Design Thinking Action Lab - Empathy Problem: School to Work Transition

1. Design Thinking Action Lab
 Empathy and Problem Statement
Assignment 1 - School to Work Transition
Submitted by S.Yang

2. SAY
 Preparing students for the transition can sometimes be challenging - Students are
startled by the environment and expectations in the workplace – an adjustment
from the flexibility of college
 Example: Work week of 40 hrs plus, deadlines and multitasking, … many are from the
millennial generation – expect more work/life balance.
 Students do not always communicate well with potential employers.
Counselor/Advisor becomes aware of this “after the damage is done” - ? They
don’t hear about it until too late.
 Difficult to recover at this point. They are either scared or not sure how to handle the
situation well.
 For example: student receives offer and accepts from one employer, later receives
offer from a preferred employer. Students do not handle this well, sometimes leaves
the first employer up in the open instead of communicating upfront. Advisor finds
out thru the employer afterwards.
 Internships are becoming a necessity - more students will do multiple internships,
whereas in 2005, students may have completed 1 internship. Most 1st time jobs are
thru internships. Requirement to compensate students in some way for internships –
either via $ compensation or course credit. Unpaid internships (just course credit)
make the job of processing and setting up internships more challenging for the
advisor. Whereas, paid internships lend to more streamlined processes and
timelines.
 Opportunity to have better metrics and feedback. Current methods are limited -
Surveys sent after events to student and employers. Need top down initiative to
make this better.

3. THINK
 The millennial generation has an expectation for certain work-
and-life balances that are not in sync with the “real world.” Her
challenge is to properly prepare students. But, students need to
come to seek help.
 When students do not communicate well with employers, and
then I hear about it afterwards (from the employer and not the
student), it puts me in a bad spot. It puts this program in a bad
position. Students need to be more responsible.
 There is a lot of competition for good positions, so collaboration
between employer, student, and advisor is critical.
 It can be difficult to ask employers to provide $ compensation
to students sometimes. They don’t understand that it is hard for
many students to complete internships without pay. Course
credit is good but the student still has to pay for the class out of
their own pockets. Paid internships would be a win-win all
around. Students are more motivated , employers get more
invested students, advisors have easier processing of the
program.
 The surveys that we send out for feedback are not as effective
and many opportunities for improvement. But, to make this
better, I need top down support.

4. FEEL
 I can’t help students if they don’t come and
ask for help or take the initiative too. There are
too many students that we try to serve.
 I don’t appreciate hearing about a bad case
or handling of an issue from the employer
(after the fact) instead of directly from the
student.
 My life would be much easier if legislation is
enacted which requires all internships to be
compensated monetarily.
 Its hard to get good and ample feedback

5. INSIGHTS
 Easier way to promote and maintain
collaboration and communication between
student, employer and program advisor
 Many students are doing multiple internships,
thus a more streamlined method for
processing the program is required
 Desire a way to encourage and/or attract
employers who will pay the intern
 Need a better and easier way to get
feedback and metrics

6. Problem Statement
 A dedicated advisor in charge of student internship
programs at a known college, who serves a large
student population, as well as a varied group of
prospective employers,
 Needs a way to easily collaborate and
communicate between all parties (student,
employer and program advisor) that will improve
and streamline the matching, administrative and
feedback processes for student internships,
 Because it is difficult to serve a large population while
achieving the level of communication, service, and
expectations between all involved parties ; this will
help make the experience positive for everyone.