I am ready! A look at how career classes are preparing students for

career success

Katy 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 Outcome

• 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: OutcomesStudent 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 futureCareer 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

Learning Outcomes:-Can locate and critically evaluate information-Can communicate effectively

Data Collection

Career Exploration Courses3 Sections of College of Science and Engineering CSE 1411-71 students6 Sections of College of Liberal Arts ID 1201- 150 students2 Sections of College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and

College of Design CFAN/DES 1201-23 students n=244 students

Career Planning Courses13 Sections of Business Administration BA 3000- 442 students1 Section of College of Science and Engineering CSE 1413 (Spring)- 21 students5 Sections of College of Liberal Arts ID 3201- 82 students8 Sections of College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and

College of Design CFAN/DES 3201- 207 studentsn=752 students

Which had the biggest difference pre to post test (career exploration

courses)?

A) I know how to conduct an informational interview to learn more about a career

B) I am aware of opportunities to get experience related to my career interests

C) I know multiple ways to research careers that interest me

D) I understand how my interests relate to choosing both my major and career path

Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Exploration CoursesI 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

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: 1.633SD = 1 D = 2 N/A= 3 A = 4 SA = 5

Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Exploration CoursesI understand how my strengths relate to choosing both my major and career path (self awareness/self)

• 3.743 : 4.51 Difference: .776

POST test: I feel more confident about my major and career path after taking this course **made a decision (self awareness/self)

• 4.395

I feel more confident about making a decision regarding mymajor **still exploring (self awareness, self)

• 4.275SD = 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

A) I know how to research companies and organizations

B) I have a good understanding of who I am and how it relates to my career aspirations

C) I know how to communicate both my skills and experiences effectively on a resume

D) I know how to write a cover letter tailored to both a specific position and company that demonstrates why I am a good fit

Which had the biggest difference pre to post test (career planning

courses)?

Pre/Post Tests: Overall Averages, Career Planning CoursesI 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 Fairs47%: 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

Questions!Comments! Discussion!