We total agree. Early and persistent employment skills training is vital. And yes, guest speakers, job fairs, things that are fun and provide learning are important to keep student interest. Good point about managing expectations. That begins in admissions. The student needs to understand that they are being prepared for entry level work. It is up to them to work on job advancement in a variety of ways including continuing their training and continuing education courses. Thanks, Susan
We began introducing our students to the career services department/staff on orientation day. Our admissions person also discusses the services we offer. I feel individuals do better in school, and in life when they have a plan. We will be offering a series of workshops focusing on: individual mission statements, resume writing, interviewing skills, role playing (interviews), networking and how to sell yourself in a tough job market. We will hold these workshops through out a students time at our school. We think it is important to make regular contact with students and encourage them to utilize our services throughout their program. I do not feel it is as effective to withhold placement services until the end of a program. I feel it is beneficial to the student to incorporate what they can learn in the workshops throughout their studies. Hopefully by doing that, the student will feel more confident, when it is time to start the interview process.
Great Great that students are introduced to placement on orientation day. Actually we think placement people should sit in admissions departments and start talking to applicants during the admissions process!! We also believe in the value of PLANS. So we think the individual mission statements and other projects are a requirement. You have said it so well about the value of ongoing and consistent and persistent employment skills training. It takes time to learn the skills and build up the required self confidence to be effective. How are your placement rates given this outstanding effort? Reminder to measure every initative. Thanks, Susan
I agree that placement services must start at the beginning. In order to know our students and promote our services and the opportunities that they will find when they complete their education.
That's exactly what we promote. Placement services can even start in Admissions letting the applicant know the support they get from day 1 and that the school knows the purpose of enrollment is to get a job. When grads get jobs and are happy with the placement services they have a lot to recommend to other people and all this will increase referrals. Thanks, Susan
I believe placement services should start with each prospective student's first visit to our school.
It's important for prospective students to understand the importance our school places on helping students find training-related employment.
How do prospective students get that understanding? By touring the placement center, meeting any available placement staff, and receiving a handout on the career services offered.
I would love to know what career services other placement departments offer.
Marcia Lambert
I agree, placement should start from the very beginning. When Admissions is touring the student around the facilities, I ask to see the potential student and inform them of what my department will do for them upon arrival and thru ought their studies and post graduation.
I'm agree because like we discussed before Placement Department is the most important office in a College due to the rest of the Depts. are related or depends of that one.
Ubaldo, That is true. Now you have to list all the strategies so that the placement department offers services to students, finds jobs for grads to interview for, and has a way to track success.
I agree that placement services start at the beginning of the course. I would even add that they begin during the admissions process. To let a new student or potential student know that there is assistance with beginning a career in the field is usually of great relief to them and very important to them as well. They are usually quite happy that they are not just given the education and wished good luck, but that there will be help and assistance provided. I'd even add that the placement services don't end at graduation either.
Yes, we also believe that career services discussions need to start during the admissions process. Students typically enroll in career schools because they want a job. They need to know that there is a staff to assist them with all areas of the job search process. This includes all the skills like resume writing, interviewing, etc. and how to locate an ideal job and maintain the confidence to be hired. Thanks, Susan
Placement services are more effective when offered at the beginning of the educational experience because on-the-job-experience is why students choose career schools. If job training is offered at the beginning then the educational experience is more beneficial and the students feel they are getting exactly what they enrolled for. Our students are required to take English, Math and Keyboarding the first semester because we have found that professionals are unable to write a grammatically correct letter and perform basic math. Our students are required to take computing essentials where they learn to operate the computer and utilize software such as Word and Excel. They are also required to take office procedures where they are taught telephone and business etiquette. There is also a class called career skills where they are taught to write resumes and coverletters, as well as, interviewing essentials. All of the above better prepare the students to be successful and make it easy to place them.
This is a very well thought out curriculum, Shalondra. You start with the skills needed and build on them. Really great. Sounds like it reduces frustration and increases success. And great strategy to start with job skills so that students don't have to worry about the time it takes to learn to be effective in the job search process. Or wonder when they will get that "class." And you are right, a prepared student is definitely easy to place. Thanks, Susan
I absolutely agree. The student needs to think about the steps, training and knowledge of how to present themselves in the most positive light possible from the first day of class. This is not something we can teach them in a few weeks (let's face it, it took most of us years to learn the things we are passing on to the students).
They need to have the constant re-inforcement of how they represent themselves to others. That's why we encourage students to practice a 30 second "commercial". The "commercial" will help them to respond to such statements as: "Tell me about yourself." They are instructed to stand in front of a mirror and answer such questions. This practice allows the answers to just flow out naturally as if they didn't have to think of the answers at all. This will be how they "sell" themselves to an employer. That is what the job interview is all about afterall.
This is great training, Joyce. Suggest that you have 10 to 20 exercises similar to this throughout the course of the student's training. We strongly believe that job readiness and employment skills plus confidence develops over time. It's not a one lesson event. Lack of confidence is a reason that many grads linger a long time before seeking employment. Great. Thanks, Susan
Our program consists of four semesters. We usually don't start offering placement assistance until closer to 3rd semester once the student has gained some general knowledge about the subject.
I don't encourage interning until at least 3rd semester.
This is an interesting perspective. We believe placement should start on day one. This is so the student keeps his/her eye on the job search goal from the start. We can see the argument for having students focus on their studies before starting employment skills training. What do your students say they prefer? Do they have choices? Thanks, Susan
I think we have to educate students since the beggining of their program about job searching, it is very important for them to understand how to proceed when they graduate and they can not do it properly if they were not educated from the beggining.
We totally agree, Luis. We feel that employment skills training should be required and should be offered all during the students enrollment at school. In that way they learn the skills and gain the confidence needed to begin the job search. There are so many skills that can be taught and so many resources. Ask your alumni to help out too.
Thanks, Susan
During admission the whole process is explained to the students so they can be related about what they are going to be doing when they graduate.
