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Academics Count: In an effort to emphasize the important connection between learning and work skills, the partners have developed a system to include requesting high school transcripts as part of the employment application process. The partners want to send a clear message that academics and attendance count and employers evaluate job applicants based on essential skills.
Getting Employers on Board: Once the system was developed and it was felt to be timely and legal, employers in 11 communities were informed about the project. School-To-Work staff met individually with employers to explain the benefits and how to request school transcripts as a routine and systematic part of their hiring process, when the applicants are high school students or recent graduates.
Initial Results: The first contacts were made just over a year ago. Initially 309 businesses were contacted, 255 either pledged in writing or stated verbally that they supported the effort and would request transcripts. To date over 100 transcripts have been requested and sent to area businesses. Follow-up visits are being made this summer to encourage employers to request transcripts.
Present Job Climate Deters Requests: Many employers have stated that in the "present job climate" in East Central Minnesota they are so happy to get any applicants that they are hiring without following usual procedures. The abundance of jobs and scarcity of potential employees has affected the number of requests.
However: Most agree that improving the quality of the workforce is necessary in order to be and remain competitive. Making Academics Count &endash; Hiring Smart: An Employer's Guide To Using School Records published by the National Alliance of Business, The Business Roundtable and U.S. Chamber of Commerce clearly spells out the benefits to all involved. In part it states: Employers care about improving student achievement &endash; we have to. Our economy is changing... Employers can help forge stronger links between academic achievement and workplace success by asking for school records… When they (students) know that companies want workers who can read and write well, solve problems and reason &endash; and that employers expect proof of these skills &endash; they work harder and achieve more in school… Educators and parents also support the idea…employers who ask for students' school records back up educators and parents by sending the message that all students must be challenged to study, learn and succeed.
Student and Parent Reaction: Most has been anecdotal and it has generally been positive. An interesting twist in this effort of trying to encourage employers to request transcripts is this. On their own volition students in at least one high school began requesting copies of their school records to take to job interviews. This has proved successful and according to the Career Center staff at the high school all of the students who have requested their records and shared them with their prospective employers have been hired for the jobs the students were seeking. We plan to encourage students in other partnership schools to do likewise starting in the new school year.
Keys to Success: An established and credible system must be in place. Employers, students and parents must be informed. School districts need to commit to responding to requests in a timely manner (our goal is within 24 hours). Paperwork must be minimal. We use a single form and fax the information on the form between employers and school and vice versa. The printable form along with the school contacts and fax numbers is available at the link below:
Contact person:
(763) 689-4893