SCDC expands co-op database
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 7/31/09 Section: News
John Doherty, a co-op coordinator for SCDC, worked on reaching out to student organizations for their help with job development. Most of the organizations were based on industry specific honor societies, and business and engineering focus groups because there was a bigger need for jobs in business and engineering.
The SCDC also reached out to the Alumni Association, used social media for outreach, and contacted faculty to look for available job opportunities.
Franks said the long-term effect of this job growth is to maintain the new job opportunities. Although the economy may not recover for another year and a half, Franks hopes that the companies who have hired Drexel co-ops in the past but cannot hire in this economy will relist the co-op positions to enhance the Drexel co-op experience.
"We know that keeping students employed, [the job] placement rate, is a very important part (of) Drexel University," Franks said.
And despite the economy, the job placement percentage is 95 percent for current spring/summer co-op students. The four-year average for co-op placement is 98 percent.
One of the added benefits that come from heavy job development is the fall career fair in early October, according to Christopher Miciek, associate director for SCDC. As of last week over 53 companies signed up.
"Graduating seniors need to start thinking about [job placement]," Miciek said. "Many companies want to have [hiring] decisions made … by Christmas so it's important that graduating seniors get into the process quickly."
Co-op is also important to graduating seniors. More than 50 percent of graduates are given offers from their former co-op employers and more than 33 percent accept them, according to Neary.
"The main reason [companies] hire co-op students is trial employment-is this someone [the company would] want to hire when they graduate?" Neary said.
But should students currently in B-round turn down a job opportunity because it wasn't their first choice? Franks said to think long and hard before turning down a job offer in this economy.
The SCDC also reached out to the Alumni Association, used social media for outreach, and contacted faculty to look for available job opportunities.
Franks said the long-term effect of this job growth is to maintain the new job opportunities. Although the economy may not recover for another year and a half, Franks hopes that the companies who have hired Drexel co-ops in the past but cannot hire in this economy will relist the co-op positions to enhance the Drexel co-op experience.
"We know that keeping students employed, [the job] placement rate, is a very important part (of) Drexel University," Franks said.
And despite the economy, the job placement percentage is 95 percent for current spring/summer co-op students. The four-year average for co-op placement is 98 percent.
One of the added benefits that come from heavy job development is the fall career fair in early October, according to Christopher Miciek, associate director for SCDC. As of last week over 53 companies signed up.
"Graduating seniors need to start thinking about [job placement]," Miciek said. "Many companies want to have [hiring] decisions made … by Christmas so it's important that graduating seniors get into the process quickly."
Co-op is also important to graduating seniors. More than 50 percent of graduates are given offers from their former co-op employers and more than 33 percent accept them, according to Neary.
"The main reason [companies] hire co-op students is trial employment-is this someone [the company would] want to hire when they graduate?" Neary said.
But should students currently in B-round turn down a job opportunity because it wasn't their first choice? Franks said to think long and hard before turning down a job offer in this economy.
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