At Rize, workforce-relevant course content with skills that provide pathways to fulfilling, high-paying careers are key facets of our instructional design process. We select our academic program offerings based on their ability to help students get rewarding and relevant jobs.
We surveyed recent and upcoming graduates who have taken Rize courses and the results were promising. 91% of Rize graduates indicated that they were satisfied with their job and 80% of upcoming Rize graduates also expressed job satisfaction. While these initial results are strong, we're constantly looking for more ways to ensure students are well prepared for life after graduation.
This semester we piloted adding career-relevant assignments alongside professional mentorship in several of our programs. For example, in Social Media Marketing, students were tasked with developing a social media campaign and were provided videos of professional marketers describing how they would approach the assignment that week. The feedback was positive and the assignment received a student satisfaction rating of 4.4 out of 5. Similarly, we hosted "Project Management Lunch and Learns" where students attended a live session with a professional Project Manager to get feedback on their project plans and ask questions about the mentor's working experience. The assignment also received a rating of 4.4 out of 5. Lastly in Public Health Administration, students took a career personality test and explored jobs in Public Health that were a good match for their results, and the assignment received a high rating of 4.3 out of 5.
"I liked having the mentors show their own thinking process and what they came up with for the assignment." - Student regarding the Social Media Marketing assignment
"I really enjoyed his real life examples and how he was able to elaborate on the decisions they made." - Student regarding the Project Management Lunch and Learns
"I liked how it brought attention to where we could find a possible career based on our career personality results." - Student regarding the Public Health Administration assignment
However, despite the high levels of job satisfaction and positive assignment feedback, there are still challenges that students face in their job search. According to a survey of almost 600 Rize students within 1 year of graduating, the top 3 most common challenges faced in the job search were:
The most significant challenge, as ranked by students, was struggling to get opportunities to interview for the jobs they apply for. Based on this feedback and our deeper research on student career navigation, it was clear more support was needed.
These findings highlight the need for innovative solutions to provide career guidance for students as they navigate the job market. While career services are available on most campuses, many students are not utilizing them. According to a student survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed, 51% of current college students say they have never interacted with career services or have only interacted with them once. By integrating career exploration directly within course curriculum as part of completing an academic program, institutions can further enhance students' post-graduate success.
That's why we're excited about the potential impact of our new career navigation courses, which are designed to help students explore the labor market in a way that is tailored specifically to their major. Beginning in the Fall 2024 Semester, students majoring in or interested in careers in Business Analytics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Digital Marketing will be able to take courses designed to help them acquire the skills needed to navigate the job market.
Our career navigation courses focus on three key pillars of exploration: Discovery, Execution, and Practice.
One of the biggest questions students face is, "Which career paths are right for me?" Our courses will help students answer this question by guiding them through the process of discovering their career personality type, finding the right job for them based on their interests, learning about what specific roles and job functions entail, and understanding the return on investment of their education.
Once students have identified their desired career paths, the next step is figuring out how to execute each step in the job search process. Our courses will provide students with the skills they need to write a strong resume and cover letter, hone their interviewing skills and frameworks, learn how and where to find job opportunities, and build a career roadmap.
Finally, students will put all that knowledge into practice. Our courses will give students the opportunity to simulate what it will be like to apply for a job or internship. They will participate in mock interviews, practice applying for jobs and internships, hear directly from hiring managers, learn how to evaluate job offers, practice negotiating an offer, and receive valuable feedback on their applications.
At Rize Education, we believe that career navigation is an essential part of a student's education. By offering these innovative courses, we are helping partner institutions provide students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in today's competitive job market.
To learn more about our career navigation courses and how they can benefit your institution, schedule a call with your dedicated Academic Partnerships.
