At Your Service: Recognizing the Importance of Student Involvement in the Community 785-864-3624 career.ku.edu

Roadmap Define “Service” Importance for employers How career coaches can help Strategies and samples Questions

Types of Service Service Learning Direct Service Indirect Service Course-based, meet identified community needs, reflection component Service Learning Person-to-person contact with those in need Direct Service Not as hands-on, benefits larger community Indirect Service Lend voices, writing ability, other talents toward public issue Advocacy Service Any examples of service on your campus or that you promote or look for in employees? What service should NOT be, “charity” model Ethical Service Not technically service, i.e., fundraising or 5ks Philanthropy

Turn to a partner and talk about a service experience you have had. What impact did this have on your life? Your career? Turn to a partner and talk about this

Father of Experiential Learning Theory “Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it.” -David Kolb, Father of Experiential Learning Theory Service is a dimension of experiential learning: there are internships, part-time jobs, service <this is just as valuable

Why This is Important for Employers Articulating meaning from experience Self-Reflection Network expansion Working with people different from yourself New skills gained Can contribute something transferable Personal stories. Explanation of “Work Values.” There aren’t necessarily “good” or “bad” work values, but it is very important to discover what yours are. Discovering and developing personal meaning in the world of work Value recognition

Mark Keating Major: Strategic Communications Career Goal: Public Relations Consultant Service Experience: Volunteering with Just Food

Volunteering with Just Food Pick up and deliver donations Work well within team environment Made flyers and information packets Sort donations effectively Assist with healthy cooking classes Engage with local community

Why Employers Care About Mark’s Service Gained new perspective, connected with the community Self-Reflection Met and worked with the Director of Marketing for Just Food Network expansion Collaboration, organization, presenting, creating, and designing New skills gained Value recognition Community impact, giving back, teamwork

Volunteers have a 27 percent higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers CNCS also found that volunteering is associated with an increased likelihood of finding employment for all volunteers regardless of a person’s gender, age, ethnicity, geographical area, or the job market conditions Corporation for National and Community Service http://www.nationalservice.gov/impact-our-nation/research-and-reports/volunteering-pathway-employment-report

Matthews et al. (2015) – Service Learning Example: Starting salary: $40,000 + 19.1% = $47,640

How Career Coaches Can Help Drawing meaning from experience and recognizing value Self-Reflection Utilizing network expansion Working with people different from yourself and using those connections Articulate new skills gained Can demonstrate ability to contribute something transferable Carly’s examples here Promote opportunities Finding service opportunities that appeal to interest or support career goals

Accomplishment Skill Service Experience

Accomplishment Skill Recognized by supervisors for excellent communication and organizational ability Created outreach and awareness materials for organization events Service Experience Pick up and deliver donations Work well within team environment Made flyers and information packets Sort donations effectively Assist with healthy cooking classes Engage with local community

Mark’s Resume Example SERVICE EXPERIENCE Volunteer August 20xx – May 20xx Just Food Lawrence, KS Recognized by supervisors for excellent communication and organizational ability Served the Lawrence community through the pickup and delivery of food donations Collaborated with other volunteers to recognize problems and identify solutions Designed outreach and awareness materials for organization events Enhanced local residents’ self-efficacy by assisting in healthy cooking classes Gained an enhanced cultural perspective through active engagement with diverse aspects of the community Mark’s Resume Example

Behavioral interview questions Interviewing Resume as a base Behavioral interview questions Focus on skill

Finding Opportunities Established opportunities Volunteer fair Center for Community Outreach Using connections Service Learning Certificate Get creative!

Questions? Renee Denton Carly Klynsma Graduate Assistant Career Coach University Career Center The University of Kansas Email: renee.denton@ku.edu Carly Klynsma Graduate Assistant Career Coach University Career Center The University of Kansas Email: carlyk@ku.edu