Newly launched Experience It! programme will give students real exposure to real work.
TO HAVE a good qualification and some work experience when entering the world of work is the stuff of students’ dreams. Their chances of securing meaningful employment are then immensely better, say recruitment specialists, than when they only have a qualification.
But how and where can they start building the track record of experience so desired by employers? Last week Boston City Campus and Business College launched the Experience It! programme to help its students get started.
“Finding hands-on experience and skills is a challenge that continues to plague students across the board,” says Ari Katz of Boston City Campus and Business College.
“We believe that the time is ripe for educators and the private and public sectors to come together to address this challenge. By working together we can make a difference to the lives of thousands of students.”
Through the Experience It! programme, Boston will be assisting students in gaining some form of work experience to add to their CV’s, so that when they do apply for permanent jobs, they have real time work skills and experience to offer hiring companies.
The process is simple: interested students apply Experience It! opportunities at the Boston branch they’re studying at, and the college then places them at a company for an agreed period of time, usually between six weeks and three months.
“It’s not a new concept per se,” says Katz, “except that our programme is not to be run on an adhoc basis but will, instead, become an integral part of our education offering. We have employed staff full time to run programme.”
The Experience It! staff consult with companies regarding their staffing needs for 2011 and beyond and then begin grooming students for the vacancies identified. Participating companies are invited to select as many students as they need to fill temporary vacancies such as those that arise when people go on annual, study or maternity leave.
The benefit for companies is that they don’t have to commit to taking on new employees – yet should they decide to employ a student permanently they can do so.
“While the intention is to line up work positions for students who will be qualifying towards the end of 2011,” adds Katz, “many positions are actually being advertised in our branches right now for immediate placement. “And while we are not asking companies to pay the students, employers are willing to do so, realizing that a motivated student performs better and is more productive.
Participating companies receive media exposure for their community contribution as Experience It! enjoys recognition from the LeadSA initiative, and they also benefit from Boston’s print, radio and TV campaigns. “It’s a win-win for all involved,” says Katz.
“We thrilled with the interest shown by companies so far; the se include Emperor’s Palace, Rectron (IT Company), Callforce, PAG (both recruitment companies) The Star and the Argus newspapers, MoB (digital marketing) and Ernst and Young (one of largest accounting firms in SA), 1Time airlines, Comair airlines, Bidvest Bank, and many more.
“Experience It! has in its early stages already turned out bigger and better than we expected.” Not only students enrolled now stand to benefit from Experience It! Katz adds. School pupils are invited to participate in the Experience It! TV campaign.
This leg of the programme entails three-minute features that are being shown on e.tv every Monday evening, with each show featuring a specific career. Under the scrutiny of TV cameras, selected pupils visit a company to find out more about the careers they’re considering.
Viewers can follow the pupils and the presenters as they find out the ins and outs of each career. Pupils who are chosen for the TV slot and decide to pursue the featured career are awarded a bursary to study at Boston City Campus and Business College.
Experience It! will run on e.tv until March and viewers can interact with the programme via Facebook.
Students that apply for admission at Boston City Campus & Business College will get a response to their applications within two working days. And those that apply long in advance for their 2016 studie…
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