How to Help Low-Income Students Hold Their Own on the Job Market
How to Help Low-Income Students Hold Their Own on the Job Market
How to Help Low-Income Students Hold Their Own on the Job Market
By Goldie Blumenstyk
January 29, 2020
Summary
Imagine you're a college student trying to network for a first job or an internship when you don't know a single person in the field you're interested in, or even that "Networking" is a thing that other students regularly do to land an interview or learn about a career.
I'm more intrigued by programs that help lower-income and first-generation college students.
That's why I've been paying close attention to efforts like the recent RV excursion that Roadtrip Nation offered to community-college students, in which they share how they learned to cold-call graduates of California two-year colleges and interview them on camera about their career paths.
As Davis put it, Braven reminds students that "Your story isn't a liability, it's a strength." Building their confidence is part of the program.
Braven has been on my radar since I met Davis four years ago, and I was eager to include its work in my "Career-Ready Education" report last year because I share Davis's belief that social capital matters when it comes to preparing students for careers.
In addition to the contacts that the fellows make with the help of their local leadership coaches and mentors, the Braven students also can connect with peers on other campuses where the program operates.
In each of the labor markets where Braven is active, it finds employers that provide financing and personnel who serve as coaches for a cohort of students.
Reference
Blumenstyk, G. (2020, January 29). How to Help Low-Income Students Hold Their Own on the Job Market. Retrieved February 3, 2020, from https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Help-Low-Income/247927