Students Validate They Want & Need WayFindersU

What makes a student stay after graduation?

Recently, I crashed a college job fair at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA). I was on the hunt seeking information from a student's perspective, and I got exactly what I was looking for.

Let me set the scene: two packed ballrooms at the Iowa Memorial Union, 150+ companies with booths and recruiters and swag, hundreds of sprightly students trying to figure out their next step, and so much nervous energy you could feel it from outside.

Human Connection & Support Systems Are Non-Negotiable

As we developed WayFindersU, we had numerous conversations with career center employees and economic developers, but not directly with the students themselves. I wanted to either prove or punch holes in our theory that students not only crave, but need, a support system around them when they choose where to live. According to the thirteen students I spoke to, the theory, need and opportunity is spot on. They need WayFindersU; they need community; they need you.

Students Share What They Need After Graduation

Human connection is a pretty basic human need. But some student answers surprised me. Here are the highlights of my conversations:

“When you think about where you want to live after graduation, what matters most to you?”

• All thirteen students – every. single. one. – said that they are looking for a place with a network of people. Family, friends, classmates, fellow interns. Someone who lives in their future home. If the place didn’t already have that network, they wanted to find it. One student mentioned joining a fitness club so she could connect based on that interest, in hopes that she’d meet friends.

“Outside of finding a job, what feels like the hardest part about figuring out where to live?”

• Some students want big cities, some want to be close to home, some don't care as long as there’s a job waiting for them.
• All of them care about being able to afford where they choose to live.
• Only two of the thirteen students I talked to, already have jobs lined up after graduation.
  • One is going to work for their family’s company.
  • The other “Spam applied for 200 internships until they got hired,” and they’re lucky enough to be staying on. That’s it, two out of thirteen.
• The other eleven students, in their own way, talked about how hard it will be to navigate their next step on their own. They talked about it being scary to leave what they know: being a student, being in the Midwest, being around their peers.

“How are you navigating this now? What websites, people, or apps are you using?”

• For the last question, there were lots of answers. A few mentioned their career counselor (great job U of I!), a few mentioned LinkedIn, one said there should be an app to make friends (I think that exists), but none of them really had a plan, clear guidance or path.

Graduate Retention Program Needed in a Community

The first question and answer was exciting. It tells me that we’re on the right track. WayFindersU connects soon-to-be grads with young professionals in their community. They can get help building a network, finding fun things to do, and learning how to be a grown up. Support system? Check.

Students Spam Applying for Jobs is Not a Retention Strategy

The next few questions and answers tell me that we, as college communities and talent attraction professionals, have a long way to go. Our next wave of professionals need help. They’re doing what we asked them to do, but not getting the support they need or deserve.

Students are getting an education, applying for jobs, and finding internships, but they need more help. They need to be rooted, nurtured, and mentored.

Now, with WayFindersU, there is an intentional program with tools to provide those critically important needs for graduates.

Students Want & Need WayFindersU

The last question I asked the students was, “If a tool existed that could help you actually get connected in your new city, would you use it?” All 13/13 said, without hesitation, “yes.”

WayFindersU is built to serve college students who are trying to navigate the challenge of getting a job after graduation. It’s a massive decision filled with emotion, financial, and societal pressure. Is the best we can do a jam packed career fair? I know we can do better.