Hailey Torres

Here are a few takeaways from the content today...

Prospecting Employers: Great preparation needed; know who you want to contact and for what reason (ex. to hire students, as an advisor, etc.)

Goals, KPIs, and Benchmarks: Be specific! These are measurable ways to monitor success.

Pitching to Employers: Make it about what you can do for them!

Overcoming Objections: Connect with their statements, and offer sympathy while advancing the conversation. 

Marketing Services: Utilize the various social media platforms to expand your professional network!

I appreciate how this course outlines the journey that employers can take from advising to leading. I hope to evaluate any of our current employer relations and see where on the spectrum they align with this 5-step process. It would also be nice to come up with a plan (maybe 5 year goal) of how we can advance their relationships to support our graduate placement rates. 

How can an event without proper follow-up ever be justified as a success? In this section, I have gotten a better glimpse of just how important the collection of data and surveys is for understanding how a career fair "went". I appreciated hearing how it is okay to have paper surveys and online. Among the most valuable information I received during the material today is the content on what to ask in a survey. I have learned that it is nice to hear some opinions from students or employers, but the real meat of the survey comes by two methods....(1)… >>>

I really appreciate the guidance of hosting several mini workshops for students before hosting a career fair of any kind. When students speak with employers, they are representing the college itself. We must be able to adequately equip our students with the tools they need for a successful event on all fronts. 

I really appreciated the breakdown and templates of how to prepare a budget and the methods of information distribution about the event. I had never heard the marketing techniques that were shared about when to send out the poster vs flyer vs text, etc. I appreciate the specifics of this course!

Here are a few key takeaways:

• Spend more time planning the event than the event itself. Preparation time is never wasted time! Make sure every department is involved, and listen to any concerns that come up. 
• Make sure that the naming of the event fits with the objectives of the event. 
• Virtual events are able to run smoothly through many of the platforms available. Make sure costs are shared among all parties participating. 
• Analyze the effectiveness of the event by collecting data directly after the event (i.e. - how may students came, how many resumes were submitted, etc.)

Constructive feedback today is the key to a better tomorrow! If we don't continually evaluate our processes, how can we ever call our institutions competitive for a student's success? Reaching out to all individuals involved is important....from student to graduate to employer. Every level provides unique insights and suggestions for improvement. I look forward to implementing regular check-ins with each population to gain a better understanding of the fluency of our college.  

I have learned the importance of being detail-oriented on how to progress in your career journey, even as a student. For example, a student should be exposed to workshops on salary negotiation that can be utilized even in an entry-level position. Being forward-thinking will propel our students into their career path. It replaces the mindset from "I just need a job!" to "How can I find the right job for me?". 

I have learned more about the importance of student "buy-in". They need to have a reason to engage with Career Services. This requirements our department to offer a broad range of resources that cover the needs of our diverse student/graduate population. One idea that this sparks is hosting more workshops via Zoom for students. If a student attends a certain number of sessions, they could be provided with a certificate showing that they were a part of the "Leadership Development Program" at the college. The "buy-in" is the fact that they can put it on their resume, and the obvious… >>>

I have learned that Career Services is equally important even before a student is enrolled. I appreciated the comments about how the Admissions Representatives should be kept informed of where graduates are getting jobs and their salary, etc. I can also see now how associations could benefit the wealth of information of those who have gone through the programs in the past for purposes of mentoring, etc. I look to use this information to see how we can keep Admissions and Career Services in tune and how we can begin an association in our college.