Essays and how-tos on employer relations, events, students and software, from the people who build Career Forge, the career services platform for colleges and universities.
27 posts · July 2023 to May 2025 · RSS
Students aren’t just saying yes to a job offer. They’re deciding who to trust with their professional and financial future. Explore ways employers earn (or lose) that trust—and how career services guide those decisions.
Students · Jobs and recruiting27 posts. Posts under Career Forge ERM are about a separate product from Career Soft, LLC, with its own site; everything else is about Career Forge, the career services platform.
Students · Employer relations7 characteristics of meaningful career connectionsStrong professional relationships aren't accidental—they're built on authenticity, communication, and empathy. Discover 7 key traits that drive meaningful career connections for students, recruiters, and career services teams.
StudentsStop blaming Gen Z: model interpersonal relationships insteadEnough labeling Gen Z as unhirable! They need opportunities to practice communication, teamwork, and resiliency—those soft skills don’t automatically “kick in” after graduation. Let’s ditch the blame, level up practice opportunities, and help students build the connections that launch careers!
Jobs and recruiting · Choosing softwareThe zero-sum game of fueling an AI arms race in recruiting & hiringMost companies now screen applicants with AI, and nearly half of applicants write with it. As authenticity gets harder to judge, referrals, direct contact and soft skills are what set a student apart.
Choosing softwareHow to change your career services software (without hating the transition)Switching to new software in your career services department can feel like a big task. With careful planning and teamwork, you can handle the change without too much stress. In this post, you'll learn about the challenges you might face and some simple, practical steps to overcome them.
Experiential learningFunding career growth: 7 ways to support student internships, research & moreDiscover 7 creative ways to fund student internships, research, and career growth opportunities.
Experiential learning · StudentsWhy do guided academic internships lead to greater student success?Guided internships boost student success with structure, mentorship, and reflection—connecting classroom learning to real-world career readiness.
Career services · Choosing softwareWhy generic software fails career coaches (and their students)Discover why generic software hinders career coaching success and how specialized tools improve student outcomes, engagement, and coaching efficiency.
Choosing softwareCareer Forge is trending. Here’s why.See why Career Forge is the buzz of NACE 2024: a human-focused career management platform that enhances student outcomes with seamless integration and data-driven insights.
Choosing software · StudentsA social content channel isn’t a career management platformBuzzy employer videos in a content channel get attention, but they don't connect recruiters with the ideal candidate for a complex role. Career Forge does.
Events and career fairs · Employer relationsA fast read about hosting speed networking eventsLearn how to host a successful speed networking event connecting students, alumni, & employers with this quick guide to planning, promotion, & execution.
Career Forge ERM · Employer relationsAn improved employer page won’t improve your employer relationshipsHandshake's new ERM platform lacks essential features for managing employer relationships. Learn how Career Forge ERM fills the gaps effectively.
StudentsHere’s your May-August plan for student summer engagementIf you’re worried about engaging students over the summer, this May-August playbook will help you sleep at night now and enjoy your summer vacation later!
Events and career fairs5 ways this new on-site badge printing makes everyone happyDiscover the career fair game-changer: a badge printing solution with an iPad and hand-held printer that eliminates on-site badge printing nightmares.
Jobs and recruiting · Choosing softwarePros and cons of relying on recruiting technology to match students with jobsRelying exclusively on currently available recruiting technology to meet your career services team goals is stressful, but there are some advantages.
Events and career fairsEnd the dread: your integrated event registration software is ready! (part 2)Get a better employer and recruiter registration experience with the new, integrated Career Forge system built specifically for career services.
Events and career fairsEnd the dread: your integrated event registration software is ready! (part 1)Install an event registration and payment solution built to replace the frustrating and cumbersome software exhausting employers and career services.
Career Forge ERM · Employer relationsWhat you’re missing if you’re not using the original ERMCareer Forge | ERM is the first Employer Relationship Management platform designed to forge powerful connections and elevate student job search outcomes.
Career servicesNo, Ryan Craig, we do not need to abolish career servicesRead why a call to abandon campus-based career services ignores these professionals' vital contributions to students, universities, and the economy.
Employer relationsHow do I build long-term employer relationships and partnerships (without repeating the same old same old)?Read how to level up your employer outreach and partnership with unique collaborations, inventive communication, and win-win situations.
Career Forge ERM · Choosing softwareHow the technology adoption curve can positively impact your employer relationship managementThe technology adoption curve accelerates software implementation, like introducing the original employer relationship management system from Career Forge.
Career Forge ERM · Employer relationsCareer services technology: advancing from customer relationship management to employer relationship managementRead why career services teams need platforms designed for their specific tasks instead of generalized sales management applications.
Career Forge ERM · Employer relationsThe long-overdue solution to cumbersome CRMs for career servicesA sales-based CRM is not a user-friendly or productive way to build and maintain relationships between career services teams, employers, and recruiters.
Career servicesTomorrow’s campus-based career services are personal, not transactionalJob boards streamline employment searches; they don't support career development. Relationship building is essential across the early talent network.
Jobs and recruiting · StudentsWhy job boards aren’t matchmakersDating apps and job board algorithms identify opportunities, but recruiting is human and trust-driven. Career services bridge the gap.
Career Forge ERM · Choosing softwarePrice vs. implementation costs: don’t get fooledHere’s your solution: employer relationship management software built exclusively for career services with ridiculously simple, affordable pricing. It’s all in this blog!
Career Forge ERM · Employer relationsWhat is Career Forge | ERM?Career Forge | ERM is every career services team’s escape route from bloated customer relationship management (CRM) software. Replace sales-based tracking with employer-relationship monitoring and reporting.A 30-minute walkthrough with the team that builds it.
