Career Services: Meeting the Needs of Students, Employers and Institutions
Post by Justin McMorrow









Colleges and universities are taking a closer appear at the level of career services help they are delivering to students beyond the studying expertise. Whilst a lot of this has to do with the current economy and the need for schools to continually find new and better ways to assistance students, the finish objective for most institutions is regulatory compliance.
STATE OF THE Business:Government intervention in higher education coupled with a decline in jobs over the last couple of years is forcing colleges and universities to take on better responsibility when it comes to supporting students by way of the profession placement approach. Keep in thoughts that:• Schools that can prove placement rates will be in a position to retain their student funding. • Schools that dedicate far more resources to their career services department will have a higher chance to connect graduates with employers.• Schools that location far more students in jobs can expect to see an increase in enrollment and retention as a result of their positive placement outcomes.
Since of Gainful Employment, colleges and universities across the country are looking at career services in a whole new light and acknowledging its growing value. Nevertheless, a lot of schools require assistance identifying where to finest allocate resources in order to advance their profession services help. Colleges and universities require to evaluate and take into account the processes and systems that require to be put into location to help them overcome challenges, specifically with regards to management and reporting.
When it comes to career services management, schools need to have to ask themselves the following concerns:1. Do we have the proper processes in place to communicate with employers and students, as nicely as connect them and monitor their interaction? two. Do we have the data management practices in location that will allow students to proactively reach out to employers to market place themselves? 3. Do we have the information management practices in spot that will enable us to create a complete database of qualified candidates?4. Do we have the capabilities to enable employers to access student applicants and post open positions?
When it comes to profession services reporting, schools require to ask themselves the following concerns:1. Are we tracking the appropriate Career Services Outcomes in terms of student and placement information? two. Can we very easily access the information to pull the reports and analytics we need to prove placement and meet compliance?3. Do we have the potential to comply with-up with alumni and track profession results long term?
Colleges and universities want to implement the systems and processes that will let them to boost placement rates and track the data for accreditation and federal regulatory purposes. Bringing software program into the mix can make it less complicated to connect students and employers, creating higher efficiencies and stronger results. It can also facilitate reporting capabilities so schools can stay competitive and compliant. There are certain items that students, employers and schools want to do, and details they require to access in order to strengthen placement outcomes.
STUDENT Needs:It isn’t sufficient any longer to basically acquire the abilities needed for job success, rather students require to be able to market themselves to employers. Colleges and universities need to supply a place and a method for students to do this.
Create an On the internet Profile – students require to be able to showcase their academic, private and professional accomplishments in order to attract employers.
Attach a Cover Letter and Resume – students want to be in a position to upload and update attachments in order to communicate their profession targets, expertise and qualifications they also want to be able to offer viewing access to possible employers.
Search Employer Profiles – students require access to the numerous employers who are hiring in their field so they can align their skill sets and goals with organizations for which they would like to function.
Search Job/Internship Postings – students need to have access to as significantly genuine planet encounter as attainable in order to get their foot in the door with employers.
EMPLOYER Requirements:The shift in the job market place has meant that employers have been able to be far more selective in the hiring procedure. As we embark on an economic recovery, that could or might not continue. Regardless, employers also require to be able to market place themselves, as nicely as search for and effortlessly connect with qualified candidates.
Generate Business Profile – employers need to be able to communicate their value proposition to future workers in terms of their company model, markets served, mission, culture and objectives.
Post Job Openings On the internet – employers want an effective way to spread the word about job opportunities to a network of students and graduates who will most likely meet prerequisites.
View Student Background and Resume – employers need to be able to quickly and easily learn about and qualify prospective applicants.
Create Resume Books – employers want to be able to compile resumes from qualified applicants in order to compare skill sets and achievements, and seek out the most appropriate candidate.
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY Needs:As colleges and universities take on greater accountability in job placement, they want to appear for new ways to aid students and graduates succeed beyond the classroom on a expert level. They can achieve this by delivering a greater level of assistance throughout the education procedure. They also require to function closely with employers to make sure job candidates are meeting employer expectations, as nicely as connect these job seekers with their prospective future employers.
When it comes to supporting students, schools require to do the following:
Track Student Information for Advising – profession services advisors want a comprehensive tool set that enables them to track the student via the job search, assessing qualification and activities, as well as conducting comply with-ups. • Integrated Academic and Demographic Data – advisors need a centralized location to access the student’s data, from grades to career goals so they can make sure the student is confident and capable in his or her selected field, as nicely as on track to meet employer specifications. • Get in touch with Management and Communication Tools – advisors require to be in a position to frequently reach out to students relating to such factors as resume suggestions, new job postings and far more.• Profile Background, Skill Sets and Preferences – advisors need to be in a position to simply compile a student’s information in order to identify profession possibilities that would be a fit for the student.
Track Opportunities and Profession Services Outcomes – profession services advisors need to have an efficient way to stay on best of all postings so they can far better match qualified students with job opportunities they also want to manage and measure which postings secure hires.
Track Placement Information, Salary and Employment History – colleges need an straightforward way to analyze how numerous students are becoming placed, what they are earning, the achievement rate of every single student once placed, and the profession path every single student follows out of school.
When it comes to engaging with employers, schools need to do the following:
Communicate with and Manage Potential Employers – colleges need to have a tool set that will allow them to build stronger employer relationships in order to much better match students with jobs, as nicely as to secure the school’s reputation as a credible source of qualified graduates.• Track Several Locations and Contacts Per Employer – schools require to make certain they often have a present database of employers with which they can connect students.• Track Numerous Chance Varieties – advisors need to be in a position to analyze job particulars, such as full time, part time, hourly, internship, externship and more.• Make contact with Management – advisors need to have to be in a position to track current and past outreach with employers to see which relationships are in excellent standings and exactly where further outreach is necessary• Communication Tools – advisors want to be able to proactively reach out to employers to reinforce the relationship and remain top of thoughts
Track and Manage Job Requisitions – profession services advisors want an straightforward way to stick to existing and new job postings so they can match qualified applicants with those employers and possibilities.
Manage Alumni Network at the Employer – the profession services team needs to be able to track and report on the number of students operating with a specific organization so they can assess the accomplishment rates of graduates by employer, as well as decide organizations where their students’ skill sets are the best fit.
CONCLUSION: Colleges and universities that advance their career services are going to be at an advantage. Their students will be greater matched with career opportunities in which they have the opportunity to succeed, and the schools will be able to use the placement information to assistance compliance. A nicely thought out profession services approach can mean a lot more placements, which in turn can drive increased retention and stronger enrollment.
When looking at career services methods, it is crucial that schools simplify management processes and streamline reporting capabilities. A complete student information management program that contains student and employer portals, as nicely as job seeker and employer CRMs can assist colleges and universities do this by:• Collecting all data in a central location• Eliminating the want for redundant and outdated spreadsheets• Allowing several levels of staff inside the organization to access the details in actual time



About the Author
Justin McMorrow co-founded TopSchool, bringing more than a decade of encounter helping student-centric institutions give greater access to education. Previously, he served in a quantity of executive roles at eCollege and helped discovered the Institute for Education Greatest Practices at the American Productivity and Top quality Center. He has spoken at a number of business events, including APSCU and DETC. He is a graduate of Trinity University.










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