Career Services Strategic Plan

1 Career Services Strategic Plan

Western State Colorado University Career Services

Strategic Plan 2015 - 2017

Introduction:

Strategic Plan Overview…………………………………………………………………………..2

Strategic Plan:

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T)…………………………………...3

Overarching Principles..............................................................................................................…...4

Pillar 1: Career Services Image Implementation Plan

GOAL 1.1: Mission, Vision, and Values…………………………………………….........5

GOAL 1.2: Survey...........................……………………………………………………....6

GOAL 1.3: Brand Consistency…………………………………………………................7

GOAL 1.4: Website..............………………………………………………………….....10

Pillar 2: Student and Campus Awareness Implementation Plan

GOAL 2.1: Connecting with students Annually......................…………..………............11

GOAL 2.2: Social Media………………………………………………..………...……..12

GOAL 2.3: Advertising (Templates)….…………………..………...………...................13

Pillar 3: Organization of Events and Services

GOAL 3.1: Descriptions/layouts of events………………………………………………15

Implementation Timeline...............................................................................................................16


Strategic Plan Overview

This strategic plan is being developed by the Career Services Intern to provide a guide for

future marketing and organization of the Career Services program over the next 3 years. This

should be implemented over the next year, a timeline will be provided to ensure Career Services

will be able to meet the deadlines.

Career Services supports Western State Colorado University’s Institutional Mission by

assisting students to prepare and attain careers or attend graduate school. Western, not unlike

every other public institution of higher education in the State of Colorado, does not offer

job/internship placement; however, job/internship postings are available to students via the

Careers for Mountaineers database and currently a webpage on western.edu/career.

Contact Information:

Coordinator: Mariah Green

[email protected] or [email protected]

Western State Colorado University

600 North Adams Street

Gunnison, CO 81231

970.943.7122

Career Services Intern: Harmony Neal

[email protected]

303-921-5275

Background:

Developed to assist students with the entire career related process. Career Services holds

events and provides yearlong services to assist Western students with their goals after

graduation.


S.W.O.T Analysis

Strengths (Internal):

Personal one-on-one professional assistance

Career Services provides a unique experience and assistance for students. Career

Services has the ability to meet with students individually and cater the service to

their needs, what jobs they are applying for, and what their major/minors are.

Keeping the overall theme of individuality that is Western.

The amount of information and resources provided to students through the website

On the Western webpage Career Services provides multiple resources for students

to assist in their job/graduate school search.

Weaknesses (Internal):

One person in charge of everything

If Career Services grows their student base the staff also needs to grow. Most

services at other schools include at least 3 people under the career services.

Western website clutter

There is a lot of information on the website, but it is difficult to navigate. If

Career Services reorganizes their resources this could fix this problem.

Opportunities (External):

Social media

The use of social media would increase awareness of the service. Social media

has the tools to allow Career Services to listen to students and interact with them

daily.

Surveys

Surveys would help to understand what the students want and what improvements

should be made to events and marketing plan.

Collaboration with academic programs

Professors should be concerned with how their students are growing and

improving after graduation. If Professors suggest that their students attend some

of the Career Service’s events it would not only help Career Services but the

academic programs at Western to have a higher employment rate after graduation.

It would be a good marketing tactic for those programs and the institution as a

whole.

Threats (External):

Student’s lack of motivation

Western students do not yet have an awareness of life after graduation. They don't

think about networking and the importance of their resumes.

Other events/competition on campus

Like (with) all other programs, competition on-campus affects event attendance.


Overarching Principles

Mission Statement: on Western Website

The Career Services Office was developed to assist students with the entire career related

process. Graduate school assistance is also available. -- On Facebook

Vision Statement: Nothing Found

Values Statement: Nothing Found

Currently on the Western Career Services Website:

Career Planning and Exploration

College to Career Planning Timetable

Career Insider

Careers For Mountaineers

Western Alumni Job Seeker

Resumes and Cover Letters

Employer's Services

Graduate Schools

Resources for Finding Graduate Schools

Applying to Graduate Schools

Colorado Graduate Schools

Financial Aid for Graduate School

Graduate School Entrance Exams

Internship Openings

Interview Skills

Common Interview Questions

The Virtual Interview

Job Search Resources

Career Services Events

Resources for Faculty

Researching Graduate Schools

Current Programs and Events:

Career Week

Career, Job and Internship Fair

Mock Interviews

Professional Development Dinner

Career Related Workshops

Career Closet

5 Minute resume reviews


Pillar 1: Career Services Image Implementation Plan GOAL 1.1: Mission, Vision and Values

Objective: Develop a Mission, Vision and Values that students should associate with Career

Services. This will help the organization understand how to market and convey messages to

students and faculty/staff.

Action 1.1.1: Mission

1. What is the overall purpose of career services?

2. Is the mission statement quick and precise? Does it sound professional? Is there

fluff?

3. Does the mission statement clearly distinguish Career Services from other

services on campus? What about other schools’ Career Services?

Action 1.1.2: Vision

1.Vivid description of results that we want to accomplish.

2. Motivational tool to inspire, but make sure it is still realistic and measureable

Action 1.1.3: Values

1. Core priorities of Career Services.

2. Develop 4 to 6 values that Career Services would like to operate around.

These statements and guidelines will help Career Services have a clear way of communicating

their overarching values to their audience. It is the first goal in the strategic plan and should be

completed first because it will assist with the rest of the plan.

**Example of a Career Services Mission, Vision and Values

Georgetown University

Mission: The Georgetown University Cawley Career Education Center teaches students

how to identify career opportunities that fit with their values, interests, personality, and

skills. We empower students by providing resources designed to foster the development of

career management skills that will serve them as competent professionals. We facilitate

specialized programs and create relationships to connect students with employers and

generate internship and full-time opportunities.

Vision: The Cawley Career Education Center staff will be known as educators of

Georgetown University students. We will provide innovative career services to equip

students for lifelong career development a prepare them to make a difference in the

world.


Values: The staff of the Cawley Career Education Center aspires to demonstrate the

following values through our work with students, employers, university personnel,

alumni, and parents. These values will also guide the development of new programs,

services, and strategic plans and serve as a framework as we hire new career center

professionals.

Knowledge

Competence

Student-Centered Approach

Holistic View of Students

Excellence

Integrity

Commitment

Collaboration

Appreciation for Diversity

Compassion

Creativity

GOAL 1.2: Survey

Achieve an understanding of how students interact with career services and what they want to

get from the services. This can be used to change the strategic plan.

Action 1.2.1: Using the free survey service on campus develop questions (one for

students and one for staff) on how they would like to see Career Services improve.... Also have a

blurb at the bottom to like us on social media.

**Example of questions for the survey:

Who is the head of Career Services?

Do you know where the Career Services Office is?

Have you started your resume? Have you gotten your resume reviewed?

Do you know what Careers for Mountaineers is?

Are you aware of the events Career Services hosts?

Did you attend the Career, Job and Internship fair in spring 2015?

Do you know that Career Services has a Facebook?

Suggest a new event or new service you think Career Services should provide.


GOAL 1.3: Brand Consistency

Objective: Who is Career Services?

Using the mission, vision and values statements decide who Career Services is. The service

should be available at any time to students, supporting their individuality. How do we

communicate that through brand?

Action 1.3.1: Logo? Develop an image to associate with Career Services.

**Example of a Career Services “logo” and “slogan”

Explore…Experience….Excel

Dream …..Determination….

Create…. Commit….

Focused….. Fearless…… Future



Action 1.3.2: Distinguish Western's Career Services by using what makes it unique.

Maybe it is a good thing that Career Services is in the back corner of ARC to provide a more one

on one experience in a safe environment... BUT students need to directly told, then they will

know a couple of things: (1) location, (2) importance of confidentiality, and (3) one-on-one

professional assistance. If we don't tell them they will not find out for themselves. Brainstorm

how to market this aspect of Career Services.

Objective: Marketing

Action 1.3.3: Resume Book—Develop strong tactics for marketing this opportunity that

Western has never provided before and why it is something more students should

participate in.

Why is the information on the Resume book not directly connected to the Career Services

page on the Western webpage?

**Example of the meaning behind a different school’s Resume Book

Action 1.3.4: Internal communication with faculty and Staff

Incentives (academic) for all events – Collaborating with Professors of capstone courses

or classes that directly connect with developing a plan for the future. Suggesting that they use

our services to directly correlate with their curriculum. For example Business Communication:

Professionalism and Resumes – connecting with the Career, Job and Internship Fair. Contact

Staff to see what their ideas are.


GOAL 1.4: Website

Objective: Reduce clutter on Western Website by reorganizing the Career Services page.

Action 1.4.1: Reorganize navigation.

About (Career Services):

Mission Vision and Values

Contact

Set up an appointment

Student Services:

Resumes and Cover Letters

Interviewing Skills

Common Interview Questions

The Virtual Interview

Job Search:

Internship Openings

Career Planning and Exploration

College to Career Planning Timetable

Career Insider

Western Alumni Job Seeker

Job Search Resources

Careers for Mountaineers

Graduate Schools:

Researching Graduate schools

Graduate School Entrance Exams

Resources for Finding Graduate Schools

Applying to Graduate Schools

Colorado Graduate Schools

Financial Aid for Graduate School

Career Services Events

Career Week


Mock Interviews



Career Closet


Employer Services

Faculty Resources


Pillar 2: Student and Campus Awareness

Implementation Plan GOAL 2.1: What can Career Services help you with annually?

Action 2.1.1: College to Career timeline

Career Services has a plan for Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors on the website.

In order to utilize this more effectively Career Services should provide a checklist, either

hard copy or electronically on students’ western account.

This checklist is difficult to find on the website, if a checklist is provided with dates and

things students can do throughout the semester it will combat the excuse of not needing the

services that we provide.

**Example:


Action 2.1.2: Implement an email communication system to contact students multiple

times during the year. Separate scheduled emails for Freshman, Sophomore, Juniors and Seniors.

Email is another way to communicate and connect with students to convey the

importance of thinking about their future. The way to get the audience to act is to touch

them at least 7 times.

GOAL 2.2: Social Media

Objective: Social media will provide Career Services with a connection to students for

announcing events coming up and resources available to them.

Action 2.2.1: Post a status (including a link/picture/video and hashtags) everyday (if

possible).

Hashtags: #westernup #careerservices #mountaineers #gowestern #professional #resumereview

#coverletter

Action 2.2.2: Develop an evaluation system, using the statistics on Facebook insight

recording stats in an excel spreadsheet to see if activity has been impacted.


GOAL 2.3: Advertising

Objective: Develop a constant presence around campus and provide examples of what students

can do with the services. Create posters every semester for events that Career Services hosts so

that students are exposed to our schedule.

Action 2.3.1:Career Services Events poster

**Example:


Action 2.3.2: Internship advertising

Develop a system of advertising for internships, utilize social media, email,

posters, etc. brainstorm how to connect students to these opportunities.

**Examples

Utilize internmatch.com


Students need a jumping off point for internships and jobs, this is a great example of how Career

Services can answer questions and assist in the process.

Pillar 3: Organization of Events and Services GOAL 3.1: Descriptions/layouts of events

Objective: Compile all information about events Career Services has held, including advertizing

contacts, timeline, and evaluations from previous events.

For each of the following:

Career Week


Mock Interviews



Career Closet



Implementation Timeline

End of Year

May 2016

Evaluate Plan

Oct. 1 – May

Goal 3.1 Descriptions/layouts of events

Sept. 20 – May

Goal 2.3 Advertising events and internships (decide on specific dates for events)

Sept. 10 – May

Goal 1.3 Brand consistency

Goal 1.4 Website

Sept. 5 – May

Goal 2.1 What can Career Services help you with? Start emails and flyers

Goal 2.2 Social media

Aug. 24 – Sept. 5

Goal 1.1 Mission, vision and values

Goal 1.2 Survey

Documents

Career Services Strategic Plan