How colleges should prepare students
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Colleges and universities must do a better job preparing students for the workplace. Currently, many graduates are unemployed or underemployed due to a lack of practical skills. Schools should offer more career-focused courses and internship opportunities to help students discover potential careers and gain experience. They must also improve career centers to better assist students with job searching, resume writing, and interview skills. Doing so would help ensure students obtain jobs requiring their degree level upon graduation.
How colleges should prepare students
- 1. How Colleges Should Prepare Students For http://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-need-to-prepare-students-for-the- current-economy-2013-2The Current Economy PRINT One of the most pressing concerns for higher education institutions today is whether they’re offering real value for the considerable tuitions they’re charging. This unease, which has permeated campuses across the country, is absolutely warranted. Students and their families are increasingly worried about the return on their investment in higher education; as a result, the burden of proof has now fallen on colleges and universities, which must demonstrate that they can truly prepare each and every student for a successful life and career after graduation. Unfortunately for students, parents and educators, there is no established or readily accepted standard or metric to measure how “successful” a college or university is in arming students for the post-diploma decades. And this presents a genuine problem, because, if the current confusion, uncertainty – and even cynicism – about higher education continue, we may find that one of America’s greatest institutional assets is downgraded in people’s minds. In fact, according to one survey, it’s already happening. The collateral damage from this reputational degradation will only hamper our nation’s future economic prospects and possibilities. Recognizing the stakes, a number of colleges are doubling down and enhancing their career placement services for students. They are doing this in a pragmatic and thoughtful way that ensures that short-term skills and training for the “real” world don’t eclipse or erase higher education’s over-arching mission of creating a generation of curious, analytical and open life- long learners.
- 2. At my university, for example, we’re offering a four-year career development plan called “Hire Education.” The program is focused on four themes tied to each college year: Explore, Experiment, Experience and Excel. The “Explore” phase begins freshmen year for students, with a career development seminar that’s taught in close collaboration with corporate partners and lays the foundation for a lifetime of career management. During the class, students start to discover their professional path with a Strong Interest Inventory®Code Assessment and begin to hone vital career skills during interactive lab sessions where they come face-to-face with corporate recruiters for mock interviews and elevator pitches. The seminar lays the foundation for students’ subsequent career development as they “Experiment” with industries through career fairs and networking events; “Experience” internships, more than 90 percent of Bentley students complete at least one; and, ultimately, prepare to “Excel” in a dynamic workplace. By the time graduation is in sight, students have had four years of focused and targeted career advising and, in the process, they’ve developed and implemented a customized career action plan that offers a solid and sustainable bridge to the economy of the 21st century. There are a host of other noteworthy job counseling and placement programs at other colleges and universities such as Xavier University and WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis. We are seeing results and helping to make the education we offer our students more relevant and more valuable. In fact, 98percent of our 2012 graduates received job offers or are in graduate school. And this placement rate has been above 90 percent since 2007. There are other positives here, too – especially the low default rate on students’ college loans. The latest number at my university is .09 percent, which means that 99 percent of our students successfully pay back their loans, a direct correlation to successful job placement efforts. Higher education is at a crucial crossroad today. New models and new programs are proliferating, as the role of colleges and universities in our society is being debated. All of this is well and good – even healthy. But, in the meantime, I believe we need to place much greater focus on both career development and measurable employment outcomes for our students. As we offer students a quality education, we must also set a higher standard for their future. Finding and holding a good job is the first big step toward students’ post-graduate success. Read more: http://w w w.businessinsider.com/colleges-need-to-prepare-students-for-the-current-economy-2013- 2#ixzz3YtpMHlDV Colleges need to do a better job of preparing students for the job market We are in the midst of a crisis. Talked about often yet rarely examined, more than half of America’s college graduates are unemployed or underemployed. And those lucky enough to find any type of employment often find themselves in positions that require a high school diploma or less. Why is that? This generation of graduates may soon be called another lost generation.
- 3. As the founder of a sports sales training and consulting firm, I have seen this story line all too often. Students enter the field unprepared and unable to perform the functions that w ould ensure their success. They assume jobs are plentiful and an application is all that stands in their w ay from gaining entry into the field. This is not the case. Job opportunities are few and far betw een, especially in today's economic times. Especially in the sports industry, companies and professional teams opt for unpaid interns to handle w orkload w ith the expectation that their turnover really doesn't cost them anything. The reality is that it costs everybody tremendously. Moreover, students enter the w orkplace w ith a silver spoon mentality. Everybody w ants the corner office on the first day. This is not reality. Students must come to learn that internships and other entry-level roles are critical entry w ays to full-time employment, and that no job is too small or mundane. This is also w hile companies must learn that it is their responsibility to actually invest time and training into these new hires to ensure their success. As our society has become increasingly w ired via social netw orks, students have lost the ability to interact face to face. This is a problem. Business deals are still done w ith a shake of the hand and not the click of a mouse; this is especially true in revenue-generating positions, w hich presently dominate the available opportunities in every industry. What colleges and universities need to do is offer more practical simulation-based training programs that prepare students to perform the functions that are expected of them w hen they are hired. For example, though over 400 universities across the U.S. offer sports management programs that drive students tow ards careers w orking w ith professional sports teams, these programs do not train students in the practical skills necessary to be successfulin sales or other related sports management areas. Understanding the principles and strategies for communicating to and influencing a customer are critical functions that students are not learning in the classroom. The time to enact change is now . With better training and a more focused programming aimed at fundamental skills for real-w orld job opportunities, students w illbe better equipped and in a better position to grow and thrive. If w e do not enact change now , then w hen? Do you agree or disagree: college and universities must do a better job of preparing student for the workplace. The topic of "occupation" never failsto arouse people'sattention. In the rat race of today'sworld, the rate of unemploymen t becomeshigher and higher. Every individual islonging for a suitable job, but itisfact that new graduatescan't find a satisfied job.Therefore,a new issue arises: whether universitiesshould make studentswell-preparedfor the workplace. Some people thinkthat the university isnot preparation for life, but university islive. And they contend thatstudentsshould hunt for jobson their own. However, asfar as I am co ncerned, I believe that collegesand universitiesshould helpstudentsto find their job. First of all, universitiesshould set up more courseson the different fields, which coincide with theneedof society. Then thestudentswho have interest in one area could get specialized knowledgeand trainingbefore they go to jobinterviewsand it ismore likely for them to pass the interviews. Take my friend Tony asan example. After writingsome articlesfor the school newspaper, he wascompletely attracted. However, when Tony decided to change hismajor to journalism, he wastold that hiscollegedidn'toffer that major. He wasve ry disappointed and lost a chance to learn what he really liked. When he graduated from college, he missed a lot of great chancesto work as a news writer. Moreover, not only do graduatesneed specializedknowledge to do well in their job, butthey also needsom e abilitieslike how to communicatewith their bosses and how to corporate with their colleagues. In thisway, collegesand universitiesshould provi destudentswith more chance to joinin club activitiesand performances. Because while joininga club or preparing for a performance, studentscan learn something that they can't acquire from academic courses. During these special 'classes', students can improve their practical skill, enlarge their imagination, gain organizationcapacity andcommunicationabil ity.All of these thingswill benefit them intheir work. Finally, universitiesshould providemore informationfor junior andsenior students. They can organize lecturesteachingstu dentsthe basic rulesof job applicationsand how to make a deep impression on jobinterviews. They can use some partsof the school newspaper to publish the informationlike the summer intern chancesor the programswith local companys. I believe thatwill truly helpstudentst o get a good job. Clearly, we can confidently conclude thatschoolscan offer more courses, activitiesand information to help studentsbe well -prepared. So I totally agree that collegeand universitiesmust do a better job of preparingstudentsfor the workplace. Do you agree or disagree: College and universitiesmust do a better job for the workplace. Do you agree or disagree: college and universities must do a better job of preparing student for the workplace. Nowadays, it is so competitive to get a good job, and lots of young people cannot find work after graduating for a long time. Of course I agree that college and universities should put more effort on helping students prepare for the workplace. In the following, I would like to explain m opinion by reasons and examples.
- 4. The main problem is that many students pick a major without fully understanding what jobs it will qualify them for once they graduate, and then they are frustrated to learn that the major does not come with a clear career path or one that they are not interested in following. My cousin, John, who is major in Mathematics, totally do not know what kind of job he could find after graduating. Until now, he still does a part-time job which is not much pay each hour. So helping students understand jobs associated their major is the most important thing that a school must do. Too many students graduate with the belief that their degree will lead straight to a job. Schools should turn their concept into a right one that in most fields, a degree is simply a minimum qualification, not an instant pass to easy employment. For instance, when two people have the same degree, the employer would consider which one has experience because he can spend less time and money on training. Even though good grade might be important in our college life, there still are other achievements helping us make a superior resume. To sum up, based on the reasons mentioned above, I believe it would be safe to conclude that schools should do a better job of preparing students for the workplace. Although some may still argue that schools do not have the responsibility of students` future work from time to time, I still believe that the advantages of helping students prepare get a good job would some outweigh those of the opposing viewpoint. With all that said, shouldn`t schools put more efforts on preparing students for the workplace? TOEFL Sample Essay olleges and universities must doa better job of preparings Topic 52: What change would make your hometown more appealing topeople your age? Use specificreasons and examples tosupport your opinion. | Score& Analysis In my opinion,colleges and universities have toassist their students toprepare for their future jobs. Schools should offer courses helping students tofind their interests and plan their future.Besides,Practice and Career Development Center at school should be moreprofessionaland functional. tudents gotoschool toget a degree hoping tofinda better job. They donot know what they’velearned at colleges and universities are usefulat the workplaceor not.It is schools’ responsibility tomake sure what they offer tostudents could be applied at the industry. Professors havetoupdate theteaching materials in order tofollow the trend.Iwent to a NormalUniversity in order tobe a teacher. My school helped me a lot in preparing me tobe a good teacher.Allof the professors at our university have theexperienceof being a high school teacher,sothey know what kind of knowledge and skills their students need tobecome qualified high school teachers. Alsoour university offers us a lot of opportunities tobe good practice teachers at high schools. Now Iam a junior h igh school teacher, and Ifinally realize that those experiences helpedme tobecome a wellprepared teacher. The percentage of employment of graduates from the school is v ery important. It is one of the factors that people use to judge a school and can be used toattract new students. Nowadays,government asks colleges anduniversities to make money on their own.The more student one university has the better financialstatement it has.Alsothe donation from graduates is one important income of the university.And the university can use the money toimprove their facilities and tohirefamous professors.In this way theuniversity becomes better andmuch more attractive to new students. I do believe universities and colleges should pay more attention to help students get ready for future jobs.