What has great impact for our students is when I invite both employers and graduates in to visit their business class because it offers real-world perspective. Employers talk about their practices, what they seek in candidates, why they would (or would not offer a job to a candidate) and are open to questions from students. Student see the employers are "real people" who offer great opportunities and it removes a lot of their pre-interview jitters, excites them about these opportunities, prepares them for their job searches, and often these initial connections lead to job offers! Exciting for both students and employers. Inviting graduates in is also great because they've "been there" and in talking with students they understand their anxiety, share what they did that worked as they were preparing for their own job searches, and discuss their successes and experience. It's all very inspiring and is such a win-win for everyone and invaluable piece of the training we offer our students.
Amy,
You really can't beat 'real world perspective' as you call it. Hearing directly from people who are doing what the students want to be doing in the working world, can give them helpful insights and get them excited about the road ahead.
Elizabeth Kemler
Ways to get them excited to begin searching are:
(1) Envision the type of job they would love to have - what type of atmosphere, types of people they would connect well with, do they want a team or individual type of environment, are they willing to relocate, where (LA, NY, etc.).
(2) Think of ideal companies they would like to work for - radio stations, TV stations, recording studios, etc. I have them compile a list of companies in the area closest to them.
(3) Be certain to take advantage of an internship... Learn as much as they can, and network, network, network... That is their chance to meet ideal people in their ideal work environment!
(4) Start promoting on their personal & business social media sites that they are seeking work, and list a couple of things they are really good at!
Michelle,
It sounds like you have an excellent system in place. More schools should be following your lead!
Elizabeth Kemler
We do individual career consultations with our students and create a specific action plan with them. It gets them excited because it is specific to their goals and also helps keep them focused.
wendy ,
I love the idea of an action plan..its great to have something concrete to refer back to or to check off as you accomplish your goals.
Elizabeth Kemler
My campus holds job fairs just before or just after graduation where both students and graduates can come and meet potential employers in a relaxed atmosphere in a familiar setting (campus). So often, its a connection made with an employer at the job fair that gets them their first interview and often a job offer.
I emphasize the idea that they are interviewing the employer as well and to go in prepared to ask questions about the business, hiring practices, benefits, mission statement, etc... this helps to move them into empowerment and away from the idea that they must conform to be happy/successful in any job they get offered.
Susan,
I love job fairs! This is really an ideal way to connect the students with potential employers. Its especially great when the school itself sponsors them.
Elizabeth Kemler
Working in a Barber School, We try to bring in local shop owners to come and speak to our Students.
Hector,
That's great. it always helps the students to hear from people who are working in the field.
Elizabeth Kemler
Bring in some employers of their field to come and talk to the class and show the benefits of the Field
Hector,
This is always a great idea; it can also be good to have former students who are working in the field.
Elizabeth Kemler
Be excited for them to begin their search, show them success stories of grads who have obtained employment in the given career field and you could have that person discuss what they found successful. Give them some job leads to get them started so they don't feel stressed from the beginning and not knowing where to begin.
Michele,
I love your optimistic approach. You are the very first person to use the word 'excited' about the job search! I'm certain that your attitude must have a strong influence over the way the students view their prospects.
Elizabeth Kemler
Haveing guest speakers in the field come in to talk to the students and share expectations of the job. Students love to talk to "the real thing" rather than an instructor.
Susan,
I have heard repeatedly how helpful this is and how much the students appreciate speaking to those in the field. Also worth considering is having former students who have gotten jobs come back to talk about the process and how the work is.
Elizabeth Kemler
I'm not able to get the best guest speakers come during school hours, so I reached out to my contacts and asked them to let me record them answering questions about getting to know potential employers, interviewing skills they look for, how to be successful, etc. Getting the "powerful" people my students want to work for to to "speak to them", even to a camera, has proven successful for me. It's priceless information, recorded on video, and comes from someone else other than me or the instructors.
Carla,
What a great idea! This is the first time I've heard of this but it makes so much sense, and is great because you can use it over and over again.
Elizabeth Kemler
At the Institution that I work at which is in the Beauty Industry, some of the things I like to do is bring either successful business owners in the field or recent GRAD students to share their experience and motivate our students. I also hold Career Fair events, Employer's Tables with a wide variety of salon and spa owners and much more.
Yanisdey,
This is great! I'm always recommending this to career services professionals-there's nothing better than hearing from people who are doing the work we want to do.
Elizabeth Kemler
