Career Centers: A Vital Resource During Tough Times
Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 8:03AM Lately we have been hearing from career centers all over the country that are experiencing a large increase in traffic and inquiries from current students and alumni. This is not surprising considering the economic conditions that continue to create extremely competitive conditions in the marketplace. Although, many career center teams have expressed to us how helpless they feel, we believe that given the right strategies, this can be a tremendous opportunity for career centers to prove their worth and raise their profile and visibility within their campus community. How career centers approach the challenges of serving larger numbers of students and alumni is key to the type of support and resources the center will receive in times of constrained budgets. There are many concrete and somewhat simple things that can help establish a career center as the “go to” experts on the job market and also revive the morale of an often-overworked staff. More soon about some of the proven strategies that TruMann Consulting has introduced on various campuses to great success.
TruMann Consulting
So many career centers and career development professionals are busier than ever and many are exhausted and frustrated by the demands and pressures of these challenging economic times. One of the most vexing situations for most professionals is that of the client who comes in and claims "I don't know how to look for a job"!
"How To Recession Proof Your Job Search" is just one of many seminars that we have introduced at various campuses. The content includes identifying industries that historically have been "recession proof" and teaching students to think about applying their skills and interests to a wider range of employers. Frequently, job seekers make the mistake of only focusing their search on a specific industry, not realizing that they can create many more options by broadening their search to a wider range of fields and work settings. Students interested in "Madison Avenue" advertising positions, for example, will significantly increase their options by looking at corporate, non-profit, or web company in-house advertising departments.
Thinking broadly about jobs and potential industries, however, is only half the battle. Networking - both in-person and through social networking sites - is the single most successful job search strategy, especially during a down labor market. One of the most overlooked aspects of networking, however, is following up on the connections clients make. In response to the many questions we receive on this topic, we have very simple advice - "patience, persistence, and politeness". These "three p's" of follow-up are essential for today's successful job seeker.
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Reader Comments (5)
I wish you both the best of luck on your endeavors. Looking forward to future posts.
Love from Mexico and/or Morocco!
Thank you for your valuable insights! I will definitely be checking back soon to find out more about the strategies you have used to make your career centers such a success.
I agree that they're are strategies we need to focus on in career services! How can we get all our colleagues to stop whining and start getting on with it! I'm so tired of talking to people who tell me they just tell their students: There are no jobs"!
I look forward to reading about the strategies that you have for serving multiple populations and increasing visibility in a positive way. Every day sobering statistics are released regarding the job market and I think that career services professionals could greatly benefit from your insight.
This is a great service that comes at a crucial time. My recommendation is that during your period of research and discovery, you direct some effort to consider the career services provided not only at the four-year level, but at the community college level as well. Certainly, we hear about increased funding being channeled into the community college environment. Witness, for example, grants for small business services offered by Goldman Sachs, President Obama's focus on recognizing the role of community colleges in this country, and the campaign pledge of Mayor Michael Bloomberg to infuse additional funding into NYC community colleges. My concern, however, is that although there will inevitably be an increase in for-credit and non-credit program offerings at this level, schools may not be able to handle the subsequent logical step for students beyond completion of their education. Career services will be critical particularly for those that intend to enter a competitive job market rather than opt to continue their education in a four-year college.
In any event, best of luck toward all your efforts with TruMann Consulting. And by the way, what a terrific, catchy name for your company. I'm sure you are destined to quickly become the leaders in your field.