Challenges

Public

Discussion:

Hi Taunji,

I agree that this generation has both challenges and amazing strengths. Technology mediated communication is one of the ways in which this generation has become accustomed to not just building and maintaining relationships, but learning, researching, etc. Whereas some students within a population may wish to have a face-to-face meeting with a career advisor as an example, others may have more interest in self-help resources which may be anything from a library of video content, blogs, or a recommended list of resources. Having a digital career services presence alone is a start to using this generation's strengths because it opens up the possibility of conducting some career services using technology mediated communication which some students may prefer. One strategy this entire course is about is having a mental shift to not see social media as one sees a telephone - view it as a doorway to gain tremendous insight about your population from which to be more intentional about how you first strengthen your partnerships and reach more students. Other strategies are explained throughout the course and in discussion forums that can help both students and employers - examples include:

1. Using technology to scale education efforts (Consider a Career Services YouTube Channel all about career advice, a career Blog, or perhaps post your slide decks to SlideShare.net)
2. Success T.V. - Consider a Youtube Channel of successful alumni/students sharing their advice with other students/alumni (and promoting Career Services!)
3. Consider a "Hot Jobs" bulletin only shared via a preferred Career Services Social Media Channel
4. Crowd-source job leads using a group - This generation loves social causes and loves helping others. Get them to help each other by organizing a social group (perhaps a Facebook Group and an actual school club) for students to share job leads they have found/heard about to socially curate opportunities and share with peers. The "Career Club" can be about more than just jobs - use your imagination!
5. Hold contests via your social channels with a reward such as a field trip to an employer or winning a mock interview opportunity with an employer. The content should relate to developing career skills such as an "Interview Olympics" to have students sign up to go through a mock interview contest - grand prize is mock interview with employer partner.
6. Trivia Contest - Teach students to do research about employers by having a trivia contest that requires them to successfully answer a series of questions (perhaps first person to successfully submit correct answers to 5 questions an employer in a certain field). Think of a creative reward - they get to have an informational interview with that employer over coffee or perhaps a lunch.
7. Run "Personal-branding camps" or "Me Inc." camps. Creating an online personal brand is heavily focused on strategic use of social media to present a positive brand online. This type of workshop may have more appeal to students who wouldn't want to attend an interview workshop or a resume workshop. Appeal to their natural interest in technology. Other ideas might be workshops with fun names like "How to Use Social Media to Find Your Next Job" or "How to Stalk your Dream Employer Online to Gain an Interview." Again - be creative!

Taunji - I encourage you to use this social media guide with your students as a way to help you in teaching them how to use technology to their career advantage: slidesha.re/138Syc7. It's a good starting point.

I hope that gets your creative juices flowing in how to leverage this generation's strengths to use practical strategies to engage them in ways that help them advance their career goals and advance your department's mission! I'd love to see you brainstorm some ideas and share with the group.

Robert Starks Jr.

Hi Taunji, I agree that this generation has both challenges and amazing strengths. Technology mediated communication is one of the ways in which this generation has become accustomed to not just building and maintaining relationships, but learning, researching, etc. Whereas some students within a population may wish to have a face-to-face meeting with a career advisor as an example, others may have more interest in self-help resources which may be anything from a library of video content, blogs, or a recommended list of resources. Having a digital career services presence alone is a start to using this generation's strengths because it opens up the possibility of conducting some career services using technology mediated communication which some students may prefer. One strategy this entire course is about is having a mental shift to not see social media as one sees a telephone - view it as a doorway to gain tremendous insight about your population from which to be more intentional about how you first strengthen your partnerships and reach more students. Other strategies are explained throughout the course and in discussion forums that can help both students and employers - examples include: 1. Using technology to scale education efforts (Consider a Career Services YouTube Channel all about career advice, a career Blog, or perhaps post your slide decks to SlideShare.net) 2. Success T.V. - Consider a Youtube Channel of successful alumni/students sharing their advice with other students/alumni (and promoting Career Services!) 3. Consider a "Hot Jobs" bulletin only shared via a preferred Career Services Social Media Channel 4. Crowd-source job leads using a group - This generation loves social causes and loves helping others. Get them to help each other by organizing a social group (perhaps a Facebook Group and an actual school club) for students to share job leads they have found/heard about to socially curate opportunities and share with peers. The "Career Club" can be about more than just jobs - use your imagination! 5. Hold contests via your social channels with a reward such as a field trip to an employer or winning a mock interview opportunity with an employer. The content should relate to developing career skills such as an "Interview Olympics" to have students sign up to go through a mock interview contest - grand prize is mock interview with employer partner. 6. Trivia Contest - Teach students to do research about employers by having a trivia contest that requires them to successfully answer a series of questions (perhaps first person to successfully submit correct answers to 5 questions an employer in a certain field). Think of a creative reward - they get to have an informational interview with that employer over coffee or perhaps a lunch. 7. Run "Personal-branding camps" or "Me Inc." camps. Creating an online personal brand is heavily focused on strategic use of social media to present a positive brand online. This type of workshop may have more appeal to students who wouldn't want to attend an interview workshop or a resume workshop. Appeal to their natural interest in technology. Other ideas might be workshops with fun names like "How to Use Social Media to Find Your Next Job" or "How to Stalk your Dream Employer Online to Gain an Interview." Again - be creative! Taunji - I encourage you to use this social media guide with your students as a way to help you in teaching them how to use technology to their career advantage: slidesha.re/138Syc7. It's a good starting point. I hope that gets your creative juices flowing in how to leverage this generation's strengths to use practical strategies to engage them in ways that help them advance their career goals and advance your department's mission! I'd love to see you brainstorm some ideas and share with the group. Robert Starks Jr.