3 Ways to Improve Engagement with Gen Z Students (feat. Josh Taylor and Hayley Hollenberg)

Career Everywhere

Josh Taylor and Hayley Hollenberg of the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics share three specific strategies their team is using to better engage Gen Z students with career services.

Those three strategies include:

1. A popular career-focused study abroad program in Paris
2. A career development course
3. A revamped web and social media presence (particularly on LinkedIn)

All of these strategies play a part in the Graham Office of Career Management’s new approach to career services. In an effort to evolve with the times and meet Gen Z students where they’re at, the Graham team launched a four-pronged career strategy back in 2019. Since then, they’ve seen incredible results, including increased overall engagement, an over 600% increase in web traffic to their virtual career center (powered by uConnect), and an increase from 61% in 2019 to 86% today in graduating Gatton seniors who secure a successful career outcome (full-time job or acceptance to grad school).

The four-pronged strategy includes:

1. Graham in the Office (traditional career services, 1:1 appointments, in-person programming, career fairs, etc.)
2. Graham in the Classroom (career development course called the Gatton Pro Series, or GPS for short)
3. Graham, Virtually (offering 24/7 access to career resources via their virtual career center, called Navigate*)
4. Graham, Away (providing career-related learning opportunities beyond campus, including industry treks and a career-focused study abroad program in Paris)

*Navigate is powered by uConnect

Resources from the episode:

• Josh’s LinkedIn profile
• Hayley’s LinkedIn profile
• UK Gatton College of Business and Economics virtual career center (powered by uConnect)
• Graham Office of Career Management LinkedIn page
• Graham Office four-pronged strategy document

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