Since so many students have significant student loan debt, they must be worried about the companies and employment opportunities open to them after graduation. Of course, this does not imply that students without debt are not equally concerned about finding rewarding careers. But, even if I’ve mentioned it before, it is still valid. Most college students just desire these three things in the end:
- A quality education in college
- A satisfying college career
- A fantastic career after graduation
Unfortunately, some universities struggle to meet all three. Academic excellence is a reputation held by several universities. Others provide a wide variety of activities, clubs, and events. Only a select handful have a reputation for putting procedures in place to ensure that many students land well-paying employment with prestigious companies that will offer promotion possibilities.
College administrators won’t alter their behavior until they have a mental shift and focus more on students finding successful jobs. But unfortunately, no one can successfully modify their behavior before making a mental shift.
Skeptic leaders usually resist change. It frightens them. We are all typically afraid of change unless we fully grasp it and are convinced it will benefit us. The difficulty lies there.
How can colleges in Dallas see and comprehend the adjustments that will improve their circumstances and the effectiveness of student employment? Of course, money, workforce, and time are frequently raised. However, “wanting to make things better” and “searching for and identifying the things that must change” are the most crucial components. Colleges unable or unwilling to undertake one or both of those things will never increase their students’ employment success.
Colleges must: increase student employment success:
Acknowledge that students’ knowledge of job search preparation activities and what, how, when, and why they should be done is quite limited. Recognize that students spend most of their time at colleges, which are learning institutions, and that this is where they expect to get the advice, support, and information they’ll need for their job hunt.
Acknowledge that the college, not simply students and staff in Career Services, is mainly responsible for providing education and counseling on job search preparation. Recognize that students must contend with other applicants for the best positions in their desired fields. Therefore, getting a degree with decent grades is not always enough.
More students getting attractive employment at reputable companies will benefit their college. Colleges should: assist students in finding tremendous employment success.
No later than their sophomore year, assist students in choosing a career path that aligns with their skills and interests. There may be little to no time left for activities explicitly focused on preparing students for a job search if they wait too long to decide on a professional path. On the other hand, making rash decisions could result in additional education loans and additional time spent in school.
Request that students buy and read a book in their first or second year of college that details the hiring process, including preparation tactics and methods. Career Services ought to recommend one.
Make students create a personal budget for post-college independence as early as possible. That will prompt them to consider their upcoming expenses and help them determine the minimum starting wage they will need. Career Services may provide a sample budget form for students to complete.
A reasonable spending plan will motivate students to decide on two things: 1) Does the chosen professional path offer attractive entry-level positions that will accommodate their financial needs? Secondly, do those positions offer a clear professional path and potential for advancement?
Qualified students shouldn’t blindly enter the workforce and accept job offers that make it too difficult to live independently and repay their student loans or have low compensation and limited possibility for advancement.
Assist students in choosing a major and minor, complementing their chosen career path and desired jobs.
Assist students in creating a written action plan detailing their experiences and actions they’ll undertake to stand out to potential employers. Colleges can get things going by giving each student a general illustration of a step-by-step approach.
Provide pupils with training in how to conduct a job search. These courses should go over every facet of job search preparation, go over the material in the chosen book, assist students in creating and using a network for job searches, assist them in creating a resume that focuses on accomplishments and successes, and assist them in developing the stories and examples they will use in interviews.
Ask each student to research careers in their chosen area of interest. (Students will find it simpler to complete the subsequent tasks if they have a clear goal.)
Ask each student to research a list of companies offering internships to people with specific career goals. Students can then seek possibilities with the particular employers that they are interested in. Almost continuously, employers must pursue students instead of the other way around.
