Dr. Susan Schulz

HI Todd Looks like you have a great start. I like the idea that students are required to take the classes. How are you evaluating them? How about looking at long-term results also? Do grads tend to stay on the job? Advance? Gain increase in salary? How are you measuring the seriousness of the grad on the job? Best wishes, Susan

Hi Kim Sounds like you have a great program. How are you tracking placement success with the placement training you are providing? Best wishes, Susan

Hi Mitzie Looks like you have a great understanding of the details and follow up required for a good placement department and gathering and using information. Attached are 2 surveys that you can adapt. Best wishes, Susan

Wow. What a great course. I like the idea that it is required. Then you know that students will gain the skills and knowledge needed to become great job seekers. Can you tell us more about placement results and job retention. Thanks. Susan

HI Mitzie Your comments show the value of outside community and industry resources. You also demonstrate the need for having a huge number of people to draw upon. You can never have enough advisors or industry representatives. It takes asking everyone to particpate in your career center programs. What are you doing to ensure you have a large population of industry experts to call upon? Best wishes, Susan

HI Mitzie Sounds like you have a great placement department. It takes time, trial and error, and committment to your goals to reach this level of success. For other schools you show that constant contact with employers is a key to success. Plus having specific goals. Eventually dealing with the details pays off. How are you implementing your goals. Best wishes, Susan

Hi Jennifer Sounds like you have a great career services department. You are right that the concepts have to be reinforced throughout the school. Do you do any coordination with the guest speakers so they touch on all the soft skills and employment skills that the school presents? Best wishes Susan

Hi Jennifer Building student self esteem is essential. I agree it starts when they enter the building, how they are greeted, what the admissions rep says. In addition, teachers need the skills to help students create and maintain self esteem. Are your students required to participate in all services offered by your placement department? If not, what percentage do use the services. Best wishes Susan

Hi Jennifer Sounds like you are making great use of the surveys. From a research point of view I always think there is more to do with the data in terms of analysis and also acting on the information. I'm a qualitative researcher so all data to me is valuable. Just a thought to push to the next step. Best wishes, Susan

Hi Kim Great idea to draw on resources of professional organizations. In addition to gaining a rich source of speakers, you may be able to show students the value of joining such professional organizations. Career services departments are responsible for helping students get jobs and also to keep them. Being a member helps students feel like a professional and as employees keeps them up to date with their industry plus helps them network. So good point about the organizations. Best wishes, Susan