Employer Advisory Committee
By Elizabeth Zipf
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, the Employer Advisory Committee met in Plaza’s new Bachelor Division Conference Center. The Employer Advisory Committee is a group composed of business professionals, alumni, faculty, staff, and students who meet in order to exchange ideas and provide their perspective on the changing job market and how to best prepare students to reach their career goals. At the meeting, eight guests from various companies including New York Auto and Diesel Institute, Fromer Eye Centers, Community Resources & Services for Children, Inc., Long Island College Hospital/SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and Willis Risk Management Corporation met and discussed ideas with ten members of the Plaza community.
The meeting was led by Ms. Dori Rubin, Plaza’s Director of Career Services, who asked a series of questions which employers answered in accordance with their experience in hiring within their specific organizations.
The first question posed related to the necessary skills to be competitive in the current job market. It might be expected that the employers considered such skills as high competency in subjects to be most important, but instead they replied with a list of qualities that make up a dedicated worker: showing up every day for work, being punctual and staying motivated. Additionally, their responses highlighted basic expectations such as possessing excellent communication skills, listening skills, and demonstrating the ability to multi-task. Most employers mentioned a basic expectation of new hires: the need to be able to demonstrate expertise in computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel. They also stressed the importance of showing a willingness to learn new skills and programs such as SharePoint.
According to the employers, Plaza students stand out from other applicants because of their computer skills, especially knowledge in Excel. However, just because an applicant is selected for the position, does not mean that the screening process ends the first day an individual starts work. A common occurrence among the companies is the process of a trial period. During this time, the employer assesses the newly hired employee’s skill set, in addition to providing training in programs that will be used. Employers pay close attention to how well the individual adapts to the workplace and learns the new skills from training.
Another topic addressed was the need for professionalism — from the interview into the workplace. The employers stressed the importance of a resume that is neat, concise, and informative. Any email addresses that are used should be professional, and “lovebunny” does not make the cut. If necessary, employers advised that job seekers keep the personal email account and create a new one with only a name. It is crucial to make the best impression possible in order for the employer to take an applicant seriously.
The employers mentioned the importance of professionalism in dress as well. Dressing according to company regulations is crucial in making a good impression, in addition to showing respect for oneself and others in the office. Plaza takes this very seriously, as the dress code for school is mandated in order to prepare students for the workplace. Professionalism extends into behavior as well. As enticing as it is to answer that text message, it is not appropriate to use cell phones during work hours. According to the employers, bosses want to see employees striving to work hard and not slacking off.
When asked how Plaza can ensure that candidates from Plaza College meet the needs of the organization when seeking employment, the employers responded with not only specific computer classes, but also suggestions such as internships, externships, and volunteer work that provide real world job experience. Sometimes it is hard to adjust to the workplace after only having learned a skill set in the classroom. Internships and other experiences on a résumé show that the student can apply his or her knowledge out of the classroom. It also shows motivation, dedication, and enthusiasm, which make an applicant stand out.
All the information acquired through this meeting allows Plaza to provide more guidance for its students in their chosen career paths. By looking to the real world professionals for advice, Plaza strives to provide their students with knowledge to make them as competitive as they can be in the current job market.