One strategy that stood out to me was fear setting. I also found values exploration and visualization to be valuable because they encourage students to reflect on what truly motivates them and mentally picture themselves succeeding in their future careers, which can increase confidence and persistence. In career services, I think these techniques can help students manage anxiety, stay focused on meaningful goals, and remain motivated even when facing rejection or uncertainty during the job search process. I will definitely be using the fear setting worksheet.

It's very important to challenge negative thought patterns instead of automatically accepting them as facts. Techniques like asking for evidence, reframing situations, perspective taking, questioning emotional reasoning, and counter catastrophizing can help students manage discouragement and approach setbacks more realistically. I plan to apply these strategies by helping students build confidence, reduce anxiety around the job search process, and stay focused on productive next steps.

This module helped reinforce the importance of balancing perspective and not allowing negative thoughts to become exaggerated distractions that keep us stuck in discouragement. The “three good things” exercise showed how intentionally focusing on positive progress or small successes can help redirect attention toward solutions and growth instead of negativity cycles. In career services, I think this can be especially helpful when supporting students through rejection or uncertainty by encouraging them to recognize their progress, stay motivated, and continue adapting to challenges in a healthy and productive way.

Resilience relies heavily in the importance of actively managing our mindset and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than failures. I also learned that staying aware of changes and trends within the workforce allows us to better support students and graduates as they adapt to an evolving job market. I plan to apply this by helping students reframe challenges positively, stay motivated, and approach their career goals with resilience and determination.

I enjoy the concept of a post-hire communication checklist and an incentives program. I will be looking into how this can be implemented at our campus to keep engaged with graduates and elevate the reputation of the institution's dedication to student success.

I learned that it's okay - and important - to investigate for more feedback to set up more precise benchmarks for future candidate referrals. 

This module gave me some pointers on how to develop more of a connection with employers when cold calling. It is important to reframe and redirect when there are concerns and know when to persist for more versus when to give the employer time to consider.

It is imperative to research the industry and its terminology, technology, etc., prior to reaching out to make connections with employers. We should be able to answer baseline questions relevant to the industry and present ourselves as connected to both our surroundings and our programs. 

It is very important to follow up with not only employers but also speak with students who attended to gather all of the ROI data; were students engaging, were they applying, were they truly putting themselves out there and taking full advantage of the offerings? This helps us to bridge any potential gaps and create stronger events with better outcomes.

Coaching students on elevator pitches and scheduling workshops ahead of the event increases the likelihood of them having a more productive meeting with employers, which will in turn motivate employers to return for future events.