Robert Pearl Starks

Robert Pearl Starks

Location: phoenix, arizona

About me

As Vice President of Product Development, I lead cross-functional teams of designers, developers, QA testers and product stakeholders to develop, launch, and improve products customers need and love. 

Previously, I've worked in a variety of leadership roles in education / learning & professional development. Through my experience, I've become accustomed to working across departmental silos and with various stakeholders (executives, end-users, faculty, staff, students / learners, alumni, parents, regulatory agencies, partners and employers) to facilitate collaboration and advance common goals. In my previous roles, I've advocated for student needs and driven organizational change that helped educators do their best work, students thrive in their careers, and employers connect with quality talent.

Despite different contexts, a common theme in my career journey has been to do work that contributes to a mission which improves people's lives. It's also always been important for me to work with an organization whose values align with my own. I'm a listener, empathizer, customer advocate, servant leader, and lifelong learner. I'm never satisfied with status quo, I constantly strive for "better," and I'm driven by genuine curiosity to solve complex problems.

“Work to become; not to acquire.” -Elbert Hubbard

Interests

social media, career development, training, higher education, web 2.0/3.0, career services, leadership, marketing

Skills

social media, marketing, training, consulting, management, strategic planning

Activity

Your site needs to work for prospective and current students, so if you don't mind us asking: how does your site look on a smartphone or tablet? If the answer is "less than stellar," you have an opportunity to re-imagine your institution's site as a future-friendly destination that delivers facts, utility, and marketing content for all of your different audiences.

Hi Jessica, I'm glad to hear you've made this part of your exit interview process. It's so important! You may find the following resources helpful when working with students on developing a professional online presence: 1. Beginner's Guide to Social Media for the Job Seeker - http://lwire.us/?l=JAKH 2. SimpleWash - I recommend reading this short blog on SimpleWash, an app to help clean up your online presence http://lwire.us/?l=N0U0 I hope those resources help! Keep up the good and IMPORTANT work you do! Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Jessica, I have found that perhaps the greatest challenge when assisting students with resumes is to get students to have a marketing mindset. This mindset leads to the "aha" moment for why the resume needs to be written as a value proposition to the employer - "what do I offer and what is the evidence that backs up my claims" are the questions a resume writer must answer. The formula provided in the course for writing effective objectives may help your students. Robert Starks Jr.

Hi Paulette, Thanks for sharing your personal preference and opinion. I think your perspective of what it means to be "professional" is interesting. I think people would have differing opinions on this as well so I'll ask for all other participants - Does "professional profile" necessarily mean one has been in the field for several years? The issue I've observed with objectives is that they often focus on what the person wants vs. what they can offer the employer. However, this doesn't mean that all objectives are simply for an individual to obtain a job - this is simply because… >>>

Hi Paulette, Thanks for sharing these practical strategies. Once you are able to get students to realize the importance of managing their professional image as part of a marketing strategy to obtain their career goals, I'm wondering if you've thought of (or use) ways to then get those students who have had that "Aha moment" to further spread the message and influence other students to adopt similar behaviors/strategies to market themselves. I've found that often, career services could use additional human resources but if not staff, they can often mobilize students to assist in helping other students. I would love… >>>

No, Gates isn't working on his bachelor's degree, but, he tells CNET's Ina Fried, he is an avid viewer of online classes from MIT and elsewhere. Such classes have the potential to transform higher education, he says.

Hi Pamela, Thanks for sharing this practice. Can you share your evaluation of this practice - is it working? Do you have any ideas on how this could be built upon to help students strengthen their portfolios further? Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Pamela, Can you explain what you mean by a "quote" and what this looks like on a resume? When I think of a "quote," I think of an actual quotation. I'm thinking this isn't what is meant though - can you confirm? I'm also curious - can you elaborate more on what is meant by your employers viewing objectives as "stuffy." What specific feedback/observations lead you to this assessment? Thanks! Robert Starks Jr.
Hi Pamela, What strategies do you use to ensure students communicate their past experience in such a way that emphasizes relevance, highlights transferable skills, and/or de-emphasizes the least relevant information? Robert Starks Jr.
Discussion Comment
Hi Olivia, I hear you about sharing opinions. I think the best thing to do is to be neutral and professional in expressing opinions. Whereas conviction is a good thing, it's how one communicates diplomatically that matters. I provided an example of a Twitter profile that demonstrates a passion for massage - take a look at this example as a case study if you will and you'll start to get more ideas on how one uses a Twitter profile to establish a brand: https://twitter.com/massagenerd. Robert Starks Jr.

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