Commentary: Investment in Undergrad Work Experience is the Lifeline Students Need
University of Tennessee, Knoxville students graduating last December (Photo by UTK)
A combination of student debt, insufficient work experience to meet the demands of many employers, and underdeveloped professional networks can make the idea of leaving a university terrifying for upcoming graduates.
Tennessee’s universities can address the source of these fears, but it will require an organized, student-tailored effort to produce confident, well-adjusted workers.
Target Professional Development Early
Before students can successfully manage a professional internship, they must first understand what it means to be a professional. Most university-backed internship opportunities are offered to upperclassmen and occasionally to sophomores, but they are almost exclusively reserved for the most enterprising, high-achieving students in each department. Providing structured professional development for freshmen will primarily expand that high-achievement band.
These development programs should target professional etiquette, networking skills, and perhaps even basic office skills; all of which will reduce the professional learning curve and expand in-depth opportunities for students once they reach internship age. Universities do a disservice to their students when they do not instill these professional qualities upon arrival on campus.
Expand Accredited Internship Opportunities
Classroom education is important, of course, but the irreplaceable value of real-world work experience should be prioritized whenever possible. Schools should be mindful not to hinder a student’s chances at entering the business sector of their field for the sake of a few class credit hours. Internship experience builds the networks from which most students ultimately receive job offers.
The opportunity to interact and get involved with leaders and employers in various industries is monumental for young students who desperately need to get a foot in the door somewhere, and university departments should do everything they can to get their students involved in those workforces.
Offer AI Utilization Courses for Upperclassmen
Regardless of one’s personal feelings on the polarizing issue of artificial intelligence, one thing is certain: AI, at least in its current iteration, is not going anywhere. While the use of artificial intelligence on campus raises questions of academic integrity, older students who have already completed the bulk of their degree coursework need to be proficient in the professional use of AI.
Using ChatGPT as a basic search engine does not constitute AI proficiency, and having skills in an expanding sector is a desirable trait for young professionals. From effective prompts and making the most out of AI assistants, to tools and shortcuts for editing spreadsheets and creating workflows, students who can minimize their AI learning curve will have a better chance of thriving in a rapidly changing industry.
Partner with Alumni and Business Networks to Increase OCI opportunities
If businesses are looking for young employees, they should make themselves accessible to large swaths of those employees as efficiently as possible. Universities that host on-campus interviews (OCIs) stand to benefit both their students and employers connected to the university. OCIs create the potential for a direct pathway from graduation to employment, which is an enticing proposition for rising graduates.
Furthermore, OCIs remove any accessibility constraints that graduates may encounter during the interview process. Instead of settling for the impersonal nature of Zoom calls or having to travel across town several times a day for interviews, OCIs ensure that the best job candidates can interview in a familiar, readily accessible environment.
Many students incur significant debt and travel far from home to receive an advanced education. It’s no secret that, on average, college graduates earn more over the course of their lifetimes than others. This knowledge often leads students and families to treat a college degree as a “golden ticket” to a job, financial stability, and a successful life.
Tennessee’s higher education institutions have a variety of incentives to make good on that perception and to equip each student with the knowledge, social skills, and functional tools necessary to succeed after graduation.
While it is impossible to guarantee success for every student, prioritizing the solutions above will lead to more success stories in an increasingly competitive professional landscape.
Ben Schmisseur is an associate with Tennesseans for Student Success. The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.
