The more resources that Career Services can provide to the students and graduates the more prepared and ultimately successful those students and graduates will be. Having a current listing of available jobs is a good start, but also providing information on internships/externships is a great way to give students a real-world working experiential opportunity for students to gain valuable experience and for potential employers to see howe well students function in a real-work environment. The programmatic offerings at your specific institution will largely determine what is more relevant, as some programs require externships, but whenever such opportunities are available, it… >>>

Career Services truly is one of the most important departments in any career-oriented college or post-secondary institution. Developing a coherent and achievable Mission Statement sets a foundation upon which Career Services can then help students and graduates achieve their career goals. The success of any Career Services Department rests almost entirely on the leadership of the department and of the institution. When those entities are in lock-step in messaging, focus and executing the core mission of the school, the students and graduates will ultimately find success in their respective fields of study. Essential to building a bridge from Admissions to… >>>

One thing that really stood out to me in this training is the trap of asking questions to provide solutions. Although I know our goal is to help students find solutions, I expected to be taking a more hands on approach. However, I see how it is more beneficial to the student to empower them to find their own solutions. This module also gave several techniques to help us help the students think for themselves such as the cartesian method, role modeling, and role playing. 

In this section I found the snip model as a way to give constructive feedback very helpful. When the feedback is specific, neutral, immediate, and practical the students are more open to receiving it, they have a actionable items to follow up on. 

In this Training module I understood our purpose is less about managing our students and more about supporting them as they make their own decisions. Using tools and skills like asking open ended questions and getting to know their interests builds rapport and creates room to build a strong relationship between you and the student.  

When writing case notes MAPP is a helpful model to follow.

Motive establishes the purpose of the visit. Then assess the conversation with the student. Progress- notates how the student is progressing. Lastly what plans does the student have moving forward. 

Data doesn't have much meaning if it is inaccurate. It is important to put systems and checks and balances in place in order to ensure your data is accurate.  

Although there are many different factors to consider when instituting an employment verification process, It is most important to be clear on what the parameters are. We of course want to meet the standards given by the legislation and accreditation, however, we should strive to aim above those standards for the purpose of providing the most accurate and concise data. 

Through this training module, I learned how crucial documentation is to the accreditation process. I understand lack of that documentation can negatively impact the institution's accreditation. I also learned that gainful employment can have a different meaning to people. However, government entities are most interested in the student debt to salary ratio. This can affect our funding and what programs we offer to students.

I learned how important it is to keep track of your graduates and to get feedback from them. I think the one thing that I learned that I did not know and was impressed by is that some employers will actually offer scholarships to employees. I think this is a great motivator for any graduate who wants to grow in their career field and will encourage outstanding work.