What Students Told Us! Community College Career Survey Sept. 2006

Who Responded to the Survey? 66% Females/34% Males/ 47% White/25% Hispanic

57% were under 21 with almost 30% over 25 years of age.

54% were seeking a BA/BS or higher, another 30% an AA or AS degree.

63% felt they would benefit from services offered at a career center sometime this year.

30% of respondents had never visited the career center or used it’s resources.

Only 24% said they were currently using a campus career center to help them find the right career path.

82% wanted career centers to contact them via or IM.

This is what was important to them.

This is how satisfied students were with how their career centers delivered what they wanted.

Reasons why students would visit a career center. (Percentages)Very Likely Somewhat Explore Internet career resources37.2%30.2% Use the career library34.9%30.1% Take a career assessment44.5%29.9% Help choose a major or career pathway52.1%29.0% Get college info45.6%33.6% Identify current “Hot Jobs”42.8%30.2% Help finding a direction40.2%31.1% Job placement48.2%30.9% Interview skill building or resume prep40.2%30.2% Connection to employers47.7%29.6%

What we learned: Students need and want career information. Students are not satisfied with the career services they are receiving. Students really want help with: Choosing the right major. Building job skills for the job they want. Figuring out their personal strengths. Students want to connect to their career centers via or IM.

Next Steps We need to work together to leverage our resources and impact by:  Developing a powerful brand that represents all California Community College Career Centers to help us effectively market our career products and services.  Creating and adapting guidelines and customer service procedures to help us standardize our services and better serve students.  Introducing and sharing innovative career products and resources based on what’s important to students…like the new online Missing Major Project.

And in the end we want our students to respond to this question… Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver