Dr. Marvin Whitfield’s Post

Last week, I had the privilege of sharing the Office of Experiential Learning's work at the University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business during Pearson Higher Education's "From Classroom to Career" event. Did you know that nearly 50% of students get most of their career advice from their parents? Experiential learning can help! According to the Student Voice survey, 55% of students who participated in experiential learning, including internships, realized they wanted a career in that field. Are you interested in leading students towards a career you love? Contact us, and we can help you develop an experiential learning project to engage our undergraduate, master's, and MBA students! Let's help our students find their true calling. Source: https://lnkd.in/eV8nMYff #ExperientialLearning

Do you know of a rising college junior or senior? If so, please pass along this registration link for a valuable seminar later today.

Dear All, Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday perfectly! 😄 Recently, we successfully concluded our summer internships for Management students. With a batch size of 140, it took considerable effort to complete this task timely due to the specific timeframe required for internships. I’ve observed that students in tier 2 and tier 3 universities and colleges often fall into the following categories: Unable to perform in government entrance exams or just missing the cut-off marks. Missing exams due to various circumstances. Starting slightly late in their career journey. Pursuing their dreams while taking a course as a backup option. Enrolling without a clear idea of their career path, often influenced by peers. While there are more categories, these are the main ones in my experience. As part of the training and placement fraternity, we provide them with soft skills training, communication skills, technical knowledge, and many great resources. However, I believe they need something different beyond these trainings. In my opinion, they require long-lasting hand-holding—guidance throughout their curriculum and continued support after course completion. Building situational ability to conquer challenges is crucial, which we often miss. While we provide technically correct approaches, we might miss developing their behavioral skills. To address this, we have started connecting with our students individually during the last two working hours of our day, understanding their mental challenges. The changes in their personalities and mindset have been evident and remarkable. Changing their mindset and approach is key. If we succeed in this, everything else will become easier for training and placement officers. Our job might be thankless, but our efforts are commendable and fabulous. Adding the flavor of emotional intelligence to these skills will greatly impact the students who spend many years in our universities and colleges. I hope my experience and intentions resonate well with my fellow Training and Placement Officers. Thank you! Have a peaceful and joyful Sunday.

Each year, we place thousands of high school students in job shadows and hundreds of students in internships to help them explore future career opportunities, network with local employers, and learn about training opportunities to reach their goals. A key next step for students is participation in one of Kirkwood’s Career Academy programs, which are collections of courses in specific career areas. Participation in these programs allows students to earn not only high school credit but also college credit that can be used toward a future degree, all at no cost to them or their families. Read more about how college credit in high school work, combined with career exploration experiences, sets students up for success after high school: https://lnkd.in/gXRg2XYe

Ivy Tech Students...Are you ready to embark on your journey to an apprenticeship with Lilly? This is your chance to benefit from support tailored to Lilly's standards. From refining your technical and soft skills to perfecting interview techniques and crafting resumes, we've got you covered every step of the way. Here's what you'll gain: 🔹 Comprehensive workshops 🔹 Personalized guidance through group sessions and one-on-one meetings 🔹 Enhanced competitiveness for Lilly opportunities 🔹 Recorded sessions for flexible scheduling Let's break down barriers and pave the way for your career success! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! #CareerSuccess #DiversityandInclusion #ProfessionalDevelopment #IvyTechLillyImpactInitiative Britt S. Griffin Patty Prosser Kristen Lampkin, MBA Caroline Dowd-Higgins Valerie Jeffers Beau Boice

Catch this conversation w/Inside Higher Ed & colleagues from The Washington Center, Bank of America & National Association of Colleges and Employers to talk about internship quality, access, and prevalence. I'll discuss recent findings from the National Survey of College Internships that is now administered by Strada Education Foundation. See you there!

One of my biggest learnings from my time teaching and recruiting with Teach For America is that students—and professionals—rise to the level of expectations set for them. As we enter internship season, it's crucial for managers, recruiters, and HR teams to set and clearly communicate expectations for work behavior and exceptional work products. This provides interns with a clear roadmap to success. What are your strategies for setting clear expectations for your interns?

Why are we failing to prepare our students for their future? Data shows that over half of college graduates are considered "underemployed." This means that college graduates are more likely to be working in a job or career that does not require their level of education. Why is that? Some would say that we have too many students going to college. That's not the issue, although the cost for college has made the decision more questionable. Others would say that people are majoring in fields that are less relevant. That could be true. In reality, those who go to college and work or participate in internships within their field are much more likely to be healthily employed in their industry once the graduate. What should K-12 schools do? In short, aiming for all students to graduate and attend college is an admirable goal. However, not every child wants to be an academic. And many who do lack the social skills and real-life work ethic to make them ready for the real world. Ultimately, it is up to parents to help their children to mature and grow. But schools can help a lot too. Here's what I have found that works: 1. Have career or job fair days for your students, whether you are 5 or 18, this can be a lot of fun 2. Partner with local businesses for summer internships, especially for HS students 3. Invest in developing the whole child, this includes SEL, civics, and executive functioning learning 4. Understand our limitations, we can only do so much, but we can provide exposure to the real world by having projects, team work, and oral assessments to beyond just paper tests and writing 5. Provide trade and skill development, even from an early age Be creative, look at what others are doing, and really invest in your students. After all, only a small percentage will actually go off to college, graduate, and work in a field and career that is appropriate for their level of education. Article link: https://lnkd.in/eUgNkWjn

🌟 Fall Semester is Almost Here at Kansas State University!🌟 As we gear up for the start of classes next week, the campus is coming alive with excitement and anticipation. Maybe it's just me, or that I'm excited that Chick-Fil-A reopens today, but I'm stoked overall! My calendar is filling up fast with student appointments, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to support our K-State Wildcats as they prepare for a successful semester and our planned Fall career events! This time of year always brings a renewed sense of energy and purpose. 💡Pro Tip for K-State Students: Now is the perfect time to update your resume with those valuable summer experiences. Whether you interned, volunteered, worked part-time, or took on personal projects, every experience counts! I cannot stress that enough! 📄Why It Matters: These experiences not only showcase your skills but also tell a story of your growth and adaptability. Employers love to see candidates who take initiative and make the most of their time—so let’s make sure your resume reflects that! 💪Let’s Do This Together: If you’re feeling unsure about how to articulate your experiences, don’t worry—you’re not alone. I’m here, along with the awesome staff at the K-State Career Center, to help you craft a resume that stands out and truly represents the incredible work you’ve done. Let’s make this semester at K-State one to remember! 💜 Also taking a page from my awesome connection and friend Richard Cooper II and will be adding the following section to my posts. Breakfast: Dr. Pepper & Ruffles (I know, lets not tell my PCP) 🥤 Song of the AM: Lemon Glow by Beach House #highereducation #careerservices #resumes #internships #appliedlearning

Figuring out what to do after high school can feel overwhelming, but it's important to explore your interests, strengths, and goals. Consider talking to career counselors, researching different career paths, doing internships or job shadowing, and exploring educational options like college, trade schools, or vocational programs. Reflect on what brings you joy and fulfillment, and don't hesitate to seek guidance from mentors or trusted adults. It's okay to take your time and explore different paths before making a decision.