NACE State of the profession:

navigating trends in student success and workforce readiness

Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Presenters: Tim Harding, NACE President, University of Tampa; Shawn VanDerziel, NACE CEO

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges & Employers

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the role of career services and college recruiting is more critical than ever to the future of higher education and the workforce. In this session, leaders from the National Association of Colleges and Employers will guide us through an exploration of the latest research and trends shaping the college-to-career pipeline and a discovery of actionable insights to help evaluate programs and demonstrate their tangible impact. 

As talent needs shift, and higher education adapts to new realities, dive into the data, become equipped to lead essential conversations, and learn to position your team as strategic partners in fostering student and talent success. We’ll cover everything from the latest in career readiness and internships benchmarks to evolving student attitudes and outcomes.

Together, we are champions for student success, advocates for the critical value we provide, and forward-thinking leaders who shape better outcomes for the future. 

learning Sessions 1

THURSDAy, November 21 | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Zero to AI Hero: A Career Services Crash Course

Presenter: Corey Guilford, Purdue University

Topics: 

• Career Advising/Counseling
• Personal / Prof Develp
• Technology

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

As we explore what a future of generative AI looks like, what is most important is not that we all stay on the cutting edge of what is possible, but that we ensure all career services staff can be empowered by the proven use cases of these tools, which is vital to staying relevant in the eyes of students. In this interactive breakout session, we'll guide participants on a fun-focused journey from little to no experience to competency, equipping them to confidently utilize and discuss AI tools with students.   We will embark on an engaging journey, assuming little to no prior experience with generative AI. Participants will interact with fun examples using AI on their mobile devices. Scaffolding from this, we will engage in activities that build skills step by step and emphasize practical applications, with discussion and collaborative opportunities. This process culminates in participants being able to independently solve an example multi-step problem, relevant to both the students we support and career professionals themselves. Join us as we demystify AI, empower career services staff, and pave the way for exciting possibilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will acquire practical skills to implement recognized use cases for AI tools.
• Participants will be able to use the "AI Lens" to identify existing use cases and assess novel uses for AI tools.
• Participants will be equipped to guide students on effectively incorporating AI tools into their career preparation journey.

Breaking Barriers and Building Connections: Incorporating Play into the College Recruiting Experience

Presenters: Teresa Dwyer, Indiana State University

Topics: Employer Relations

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

The face of college recruiting has remained relatively unchanged for years. Companies visit campus to attend career fairs, attend classroom visits, and represent their company during information sessions. There are also those one-off events, the mock interviews, etiquette dinners, and such.   After years of witnessing increased apprehension among students and decreased attendance for our standard recruiting events, we recognized there needed to be a change. Gen Z is different. They have faced adversity by growing up during a national pandemic. They experience higher levels of anxiety compared to previous generations, and they are accustomed to meeting people virtually, rather than in person.   To increase student engagement across campus and provide employers with a unique recruiting experience, the Indiana State University Career Center has created two new and successful recruiting events that incorporate play into the process. These events are designed to decrease intimidation and anxiety that usually accompanies attending career fairs and fosters memorable employer connections.   In this session, we will discuss these two events, the factors that led to their creation, steps taken to ensure their success, and what we learned throughout the process. Attendees will leave with programming ideas that can be easily replicated on their own campus.

Learning Objectives:

• Introduce attendees to how to incorporate playful activities into their campus recruiting schedule.
• Provide attendees with a framework for activities and important points to consider.

Career Development and Leadership in Action: Best Practices from the "Business Class" Initiative

Presenter: Katie Thomson, Ohio University; Dean Pidcock, Ohio University

Topics: Experiential Education

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

Student Organizations might just be the Wild West of Higher Education. On our quest to help support and guide 35+ student organizations in the College of Business (CoB) at Ohio University, we developed a governing student organization body called "Business Class". Business Class is a program that allows CoB student organizations to upgrade their organizations experience in a multitude of ways. Business Class assists groups in marketing, recruitment, professional development, financial funding and general student leadership support through monthly meetings.   When opting in to Business Class, student organizations are held to professional expectations. These expectations have increased professionalism on networking trips, produced intentional and meaningful programming and has assisted our Employer Relations team to track and engage with employers and alumni more accurately.  Business Class has also assisted in the creation of an experiential learning donor fund, supporting our students' groups for activities such as: case competitions, conferences and networking trips. Business Class has taken our student organizations to new heights, focusing on professional development, employer/alumni engagement and experiential learning! We conclude the academic year with a Business Class Awards Dinner, celebrating the many successes of the collective 35+ student groups!

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Key Strategies for Supporting and Enhancing Student Organizations:  Attendees will learn about the development and implementation of the Business Class initiative and how it provides support in marketing, recruitment, professional development, financial funding, and leadership support to student organizations.
• Explore Methods for Tracking and Engaging with Employers and Alumni:  Attendees will explore effective strategies for enhancing employer and alumni engagement through structured initiatives like Business Class, and how these relationships can benefit both students and the college.
• Incorporate Professional Development and Experiential Learning into Student Organization Activities:  Attendees will learn how to integrate professional development opportunities and experiential learning into the activities of student organizations to enhance students' career readiness and real-world skills.

Shining a Light on Values-Driven Professional Development

Presenter: Stacie Ballard, Indiana University

Topics: Career Advising/Counseling; Personal/Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

Learn about how the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI) at Indiana University Bloomington incorporates required professional development in its' approach to their co-curricular internship program. In this session, we will delve into how this program is structured to ensure that both student interns and supervisors perceive and appreciate the value, and that built-in requirements are not viewed as mere add-ons in what is typically an unpaid internship experience. Learn about the requirements student interns and supervisors have in this program to ensure the internship is mutually beneficial, meeting topics that have resonated with students to further their professional development, and be a part of a brainstorm to explore other ways to teach students values-driven professional development that can be engaging, informative, and inspiring.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify programmatic requirements and structures for student interns, supervisors, and a university office to ensure consistency and mutually beneficial relationships when navigating internship professional development.
• Brainstorm and generate new topics and ideas to teach students values-driven professional development that are informative and engaging.

From Campus to Career: Essential Insights for Navigating the School-to-Work Journey

Presenter: Jean Drasgow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Topics: Career Advising/Counseling; Employer

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

 The transition from college student to first full-time job can be overwhelming. What is meaningful for college students in their early adjustment to work life? What do they wish they had known and didn't know as college students and emerging adults? What were the significant factors influencing their success? How can employers and educators help students and recent grads navigate the transition? We'll delve into qualitative research that answers these questions.   After attending this session, attendees should be able to describe essential elements as well as identify potential derailers for the school-to-work transition. University staff should be able to draw connections between the curricular and extracurricular activities to develop the whole graduate. Recruiters should be able to assess their new hire onboarding practices that may be a root cause of new hire early attrition or determine culture issues that create a lack of applicants.

Learning Objectives:

• After attending this session, attendees should be able to describe essential elements as well as identify potential derailers for the school-to-work transition.
• University staff should be able to draw connections between the curricular and extracurricular activities to develop the whole graduate.
• Recruiters should be able to assess their new hire onboarding practices that may be a root cause of new hire early attrition or determine culture issues that create a lack of applicants.

learning Sessions 2

THURSDAy, November 21, 2023 | 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Career Services in the Age of AI: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations

Presenters: Un Yeong Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Michael Warrell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; James Castree, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Topics: Administration; Career Advising & Counseling, Personal/Professional Development; Technology; Career Services Marketing

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly becomes a part of the job search and employment landscape, college career services face the challenge of understanding and integrating these technologies to support student success. This session suggests a collaborative exploration into how AI can be thoughtfully incorporated into career development practices. This exploration will consider two pivotal areas: firstly, identifying ways in which AI tools can enhance job search processes and preparation for students; and secondly, examining the potential for AI to streamline career service operations, thereby improving engagement and the tracking of student outcomes. Additionally, we acknowledge the necessity for comprehensive training for career services staff, equipping them to navigate these technologies and offer informed guidance. Through this session, we aim to initiate a dialogue on the practicalities, challenges, and strategies for embracing AI within career services.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify opportunities for use of AI in job search processes and career exploration.
• Examine opportunities for using AI to streamline career service operations and marketing.
• Identify staff training needs and develop strategies for selecting AI projects, overcoming challenges, and planning future initiatives.

The Indeed Workforce Report: Trends & Insights for 2024

Presenters: Matt Berndt, Indeed

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

The Workforce Insights Report brought together researchers from Indeed and Harris Poll to understand what matters most to workers in 2024. This first-of-its-kind comprehensive report on the hearts, minds, and priorities of the US workforce is based on a survey of 5,000+ U.S. workers. This research explores whether people want to apply to jobs and what's holding them back from pursuing new opportunities. Join this session to explore key insights and gain an in-depth understanding of workers' priorities in seeking new opportunities, their job search preparation levels, and common barriers in today's job market.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify trends in worker priorities and barriers in the current job market.

Innovate to Elevate: Driving Success in First Generation and Adult College Students

Presenters: Martin Gahbauer, Elmhurst University; Jerry Donahue, College of Lake County; Kathy Meisinger, Dominican University

Topic: Career Advising & Counseling, Diversity and Inclusion, Small Colleges and Universities

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

The challenges for universities, colleges, and by extension, employers, are growing.  The traditional college age demographic is shrinking.  The "enrollment cliff" is set to hit beginning 2025.  As such, many universities are looking to increase the number of first generation and adult students to help fill enrollment gaps.  These student cohorts have divergent needs as they relate to career development leaving many institutions struggling to find successful strategies for these students.    Couple that with the difficulties which institutions and employers have identified in the current student generation “Gen Z" poses further obstacles.  They are often called out for their purported lack of motivation, soft skills and desire for instant promotions.  How are universities addressing these concurrent issues?    To help address the challenges of the impending dynamic, this session offers a panel of college career services professionals who will share their innovative practices of supporting first generation and adult students.   Key areas reviewed include the service delivery of career development while driving workplace competencies.   Participants will be encouraged to interact in a dialogue about possible best practices that could be shared during the session. In addition, resources available online through websites and articles will be provided to all participants.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover innovative techniques to engage, support, & prepare first generation students and adult for career success
• Learn best practices for designing experiential programming that intentionally connects employer partners with first-gen and adult students to drive career competencies and build social capital
• Understand innovation doesn't have to be big or highly visible -- innovate continually where it is welcomed

Career ROI was Here! Strategies to Energize and Engage

Presenters: Nannette McCleary, Wayne State University

Topic: Personal & Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

The professional development website, Teacher|Coach, defines professional engagement as "a measure of how invested an educator is in all aspects of their work." This definition exemplifies the "Return On Investment" expectation of those who are charged with student success across the university. These demands can be draining and many have experienced compassion fatigue. The best prescription for a healthy career is to embrace and leverage strengths to make your mark. This interactive session strives to focus on workplace strategies that allow employees to personally develop and manage their careers. 

Learning Objectives:

• Review workplace attractors that impact job satisfaction and retention,
• Discuss career management sources of energy and personal renewal,
• Share ideas for recharging professional development and personal engagement.

Let the Boss Cook! Leader Perspectives of Gen Z in the Workplace

Presenters: Aaron Meyers, GentrAIner (Meyers Workforce Solutions, LLC)

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics, Employer, Personal & Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

Based on Aaron Meyers's independent research, this presentation gives a platform to direct, mid-level, and executive leaders from industries across the country concerning the orientation of Gen Z in today's organizations. Advancing technologies, difficulties in integrating different generations, and inconsistent commitments to leadership and development initiatives have sparked much debate within the workplace. Yet, there's a lack of depth in addressing how to effectively integrate Gen Z into the workforce from the vantage point of the people responsible for overseeing their performances. What insights do leaders have on Gen Z integration, and are they equipped to oversee this complex challenge? Supervisors and managers play a critical role in any organization, with their influence being key to forming and maintaining effective teams. Their perspectives and analyses are vital for shaping a comprehensive human capital strategy. This presentation aims to amplify the voices of these pivotal figures by taking their insights to enhance strategies to better integrate and retain new Gen Z employees. The major themes from research addresses adaptable leadership styles, the merit of mentorship, educating generational tendencies, longer-termed employee development, and  best practices in bolstering organizational culture to meet the needs for today's rapidly evolving environment.

Learning Objectives:

• Effective Communication: The Merit of Mentorship and Continuous Feedback.
  Communication skills are regarded as a weakness for Gen Z; however, communication is often defined as a two-way process. If this is the case, where is the scrutiny from the other side? A dependence on smart technology and isolation from the global pandemic affected soft-skill development for the newest generational worker, but this is far from a one-way challenge. The emphasis on formal mentorship programs, real-time constructive feedback, and coaching indicates the importance of continuous support and guidance for Gen Z's professional growth. The need for clear, consistent communication and bridging communication gaps between generations underscores the importance of effective communication strategies in managing Gen Z in the workplace.
• The Importance of Nesting Gen Z Integration into the Company Culture and Mission:
  Responses highlight the need for aligning Gen Z with the organization's culture and mission, suggesting that Gen Z values meaningful work that aligns with their personal values and the broader social impact. The organization's ability to conduct its desired human capital management scheme starts with the foundation around its set of values and its employee engagement plan. If the organization is strategically invested in supporting employee development, rewards and recognition programs, performance management standards, and effective two-way communication methods, it will create a competitive differentiator and be more appealing to not only Gen Z but to all generational employees and prospects. Most importantly, as it is relevant to this research, it offers organizational leaders with a consistent plan, an adaptable platform, and the resources needed to influence their subordinates.
• Observations from Midwestern Leaders:
  These participants of this research stretched across the country, but this presentation will extract and compare Midwestern leaders against the sums of the rest of the country. Among these topics will be 1) industry trends (production, knowledge/information, and general services), 2) career readiness observations, 3) generational attitudes (from Baby Boomer, Gen X, and Gen Y leaders), 4) leadership philosophies, 5) organizational policy, and 6) AI integration

learning SESSIONs 3

Friday, NOVEMBER 22 | 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Preparing Students for Future Lives, Not Just a Job

Presenters: Michele Doran, Denison University; Ashley Strausser, Denison University

Topic: Career Advising/Counseling

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

Career Services are under the spotlight. With the rising cost of a college education, there is much in the press about ROI. It is important not to lose sight that we are preparing students for life after college, not just their first job. Research indicates that the second year of college can be a time of questioning; What should they major in? Do they see a pathway forward after college? How should they prepare for a particular field of interest? The Journey Program was designed to help sophomores think about the lives they want to lead after college and prepare a roadmap for using their remaining time in college for up to three possible career paths. The program is an immersive four-session experience where students will Reflect, Imagine, Plan and Build their future lives. The conference session will review how the program was built based on research, utilizing the work of leaders in the field such as Katharine Brooks, Ed.D.,  Design Thinking and Positive Psychology. Learn from the experiences of Denison University as they are now in their fourth year of delivering the program to over 400 students.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will understand the research and foundations of the Journey Program, influenced by Katharine Brooks, Ed.D., Molly Schaller and the National Resource Center, Design Thinking, and Positive Psychology.
• Attendees will start creating a framework of how to support sophomores on their campuses.
• Attendees will inventory current programming and identify allies for possible collaboration.

Behind the Scenes: Launching a Campus-Wide Career Workshop Series

Presenters: Jessica Fox-Wilson, Beloit College

Topic: Administration; Assessment and Data Analytics; Career Development Programming

Instructional Level: Mid-Career

Target Audience: Colleges

Career boot camps, conferences, and large-scale workshop series build career-readiness skills in your current students. They also position your college as a career education innovator. How do you plan, launch, and assess one? In this session, Beloit College's Director of Career Works will share how we developed and sustained a multi-day virtual career workshop series for four years.  The Career Accelerator engages first-years through seniors from every major in their career journeys. The 2024 Career Accelerator saw 447 attendees (147 unique students) across 37 workshops that faculty, staff, alumni, and employers facilitated. Over the years, students' robust engagement with the program has increased advising appointments and campus visibility for career development.  The Career Accelerator includes five workshop tracks:  Discovering career pathways Building career-ready competencies Exploring experiential learning opportunities Networking with alumni and employers Developing professional skills  While the career center staff leads the Career Accelerator, it's a collaborative venture across faculty, staff, and administration.  We will discuss how we built the strategic partnerships that led to a successful program. We will also cover how we set a foundation of logistics that we replicate each year. Finally, we will share what we've learned from the program's qualitative and quantitative assessments.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will investigate  the benefits and challenges of coordinating a college-wide program
• Participants will learn how to embed faculty and staff collaboration into a new program
• Participants will explore how to use qualitative and quantitative data to assess a program's efficacy

Illuminate Student Success through Life Design

Presenters: Laura Kestner-Ricketts, Augustana College

Topic: Career Advising & Counseling; Personal / Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges and Employers

Transform the delivery and effectiveness of essential career development activities using life design frameworks.  Learn new ways to empower students as we share real-life examples and interactive activities that work like magic to motivate students and employees with a bias toward action.  In this dynamic 60-minute presentation, we will explore how life design frameworks can be transformative tools for designing effective programs and services. These frameworks, which involve empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing, offer powerful strategies for shaping your career and life journey.  We will cover three key components, each illustrated with case studies and classroom activities using the Decision Matrix Process for Values-Aligned Decisions, Frame and Reframe for Career Imagination, and Integrating Work and World Views.  Join us for this informative and engaging session to discover how you can empower your students and teams to design life paths that truly align with their values and intended outcomes. The skills and strategies shared will be valuable assets for educators, advisors, and anyone interested in fostering personal and professional growth.  No prior knowledge or experience with Life Design is necessary.  Participants will leave with three out-of-the-box activities to use with students and team members.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the fundamental concepts of life design frameworks and their relevance to personal and professional development.
• Apply the Decision Matrix Process to guide students and teams in making values-aligned decisions, both in academics and in their careers.
• Utilize "frame and reframe" techniques to help students envision their career goals, map out pathways, and identify opportunities for experiential learning.

Critical Analysis of using AI to create cover letter with international students

Presenters: Yang Li, Saint Louis University

Topic: Career Advising & Counseling, Diversity & Inclusion, Personal/Professional Development; Small Colleges and Universities; Technology

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges and Employers

In this breakroom discussion session, the facilitator will provide some hands-on activities to let the audience discuss the potential characteristics of AI-generated cover letters. Then, there will be a discussion of case studies to deepen the understanding of the motive and intention of international students using AI to generate cover letters. Finally, there will be a summary and strategies for human resources staff and career counselors to detect and guide candidates in job applications.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the pros and cons of AI-generated cover letter
• Understand the characteristics of detecting an AI-generated cover letter
• Guide all students to understand the risks of AI-generated materials and make sure that students can build their self-editing and career literacy in using AI.

Business Professionalism: From College to Career

Presenters: Danielle Field, Western Michigan University

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics; Career Advising & Counseling, Diversity & Inclusion, Experiential Education; Personal/Professional Development; Small Colleges and Universities; Technology

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

 Designed for senior-level students, the Business Professionalism course provides students the opportunity to build professional competencies through the completion of online modules and live virtual experiences, in order to prepare them for career success.  This course is the capstone experience for the Student Professional Readiness Series (the SPuRS program), and a graduation requirement for students seeking the BBA degree in the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. Join this session to learn more about this required course and how it has been implemented and scaled up to facilitate learning for hundreds of students each fall and spring with employer participation in an online capacity with interaction and personalized touchpoints along the way.   

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will receive a copy of a syllabus for a senior-level career readiness business course.
• Attendees will learn about the design, implementation, and success of a co-curricular graduation requirement focusing on career readiness beyond the classroom in an accredited business college.
• Attendees will hear from at least one student about their learning and growth as a result of the SPuRS program and the BUS 4000 course (this will either be a recording or in written reflection).

Hot topic roundtables

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 | 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM

 Details Forthcoming!