Posts Tagged ‘careers’

Six Key Steps to Take While in College to Help You Land That First Job

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

It is possible to be so focused on getting good grades or partying while in college that you miss the mark and find yourself in a difficult position when it comes to landing a job when you graduate.  Let’s take a look at the steps you should be considering, preferably while still in high school, in regards to landing a great job.

Step One-Is Your Major Right for You?

If you are heading down the wrong career path and pick the wrong major ,it will be difficult to excel.  In other words, if your heart isn’t in it, you might not succeed!  So carefully evaluate your career path choices.

Step Two-Understand Your Career

Many people are lucky enough that they know exactly what they want to do when they go into college.  Those that fall into this category should take full advantage of this edge.  If you already know what area you will be seeking employment in, then do research on that field.  When you have more knowledge regarding your chosen field, you will see more opportunities.  This research will allow you to select possible companies that you would like to work for and maybe even change courses that you select while in college.  In fact, you might even decide to pick up a minor, a second degree or go on with your education.

Step Three-Build Your Resume

There are many ways that you can build your resume while in college, so think of some of the ways that you could potentially do this, and then take the necessary steps.  Consider starting a small company in your chosen field, doing volunteer work that somehow relates to your field or anything that you think would make you a more attractive candidate.

Step Four-Be an Interesting Person

Giving a great interview and standing out amongst the sea of competitors can be difficult.  One way you can do it is to be an interesting person.  There are many ways you can approach this.  For example, develop some interesting and unusual hobbies that you can somehow link to your chosen career.  If you are a poor speaker, take lessons!  You should look for your deficiencies and then make real strides in advance to correct them.

Step Five-Take Your Resume Very Seriously

Don’t simply throw together your resume.  Individuals who have poorly constructed resumes that have errors or don’t properly reflect their accomplishments are doing themselves a serious disservice.  You have spent years building up your resume- so don’t hide it!

Step Six-Show Career Advancement

One fast way for potential employers to see that you are a good candidate is to show advancement at your previous jobs.  You may need to work a part-time job while in college.  If so, seek out a part-time job that you feel has potential for advancement.  Many employers really love “go-getters” and promotions show that others have deemed your responsible and worthy of more responsibility!

Are Only High Paying Majors Worth The Time?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

You’ve probably heard a good deal about the wildly increasing price tag of a university or college degree.  This is not to state that there are still not great deals in education to be found, but there is no doubt that these deals are far harder to find and require much more research than in days past.

All of this has left people wondering not just how to survive college or college dorm life, but whether or not they should attend college in the first place.  Additionally, many students are also wondering if they should only attend college if they are going to major in a career with a “big pay day.”  Increasingly, people are beginning to question whether or not college makes sense for everyone.

While there is no denying that the job market is far tougher than in the past, some other facts are also undeniable.  College graduates still earn far more than those with just a high school degree.  Those who go on and get professional degrees earn even more than those who earn college degrees.  Or stated another way, college still does pay.

Yet, the world is full of people with graduate degrees working minimum wage jobs.  This is a fact of life and a reflection of the current economic situation which is, unfortunately, likely to continue for some years to come.  So what is a student considering college to do?

No matter what kind of college degree you get, you will be more employable than those without a college degree.  This is just a fact. While you might be thinking twice about a degree without a big payoff, you’re still better off with a degree of some kind.

Not all high-paying degrees are right for everyone.  After all, a job that makes you truly miserable is one that you will not do forever.  Many people don’t actually stay with the careers that they are trained to do.  The reason for this is that once they enter the workforce and enter their chosen career, they hate it.  The money looks great on paper, but they discover after they begin the job that it’s not for them.  This is definitely a factor for every student to consider and here is why.  College degrees can be expensive, and professional degrees can be doubly so.  The last thing you want is to be stuck with a massive college bill without a career path to pay for it.

So on one hand you are better off with a college degree, but you also have to consider how much your degree will allow you to earn when you graduate and how much your college debt will be.  All of this underscores how important it is to have good advice and a knowledgeable mentor or two.  Also investigating all of your options is essential.

You can find the right college for your needs and one that will help you plot out your future career.  Just remember to plan well in advance, and weigh all of the choices before making a decision.