Get Your Students Hired
Gloria,
Sometimes figuring out what you want from a job and a job environment takes some work, and time. Many students don't realize just how many options are out there. Being able to look at a comprehensive list of industries and the corresponding skills/qualities that are required of each can really help them to narrow down their choices and simplify their job search.
Elizabeth Kemler
the they already have most of the tools and preparation just getting clear what kind of work interest and is important for them.
Jennifer,
What a great way to keep your students motivated. I'm sure it helps immensely to have these kinds of ongoing reminders that there are good jobs out there and they're possible to get.
Elizabeth Kemler
I have noticed that excitement is catchy, so I like to be excited for my students. We speak with them often, share good stories about the companies that are hiring and when one of the students gets hired we play a celebration song over the loud speaker and share with all the students who got hired where. This helps to spread along the excitement and keep others from getting discouraged because they see that there are jobs out there and people can get hired.
Kelley,
Definitely-using examples that the students can relate to is always helpful.
Elizabeth Kemler
Going over the success stories of prior students that have been successful in their job search.
Dax,
Yours sounds like a great approach to inspiration-both practical and personal. And these are the kinds of things that help to hear all along the way as well.
Elizabeth Kemler
I agree with the points made thus far, namely that reminding students about why they want a job should inspire them. Also, I ask my students to dream: everyone wants to be able to pay bills, etc., but what else does landing a good career mean? We talk about the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing a job well, or the pride they feel when their children see them finishing school and embarking on a new career. These conversations tend to end with smiles and a renewed sense of hope and determination.
Hi Stephen,
Could you tell me which 'other one' you're referring to? And yes, definitely as the teacher, it's our job to keep students excited about their prospects as it is easy to get discouraged. So much work goes into the search and it doesn't always seem to pay off right away, so we need to keep finding ways of keeping our students motivated.
Elizabeth Kemler
I have to agree with the other on this one but also add that we have to portray excitement as well. I have met too many people who seem as discouraged as the job seeker. haha
I agree that it helps to be reminded of the original inspiration for making this kind of a change in one's life. And yes to fun job searches! Trying to come up with class-wide activities, games, anything to take the 'work' feeling out of it.
One way to get students to be excited about their job search is to remind them of the reasons they started this journey in the first place. Most want to make a better life for themselves and family. Another way is to come up with ways to make job searching fun, to make it not actually feel like work.
Gary,
I think this is a great point. I would say that's the case with most people-certainly myself. Particularly when things are challenging, as job searches usually are, we need to continually remind ourselves of the pot at the end of the rainbow (so to speak).
Elizabeth Kemler
Speak to students about what motivated them to take our training class. Maybe it was to be more independent from their parents or to buy a car. When people remind themselves of why they want to get a job I find that they are more inspired to continue a solid job search.