If you’re operating a trade school, career-college or vocational/tech academy, the facts revealed in the headlines you’re about to read are probably something you’re already well aware of…
Aware of, that is, if you’re properly marketing your school and its programs to a new key demographic. Gen Z.
You see, Gen Z’s a demo that is incredibly interested in what you have to offer, and it’s incredibly important you properly market to them; they could very well be the future of your school.
Now, before we, Conversion Media Group, show you these headlines, you should know that they were all published within a few days of each other. Meaning, the topic is so hot right now that almost every major media outlet is covering it.
Ready for them?… Here we go.
Forbes says, “More Gen Z are choosing trade schools over college to become welders and carpenters because ‘it’s a straight path to a six-figure job.’”[1]
The Wall Street Journal says, “How Gen Z is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation.”[2]
Fox Business says, “Universities will face a ‘huge PR problem’ as trade school enrollment increases.”[3]
The UK Daily Mail says, “Gen-Z is shunning college to take up traditional trades like welding and plumbing they say is far more satisfying and which doesn’t incur huge student debt.”[4]
Yahoo! Finance says, “Welders are in high demand, Gen Z is answering the call.”[5]
Even Barstool Sports got into the action saying, “Gen Z is Ditching Traditional 4-Year Colleges in Favor of Learning Trades, and This is a Pure Good.”[6]
Now, maybe you’ve seen these headlines, and maybe you’re on the receiving end of a massive influx of Gen Z enrollments.
Or…
Maybe you’ve seen these headlines but are wondering why enrollment in your school hasn’t skyrocketed… and why you don’t have a long waiting list for new enrollees.
If you’re in the latter category, and you’re failing with Gen Z enrollments, there’s a good reason why. We’ll get to that in just a minute.
First, what’s going on with Gen Z?
Clearly, as evidenced within the articles above, Gen Z is concerned about the rising costs of college and the massive debt that’s often incurred after graduation.
However, that’s not all they’re worried about.
Jobber, a software company out of Canada, recently surveyed 1,000 high school students (Gen Z) about their educational future. A whopping 56% of them said “blue collar” jobs have more job security than “white collar” jobs… especially when it comes to Ai.[7]
Ai isn’t only worrying to those of us already in the workforce, but it’s very worrying to Gen Z. And the conversations we, CMG, have with prospective Gen Z students reflect this.
See, Gen Z is not only concerned about the short-term ramifications (costs and time) of enrolling in a four-year program, but are concerned about the long-term ramifications, namely job security…
And that’s why they’re choosing trade school, career-college or vocational/tech academies over college.
Or, more simply put, they want a good job, they want to qualify for it fast, and they want to know it’ll be around a long time regardless of where technology takes us.
Now, as we said earlier, your school may already be seeing a big influx of Gen Z students. And that’s great.
However, if your school isn’t succeeding with Gen Z (or if you want to lengthen your waiting list with them) … there could be a good a reason why.
You’re not properly marketing to them. You’re not “speaking” to their true desires.
But our team here at Conversion Media Group DO know their desires. We know because we actually talk with hundreds, perhaps thousands of Gen Zer’s regularly, on the phone.
Yes, the telephone.
They tell us what they want out of higher education, what they’re interested in doing for a living…
And they often tell us they’re ready to enroll in a career-based program, ASAP.
When they do, that’s where you come in.
See, once our phone conversations turn to enrollment opportunities, we can transfer these prospective students directly to your enrollment department while they’re still on the phone!
They’re called live transfers, and they’re a fantastic way for you to reach Gen Z (or any generation for that matter).
Now, we won’t get into the details of live transfers here, but if you’re curious about how this all works, just give us a call at 1-800-419-3201 and we’ll explain everything.
Or, if you prefer, you can contact us HERE and one of our higher ed enrollment specialists will get back with you ASAP.
Here’s to your enrollment success!
[1] More Gen Z are choosing trade schools over college to become welders and carpenters because ‘it’s a straight path to a six-figure job’ | Fortune
[2] How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation – WSJ
[3] Mike Rowe: Universities will face a ‘huge PR problem’ as trade school enrollment increases | Fox Business Video
[4] Gen-Z is shunning college to take up traditional trades like welding and plumbing they say is far more satisfying and which doesn’t incur huge student debt | Daily Mail Online
[5] Welders are in high demand, Gen Z is answering the call (yahoo.com)
[6] Gen Z is Ditching Traditional 4-Year Colleges in Favor of Learning Trades, and This is a Pure Good | Barstool Sports
[7] Gen-Z is shunning college to take up traditional trades like welding and plumbing they say is far more satisfying and which doesn’t incur huge student debt | Daily Mail Online