Student Contact
Upon finding employment, some students are willing to keep in touch, while others are not so communicative. I would like suggestions, perhaps even a template, to email grads and encourage them to keep in touch.
What I always do with my students constantly be in contact with them, even if they find already a job. They always be thanksful because we made them feel important for us.
Good idea to stay in touch with grads if they have a job or when they find one. In fact, we strongly believe in creating Alumni Associations so you stay in touch with grads on an ongoing basis. There are lots of benefits to everyone. Alumni can refer students, help with career services, and tell you about the hiring decision makers where they work. And you'll find it easier to collect placement stats when you need them. Thanks, Susan
We agree that it is vital to stay in touch with grads. In fact, we promote the concept of alumni associations for career schools. They are sooo easy to set up and benefit the entire school and community. Your alumni can refer students, enroll in courses, help with placement, and introduce you to hiring decision makers, to mention just a few benefits. Check out our website for more information on setting up alumni associations. www.susanfschulz.com
Definitely, keeping updated contact information of the students helps a lot. Email address, at least two phone numbers, all of this works. Keeping records of any contact made with the students and following up on a regular basis allows for the students to open up and develop their communication skills. Additionally, developing a relationship with the students gradually will help to ensure placement services.
Really great points. And very important to keep records of all contacts. Then you have data to measure success or where things didn't go well. Retention and student satisfaction are4 all about staying in touch. Also good to think how alumni can help with the process of staying connected to students and helping them get over any difficulties while in school and during their job search. Thanks, Susan
what we always do is send emails or call the students even if they have a job, just to be thankfull with them for taking the time to come to our school and also just to know if they need help with anything, They really apriciate that the school is in contact with them.
Angela,
It's a great idea to stay in touch with grads after they get a job. You can see how they are doing, find out what skills and knowledge they might need, and get to know their employers. Maybe the company or salon needs more staff so more of your grads can get jobs. If your grads lose their jobs they can return to your school because they know you are a resource that can help. And what school will they refer their friends to? Yours! Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
With the advent of Social Media it is, in ways, easier to maintain contact with a large group of graduates. At my school, several grauates have created their own Facebook page, actually three seperate groups. As the school has a facebook page, we have numerous graduates that are attached to these pages. Communications on some graduates, who do not keep in touch with the school, have resulted in finding out they have been employed, thus prompting a phone call to the employer and verifying employment. Then sending a message by several means, i.e. e-mail, etc congratulating them on obtaining employment. Graduates answer prospective students questions via the web, so it does make the job easier in most cases.
Len,
Really great that your grads develop their own Facebook pages and use Facebook in so many ways. Looks like an area for your school to explore and develop. One goal may be to reach grads early and frequently so they are on Facebook and other social media and communicate with the school regularly. This is a reason for an Alumni Community. You want to be able to reach grads easily to get employment information and connect for networking, job openings where they work, enrollment referrals, and lots more. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
