Why Careers Services Fail To Attract Students To Services

Why Careers Services Fail To Attract Students To Services In the UK, every university has a dedicated Careers Service. I am sure there is something similar in US universities too. Careers Services not only provide job advice, but they also support in learning, training and other career-related issues and activities. The trouble is, and this is from a graduates point of view, Careers Services seem to do nothing. When graduates speak to me, or send me their CVs for review, the feedback always is thanks for that, its a lot better than what my Careers Service would do. Now, I was a Careers Service rebel for my first two years at University, but then I started working for them and I could see the amount of work they actually do! The support and advice facilities they provide are quite good. So whats the problem? The image? The culture? Why Careers Services Fail To Attract? Simply put, graduates think that Careers Services do nothing to help them. Offering a 15-minute slot for CV review, or getting Barclays to do an employer presentation is not enough if these are not marketed to students the right way. Careers Services are decades behind in marketing their marketing is still a piece of paper with fancy colours and some words on it. Another reason why a majority of students shun their Careers Service is because of the image of the service. There actually are students who need help with job advice, learning, etc., but are too shy to walk up to a careers adviser and ask for help. You know, Careers Services have historically been out of touch with graduates. Image too posh. The last reason for me is the culture in Careers Services that not every student is going to use the service. This baffles me. Simply because, if I said at my workplace that my potential customer wont use the service I provide, I would be sacked! If a university has 22,000 students e nrolled, and only a maximum of 2000 use the Careers Service, then thats a disgrace. Careers Service advisers know the problem, but the same reasons of budget, time, resources and not every student will use the Careers Service always raise their head. Get a grip, students and even some graduates, need help. Strive to help every one of us and see the change in your reputation. Radical Proposals to Improve Careers Services 1. Improve Marketing to Attract Students in T-shirts and Jeans, Not Suits. Careers Services should stop taking marketing advice from people in suits based on University policies and past templates. Get a fresh new look on marketing, keep it simple, but attract students with it. Survey your students do you know what clicks for international students? And what for home students? 2. Employ Your Own Graduates Get Some Fresh Ideas Approach.  You know, technological companies and other brands offer jobs to people who give them real feedback and ideas of how they will help the organisation improve. If Microsoft wants to enter the youth market, or market an XboX, they dont put the face of Bill Gates on it, with all the experience he has he is not fit to enter the youth market. Not because of age but because of the difference in culture and ethics of young people today. Careers Services need to recruit a lot more young people, recruit your own graduates, they will tell you what works and what doesnt. If you dont recruit your own graduates, how do you expect some other company to? Somebody has to take a chance and give the first break to graduates. You cant just keep employing people with more experience, just because you can tick that box on the HR form. Careers Services need to get more young graduates on-board. I think they have enough people who have roast t urkey and red wine for dinner. Its time to put the pasty eaters on-board. Time to get back in touch with graduates. Please Improve Careers Services For Students If the two points mentioned in the proposals are taken on-board, Careers Services will definitely be used by more students, but there are so many other points that can be taken on-board, and I am sure every Careers Service is striving to do that. But please, do it soon. And please, dont tell me everything is rosy. I have used a Careers Service, worked in a Careers Service, and speak to a lot of graduates, entrepreneurs and even industry personnel who have good and bad things to say about Careers people at universities. Ive just made an effort to write it down. Are you a student who has some experience to share about your Careers Service? Or are you Careers Advisor and have something to point out to me? Drop your comments below I look forward to what you have to say! Related articles 4 Reasons Why You Are A Young Unemployed Graduate University Advertisement Shows Up On Porn Site #fail Effects of An Insane Boss [INFOGRAPHIC] The Numbers Behind Graduate Employment [INFOGRAPHIC] 18