It is hard for anyone to find employment with the current state of the economy.
With the loss of our Student Job Placement Center, it is more difficult for students to receive the assistance they need to be prepared for the job market.
The Student Job Placement Center used to provide one-on-one assistance with interviewing techniques, provided information of what to have on a resume and taught students how to network with future employers.
The reason why the Center was closed down was to lower the expenses to run the facility and posting job listings online, similar to websites such as Monster.com, Career builder and Craigslist. This solution is supposed to provide easier access to job opportunities for students.
However, the center provided students with skills to get past the first interview, from tips on the proper attire, to filming the student in a mock interview and reviewing the footage. It also provided internship opportunities that would help students get one step closer to working for higher-paying companies in their desired profession.
Now many students are concerned as to where they should acquire this valuable information. It is unfortunate that students didn’t utilize the center and take advantage of the opportunity that the college once provided.
In 2007, there were 2,432 jobs available. By 2010, that number dwindled to about 301 available job opportunities despite the fact that more students used the center in 2010.
The increase of students using the Center combined with the state of our economy should have been enough incentive for the job placement center to remain open. Jeanie Nishime, vice president of student advancement, has even stated that “everyone is looking for employment right now.”
Another reason for closing down the facility was the abuse of companies utilizing student internships for free labor. This problem is common in the corporate world and doesn’t justify the several other resources the center provided.
Maybe the Job Placement Center couldn’t or didn’t have the resources to find everyone a job, but like the saying goes, every little bit helps. Not everyone has a computer or the Internet to figure out how to prepare for a job interview or how to write a resume.
If a school can’t provide those services, where can students turn to?
The academic dishonesty policy states “to uphold the academic integrity of the institution, all members of the academic community, faculty, staff and students alike must assume responsibility for providing an educational environment of the highest standards.”
If we hold these beliefs true, then by removing the Student Job Placement Center we aren’t providing the highest standard we can, but instead we are leaving some students lost.