Learn How to Conduct a Perfect Career Workshop for Students
Our previous blog was on how to build an awe-inspiring portfolio. In this blog we’re going to discuss about the different ways colleges and placement cells can conduct successful career workshops for students.
A career workshop does take some strategic planning to make it successful and engaging. But a well-planned career workshop creates a real difference for young college students, employers, and universities. Before getting into the actual action, let’s understand its core types.
Major Types of Career Workshops
Understanding the purpose of your career workshop can amplify the effectiveness of each activity you plan and execute. For any placement cell, a smartly planned workshop can raise your brand awareness and can be an opportunity to attract potential future employees.
STEM Career Workshops
STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Focusing on STEM-based career workshops leads you to strengthen the roots of jobs relevant to Robotics, Civil-Infrastructure, Cyber-security, Pharmacology and many more. With STEM-based career workshops, you can create a career pathway for students and link them between the STEM curriculum and open opportunities in the market.
Job Skill Workshops
Running job skill workshops will deliver a deeper understanding of the parameters needed for students while they’re applying for any STEM-based jobs. The placement cells or universities can conduct workshops on interview techniques, Networking, CV writing best practices, aptitude, etc.,
Employability Skills Workshop
Employability skills workshops precisely target developing the students’ skills such as written communication, analytical skills, teamwork, leadership abilities, planning and problem-solving skills. Enhancing employability skills helps students to understand the importance of going beyond academic learnings to thrive in the professional world.
Irrespective of workshop topics, employer-led workshops in association with colleges, universities, or placement cells deliver motivation and a focused destination to every student.
Before initiating any career workshop, a redefined plan, and execution are required to make it successful.
Parameters to Consider Before Launching Any Career Workshop
Coordinate with key members of the college/University, STEM teachers, Leaders, Career advisors to establish the objective or goal of the workshop. Agree on constitutions and set some ground rules to avoid not acceptable behaviors.
Understand the Nature of the Audience
Set up goals, analyze the audience base and segregate based on workshop activities. Ensure students have various engagement activities.
The Available Timings for Every Event
Understand the best time within the academic year to run the career workshop. Once planned and initiated, be realistic about what you can cover within the stipulated workshop timings.
Plan the Activities
The Workshop is not a lecture, it has to be interactive and engaging. Understand the Students’ learning style and create activities that interest them.
- Quizzes & Competitions
- Role Plays
- Hands-on Practical Assignments & tasks
- Presentations
- Pair & Group work
Pick the right location
The location of the workshop is plays a crucial role. Whether you deliver it on the college premises or another venue, zero in on a location that is convenient to students, trainers and recruiters.
Resources & Staff
Preplan and decide on lecturers who would play the best role to guide and run the activities on the field. The resource has to create a student-centric atmosphere across all the events.
Prizes & Rewards
After the event encourage each student for their involvement and reward them with prizes and certifications.
Recap & Reflect
Once the career workshop is rounded off, analyze what went exceptionally well. Drill down each benefit that your institution and the students perceived from this career workshop. More importantly, hold a debriefing session with all the stakeholders to analyze and plan future career workshops.
