College, Career, Life » career

4 Tips for Writing Self Evaluations

collegecareerlife — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t had the opportunity to write a self-evaluation yet, it’s probably because you just landed your first real job out of college. Expect one near your 6 month or one year anniversary. They’re often used as evidentiary support to see if you deserve a promotion, pay-raise, or even can determine your termination. They’re very important and should be taken seriously. But while you may want to give yourself the highest marking possible, you want to try to remain somewhat humble—after all, if you’re giving yourself the highest ranking, you might as well say you deserve to take your supervisor’s job. That said, to make sure that you write a strong and confident self-evaluation without sounding too pompous, consider these tips below.

1. State How You Went Above and Beyond

Initially, you want to remind your employer what’s exactly in your job description. That way your employer knows exactly what you were hired to do as well as be reminded of your designated responsibilities. If you’ve managed to do what your job description entails, great. But if you somehow managed to tackle side projects that weren’t in your job description, even better. Employers will definitely take note of your ambition.

2. Highlight Accomplishments

Employers just don’t want to keep someone who is “adequate” at his or her job. They want to keep people on board who are invaluable—someone they can’t afford to lose. Prove to your supervisor that you are needed by highlighting two or three of your biggest accomplishments. Be specific on how those accomplishments help the company as a whole. For example, did the client you bring on generate an enormous amount of revenue for the business? Did your idea help with branding? Etc. Even if your accomplishment was something you did earlier in your career, make sure to document anything that will help you stand out from the rest.

3. Point Out Basic Skills

Talking about your accomplishments is great, but you also want to stress the simple things you do around the office that will make your case stronger. For example, are you always on time? Do you always turn in your assignments on the due date (or even earlier)? Are you a team player and help your co-workers we needed? If any specific example comes to mind, take this opportunity to address it.

4. Ask for Feedback

Of course you have to have something that you need improvement on, or else you’d have a perfect score. When filling out your self-evaluation you really need to be honest. Can’t find anything you need improvement on? Ask some of your closest co-workers, particularly on your team, if they have anything they’d like to add. And don’t get upset if they tell you something semi-negative. You also need to address how you plan on correcting those issues in the future as well as list any other future goals you have for yourself with the company.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes on the topics of online universities advice. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

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Post tags: career, evaluation, guest post

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Five High Demand Jobs for Introverts

collegecareerlife — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:48:41 +0000

While many high profile careers require extrovert traits, some of the most high demand jobs are suitable for introverts. Introverts derive energy from within rather than through interaction with others, and work well in environments where there are opportunities to work alone. Although most jobs require interaction with coworker and clients, certain jobs provide more quiet time to work than others. The following high demand jobs often require working alone, and might be suitable for the introvert personality.

Accountant

Accountants analyze and prepare financial information for individuals, businesses and organizations. An accountant’s or auditor’s work requires concentration, a strong skill for many introverts. Also, most accounting work involves working alone. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a growth rate of 22% is projected through 2018*.

Biomedical Engineer

With a projected growth rate of 72% through 2018, biomedical engineering offers promising opportunities. Biomedical engineers help develop artificial limbs, prostheses, instrumentation, and other health products. A four year degree is the minimum requirement for entry-level jobs, but many biomedical engineers have graduate degrees.

Clinical Laboratory Technologist

Clinical laboratory technologists help diagnose and treat diseases by analyzing cells and body fluids. Most clinical laboratory technologist work in hospitals, while others worth in physicians’ offices or independent laboratories. Demand for clinical lab technologists is expected to exceed the supply of trained technologists, leading to excellent job prospects. A four year degree in medical technology or life sciences is required for most positions.

Environmental Scientist

Green jobs are in particularly high demand as concerns over the state of our water, soil and air continue to grow. Environmental scientists play a key roll identifying solutions to our biggest environmental problems. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most positions, but a graduate degree can provide even more opportunities in the field.

Network Administrator

Jobs in information technology are generally good options for introverts, because most positions require working alone or in small teams. Projections point to faster-than-average job growth over the next decade for many of these jobs, including network administrators. Network administrators install and maintain network systems, including local area networks and intranet. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field is the requirement for most positions.

While personality is an important factor when choosing a career, values, interests, and skills should also be considered. Read What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers for more information about choosing a career that’s right for you.

*All growth statistics from BLS.gov/oco/

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Post tags: demand, introvert, jobs

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The Best College Career Center Websites

collegecareerlife — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:45:15 +0000

Many students never visit their campus career centers during college. It’s unfortunate that career centers are so underutilized because they can help students choose a college major or career path, in addition to helping with internships and job searches. And while some career centers lack the staff and resources necessary to provide the best services, many offer invaluable information and opportunities. If you can’t make it to your campus career center, try it’s website. College career center sites often list job and internship opportunities, information about job fairs, and career planning resources. Even if you aren’t a student, visit these excellent career center websites:

California State University-Fullerton

California State Fullerton’s Career Center site features interviewing and resume tips, industry information, and salary research sources. If you’re wondering what to do with your major, Fullerton’s career site offers plenty of options for every major(choose Career Exploration, then What can I do with this major).

Colorado State University

The Career Center site at Colorado State has occupational information, college major guides, and industry resource links. Click on the Students tab to explore career the resources, including graduate school basics and information about obtaining an MBA.

Florida State University

The employment and salary statistics will provide useful information not only to Florida State students, but to all college students. Find out which majors earn the most in full-time jobs and internships, in addition to which companies are hiring college graduates. The site also offers resume and career resources accessible to both students and non-students.

UPenn Career Services

The University of Pennsylvania’s career services site includes self assessments in skills, interests, and values. Work-life balance and career-change advice are also available.

University of Michigan

The career center website at University of Michigan includes career assessments, career guides, resume/cover letter advice, interviewing skills, and much more. Michigan’s career center site also provides application and job search advice for graduate and professional students.

The University of Washington

Need help choosing a major, getting experience, or interviewing? The career center at the University of Washington has it all. Explore careers, find out what jobs you can get with your major, and browse internship opportunities on the career center’s website.

Career center sites were judged on four criteria – navigation, accessibility, job and internship opportunities, and career planning resources. Only websites accessible to non-students were chosen for this list.

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Hot Careers for Computer Science Majors

collegecareerlife — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:22:00 +0000

According to a recent New York Times article, the number of computer science majors has been rising after years of decline. The dot-com bust and outsourcing have kept many would-be computer science majors away in years past, but the IT industry is gaining positive attention thanks to a number of fast-growing occupations and media play. So what some popular jobs for computer science majors?

Quality Assurance Engineer-Software

Software quality assurance engineers conduct manual and automated tests on software to check for bugs and other defects. They must be familiar with programming languages and testing procedures.

Mobile Application Developer

Mobile applications developers design, test, implement, and maintain applications for mobile devices including smartphones and tablet PC’s. The increasing popularity of mobile devices and mobile applications has lead to a sharp increase in demand for mobile application developers.

Cloud Computing Architect

As more services are offered through cloud computing, demand for cloud computing experts is rapidly rising. Through cloud computing, files and data can be stored on the web rather than through a user’s computer. Advantages include decreased hardware demands for clients and the ability to access information from any computer or network.

Computer science majors have plenty of job options beyond programmer and software engineer. For more on computer science careers, read Information Technology Jobs in America and Top 100 Computer and Technical Careers.

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Rise of Women in Male-Dominated Professions: Interview with Sound Engineer Lenise Bent

collegecareerlife — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:00:01 +0000

Women are gaining ground in every profession, yet women still hold relatively small percentages of jobs in certain fields and earn less on average than their male counterparts. Despite these challenges, career success in a male-dominated field is possible, as many women are proving. DreamWorks sound engineer Lenise Bent offered insight into her success and offered advice for women considering a career in a male-dominated field.

Why did you choose a career in sound engineering? How has the field of sound engineering changed since your career began?

I started out studying film and television yet my passion has always been music. I come from a musical family and was in a youth orchestra when I was 8 playing flute and studying piano. When I was 18 my boyfriend was in a band and the guitar player was also engineering for producer/songwriter/star Leon Russell who had a forty track studio in his home, quite unusual at the time. I was a huge fan so when I was asked to stop by I jumped at the chance. When I saw the control room and heard the amazing music coming out of the monitors I had my “Aha!” moment, goose bumps and all. I knew right then that this is what I was supposed to do with my life so I dropped out of college, found a recording school and signed up.

When I started out, everything was analogue and tape. Artists performed well or were expected to do it again. There were enormous budgets and record companies ruled. If you wanted to record professionally you pretty much had to book a studio to do it as all the equipment was very expensive and large. No ProTools or Autotune. Now digital technology is so relatively inexpensive and available that anyone can afford to record in their home or wherever. The same basic recording techniques still need to be in place and understood to make a professional sounding recording. That hasn’t changed. It is also still a male dominated field though there are a few more women engineering than when I started.

In your opinion, what keeps women from entering certain professions, specifically technology and engineering?

If anyone, male or female, is passionate about a certain field they will do whatever it takes to make that their career. That said, often women would like to have more to their life than a career, like a marriage and a family and be able to spend quality time with their children. I think women may be more considerate of this when choosing a career path than men. In my particular field it is quite challenging to have a relationship and family. The hours are long and unpredictable and the job must be the first priority in ones life if one expects to succeed.

I totally understand why some careers may seem unappealing to women, including and especially mine. Also, I think generally men define themselves more by their career than women. Work is important but there are other things just as much or more important. However, as I said before, if a person is driven by their passion for a specific field they will make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen. It gets down to what is one’s priority in life, one’s personal choice.

Although more women are entering engineering and other male-dominated fields, they still earn less on average and hold lower-ranking positions. Do think this will change?

I suppose this might still be the case in the corporate world but in my industry talent, skill and knowledge dictate one’s earning ability, not ones’ gender. I personally have never experienced this sort of financial discrimination. In the fields where this still occurs I expect this will change in time. Younger men are more used to women working along side of them as equals in the workplace unlike some older executives and they will eventually retire or die off and be replaced.

What obstacles have you encountered over the course of your career? How have you overcome those obstacles?

I had the good fortune of having three brothers and they had lots of friends so being around guys was always part of my life and no doubt prepared me for working in a man’s world. I always knew, however, that on the first day of a recording project I not only had to prove that I knew what I was doing but that I had to overcome the client’s concern that I might not be as good as a guy would have been. Actually, I knew I had to be better than a guy because any mistake could have been construed to be because I was a girl. At first I dressed asexually and wore my glasses so the client and studio would know I was serious about becoming an engineer/producer. Also, at the time there was this idea that some women had other reasons for being in the studio besides being a good assistant engineer, one requiring kneepads if you catch my drift. I got approached a few times and always turned them down so for a short time I was given the nick name “The Dyke” because I wouldn’t have sex with them. AND I had a boyfriend! Go figure. It was the egotistical knuckleheads who couldn’t believe that anyone could resist them that would typically hassle me. I noticed the better the musicians were, the less my gender mattered and the more respectfully I was treated. I made it a point not to pull the girl card for any reason and always felt that I could do anything in the studio as well or better than any guy. Being female could never be an issue. What was more important was that I made myself an asset to the project by anticipating what was needed, taking the initiative and being fun to be around. Once I established my reputation I was good to go. My challenges have been about competing for projects so the best way for me to overcome this was to be the best person for the job.

What advice can you offer women considering a career in a male-dominated industry?

My first thought is to mentally drop the male/female thing. No one ever bought one of my records because a female recorded it. I’m not a successful woman engineer, I’m a successful engineer who is also a woman…big difference. Be absolutely GREAT at what you do and let the “powers that be” know by your actions that you are sincere. Be totally professional, i.e. on time or early, good hygiene, work well with others and NEVER get intimately involved with anyone you’re working with. Know your own worth. Your colleagues and superiors will treat you with the respect you give yourself and prove that you deserve. Be honest, trustworthy and confident. Keep your “eye on the prize”, whatever that thing is that you want to achieve, and go for it.

Lenise Bent is a Dreamworks Sound Engineer and instructor at SAE Institute in Los Angeles who has worked on blockbuster films including Shrek, and whose early experience as Chief Engineer with producer Mike Chapman is the driving force behind Blondie’s Platinum selling album “AutoAmerica”.

About SAE Institute

Founded in Sydney Australia, 1976, SAE Institute has campuses in 54 cities across the globe and is a leading international provider of audio engineering, animation, multimedia and film production courses. By providing hands on tuition along with access to the very latest state-of-the-art equipment in a practical, real world setting, SAE ensures students’ knowledge and skill levels are relevant to industry expectations. SAE currently has schools in New York City, Nashville, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and Los Angeles with plans to expand to several other US cities near term. Please visit www.sae-usa.com for more information on USA campuses.

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Post tags: career trends, DreamWorks, engineer, interview, Lenise Bent, sound engineer

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Balancing Stress and Boredom at Work

collegecareerlife — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:00:30 +0000

In the real world, exciting jobs often come with high stress while low stress jobs can get pretty boring. Chances are, your job falls too far to one side of the boring/stressful spectrum. Finding a balance takes time and some effort on your part. The solution is to increase good stress (the kind that motivates to action) while decreasing bad stress (chronic, unproductive stress). Some tips for balancing stress and boredom at work:

Volunteer for a new project. There will be stress, but most should be good stress because there are specific actions to take.
Improve processes and increase efficiency. Always look for new, better ways of doing things. Making tasks more effective and efficient leaves time for better things by eliminating unnecessary steps.
Learn something new. Take advantage of any continuing education or additional training opportunities your company offers. If formal training isn’t available, ask to help a coworker whose job requires skills you’d like to attain. You could also consider earning an associate business degree online that would fit your tight schedule and give you all the tools to succeed in the business world.
Train coworkers. This doesn’t just mean training new hires, but also helping more experienced workers in areas where you’re stronger. Mentoring and teaching leads to more cooperative work environment and increases the chances that your coworkers will return the favor.
Network. Why do you need to network when you have a job? Networking with your coworkers now means a stronger network if you lose your job.
Stop multitasking. Even if you think you’re good at doing two or more things at once, your work suffers. Block out time for one task, then move on to the next.

Don’t try to avoid stress completely because without any stress at all you’ll probably be bored. Work is work and the interesting aspects won’t be pure entertainment. For more on increasing productivity and increasing job satisfaction, read Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters..

Three Web Tools Every College Student Must Use

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Post tags: balance, productivity, stress

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Book Giveaway Winner Announced and Poll

collegecareerlife — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:00:39 +0000

The winner of the Work Makes Me Nervous book giveaway contest is KC! Some of the responses to the contest question, “What Makes You Nervous at Work?”: impending layoffs, public speaking, tight deadlines, and office politics.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Post tags: anxiety, career, contest, work

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Work Makes Me Nervous: New Book Tackles Job Anxiety

collegecareerlife — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:00:57 +0000

Work-related anxiety can lead to a host of problems, including decreased productivity, lowered, job satisfaction, job loss, and health problems. Work Makes Me Nervous: Overcome Anxiety and Build the Confidence to Succeed, a new book released today, aims to eliminate anxiety in the workplace. I interviewed authors Jonathan Berent and Amy Lemley about the causes of workplace anxiety and strategies that workers can use to decrease anxiety at work.

In the book you address avoidant personality disorder, which seems to be fairly common but is rarely discussed. How does technology enable our avoidance and what are some tips for those prone to avoidant behaviors?

Amy Lemley:

Avoidance is easier than ever with so much technology to hide behind. Screening calls and caller ID, email, IM, text—workplace anxiety sufferers use all of these to avoid the situations that concern them the most. Tools such as email are obviously extraordinarily useful, but a lot of times, it’s more appropriate to have a quick face to face conversation.

Our advice to people who are prone to this type of avoidant behavior? Pick up the phone! Stop by and check in with your colleague. This is hard advice to take—even for me. But I push through my initial feeling of, “Oh, no! What do they want?” and then give myself some nurturing credit for having actually picked up the phone or followed up in person.

To avoid feeling blindsided, rehearse some phrases that will help keep you from feeling put on the spot. “I’ll have to get back to you on that. How soon do you need the information?” “I’d like to help. Let me check my schedule.” Important: Follow through on these promises! Without follow-up, you’re just perpetuating the avoidance.

Jonathan Berent:

Technology enables avoidance. It lets people detach from their uncomfortable anxiety symptoms. To overcome anxiety, they need to attach to triggers such as phone calls or face-to-face meetings and learn to ride the wave of adrenaline that occurs.

What is the difference between normal anxiety and an unhealthy level of anxiety?

Jonathan Berent:

Anxiety is unhealthy when it causes you to feel emotional pain. And it is unhealthy when causes you to avoid anxiety triggers. At work, that could mean interacting with colleagues or superiors, performing job functions such as handling phone conversations, conference calls, meetings, or presentations.

Stress is a part of life. We all experience it: Something occurs, adrenaline starts to flow, and our body and mind prepare to take action. It’s fight or flight. Anxiety is essentially an overreaction to stress. Symptoms like obsessive worry, a fear of being noticeably nervous, racing heart, shallow breathing, and so on spin out of control. The fear of those sensations becomes so great that people become obsessed with avoiding their stress triggers.

What workplace characteristics are most likely to lead to anxiety?

Jonathan Berent:

Performance pressure is a major anxiety trigger. That can mean pressure on the job such as commissioned sales, tight deadlines, or a demanding boss or participating in the job search process. A job requiring lots of face-to-face interactions can lead to anxiety. And these days, working in a climate in which layoffs seem imminent is a huge stressor.

Many people fear public speaking more than death. Why are so many of us afraid of public speaking?

Amy Lemley:

Hundreds of millions of people are afraid of public speaking—which we define as not only speaking to a formal audience but also anytime all eyes and ears are on us. We feel we simply have to be perfect, and we know we are not. We are sure we’re noticeably nervous—that everyone hears us stammering, sees us blushing or sweating. “They’ll see who I really am.” “They’ll see I’m a fraud.”

Jonathan Berent:

People put their identity and self-esteem on the line when it comes to public speaking. They are not differentiating between performance and personhood.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when you define success as being in a good mood. Can you offer some advice for maintaining a positive, balanced mood?

Jonathan Berent:

We define success as being in a good mood. Being in a good mood requires that you know what you want and be in sustained action to attain it. Anxiety is a roadblock—it causes avoidance, which blocks motion. Identify the truth of your desire—getting or keeping a job, receiving a promotion, making money, building relationships.

Learn to balance your mind states by increasing the nurturing, objective, and creative inner voices. When you do that, your critical inner voice will recede to an appropriate level.

If, for example, you’re having trouble learning new software, tell yourself (1) you’ve learned other technology, you can learn this too (2) Learning new software improves your effectiveness and makes you a more valuable employee (2) Learning new software will make some objects of your job easier and might even make them more fun or interesting.

And finally, give up believing you must be perfect. Nobody’s perfect!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Post tags: advice, anxiety, book, career, interview, job, psychology, work

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Making the Most of an Unpaid Internship

collegecareerlife — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:41 +0000

The following post is by Angelita Williams, who writes for OnlineCourses.org.

In a job market that is increasingly competitive, gaining additional experience can be key when it comes time to look for a job. Internships can be a great way to do just that, letting young grads and students see what the working world will be like before they enter it themselves. Unfortunately, some of the internships that offer the best experience don’t come with much, if any, of a paycheck. That doesn’t mean they can’t pay off in the long run, but they will require some sacrifices to make them work in the present. If you’re debating whether or not to apply for an unpaid internship as a student or a grad, don’t be afraid to make the leap– it can be well worth it. Here are some tips to help ensure you’ll get the most out of every unpaid hour you put into your internship.

Look for perks. You may not be getting paid but that doesn’t mean your job shouldn’t come with any perks. Check with HR to see if you can get in on subsidized housing, help with commuting costs, free meals, or the use of company equipment. If your employer can’t help, see if your college offers an assistance programs for unpaid interns. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know, so don’t be afraid to take the first steps.

Network, network, network. Since you’re going to be working among people who are already in your field, take the opportunity to get to know as many of them as possible. They may be able to write you recommendations serve as references or even help you find a job after your internship. Remember, who you know can count as much as experience and education when it comes to finding work.

Ask questions. If there’s something you don’t know or want to know more about don’t just stay ignorant. Use your internship as a chance to really learn and expand your knowledge about the field. You might not be getting paid in money, but you can take away some valuable educational experiences instead.

Get college credit. A great many unpaid internship programs come with one big benefit: college credit for time spent working. Don’t miss out on the hours of credit you could be gaining– check with you adviser to see if there are programs in place that can help you work towards your degree while working away your summer at the same time.

Put your best foot forward. If you’re complaining, tired or disheveled at your internship position, you’re not making much of a case for your abilities as a future employee. Treat your position as you would a real job and always be highly professional. It could pay off when it comes time to find work.

Ideally, all internships would be paid positions, offering experience along with the financial support students need, but the reality is that more and more internships are unpaid positions. With some hard work and determination, you can turn your internship experience into a springboard to the career you want and an incredibly valuable asset to your resume. In time, you may come to see those unpaid hours as one of the best career investments you ever made.

This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online college courses. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.

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How to Cope with a Difficult Job

collegecareerlife — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:00:54 +0000

With the unemployment rate still high, many people are feeling extra pressure at work. Employers are demanding more, and offering less to employees. These factors are not only contributing to decreased job satisfaction, but also to an increase in mental and physical health problems. Some tips for dealing with a difficult work situation:

Recognize the Positives

Any job should have some positive aspects, so focus on those factors rather than the negatives. Every day, try to think of one thing you really like and appreciate about your job. One method is to think of how your situations could be worse. If one of your coworkers has a bad attitude, you can be grateful that you don’t work in an office full of similar people.

Personalize Your Workspace

You don’t have to clutter your desk with photos, but it helps to have one or two personal items to help you stay calm when things get tough. Do you have a favorite funny or inspirational quote you can put up on your wall? Maybe you have a photo from a favorite vacation spot. Think of what calms you down or lifts your spirits the most and find a way to incorporate that into your workspace.

Find a Positive Role Model

Every workplace has a variety of personalities. There should be at least one person that has a positive attitude and responds calmly to stressful situations. Watch how he or she reacts to negative events and try to emulate those reactions. If possible, find a positive network of coworkers to surround yourself with and avoid negative people as much as possible.

Assess Your Accomplishments

At the end of every day, think about what you’ve accomplished. These accomplishments don’t have to be big; it can be as simple as fixing your printer or helping out a coworker. You might be surprised at how much you do every day and how many valuable skills you possess.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Most people compare themselves to those with more, rather than looking at how many people have less. You might be earning less than a friend in the same field, but you may also be earning more than many others in your industry. Comparing yourself to those who have it “better” will only make you miserable, so focus on the things that you do have (health, good friends, a job, etc).

No job is perfect and no amount of advice can eliminate work-related stress. You don’t always have control over what happens at your job, but changing your attitude and reactions can decrease your stress and give you a more positive outlook.

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Extrinsic and Intrinsic Rewards

collegecareerlife — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:32 +0000

Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards should both be considered when choosing a career or deciding to accept a job offer, but special importance should be placed on intrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards appeal to one’s values, interests and personality. An intrinsically rewarding job will be satisfying in its own right. Characteristics such as creativity expression, autonomy, and social interaction prove rewarding for many people. Career tests can help identify those careers that will provide the best inherent rewards.

While initial career planning usually involves identification of a career that offers intrinsic rewards, the job search involves looking for companies and positions that offer the right combination of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Extrinsic rewards include salary, awards, job title, benefits, perks, and verbal praise. Although these things factors are important, relying only on extrinsic rewards will eventually lead to dissatisfaction because (beyond a certain level) the effects of these rewards only last for a short time.

How do you find a career that offers the right combination of rewards? First, take career assessments to determine where to focus your job search. Then, be realistic about what you really need in terms of income and benefits. A large salary and fancy title probably won’t make a high stress, unfulfilling job worth it. Research companies on sites like Glassdoor.com to learn about work environment, company culture, pay and other factors. If you find a job that offers plenty of intrinsic rewards, you’ll need less rewards from external sources.

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Jobs for Analytical Types

collegecareerlife — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:00:30 +0000

Analytical skills are important for many high demand jobs in a variety of fields. Analytical types enjoy using data and facts to reach a conclusion. If this sounds like you, the following jobs jobs might be a good fit for your personality.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysts analyze and develop budgets for organizations and government agencies. Although a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field is the minimum education requirement, many budget analysts have a master’s degree. Budget analysts working for the government may obtain the Certified Government Financial Manager designation, which requires passing three exams and obtaining two years of experience. Job growth for budget analysts is projected to be fifteen percent through 2018 and median wages were $65,320 in 2008. * Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011: With Bonus Content (Occupational Outlook Handbook (Jist Works))

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts determine user requirements, review system capabilities, make software recommendations, and update existing computer systems and programs. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems is the minimum requirement for most jobs. Projected employment growth for computer systems analysts is 20 percent through 2018 and the median annual wages were $75,500 in 2008. Information Technology (Field Guides to Finding a New Career)

Market Researcher

Market researchers conduct research to determine potential demand and sales for a particular product or service, and may develop marketing campaigns. They may study consumer habits, preferences, and demographics for a specific region. They’re research often involves consumer surveys and competitor analysis. Median annual wages for 2008 were $61,070 and 28 percent job growth is projected through 2018.Careers in Marketing

Operations Research Analyst

Operations research analysts develop the most effective and efficient solutions to complex operational problems. Linear programming, computer modeling, statistical analysis and data mining are some analytical techniques used by operations research analysts. Some specialties within the field include finance, transportation, and supply chain management. Candidates with a master’s or doctorate degree in operations management or management science will have the best opportunities. Projected job growth is 22 percent through 2018 and median annual wages were $69,000 in 2008. Great Jobs for Business Majors (Great Jobs Series)

Statistician

Statisticians collect and interpret data to provide important information on a number of topics. Statisticians may specialize in certain areas, such as biostatistics or economic statistics. Most statistician jobs require a graduate degree in math or statistics. Statisticians are employed with the federal government, scientific research services, insurance carriers, state governments, universities, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and corporations. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual wages for statisticians were $72, 610 in 2008 and thirteen percent job growth is projected through 2018. Great Jobs for Math Majors, Second ed. (Great Jobs For Series)

There are many other jobs that suit the analytical personality, including financial analyst, medical scientist, and economist. To read more about jobs that suit your personality, read Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type.

* Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

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College Career Transition: Learning from the University Admissions Process

collegecareerlife — Mon, 31 May 2010 12:07:26 +0000

As most of you remember, the college application and admissions process was one of the more stressful times during high school. It certainly was for me. After I endured the agony of picking schools, writing personal statements, filling out applications, taking standardized tests, and participating in admissions interviews, I felt like I had literally gone through the mouth of hell. But, in the end, I came out of it all relatively unscathed, and was accepted to the school that I really wanted to attend.

The beauty of getting into college is that you won’t be tested, judged, and evaluated to that degree throughout most of your undergraduate experience. Sure, you’ll have to study, and you’ll have to take exams, and maybe apply for internships or research positions, but other than that, you basically focus on work, study, and your social life—you basically coast by. That is, until you graduate. Then the dreaded process starts all over again. Here are a few ways we can learn from the past:

1. Stress is Your Enemy

Worrying about the future is common and we pretty much all experienced it during the college admissions process. The thing about worry is that it is often irrational. I, too, worried about the fact that I may be unemployed. But then the worry spiraled. I thought to myself, I’ll never get a job, I’ll never be successful, I’ll never amount to anything. In cognitive behavioral science, this thinking process is a cognitive distortion called overgeneralization. It’s the slippery slope mentality, and it makes absolutely no sense.

2. You aren’t being judged. Only the extent to which you are a “fit” for a certain gig is being gauged.

Interviews are always intimidating, no matter how confident or good at gabbing you are. But the one mindset with which many come into the interview process—whether for school or work– is that their interviewers are somehow “against them” or that they are trying to “trick” them. These, too, are irrationalities. Come into your future work interviews with your interviewer’s perspective in mind. They want to know what tangible things you can do for their company, and how closely you will fit into their workplace culture. If you really want the job, then research the business or organization, and try to communicate and demonstrate these qualities. It’s that simple.

3. Don’t be too picky, but don’t take your first acceptance either.

One thing that many suffer from on a day-to-day basis is decision making. This one’s always tough. During the admissions process, many apply to far too many schools, and then once acceptances roll in, they find themselves having to make very tough choices. On the other hand, perhaps you were so excited by that first acceptance letter that you wanted to go to that school simply because they embraced you first. While the school that you go to really doesn’t make much of a difference in the long run, the first job you have will make a difference. It will dictate your future career trajectory, no matter how entry-level or boring it is. So pick wisely. Don’t take the first thing that is handed to you, but don’t go to the other extreme and reject every offer just because it’s not exactly what you want. Above all, think through your decision carefully, talk about it with friends and family members whose opinions you respect, and trust your instincts.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes on the topics of online universities accredited. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katherynrivas87@gmail.com .

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Three Ways to Become Indispensable

collegecareerlife — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:55:15 +0000

Some professionals are always in-demand, even in a competitive job market. They aren’t considered when it comes time to reduce staff and they still get calls from recruiters in a recession. How do they do it? Indispensable workers have a unique combination of skills, knowledge, and experience. How can you be one of them? Three ways to be in-demand and indispensable:

Diversify your skills.

By having a broad range of skills, you’ll increase the number of positions for which you’re qualified. Also, a knowledge of other business functions is vital if you want to move up to a management role. Don’t turn down an opportunity to gain new skills or knowledge, even if it’s not directly related to your field. You never know when an experience will prove useful.

Specialize.

This might seem to contradict the last point, but you can have a diverse skill set and be a specialist. You may become a specialist in a certain area by accident, not because you chose it. It’s common to gain a specialized skill inadvertently, but be sure your skills are not becoming obsolete. If you’re known as an expert in a given area, you’ll have much better career opportunities.

Keep up with industry changes.

Constant changes occur in almost every industry. You may want to go back to school to complete your degree and update your knowledge base. If you already have a degree, you can take classes as a non degree-seeking student. Your employer may be willing to pay for higher education or continuing education courses. Online college is a great option for full-time workers because it offers more flexibility.

Successful people are life-long students. Technology and globalization have lead to industries that are constantly changing and increasingly competitive. You may have graduated many years ago, but you should still be willing to learn new skills and acquire knowledge throughout your career. Diversifying skills, specializing, and keeping up with industry changes are three steps that anyone can take to improve his or her career.

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Post tags: education, growth, skills

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Getting the Most out of a College Job Fair

collegecareerlife — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:48:41 +0000

The great thing about being in college is that any good university career center organizes a job fair once every semester—or at least once a year. These job fairs can be an absolute goldmine—after all, how often do employers gather in one place and reach out to you, instead of the other way around? It is important to take advantage of these job fairs any chance you get. To help you toward that end, I will discuss a game plan that will help you get the most out of your college’s next job fair.

First of all, as soon as you get wind that a job fair is headed your way, go online and find out about it. Register for the fair if necessary, and if the fair lasts more than one day, make plans to attend both days. Some employers can only send a recruiter out for one day. If you only attend one day, you may miss out on an opportunity. Print out any lists of employers that plan on attending. Circle any that catch your eye so you can do a little research on the company ahead of time and make plans to visit their booth. If you go into a job fair ignorant of who will be there, you may end up wasting a lot of valuable time.

Next, update your resume, print off several copies, and prepare a portfolio of work you’ve done in college or in previous jobs that might be relevant to the jobs you are seeking. You may even want to copy your resume and samples of your work to a portable flash drive so you can easily transfer it to a computer. After all, many career representatives bring laptops so students can apply for jobs online.

The day before, prepare a brief statement about yourself that lets career representatives know your skills and strengths in a nutshell. Keep in mind that these recruiters will be speaking with hundreds of students, and you will need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. Most recruiters will be ready and waiting to sell you on how great their company is, but don’t let them do all the talking. Be prepared to ask questions, like “What type of degree is needed for this position?” or “What positions are available?”

Some recruiters are pushy and attempt to draw students in with candy bowls, spinning wheels and other gimmicks, but don’t feel pressured to waste time with those who represent jobs you won’t realistically pursue. You can politely decline to start a conversation with them. If you’re not sure if you’re interested in a job, wait until the recruiter is speaking with another student, then stealthily swipe a brochure, stepping away to consider the job in peace before approaching the recruiter.

Dress professionally and take the job fair seriously. In fact, treat it like an interview—complete with business casual attire, a welcoming smile and a solid handshake. There’s no better way to make an excellent first impression on potential employers.

Finally, follow up on any good leads or connections you make, reminding employers of your interest in the company. Send a thank you note if they took the time to interview you at the fair. Little details go a long way toward landing a great job.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Alvina Lopez, who writes on the topics of accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez@gmail.com.

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Post tags: advice, college, employment, guest post, job fair, job search, jobs

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Book Review: Indispensable by Monday

collegecareerlife — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:23:09 +0000

I just finished reading Indispensable by Monday, a new book about profit producing behaviors employees can use to help their companies and themselves. Author Larry Myler is the CEO of More or Less, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in profit enhancement.

For the book, Myler surveyed 1800 corporate leaders about what makes an employee indispensable. Part one details Myler’s survey results, including the percentage of corporate leaders that rate a given behavior as advantageous. My favorite part of the book is the Personal P&L Statement for quantifying your value. You don’t need a financial background to prepare your statement – it’s easy for anyone to create and can benefit your career no matter what your experience level or job title. In addition, a free Profit Proposal Generator (PPG) on Myler’s website turns your ideas from the book into professional-looking proposals.

In part two, “Pulling Money out of Thin Air”, fifteen profit sources are identified. From cost cutting procedures to recovering lost customers, the techniques in this section are easy to act upon no matter your job function. The first profit source, cost cutting, tells how to save money on a variety of expenses. One example was of a janitor who discovered a way to saved his company $30,000 per year in cleaning expenses. You’ll learn how utilities billing works, how to shorten the cash conversion cycle, and much more practical information few employees bother to learn. Although most of this section is about increasing profits and reducing costs for your company, Myler writes about the importance of interpersonal communication. However, he is honest about the fact that good soft skills alone won’t make you indispensible.

The sections in part three include choosing high value solutions, improved performance appraisals, how to increase sales, and advice for those in leadership roles. There are several examples of resume entries that showcase profit-enhancing solutions, in addition to tips on how to present your accomplishments at a performance review using techniques from the book. The final section in part three is entitled “Everything You Need to Know about Accounting- and It’s Not Much”. Familiarity with financial statements essential for every employee and, according to Myler’s survey, corporate leaders agree.

The impression I got while reading was that, unlike many books in this category, the focus is on practical skills and knowledge as opposed to soft skills and office politics. You’ll discover strategies for making a measurable difference at your company and it applies to all employees, from new graduates to experienced professionals. Not every suggestion will be relevant to you right now, especially if you’re an entry-level employee, but there should be at least one or two techniques that will prove beneficial to you and to your employer. The other techniques can be saved for when you gain more experience or if your job responsibilities change.

To learn more about the book, visit indispensablebymonday.com

Note: This review was based on my personal opinion and I have been completely honest in my assessment of the book. I was NOT compensated for reviewing this book. Promotional and sponsored content will always be identified on this website. See the About page for my full disclosure policy.

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Post tags: advice, book review, books

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Creative Careers for Introverts

collegecareerlife — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:53:14 +0000

Many introverts are creative and value creativity expression in a career. Despite the competitive nature of many creative occupations, there are growing careers that make good choices for creative types. Some careers for creative introverts to consider:

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create distinctive logos and packaging for promotional purposes. They may also plan the layout and design of publications such as marketing brochures, magazines, or company reports. Graphic design is a highly competitive field, and designers with web design and animation skills can expect the best opportunities. Thirteen percent growth is projected for graphic designers over the next decade. Read Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design

Web Developer

Web developers design and create web content, including applications and websites. They must have knowledge of programming languages, browsers, operating systems, communication protocols, and information systems. A developer is responsible for creating a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and usable. In addition to designing websites, they may offer website maintenance services. Many web developers work on a freelance basis.

Copy Writer

Copy writers write advertising copy and create promotional materials for publication or broadcast. Copy writers conduct research, review market research data and consult with sales or marketing representatives. They may also write slogans or create new product names. Overall growth for writers and editors is expected to be eight percent over the next decade. Read The Copywriter’s Handbook, Third Edition: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells.

Landscape Architect

Landscape architects design gardens, parks, and other outdoor spaces. They plan the location of trees, flowers, walkways, and buildings. Through the design phase, they consult with engineers and building architects. After plans are complete, landscape architects monitor the implementation of their designs. Landscape architects are required to be licensed in most states. Employment for landscape architects is expected to grow by twenty percent through 2018. Visit the American Society of Landscape Architects website for more information.

Industrial Designer

Industrial and commercial designers design manufactured products such as home appliances, apparel and cars. Their goal is to create a product design that is functional, safe, and attractive. Nine percent job growth is projected through 2018. Visit the Industrial Designers Society of America site for more information.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Book Recommendations:
The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People (Career Guide For…)

Creative Girl: The Ultimate Guide for Turning Talent and Creativity into a Real Career

For more career planning books visit the College Career Life store.

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Post tags: architect, copy writer, designer, introvert, personality

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Career Planning: The Earlier the Better

collegecareerlife — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:11:46 +0000

Difficulty in choosing the right major is a common problem among college students. Many students spend extra time (and money) in college after changing majors several times. This isn’t surprising since few high schools offer career counseling and college career centers often focus more on job hunting rather than career planning. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong major is costlier than ever. With college tuition costs rising faster than the overall inflation rate, students are under tremendous pressure to finish school on time and with the right degree. A few career planning steps to help you maximize your time and money :

Career Testing. Career testing is an important part of the career planning process. After taking several assessments, you’ll get an idea of what careers might be a good fit. For a list of professional career tests, see Best Online Career Tests.

Career Counseling. Many school guidance counselors don’t have the time to provide extensive career testing and counseling. Although it may seem expensive, paying for a professional career counselor will be well worth the investment. A good career counselor can help you understand the results of your career assessments and give their own career tests. If you’re in college, you can visit your campus career center to see if counseling is available.

Career Research. Job shadowing and informational interviews are great ways to find out about a career. There are resources for those who want information about a career, but don’t know anyone to interview. Websites like WIKIcareer and TheCareerProject.org offer insider information about a variety of careers. In-depth career research is the last step in career planning process, after your choices have been narrowed to a few careers.

It’s never too early to start thinking about what career path you want to pursue. Beginning the career planning process before college gives you time to do more research and reduces the stress of making such an important decision.

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Tips for Starting a New Job from Lisa Quast

collegecareerlife — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:24:43 +0000

I receive a lot of questions from people on what they should do when starting a new job. I like to keep things simple, so I always try to remember the acronym, “S.T.U.D.Y.” Just follow this easy-to-remember map to settling into your new position:

S = Survey your surroundings.

T = Take the time required to understand your new job and department’s strategy, structure, processes, role and responsibilities, projects, and progress.

U = Understand who you’re working with; review personnel files, speak with each individual.

D = Do NOT make hasty decisions or state your opinions too soon. Take the time needed to understand people, processes, and results first.

Y = Yes. Remember you can do what you set your mind to by prioritizing and setting attainable goals. Focus on the most important priorities first.

After your initial assessment of your workplace and workload, try these helpers:

Create a 90-day game plan and break it down by month, detailing initiatives, projects and tasks.
Include a list of the key contacts/resources you should meet, work with and get to know during your first 90 days.
Meet with your manager to review your plans for starting, learning and working in your new role.
Ask (and listen to) your manager about what they believe are the most pressing priorities and why.
Proactively schedule a follow-up appointment in one or two weeks to share your initial learnings with your manager.
Meet regularly with your manager to inform them of your progress on executing your plan.

Stay positive as you transition into your new position. Often times, the work load can be overwhelming and everything you’ll be learning might make you feel a bit like you’re trying to drink water from a fire hose. Don’t worry – that feeling will pass once you get through those first 90 days, which are always the most difficult.

~ Lisa Quast

Lisa Quast is CEO and President of Career Woman, Inc. (www.careerwomaninc.com)

Lisa Quast’s passion in life is making a difference in the lives of women by helping them achieve their dreams. Lisa is a career coach, author, business consultant, and the founder and president of Career Woman Inc., a Seattle-based international career development consulting company dedicated to helping women achieve career success. She’s an accomplished speaker and coach, inspiring audiences with her charismatic approach, actionable recommendations, and proven methodology.

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What’s the Job Really Like?

collegecareerlife — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:08:50 +0000

It’s easy to find job descriptions, but they don’t tell you what people really think about their jobs. Before deciding to pursue a career or accept a position, you should hear from the people who’ve actually been there. Several websites allow people to write honestly about their career experiences and submit employer reviews. A few resources where you can get insider information about careers and employers:

WIKIcareer is a new website that allows anyone to contribute information about a variety of careers and industries. Members can contribute career articles and advice for those considering a certain career.

The Career Project offers profiles of careers by people that have worked in them. Thousands of mentors have contributed their experiences to help you make a decision about what career to pursue.

Career Leak has job profiles for thousands of companies. You can find information about the work environment, responsibilities, and compensation for each job title. Former and current workers can also rate their job satisfaction, the stress level of a position, and give interview tips.

Job Vent allows anyone to anonymously post company reviews. Discover which companies have the happiest employees and which ones to avoid.

On Vault.com you can research companies and read insider information about working at a company. Go to the Companies page to see the best companies to work for in each industry.

FDCareer‘s company reviews include ratings of compensation, work, culture, growth and competitiveness. You can also participate in challenges that help improve your career skills.

If you’re preparing for a job interview, Glassdoor.com is a great place to find interview questions you’ll probably be asked. Former candidates can provide details about their interviewing experiences including the length of the interview, the number of interviewers, specific questions asked during the interview, and how long the hiring process took. Glassdoor also has salary information and company reviews provided by employees.

In The Career Chronicles: An Insider’s Guide to What Jobs Are Really Like – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Over 750 Professionals you can read what people really think of their chosen profession. Veterinarian, architect, and attorney are a few of the twenty-four occupations included in the book.

When researching careers, don’t rely on one or two sources to help you make a decision. Take advantage of all the excellent resources available and gather as much information possible on each career before choosing a career.

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