Traditionally, the only ways that colleges provided career support to students was via internships and career guidance offices. Internships give students experience in their chosen field, as well as an opportunity to network with professionals but are often only available in the summer and do not always offer a salary. Career and job fairs provide students with the opportunity to meet with employers in their industry but again are limited by geography.
In the article linked below, Jeff Selingo highlights some new innovative partnerships that some colleges are trying that offer useful career skills alongside valuable higher ed experiences. These new offerings are targeted to high growth industries and don’t assume students can take time off unpaid. They are a very hopeful sign indicating that schools are listening to the needs of their students.
As a parent of a high schooler & someone who has been in this space for over 20 years, it is both amazing to read of innovative career-focused post-secondary options while it is also super frustrating that it is so bizarrely difficult to navigate as a consumer.
As these amazing new partnerships expand, the next step will be to make it easier for families, students, and high school counselors to better understand the options.
Jeff Selingo's article:
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