The Career Sip: Your Weekly Dose of Higher Ed Hustle!
Welcome back to your go-to spot for the buzz in higher education career development, where the coffee is always strong and the news always fresh.?
Dive into this week's Career Sip for the latest in higher ed strategies, career development tips, and a surprising fun fact that'll leave you craving more!?
Don't miss out—read till the end!
Tech
Predicting Employment with Machine Learning
Machine learning is revolutionizing career coaching by predicting student employment outcomes. Ohio University's study exemplifies this, using data such as GPA, major, and co-curricular activities to forecast which students might graduate without job offers. This allows career coaches to intervene early, guiding students towards activities that enhance their employability.
How It Works:
Machine learning models analyze patterns in large datasets to forecast future outcomes. This technology differs from traditional data analytics, which merely describes data. Machine learning extracts insights from data through pattern recognition, predicting outcomes with remarkable accuracy.
For instance, the study at Ohio University used first-destination surveys and registrar reports to train a machine learning model. This model could predict student employment with 87% accuracy. Factors like internships, co-curricular activities, and specific majors were found to be the most predictive of employment outcomes.
Implications for Career Coaching:
The predictive power of machine learning enables career coaches to provide more personalized guidance. By identifying students at risk of not securing employment, coaches can recommend specific steps such as internships, joining student organizations, or acquiring relevant certifications. This proactive approach not only improves individual student outcomes but also enhances the overall effectiveness of career centers.
This technology is particularly valuable in the current educational landscape, where universities are increasingly held accountable for student career outcomes. Machine learning offers a scalable solution to ensure that more students graduate with job offers, aligning educational programs with market demands.
The application of machine learning in higher education is still in its early stages, but its potential is vast. Beyond employment, it can be used to predict other outcomes such as student satisfaction, retention, and graduation rates. As more universities adopt this technology, it will become an integral part of student support services, driving better educational and career results.
For a detailed look, read the full article here .
What are we reading -and listening to- this week?
Book recommendations
"The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together " by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark
Beyond the shameless self-promotion, we believe that the 2nd edition of our book is a valuable resource for any family wanting a balanced, unified, and intentional approach to embracing the college admission and financial aid experience. As a higher education professional, it will also provide you insight into how admission decisions are made and the role institutional priorities and university mission play in the process. We walk readers through every step of searching for, applying to, and affording college.
"Broken: How Our Social Systems are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them " by Paul LeBlanc
As LeBlanc steps down from an impressive presidency at Southern New Hampshire University, this is an important read for any educator. He is perhaps one of the most innovative leaders in higher ed in the past two decades. Here he discusses the "opportunities and necessity to put humanity and care at the center of all our systems."
Podcast recommendations
Admission Decoded produced by NACAC
In a constantly shifting landscape impacted by everything from the Supreme Court to American demographics to political and fiscal pressures, this monthly podcast features enrollment leaders on college campuses who are leading the way amidst turbulence. Whether you work in enrollment or elsewhere on campus, you'll benefit from these conversations impacting the current and future of admissions and enrollment in American higher education.
Future U with Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo
As a higher education practitioner, this podcast covers timely subjects from AI to Dual Enrollment to Boards of Trustees. You'll be challenged to ask questions about how your own university is operating or see ways you can collaborate and articulate your work in new and creative ways.
News
Latest News in Higher Ed Career Development
UC Berkeley’s Award-Winning Dashboard
In 2022, UC Berkeley Career Engagement (BCE) created an innovative data visualization dashboard using Google Workspace, earning the 2024 NACE Technology Excellence Award. This dashboard revolutionized how BCE showcases its key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing for real-time, meaningful data analysis and decision-making.
Sue Harbour, BCE’s associate dean, explains that the dashboard tracks program attendance, appointments, and DEIB efforts. This tool has transformed BCE's data collection from static Excel documents to dynamic, accessible visualizations. It highlights trends, monitors growth, and supports accountability by providing insights into student engagement and service delivery.
By using Google Workspace products like Sheets and Looker Studio, BCE visualizes usage statistics, tracks improvements in DEIB outreach, and records monthly KPIs. For example, BCE noted a 253% increase in programs and a 490% increase in attendance from 2018 to 2023.
The dashboard's tabs categorize data points, such as affinity codes for DEIB partners and staff involvement in various programs. This detailed tracking enables BCE to see peak times for student appointments and program attendance, helping allocate resources effectively.
Harbour emphasizes the importance of data in supporting BCE’s work, advocating for a data analyst position to ensure clean, clear, and concise data. By leveraging data visualization, BCE can share compelling stories that justify resource allocation and build stronger relationships with stakeholders.
If you want to know more about Berkeley’s Dashboard, read here the full article. ?
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Latest in Higher Ed Development
Candidates ask for the questions before the interview
Preparing for job interviews can be daunting, especially when predicting what questions might come your way. But what if interviewers shared the questions in advance? Surprisingly, some employers are doing just that.
A recent survey found that 23% of employers provide interview questions to candidates before the interview, ?including 5% for all positions and 6% when candidates request them.
Why? It's practical and inclusive. By sharing questions, employers help candidates focus on delivering thoughtful, relevant answers rather than improvising under stress. This approach fosters a fairer, more transparent hiring process and builds trust between employers and candidates.
Employers aren't testing who can handle surprises but who is the best fit for the role. Knowing the questions in advance allows candidates to prepare effectively, ensuring the interview assesses their true potential rather than their ability to think on their feet under pressure.
This method not only helps candidates perform better but also positions employers as considerate and forward-thinking, making the hiring process smoother and more efficient for everyone involved. What do you think, should the questions be handed in advance to the applicants? Do you think it’s beneficial for the candidates??
Fun
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Opportunities
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Learn something new
Fun fact of the week
Starting the month of August very very soon... Did you know where its name came from?
August is named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor. Originally, this month was called Sextilis because it was the sixth month in the ancient Roman calendar.?
When the calendar was reformed, it became the eighth month, and Augustus decided to rename it in his honor, as he believed it was a month of many significant victories. August is also notable for the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most stunning meteor showers visible in the Northern Hemisphere, peaking around mid-month.
That's a wrap for this week's The Career Sip. Keep brewing your career development strategies, and we'll be back next week with another steaming cup of higher ed updates.
Stay caffeinated, my friends!