Get Your Students Hired
Externship for many courses plays an important role.
"Unintended Consequences"
For some subjects of study, the matter of placing students in 'real-life' experiences while in training may be more difficult or problematic than others.
For instance, the new coalition between ACPE/PTCB and indirectly ASHP---while the intent is positive in providing clearer demonstration of skill--I fear may impact schools which offer these programs. As new mandates approach, what I see are large employer chains in the development of their own in-house programs to meet the upcoming needs, instead of realizing an expected shift to schools to provide this training.
I wonder if other professions see the same decrease in externship sites when educational and certification requirements change such that employers create their own trained pool of employees.
Nancy,
We favor the idea of externships for all programs. It gives students some job experience and takes the fear out of the workplace. There must be many policies, procedures, and agreements in place to make it work. We have to prevent the experience from being free labor. It takes understanding of the goals and objectives by one and all and a lot of monitoring. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Yes, there can be some real challenges in ensuring that the learning experience is providing the student with the elements we hope they are getting and not just providing a service to the employer.
We also believe in externships. It gives students real work experience before going on the job and increases confidence. For those with little work experience, it adds some serious content to their resumes. Thanks, Susan
I totally agree that Externship plays a very important roll in training, but currently in our school we do not offer this option.
We do provide a lot of different hands on exercises in class.
We would like to explore more options in providing an Externship for our students.
We feel that externships are vital for all programs. The reason is that it gives students a chance to practice skills in the real world, work with other employees and understand the give and take that is necessary, and also have something to put on their resumes. It is hard to expect a grad to enter the workplace without any first hand knowledge of what the world of work is about. And yes, it is a challenge to find effective externships. It takes relationship building and community outreach. And that will serve you in placement, getting employer advisory boards, and more. Thanks, Susan
It is a challenge to find intern or externships. Ideally you have professionals on staff who can develop relationships with companies so that the externships are meaningful for the student. We suggest that schools seek externships where there is a good chance for placement. This means that students have to be very prepared. And it requires working closely with the company externship supervisor. Thanks, Susan
You are so right. I know of a young man who had to move his new wife (who was about 6 months pregnant) several states away in order to find an internship with a law enforcement agency.
Has anyone found a way to make this work in spite of challenging schedules?
Ryan
For some programs, internships are relevant and many times, necessary. As an owner of a small vocational school, in process of accreditation, I have found some obstacles to this phase of the program. For example, in our 5 year educational planning, we emphasized the fact that students from our phlebotomy program would have the opportunity of attending an externship rotation. Last year, we found two clinics in the area. These clinics were open for 9am to 5 pm. However, most of our students were middle aged women attending evening classes. Almost all of them with full time job and full time parenting and financial reponsibilities. They were unable to attend externship during the day. For these reasons, we had to discontinued the externship. Now, it is optional. This is only an example that illustrates the fact that there are many obstacles to face when a 5 year educational planning is implemented
Hello, That's too bad. We're sure you figured out lots of ways of keeping the extenships going. What about putting a teacher or staff member at the externship sites to periodically check progress and assess how the student is doing? Someone on site might be able to catch the employer from time to time to discuss the students' activities and progress. There is a lot of tracking. Perhaps some kind of software application could be the answer. Good luck, Susan
We have had to currently discontinue externship options at our school due to the difficulty in finding different ways to motivate employers to contribute to our monitoring of the students progress. Although there is interest in "fielding" a potential future employee by most employers, usually the needs of ensuring satisfactory progress are far from the minds (or time allotments) of a business. And it takes someone very adept at the school to track and manage externship students.
Interesting situation, Judith. What about nights and weekends? I'm sure working adults going to school will groan at this suggestion. But if it the externship is only one night a week or Saturday mornings, it might work. Externships are usually fun and valuable experiences. So maybe there won't be too many groans. Thanks, Susan
We offer both degrees and certificates in fashion. An intership is required for the degree students who typically work part-time as well as attending school. Thus they have time for the internship component and it has been a very succesful part of their education. Many students have been hired after graduation by their internship employer.
The certificate students, on the other hand, are adults working full-time day jobs and attending courses at night. My question is this: Does anyone have an idea how to provide valuable internships to students who have such time restraints? To date we have offered it to those who can fit it in as a non-credit option, but have not required it.
Judy
Hi Isabel
Yes, involvement in the community has many benefits. Your students have an opportunity to work on the public and in new environments. They also have the chance to bond with each other and school staff. Bonding helps improve retention. You have the chance for publicity. You can take lots of photos and send in stories and then print the stories and use as mailers and flyers. Your admissions staff has the opportunity to give out information about your school programs and talk to prospective students or those who will recommend your school to others. There might be employers in your audiance too!
Thanks, Susan
Our school gets calls from sponsors of charity events in our area. They ask for students and instructors to provide their services and practice their trade. I find this is a great way for them to gain some confidence and experience. Students that have participated feel very encouraged.
Hi Chris and Navraj, In our experience typically there is no money exchanged for the externship. Although in some culinary schools the students are paid by the restaurant they extern at. Looks like we need more discussion on externships. Thanks, Susan
HI Chris - Most certainly externship sites have to be selected very carefully and then monitored and evaluated constantly. Many state licensing boards require that the externship site be approved and that certain criteria be established. We suggest that a comprehensive externship manual be put in place that defines the duties of the externship site and the specifications to qualify. Included should be a comprehensive outcomes assessment plan measuring everything from the perspective of all participants. Thanks, Susan
Hello Navraj,
Do you require that employers pay a percentage of profits back to the school in exchange for the externship? This could help prevent smaller employers from having a high turnover.
I agree with you Susan. Externships can offer the student practical real-world training if there is sufficient management and proper evaluation. Many times, though, students are not properly supervised because of limitations of the business offering the externship. Schools must take greater care to evaluate employers prior to externships and audit the process on a regular basis.