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I am ready! A look at how career classes are preparing students for career success Lucy Reile, College to Career Coordinator , College of Design. Career Development Network Communications Chair Katy Hinz, Program Coordinator, Office for Student Engagement. Career Development Network Chair.
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I am ready! A look at how career classes are preparing students for career successLucy Reile, College to Career Coordinator , College of Design. Career Development Network Communications ChairKaty Hinz, Program Coordinator, Office for Student Engagement. Career Development Network Chair
Career Development Network (CDN) Goal: Raise the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of career services and increases value to the overall student development and learning experience at the U of M • Professional staff development • Collaboration • Sharing of best practices
U of M Career Course Facts • There are over 25 career courses taught at the U of M • Career courses have been taught at the U of M for over 20 years • Carlson School of Management requires a career course for all students
Need for Career Course Assessment • Strategic positioning process & undergraduate reform • Academic and career life planning group: key suggestion was to require career courses or core curricular components for students in their first 2 years or transfer students in their first year • Some colleges incorporate career components into first year experience courses • All College of Liberal Arts students were required to visit their career center • Beyond improved retention rates and graduation rates administrators asked for more evidence
Process for Career Course Assessment • Teaching Circle was asked to find consistent points of evaluation for career courses which align with institutional student learning and development outcomes • Compiled questions from pre/post tests that already existed, mapped to a Student Development or Student Learning Outcomes • Met with consultant in Center for Teaching and learning • Identified career course outcomes • Created pre/post tests with each question tied to a SLO/SDO and career course outcome • Contacted Career Center Directors with the assessment and the process (submit data to a shared google doc)
Pre/Post Tests: Outcomes Learning Outcomes: -Can locate and critically evaluate information -Can communicate effectively Student Development Outcomes: -Goal Orientation -Self Awareness Career Exploration Course Outcomes: -Understanding of self and how it relates to their major choice and career path -Awareness of ways to get experience -Knowledge of how to research majors and careers -Has reflected on and created goals for their future Career Planning/Planning Course Outcomes: -Can effectively communicate to employers their qualifications -Knowledge of how to research companies -Knowledge of how to use multiple job search strategies -Understands self and how it relates to their career aspirations -Has reflected on and created goals for their future
Data Collection Career Exploration Courses 3 Sections of College of Science and Engineering CSE 1411-71 students 6 Sections of College of Liberal Arts ID 1201- 150 students 2 Sections of College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and College of Design CFAN/DES 1201-23 students n=244 students Career Planning Courses 13 Sections of Business Administration BA 3000- 442 students 1 Section of College of Science and Engineering CSE 1413 (Spring)- 21 students 5 Sections of College of Liberal Arts ID 3201- 82 students 8 Sections of College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and College of Design CFAN/DES 3201- 207 students n=752 students
Career Exploration Course • Work Related Values • MBTI, SII, StrengthsFinder, Skills Inventory • Major/Career Exploration Paper and networking session • Action Plan Assignment • Panels: Alums and Current Students (get experience panel) • Job Analysis
Job Analysis • Two Candidates for Job • Joe: • Achiever • Learner • Communication • Ann: • Analytical • Empathy • Futuristic • Orientation Leader • Present programs to large audiences of new students • Facilitate small group discussions • Assist in preparing logistical support of the orientation program • Conduct campus tours • Prepare and implement training for Welcome Week Leaders • Plan and oversee Work Week activities and projects
Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Exploration Courses Iunderstand how my strengths relate to choosing both my major and career path (self awareness/self) • 3.743 : 4.51 Difference: .776 I am aware of opportunities to get experience related to my career interests (can locate & critically evaluate info/experience) • 3.14 : 4.4 Difference 1.346 I know multiple ways to research careers that interest me (can locate & critically evaluate info/research) • 2.82 : 4.416 Difference: 1.633 SD = 1 D = 2 N/A= 3 A = 4 SA = 5
Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Exploration Courses I know how to conduct an informational interview to learn more about a career (can locate & critically evaluate info/communicate effectively/ research) • 2.43 : 4.416 Difference: 1.97 POST test: I feel more confident about my major and career path after taking this course (self awareness/self) • 4.395 I feel more confident about making a decision regarding my major (self awareness, self) • 4.275 SD = 1 D = 2 N/A= 3 A = 4 SA = 5
Describe how this course has impacted your understanding of yourself as it relates to your majorchoice and plans for your career: • It has allowed me to seek out a career that interests me, and to get in contact with employers in that field • This course really helped highlight my values, skills, and interests and showed me ways to find careers that would fit me • I have some good leads as to where I should start looking for a career/major and I feel less stressed about making that decision • Realized the various factors that contribute towards major/career choice • Deeper understanding of how to achieve career goals • It has given me a lot of information to help me make the best decision when choosing my major, and how that effects my career
Career Planning Course • Select the Candidate activity • Strengths & Personal Branding • Company Research/Interview Prep Assignment • Practice Interview • Recruiter Panel • Linkedin Assignment • Networking Log & Info. Interview
Elevator Pitch/Personal Branding Statement • Name • Office & your role • Something unique yourself to help them remember you: one your hobbies, one of your strengths, one your interests, hidden talent….
Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Planning Courses I know how to communicate both my skills and experiences effectively on a resume (self awareness/communicate effectively/communicate) • 3.26 : 4.416 Difference: 1.148 I know how to write a cover letter tailored to both a specific position and company that demonstrates why I am a good fit (self awareness/communicate effectively/communicate) • 2.534 : 4.28 Difference: 1.764 I have developed effective interviewing skills (communicate effectively/communicate) • 2.998 : 3.96 Difference: .98 SD = 1 D = 2 N/A= 3 A = 4 SA = 5
Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Planning Courses I know how to research companies and organizations( can locate & critically evaluate info/research) • 3.106 : 4.26 Difference: 1.183 Please check all strategies that you feel confident using (can locate & critically evaluate info/strategies) GoldPass, the Edge Online Job Search Databases 36% : 82% Difference: 51% 44% : 67% Difference: 22% Networking Career Fairs 47%: 68% Difference: 23% 32% : 67% Difference: 36% SD = 1 D = 2 N/A= 3 A = 4 SA = 5
Describe how this course has helped you with your career development and the internship/job search process: • I originally signed up for this class initially just to fill a credit and cannot emphasize enough how useful this class will be/has been to my career search. • It taught me valuable skills for the job search process and gave me confidence as I began my internship search. This course really got me thinking about my future. • This class has helped me so much in determining which career path I want to take. I completely changed my decision from the start of the semester and I am so happy about it. • …I never imagined that the interviewing/job process was so complex. I did not know how to go about finding a job, and I did not know how to effectively prepare for an interview. I also do not feel as frightened of big events like the Career Fair because I now know what to expect when I go.
Why does it matter? • Our results are statistically significant • The two-tailed P value equals 0.0011 (career exploration course data) The two-tailed P value equals 0.0014 (career planning course data) • We believe that these results demonstrate career courses are helping students meet the student learning and development outcomes • Our results show that career courses are meeting their intended objective, such as positively impact students’ major selection and career readiness