Get Your Students Hired
Manuel,
This is certainly a good idea. Do you also have people working in the field come to speak?
Elizabeth Kemler
Motivation is the key. Having them hear successful stories from our graduate students. Giving them resources, support, motivation and assistance. Following up is important as we'll
Inviting grad student to school to share their success stories, by giving them resources, support and assistance in the job search
Jaclyn,
I really like this idea; it's easy to lose steam and motivation during the job search, so helping to reinvigorate their initial enthusiasm makes good sense.
Elizabeth Kemler
Jaclyn,
Most definitely; it's always inspiring to see how other people have succeeded especially if they have overcome obstacles to do so.
Elizabeth Kemler
I could ask them what they have most enjoyed about their schooling and what aspect of the Cosmetology industry is their favorite. Then once they have determined that, help point them in the right direction to finding the job that best suits them. i think by making the students start to think about what they love about the industry, they naturally get excited and it lights a fire within them which enables them to stay motivated.
I also find that informing the students of other peoples success helps to motivate them to keep working hard
Marion,
Your approach as you explain it here is certainly thorough and proactive. I particularly like your suggestion that they learn all they can about the company--this is a critical and often overlooked part of the interview preparation process.
Elizabeth Kemler
The simple answer is learning all that they can about the company they hope to work for. Second, having realistic expectations about the position and how they can positively demonstrate and align their skills to these expectations is key. A student will not be disappointed in any position when they are fully informed about the job requirements, salary potential, growth potential, and culture of the profession. More importantly, it is important to help students understand that their training at your school is preparing them for the jobs in their discipline. This is why they are attending school and there are numerous changes that may occur in their lives that will impact how family and friends see them and how they will look at themselves. Conducting an effective job search is empowerment.
Tequilla,
Thanks very much..and I agree, the importance of in-person communication cannot be overstated, and unfortunately, as you say, is sorely lacking in the modern day job search.
Elizabeth Kemler
Thank you. Please feel free to share. I just believe that since our society is forever changing and technology has become so prominent, we we often lose touch of the personal face to face communication. Students can send out numerous resumes and online applications without ever speaking to a real person. Having that one on one connection is still very important. I understand students have busy schedules, so bringing employers on campus also becomes convenient for the students as well as the employers. Additionally, the more activity we have on campus, the more the students begin to trust and understand the importance of Career Services. They also see our efforts in attempting to assist them. We do all we can to help, but the rest is still up to them.
Tequilla,
This makes so much sense! You are serving multiple purposes here--getting the students inspired, focused on the job search, giving them interview practice, and as you point out, making the prospect of getting a job in their field 'real'. If you don't mind, I'd love to share some of your ideas with other students.
Elizabeth Kemler
Tequilla,
You have a lot of great ideas--I especially like the idea of creating a webpage to showcase their work; in this way the students are demonstrating not only their culinary talent but their initiative and creative thinking.
Elizabeth Kemler
We have "employer spotlights" on campus where we bring in employers to set up a booth on campus and conduct interviews and talk to students. When students see employers on campus the process of searching for a job becomes more "real" to them. It is especially motivating to the very new and younger students who may have never even been on a job interview before. It is a great practice tool to get comfortable speaking with employers.
One way I encourage students to get excited about their job search is through networking. We all know somebody who knows somebody, even if it starts with their Chef instructor. There are also certain times of year when alot of events may be happening around the city (i.e. holiday events, spring wedding/bridal shows, etc...). I encourage the students to attend these events and begin talking with the food vendors. They can hand out their own business cards or even offer to volunteer their time. Additionally, social networking is also a great way to get students excited. Some students don't even think to use Twitter or Facebook as a tool to learn more about the places they may be interestd in working. They can also create a page to showcase pictures of their work. Most students like the idea of posting photos of their work so it tends to spark some motivation and confidence in their job search.
Hi, Carla! This is a great idea that we haven't thought about in our Career Services office, but it makes sense, and it's a way to put our employers in front of our students and accommodate their busy schedule. Thanks for the idea!
Kristin
Bringing in past students and having them talk about their job experiences before and now. Getting them information about what the current salaries are.
Selimah,
This is so true. No amount of reading about these things can compare to the experience of talking to someone who is where they want to be.
Elizabeth Kemler
They get excited when they know that someone who has no prior knowledge in the field has succeeded in doing what they are studying to do right now. They get excited when these same people come in and say, "it was intimidating for me at first, but now it's great because I love it and I know what i'm doing."