How Important is student Self Esteem ?
I've found that every student preparing to graduate and enter the job search definitely needs to have an individual session with the Placement dept at which time, without pressure, an open discussion centers on the confidence of the grad.
Everyone benefits from candidly discussing any insecurities and fears they may have, especially when they discover they are not only normal but not alone.
The key is turning their fear into a positve and it all starts when they know they are not alone in their search.
Good points Jack. However, we find that the understanding and discovery of fears takes time. And it takes time to build confidence. It can't happen in just a one time meeting. Ways to build confidence include group discussions, watching DVDs, completing exercises, and meeting with placement staff as a few examples. We find that workshops and classes and completing required placement skills competencies really work. Thanks, Susan
Also if the student has a reason to dress nice, for instance a job interview will help build their self-esteem. Being in the medical field once the students receive their uniforms they feel that they belong and hold their heads up high, something about those medical scrubs.
Very good points Gerardo. The training process includes more than taking classes. It's a transformation from non worker to student to employed professional. Part of the transition has to do with the way the students feel and the right clothes affect that. We have also seen the great changes when students have their uniforms, a name badge, equipment, and more. Thanks, Susan
I agree, Dr. Schulz. Graduating college and taking the first step into the "real world" can be very intimidating. Preparation is a huge part in building a student's confidence. Just as you listed above, these are great ways to help boosts one's self esteem. Right now, it is very hard to find a job if you are a recent grad. Therefore, it should be the placement department's priority to mold these young grads into exceptional candidates and build their self esteem in order to help them get a job.
Thanks Tiffany. Well said. We believe that people can get jobs in a shrinking economy. It's up to the school to prepare students to be exceptional candidates. It's up to the career services department to mold the grads into exceptional job seekers. Thanks, Susan
How important is student self esteem? It’s everything when the student is across the desk from a hiring manager. Having the proper education is just the start. Students who have never been in the job market don’t know how the first impression they are making sets the tone of an interview. Everything in this course is spot on when it’s time to run the interview gauntlet. How you speak, dress, and present your experience will determine the outcome. Internships, externship, and résumé preparation will give a student confidence in their learned skills. Students also need to project confidence during the interview. A placement director should work with grads to instruct them on how to know a company before the interview takes place. What type of experience is needed, will the scope of the job fit the graduates desires, and if possible know the company culture. The more time a school can spend with the student with regards to placement the higher the student confidence will be. Confident students have better interviews with more opportunities for employment. The better the students interview the higher the placement rate.
Wow Mark. You have totally explained the importance of confidence building for the student/grad. And clearly show why confidence building takes a long time and is certainly more than just learning how to create a great resume or dress for success. This is one reason why we feel employment and confidence building skills need to start during the admissions interview and continue everyday the student is at school. The grad needs to be empowered with the best training and lots of hand-holding by career services. The result should be grads knowing they can negotiate their first job - that they have power during the interview. Thanks, Susan
We spend six weeks with students in a job seeking skills course, which is largely a self assessment workshop. We focus on goal setting, exercised on their skills, portofolio workshops, interviewing techniques and practice. We also focus on confidence, professionalism and what is expected out in their field of choice. The students would really utilize the excercises and apply themselves to the course really get a lot out of it.
Sounds great Heather. So is the course required? And when does it start and end in relationship to the classes the students are taking? We see the benefit of career services skill building as a requirement. And also that job search and employment skills training be a constant and not just towards the end. In addition, we encourage instructors and staff to integrate a job training state of mind in everything that is done. Your program sounds great. Thanks, Susan
Tiffany, I agree. it is an ongoing preperation effeot. The moment studtns starts school or a new program they should be addressign all the key points that involve their future career. Professors, and schoold staff can be very helpful in easign the student's concerns about the unknown future.
We agree, Kelly. Students should be exposed to the world of work and the requirements of the job search all during their enrollment at a career school. In every classroom teachers need to be talking about what it is like on the job, what skills are needed, why certain skills are used, etc. Students should be very familiar with what they will be doing on the job so that they are not afraid to leave the safety of school and enter on to the job site. Thanks, Susan
After a discussion today with a student going into clinicals, it was a breath of fresh air to hear some of what she had to say. Prior to being a part of a campus family and having clinical and placement coordinators to assist her, she had little or no self esteem. Today she stated that she would be going no where without the confidence and self esteem that the school, instructors, clinical and career services coordinator helped her to develop. She now is even thinking of relocating to start her career when a few months ago, she would have never left the security of what she knows.
That says it all Becky. Our students need a lot of hand holding and it pays off. It takes a long time for the student to build up self confidence and self esteem. You can give them all the employment skills possible but the magic ingredient that gets results in personal sense of worth and value. And that takes feedback, coaching, and success. And that's why we believe all career services has to start on day one. Thanks, Susan
