Communicate How Your Campus Connects Education to Careers

"Higher ed, government and workforce leaders are discussing employability skills and work-based learning more than they ever have (at least, in my lifetime). So are students. Recent research shines a light on where and how students contemplate the connection between college and careers (particularly the increasingly influential role of social media) and what they expect. Marketers can leverage these consumer insights to influence both product and positioning to develop, implement and communicate work-integrated learning experience to meet student and workforce needs."

"Seventy percent of young adults use social media to learn about careers,and it's the top tool young adults use for self-discovery, despite a lack of encouragement from most adults and career navigators/counselors. Students talk about workforce skills when they talk to each other online about going to college- about 20 percent of these posts are about skills needed for jobs. They believe transferable skills are valuable to keep their career options open, particularly for those who don't know what they want to do in their future careers."

"Forums are advice-seeking and experience-sharing platforms, and when students talk about needing workforce skills, they receive encouraging advice. Suggestions include using extra courses, academic services and resources to gain employability skills to help them find a job after graduation. Students are also encouraged to develop practical critical thinking and social skills because, in the words of those giving advice, "a degree doesn't guarantee success.""

Seventy percent of young adults use social media to learn about careers and use it as the top tool for self-discovery despite limited encouragement from adults and career counselors. Students discuss workforce skills in online conversations about college, with roughly 20 percent of posts focused on job-related skills. Transferable skills are valued to keep career options open, especially by those undecided about future careers. Commonly mentioned skills include relationship-building, basic math and writing, study habits, and interview techniques. Forums encourage using extra courses, academic services and practical experiences because a degree does not guarantee success. Internships are prioritized when preparing for employment.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs