currently have job postings but I feel that inviting more employers to talk about what they are looking for in applicants and the opportunities available for students will be beneficial. Inviting graduates who have been out in the workforce to speak to students will help ease student anxiety about job opportunities. It might be helpful to also enlist the help of students in the Doctoral program. Also creating a more robust employment section on the school website will help the online students.
Perfect. Career events all through the educational program will improve retention. Go for it.
Dr. B
The placement department works directly with each student on bettering their interviewing skills. The students are also zoned to the regions they wish to locate to. The student is constantly being asked about their employment situation and are always building on there resumes. We start working with the student when they first arrive at school and work from there. I believe we can improve by working with the employers who employee our students so they have a better understanding how we work and they can better arrive at a hiring decision for our students.
At the beauty school I work at out placement and education dept. have guest speakers come in and talk to the students and most of them do demos for the students and talk to them about their company. I think maybe once a month they should set up a career day at the school and help studens build a resume and rehearse job interviews.
We start the placement process early in the curriculum in order to give each student a clear picture of the opportunities available in their new career path. Also, it eliminates some of the second guessing and positively reassures their decision to enroll in the class. By designating real world business planning, resume building and networking skills, students see the light at the end of the tunnel early in the program.
I have to admit that our placement rates are really good. We have career fairs, employeers, resume and interview workshops, and numerous other activities. Career Services on our campus is very present and visible. Even though it is among the smallest teams on campus, they are among the most effective. One feature I am aware of, with relationship to our individual team members is that each career services member reports to the students that they (the Career Services member) are living their dream job. I guess, once you have found your place, it feels good to help others get to their place.
We have an employment department that gets involved. Job placements are posted in the department and there are many people involved in the process. We teach the student how to construct a resume' and help them with the posting of it. There are many employers that come to our campus several times a year to conduct job fairs and students are encouraged to attend. In the classroom the instructors relate their field experiences and talk to students about the dreaded job search. I think that the most important thing we do is to try to be positive about the hunting procedure and continually talk it up.
My school has a proactive employment department that finds work for the students while in the school and also places them after graduation.
I believe our placement department is one of the best in our field and it could only use a very small improvement such as more staff
