college

Writing a Resume Fresh Out of College

Elizabeth Hoyt — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:15:00 -0700

One of the most difficult and daunting tasks after graduating from college is creating your first post-college resume. You may not have the job experience you’d like or, perhaps, you just aren't sure how to get across your experiences all together.

Experts agree that most students underestimate how much experience they actually have and often don’t include many valuable aspects on their post-college resumes. Don’t let this become you! It’s always best to put everything applicable to your experiences on your resume, no matter how big or small the experience seems.

Your final resume should end at a one-page document, with a brief job goal that gives the person reviewing your resume an idea of your previous experience by assessing your expertise.

The following are guidelines, per Forbes online, to consider when creating a resume fresh out of college, one of the most inquired about tasks by college grads today: [gate]

1. List a career objective.

Do this only if you’re sure of what you want to do or if you’re applying to a specific job that you can tailor the objective to (in which case, you should).

If you are unsure about your career goals, don’t put an objective. It’s likely you will hinder yourself more than help if you put placeholder text that’s vague and lacks targeting like, “Seeking a promising career within a progressive company.”

2. List the details of your education.

This includes your school and the year you obtained your degree. Make sure to include any honors, if possible, as well as your grade point average if it’s high.

3. List relevant coursework (outside of your specified major).

If you took courses specifically tailored to your career that didn't necessarily fit into your major’s curriculum, your potential employer will likely be interested in seeing your experiences. You can list such courses under the education section of your resume.

For example, if you majored in Journalism but want to specifically write about nutrition, you could add a line to the education section of your resume that states, “Coursework included nutritional development, public health and wellness and the relation between society and food.”

4. Reevaluate all of your job experiences.

While you may consider a prior job to be mundane, low-level or irrelevant, that may not necessarily be the case.

Think about what you’ve done from a broader perspective: did you manage anyone? Interact with customers or clients? Were you responsible for your own small business, such as babysitting or lawn-care? All of these are valuable skills that should not be left off your resume since employers would find candidates with such skills highly employable.

5. Determine how your extracurriculars might relate to your career.

Being active in clubs, sports or other activities can demonstrate your dedication and responsibility. Don’t count out activities just because they weren't performed within a traditional job or internship setting.

For example, if you’re going into fundraising for the nonprofit sector, and you were the philanthropy chair of your sorority, organizing events and fundraisers, this is valuable experience to your employer.

Make sure you list your current job as a full-time student and under, with bullet points, you can detail any positions or details that may be of value to a potential employer.

6. Determine whether your coursework could be qualified as job experience.

Many college students handle coursework that is demanding enough to equate to a full-time position. The experiences that are relevant to your career goals can be listed as job experience.

Again, make sure to list your current job as a full-time student and under, with bullet points, you can detail any coursework or studies completed that are relevant to your objective.

For example, assume you’re a journalism major and one of your courses required articles to be researched, written and then sent out to potential publications. If any of your coursework was published, it would benefit you to list under the course to list the articles you had published and where as a result of taking the course.

This ultimately translates into real-world experience and is just as valuable to an employer as any other work experience you may have.

7. Pay attention to verbiage and tense.

When writing a resume, it’s always best to use active verbs and language. Rather than “worked on,” used collaborate.

Use past tense unless you’re currently involved in a project. If you’re currently working on a project, use present tense but try to avoid using verbs ending in “ing” since they tend to be passive.

8. Use detailed descriptions and numbers.

This can easily help you translate a job you find to be a placeholder into impressive resume-worthy experience.

For example, if you worked a retail job in the fall, it may not sound that impressive to you. However, if you taken into consideration that your store was one of the highest grossing within the company, had $45,000 in sales daily and you were assisting 10,000 customers daily – that sounds much more remarkable.

Consider how your detailed job description may have been different from your colleagues. Were you the go-to employee for customer service issues because you handle conflict well? Did you train new hires because you work well with others?

All of these are key aspects to taking previous job experience from ordinary to extraordinary – without lying or exaggeration, just elaboration on details and numbers.

9. Try a “brain dump” exercise.

Talk over all work, schooling and experiences with someone, including the pros and cons of each experience and what you found memorable. Be sure to include as many details as possible in the conversation.

The goal is to talk through everything that could possibly be listed on your resume – even experiences that you may not have considered. Think about your courses, extra-curricular activities, volunteer work and participation in sports.

This will help you sort through what is valuable to include on your resume and what’s worth leaving off the page.

In addition, listing what you found enjoyable about each experience will likely help shape your career objective, since it can help you see what types of experiences you tend to enjoy and what conditions you thrive under.

10. Consider alternative resume formats.

There is no correct format for a resume, though there is a standard. The standard layout is objective, education, experience and skills.

However, an individual must determine which resume format works best with their content.

With added experience and as your needs, goals or opportunities change and develop, your resume will change. Edit it to reflect those changes as often as possible so that you’re always submitting an updated version of yourself to your potential employer.

The ultimate goal is to give the potential employer a picture of who you are as an employee, not a person, so only job-relevant information is necessary.

In the end, the finest resumes are clear and concise with details, descriptions and relevant information. Utilize the aforementioned tips to help build the strongest resume version of you-as-an-employee possible.

Do you have any helpful resume writing tips?

Gaining Control Over Your Job Search

Elizabeth Hoyt — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:12:00 -0700

Do you feel like you’re constantly job searching without results? Don’t put in time without payoff – there is a better way!

Your search shouldn't be consuming all of your time and efforts. With a little organization and effort, you can restore balance into your life.

Follow the below guidelines, courtesy of Yahoo! Finance, to take back control of your job hunt. [gate]

1. Look at your job search as a job.

Determine your “working” hours (the time you’ll be looking for jobs) and stick to the schedule you’ve created for yourself. That way, you can work hard when you’re scheduled to, but have guilt-free time when you’re not scheduled also. Remember, it’s all about balance!

2. Organize and allot your time.

Decide how much time should be devoted to each task, focusing on one aspect at a time. Studies have shown that multi-tasking, despite the rumors, does not help efficiency.

3. Prioritize.

Determine which tasks put you closest to gaining a job offer and focus on those first. Your priorities should be preparing for and following up on job interviews – those get you closest to landing an actual position.

Next, utilize and create networking opportunities. Speaking with actual people should always be prioritized over any internet search activities.

Lastly, create time for researching new companies, job leads and potential networking opportunities. Make sure to include building your personal brand in your job hunt, especially taking interest in your LinkedIn profile.

4. Organize your work space.

Organize all of your job search documents into files and folders. Nothing will get finished in a messy environment where you consistently feel overwhelmed by paperwork!

At the end of your daily “work” hours, clean up your work space so that you are able to start fresh the following day.

5. Organize your computer.

Determine what type of filing system works for you and then utilize it. Create folders for various tasks such as research, applying, applied, recruiters, etc. Once you have a filing system organized on your computer, it will be easy for you to access any documents you may need for your search in the future.

6. Automate repetitive tasks.

You will find that searching for jobs can be a repetitive process. Organizing and creating file systems will likely also save a lot of time and effort since a lot of documents can be slightly edited and repurposed, rather than constantly going back to the drawing board.

Automate notifications like on Monster, Google Alerts and other job boards to follow people you’ve networked with or companies that may have potential job openings. If you set up automatic alerts, you won’t have to worry about searching for them, the notifications will come right to your inbox.

Save past search results by hyper-linking a cell within a spreadsheet. Make sure you add details of what the search was created for and repeat the searches by clicking on the links regularly. The new results will automatically come up and you don’t have to sift through a long list of search results you’ve already seen.

These efforts can seem intensive, but once they become habitual will aid your search tremendously. However, nothing can compensate for commitment and motivation, so make sure to review how much more productive your new processes are so that you’ll continue the practices throughout your entire search.

Have you found other ways to make your job search more efficient?

FAFSA Updated to Accommodate Same-Sex Parentage

Elizabeth Hoyt — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:09:00 -0700

Progression has reached federal student aid as news that the FAFSA form will now recognize parents that are also same-sex couples.

Currently, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid referred to “mother/stepmother” and “father/stepfather” in reference to obtaining information about an applicant’s parents.

As a result, applicants with same-sex parents had no choice but to either choose to classify parents at random in the “mother” and “father” categories or exclude one parent from the form all together. [gate]

This creates problems because the children of same sex parents are forced to create applications where their family structure is not correctly represented, thus making the form inaccurate. Students will be able to accurately claim their financial status and reflect their true financial needs since both parents will be represented on the form.

Beginning on the 2014-2015 FAFSA form, applicants will be able to accurately list their parentage under “Parent 1” and “Parent 2,” marking the first time that the department will be collecting data for same-sex parents the same way as heterosexual parents.

In a press release, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stated that the form changes would, “ensure taxpayer dollars are better targeted toward those students who have the most need” and “provide an inclusive form that reflects the diversity of American families.”

Duncan also stated that the percentage of affected families or the monetary amount resulting from any award reductions were not taken into consideration when deciding to update the FAFSA form.

“We don’t know whether it will cost more or less. We just think it’s more accurate, more inclusive, more fair, and better reflects the reality of young people’s family circumstances,” said Duncan.

The change allowing all families to be treated equally on the document will also ensure that the process is not delayed for students that are children of same-sex parents, which has been an issue in the past.

In addition, this change will likely lead to progression throughout the entire financial aid system, since many organizations, non-profits and government agencies create their applications while referencing the well-known FAFSA document.

While only a small percentage of applicants will be affected, the April 29th announcement was a huge step forward, as far as the LGBTQ community is concerned, even though it could actually reduce the amount of aid granted to children of same-sex couples because both parents’ income will be eligible for consideration.

Realities versus Perceptions of the Job Market

Elizabeth Hoyt — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:05:00 -0700

According to a survey, graduating students have unrealistic expectations regarding their post-graduation jobs.

The students currently enrolled in college that are set to graduate in 2013, as reported by Accenture’s survey, over estimate the likelihood of gaining a well-paid, full-time position within their area of expertise. [gate]

The survey was conducted by polling more than 1,000 students who are graduating this year in addition to nearly 1,000 students who graduated in 2011 and 2012 in order to get data on expectations of those out of college and those almost ready to graduate and compare the results.

In other words, the survey compares those who know how the real world works because of experience versus those who think they know how the real world works but haven’t experience it yet to find out for themselves.
The survey found that those graduating this year had expectations that were far removed from the realities of the current job market.

For example, 15 percent of those about to graduate in 2013 believed they’d make less than $25k per year, compared to 32 percent of 2011 and 2012 graduates who actually earn $25 or less annually.

There’s also a difference in expectations of employment: nearly two-thirds of 2013 graduates expect to be employed full-time in their field post-graduation, while barely half of those who graduated in 2011 or 2012 have full-time jobs in their fields of study.

There also seems to be a large amount of misunderstanding regarding the expectations of job training. More than three quarters of 2013’s graduates polled said they expected formal job training, however, less than half of 2011 and 2012 graduates reported actually receiving training in their first job position.

In terms of continuing schooling, less than a quarter of 2013 graduates believed they would need to pursue a graduate degree in order to further their careers, but 42 percent of the 2011 and 2012 graduates indicated they would need a graduate degree to do so.

“A solution is sorely needed to bridge the disconnect between employers that are concerned about college graduates being unprepared for available jobs and the graduates who feel overqualified for them,” said the senior managing director of Accenture’s talent and organization practice, David Smith.

This was in reference to the results, as indicated by the creators of the poll, which clearly show that employers need to reevaluate hiring and training programs, in addition to reassessing their partnerships with universities in order to help better prepare students for the job market.

What do you think could remedy the issues between potential employers and upcoming graduates?

Friendship Deal Breakers

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:19:00 -0700

In high school, your friends were the people most similar to you out of the people that attended the same school you did – a “luck of the draw” situation. For some, this was a good thing. For others, not so much.

One of the best parts about college? You actually get to choose your friends.

Friends are supposed to encourage you to be yourself, bring out the best in you and make your life better. So, while it’s great to strive to get along with everyone, it’s more realistic to pick and choose your close friends.

Here are some characteristics that can seriously impact a friendship. If you see your new found friend exhibiting these qualities, you may want to run for the hills. [break]

• Gossips: Everyone’s guilty of a little gossip now and again, especially with a very close friend. However, there are some people that take this to the next level.

When you begin to notice a pattern that everyone’s name is on your friend’s lips, pay attention. Think about it: if they’re constantly ripping into everyone, chances are they’d do the same behind your back.

• Belittlers: Friends should be there to build you up, not constantly tear you down. You know the type, always knocking you down or making you the butt of jokes in front of others.

Honestly, who needs enemies when you have friends like these?

Value the friends that treat you with dignity and respect and kick those that knock you down to the curb.

• One-Uppers: Here’s the issue with one-uppers: they can never be happy for you because everything becomes a competition.

As a result, it makes it pretty difficult to share any information about your life with that friend because they unnecessarily throw down the gauntlet at any given moment.

A true friend shares in your joy and is able to be proud of your achievements without taking their own into consideration.

• Close-Minded: While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, everyone should also be entitled to express them.

Just because you don’t agree with a friend on a particular issue doesn't mean you can’t be friends, but the way it’s handled is important.

A good friend should be able to accept differences of others; otherwise they’ll be dragging you down their rabbit-hole of narrow-minded judgments.

Learning about different opinions and values helps people grow so, unless you wants a friend that stunts your roots, show them the door.

• Self Involved: Friendships should be give and take. If a friend constantly makes everything about themselves, perhaps you should reconsider the friendship.

It’s one thing to take turns sharing – that’s kindergarten 101 – but when every situation seems to morph into a therapy session, it’s time to make plans with someone new.

It’s likely that your college friends will be your friends for life, so choose wisely!

What are your friendship deal breakers?

The Art of Negotiating Job Offers

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:12:00 -0700

The goal of going through the grueling application and interview processes is to get to the ultimate goal: a job offer.

The employment offer comes in and excitement ensues until you suddenly realize that negotiations will soon begin, assuming you intend to accept the offer.

If you want to get to a mutually agreed upon contract cordially and quickly, try the following helpful suggestions. [gate]

Understand the hiring manager.

It’s important to understand how the negotiations process will take place. Will you two be having a conversation or will all negotiations take place in writing? Do you get the sense that the hiring manager will give you the best offer possible from the start?

It’s important to have these open, honest conversations to begin the process so that each party can how what type of negotiations will take place, what is realistic to ask for and that neither party leaves the negotiation feeling as if the other has taken advantage of them.

Negotiate for the future.

While it may not seem like much in the moment, the difference of a couple thousand dollars can add up to a very large sum during the span of an entire career.

Take advice with a grain of salt.

It’s great to ask others for guidance like mentors, people you trust within the field and family members.

But, make sure that you are the ultimate judge about what advice is appropriate to take and apply to your particular situation.

Remember, not all advice will be applicable and only you are responsible for what you bring to the table.

Research previous hiring contracts.

If you know the hiring precedents, you’ll be ahead of the game in terms of negotiations. Research the company and talk to trusted peers that have worked for or currently work for the company to gain some insight into what the hiring contracts typically look like for the position you’re being offered.

Justify your requests.

When making specific contract requests, explain the reasoning behind your request.

For example, if you’re requesting a certain salary, you can explain that you've researched typical salaries within your field and are requesting a salary that is comparable to a median salary within the research findings.

Most hiring managers would see that as a reasonable request as opposed to you just choosing an arbitrary number that you’d like to be earning.

Understand each offer and contract.

Are you aware of how long each offer is valid? You don’t want to take too much time thinking over the offer, decide to accept it and come to find that it has expired in the meantime.

Did you take the time to go through the entire offer before making a list of demands? Often times, hiring departments have standard sets of packages they offer to new hires that include many of the items you were likely going to request.

It would certainly appear careless to request the very items that were already being offered to you!

Compromise.

As the word “negotiation” indicates, both parties will likely need to practice the art of compromise.

Consider what factors are most important to you and compromise on the others.

Remember, you will likely have to work with the person you’re negotiating with and it’s much better to have a great working relationship than to disagree over something petty.

You don’t want to sabotage your potential hiring contract over something that may not matter that much to you in the end, either.

Try to put each item in perspective and consider whether or not it makes that big of a difference in your future.

Be humble.

If a company is offering you a position, they know they are lucky to have you – you don’t need to remind them. Often times, relationships can be severed and offers are rescinded because potential employees become too arrogant in the hiring process and demand too much.

Make sure all of your demands are within reason and on par with the rest of the current team you will be working with. You certainly don’t want to enter into a scenario with bitterness and resentment because you were able to over-negotiate.

While it may seem like a good thing to get more, it may place more strain than it’s worth on your relationship with your coworkers, making your work relationships very difficult.

In the end, the goal is to find a happy medium that both parties feel is fair. This should be fairly simple if the negotiators come to the table open-minded and honest about expectations.

When the process is finished, it should result in both a signed employment contract as well as the start of a successful working partnership that will last for years to come.

What advice would you add to this list?

Clever Ways to Answer Pesky Questions About Post-Grad Plans

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:08:00 -0700

Perhaps one of the worst questions a student can be asked is, “What are you doing after graduation?” It’s dreaded - perhaps the equivalent to the single adult’s, “Are you dating anyone yet?”

Questions like these almost never have the answer you wish you could give and, therefore, shoot at you like arrows you wish you could avoid.

But, what if you were prepared for the dreaded post-grad inquiry? Then you could fight off the nosy crowds in one swift swoop!

Next time Gladys Kravitz is lurking at your door wanting to know the plans for your future, try one of these scenarios on for size.

Sarcastic and Silly Ways to Answer

“What are you doing after graduation?”

[gate]

1. Change the subject. Look, a bird!

2. Tell the person you've always been interested in running for office and to keep an eye out for your name on an upcoming local election ballot.

3. In a solemn voice, tell the person you are against hunger and plan to end it.

4. Faint.

5. Say you’re toying with the idea of furthering your education.

6. Tell the person you’re going to try your hand at writing for awhile (You practically text all day anyway, right?)

7. Say you’re going into “Career Research Services.” Just forget to mention that the only client you’re researching a career for is yourself.

8. Let them know you’re going into “Food Industry Management.” Nobody needs to know that means you’re on the day shift at Ruby Tuesday – not that that’s anything to be ashamed of in the first place.

9. Share that you’re considering traveling the world until your funds run out. Who knows? They may even decide to donate to the cause!

10. You’re working with underprivileged children. (Those kids you babysit only have one iPad, right?)

If none of these work and, if all else fails, the truth works just as well. Especially because there’s nothing to be ashamed of – you will end up where you need to be exactly when you need to be there.

Shocking Student Debt Statistics

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:02:00 -0700

Everyone wants a slice of the American Dream and, in this modern day, going to college is essential to success. Forget the Jones’, these days Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the very student loans they took out to help ensure future success.

So, what happens when they very institution that’s supposed to safeguard your future now sabotages it with years’ worth of debt? Experts aren't completely agreed upon in terms of how to go about solving the crisis but, judging by these numbers, we’d say the issue runs pretty deep.

Here are some shocking student loan debt numbers, via the Huffington Post: [gate]

$1.1 trillion:

The amount of outstanding student loan debt, which first exceeded $1 trillion in March 2012.

37 million:

The number of Americans who have student loan debt.

2:

The ranking of student loan debt compared to other types of consumer debt, second only to mortgages.

$101.8 billion:

The Department of Education’s estimated profits generated from student borrowers over the last five fiscal years.

Nearly 300 percent:

The amount student loan debt has grown over the past eight years.

$26,600:

The amount the average college graduate (of the class of 2011) owed in college loans.

40 percent:

The share of households headed by someone under 35 that owed college debt in 2010.

More than 80 percent:

The percentage of bankruptcy attorneys who reported that the number of their clients with student loan debt increased "significantly" or "somewhat" in a February 2012 survey.

Nearly 1 in 5:

The number of households that had student loan debt in 2010 - double the share of households burdened by college debt in 1989!

6.8 percent:

The new interest rate on subsidized student loans starting July 1 if Congress does nothing. The new interest rate would be double the current interest rate.

More than 1 in 10:

The number of borrowers that defaulted on their student loans in the three years leading up to Sept. 30, 2011.

22.7 percent:

The default rate in the three years leading up to Sept. 30, 2011 for borrowers that attended for-profit colleges, compared to a default rate of 11 percent for borrowers that attended public colleges.

Keep your fingers crossed for a swift solution on the student loan crisis because numbers of this magnitude don’t just resolve themselves.

5 Tips for Staying Safe During Spring Break

Kizzy Preston — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:31:00 -0700

It is that time of year again. College students from all across the country converge on sandy beaches in Florida, or California for a week of sun, fun, and partying. Spring break—a time for rest and relaxation away from the rigors of college life- can be a great time. It can also lead to some tough life lessons if a student isn't careful.

Here are some things to do to ensure that Spring Break is a great memory, rather than a horror story. [gate]

Stick together. If you are headed out to a vacation spot with a group of friends, it is important that you all stick together. It is easy to lose track of a friend when out at a party. Did they leave the party with a stranger? Did they go to drive even though they've had too much to drink? Did they walk off alone?

It is very important to keep an eye on your friends. No one wants to be a babysitter, but in the end it is better to be able to account for your friend’s whereabouts than not.

Don’t drink and drive. This saying has been said so much that it may seem like a cliché. Still, many students get behind the wheel of a car, or get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Each year millions of students drive while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, this according to College Drinking Prevention.

Just as serious is texting while driving. It is vitally important that when out driving, whether in a town you are not familiar with on spring break, or at home, that you are alert and free from distractions.

Keep an eye on your money. It is a horrible feeling to go on vacation and have your money and credit cards stolen. Too often students do not keep a close enough watch on their money.

It’s best to only swipe your debit or credit card at retailers you are familiar with. Credit card information can be stolen simply by swiping your card at the wrong place. When possible, avoid using your pin number at random ATM machines. Once a criminal gets that number they can wipe your bank account out.

Keep the amount of cash you carry with you to a minimum. Don’t take your entire vacation allotment with you out to the beach or to a club. This is just a bad situation waiting to happen. Instead try putting some money in various places so that if by any chance you lose some or it’s stolen, you still have more elsewhere.

Have safe sex. Let’s face it; hook ups sometimes happen during Spring Break. Just like at all other times, it is necessary to protect yourself.

Avoid alcohol poisoning. Most people don’t know they are being poisoned by alcohol until it is too late. A lot of students drink from the time the wake up in the morning until the wee hours of the next day. Many students are unaware that consuming too much alcohol or even passing out from drinking can lead to death. Please take a moment to read about the dangers of alcohol poisoning here.

Spring break should be one of the most fun parts of a college career. Follow these tips to be sure that not only do you have a great time, but when classes start up again, you will be there all in one piece.

Helpful Health Tips

Elizabeth Hoyt — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:27:00 -0700

At Fastweb, we get it. Students are busy. Amongst a challenging curriculum, exciting social life and personal commitments, sometimes it can be difficult to remember to take care of yourself. But, without your health, none of your other activities are possible.

That’s why it’s so important to develop great habits now that you can follow for a lifetime. According to the Huffington Post, here are ten health tips to ensure you stay at the top of your game this semester and beyond. [gate]

1. Eat Right

This can seem difficult in college but, when broken down, is a bit more attainable. Try to follow some simple principles like: always eat breakfast, never skip meals and snack regularly to avoid hunger.

Balance your meals by ensuring you have the proper amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and proteins while leaving sugary and fatty foods by the wayside.

2. Exercise

Keeping your body healthy and in shape is important. It doesn't have to be extreme either! Walk to your classes, take a class that involves physical fitness or check out the student facilities your campus offers for students to utilize.

3. Get Enough Sleep

It can be difficult to ensure you’re getting enough sleep when you've got a huge load of class work, piled on top of all your other commitments or when your friends are staying out all night partying. But getting enough sleep can really improve your overall health and wellness. For college students, experts recommend seven to nine hours nightly.

In addition, try to stick to a sleep schedule so that you can stay well-rested throughout the day.

So stay asleep, turn off the lights and all of your electronic devices. Also, try not to eat or drink caffeinated beverages near bedtime.

4. Wash Your Hands

It’s so easy for students to spread germs to one another and not washing your hands makes it even easier to do so! Hand washing is such a simple way to prevent germs from spreading from many illnesses.

Wash your hands throughout the day but especially before mealtime, when you've been around people that are sick and whenever you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

5. Don’t Smoke

Even smoking occasionally can put your life at risk. Do we really need to elaborate? If you’d like help quitting, your student health center has many programs that can assist you.

6. Avoid Caffeine and Sugary Drinks

Foods that are high in protein and fiber are way better for you in the long run since caffeinated and sugary drinks seems like a great choice for studying until you crash later on.

7. Get a Flu Shot

It’s always better to be safe than sorry and getting a flu shot is no exception. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid illness. Trust us, come flu season, you’ll be happy you did.

8. Drink Lots of Water

Staying hydrated will give you more energy throughout the day, reinvigorates your body, stops you from overeating and aids in concentration. It also helps prevent those pesky headaches so fill up your water bottle daily.

Remember to reuse a refillable bottle rather than wasting plastic, which is bad for the environment!

9. Relax

It’s all too easy to get stressed but being overly stressed can cause a variety of health issues. Make sure to give yourself plenty of breaks, maintain a healthy routine on a daily basis and always have time to do activities that are low-stress like hobbies, hanging out with friends and exercising.

10. Avoid Tanning and Wear Sunscreen

The beach is relaxing and fun and we’re not saying to avoid it all together, just lather up in sunscreen to avoid the unhealthy side effects that come along with it. Reapply every two to three hours to make sure you’re fully protected.

Make sure you avoid harmful tanning salon beds because putting yourself at risk for skin cancer is definitely not worth the risk of a little color.

If you feel you must have some summer glow, try a healthier alternative of a sunless tanner. There are plenty of realistic looking options out there that don’t have the deadly cancerous side effects!

What other health tips would you share with students?

The Perfect Internship

Elizabeth Hoyt — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:23:00 -0700

Do you know what to look for in an internship? An internship is a useful experience that can show you what a career in a particular field will look like and if you’re suited for that field.

Think about it: how else will you know if that’s what you want to do with your life? An internship is a great way to test out the waters.

Check out the below information to help you decide what type of internship may be best for you and how to find it. [gate]

The Benefits of Internships

While some internships pay, many do not. However, the benefits you gain can be invaluable to your resume like job experience, networking potential, connecting with mentors, as well as the potential of job placement.

Finding the Right Fit

The right internship can demonstrate what your career path will look like, help you experience the working world for yourself and teach you job placement skills.

In addition, internships help you asses if you’re in the right field. If you take an internship in your current major and decide you dislike it, then it may not be the right career path for you. On the flip side, taking an internship in a different field that’s of interest may inspire you to switch majors.

Keep in mind that many internships will contain a mix of exciting and mundane job requirements, as with most jobs, so don’t rule out internships that aren't glamorous all day long. After all, everyone needs to pay their dues!

Try to find someone with a career you’d like to have and see if you can intern with them. When you intern working with someone you admire, you’ll be able to learn from them and create great connections that will likely benefit you in the future.

Starting Your Search

Decide what type of internship you’d like to purse and utilize any connections or resources available, including your school’s placement services, teachers and web sites like Fastweb.

Don’t discount family and friends! Personal connections often lead to great opportunities, also!

If you've always dreamed of working for a specific company or organization, don’t be intimidated to contact them directly to inquire about their internship program.

Many companies have programs built specifically for that purpose and knowing you've have a passion for that company or organization will likely make you stand out in the interview process.

How to Get Started

By putting some thought into your search and using the resources that are available to you, you can find an internship that will offer you great opportunities.

Keep in Mind

Consider your goals and what you’d like to get out of the internship when you’re finished. Are you looking to find out if the path is right for you or are you trying to make connections for the future? What type of skills are you looking to learn?

The Grammar Guide

Elizabeth Hoyt — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:38:00 -0700

No matter how confident you may be in your writing skills, it’s easy to make mistakes on these common grammatical errors.

These mistakes are considered red flags on resumes, papers, scholarship applications and in your work.

What are such mistakes warning signs of? Bosses, teachers and hiring managers consider such mistakes to be indicators that you don't take the time to pay attention to detail or are careless about your efforts.

Make sure you learn to decipher meanings of words, when to use them and always check your work!

Otherwise, a simple mistake could cost you that new account, scholarship or the job of your dreams.

Here’s a simple guide to help you along the way with some of the most common blunders people make in the English language: [gate]

You’re versus Your

This may be the most common grammatical mistake out there. Quite frankly, it’s a simple fix.

a. You are = “You’re”

b. “Your” is used when related to a person

Examples:

a. I cannot believe you’re going to Harvard!

b. Your new puppy is so adorable!

There, Their and They’re

a. “There” = Location

b. “Their” = Belonging to them

c. “They’re” = They are

Examples:

a. I am going to work on my scholarship application over there.

b. Fastweb has a multitude of opportunities to pay for school on their site.

c. They’re accepting applications for scholarships now.

Effect versus Affect

a. A result = “Effect”

b. To influence = “Affect”

Examples:

a. The scholarship had a major effect on the lives of the students.

b. Winning scholarships affected her confidence in the most positive way.

It’s versus Its

a. It is or It has = “It’s”

b. Its is a possessive pronoun, which means

Examples:

a. It’s almost time to leave for college!

b. She found that Fastweb really knew its scholarships.

A lot versus “Alot”

The word “alot” doesn't exist! Also, be wary of using “a lot” because it can sound vague. Rather, use numerical examples.

Examples:

a. I have applied for a lot of scholarships.

b. I have applied for 12 scholarships total.

Then versus Than

In comparisons, use “than.” Use “then” in all other instances.

a. Then can be used to mean “a point in time” or “in addition to.”

b. Than is used in comparisons.

Examples:

a. I’m applying for scholarships, then I will apply for grants.

b. I have applied for more scholarships than grants.
More Than versus Over

a. Use “more than” when citing numbers.

b. Use over when the inverse is “under” and not to cite surpassing a certain amount.

Examples:

a. I had more than twenty responses to my application.

b. She went over the word limit but submitted her essay anyway.

Who versus Whom

a. “Who” is used when one can respond with he or she

b. “Whom” is used when one can respond with him or her

Examples:

a. Who is that man?

b. To whom did you send flowers?

Seen versus Saw

“Saw” is the past tense of “see,” not “seen.”

Examples:

a. He saw a scholarship that he wanted to apply for.

b. He had never seen such great opportunities before Fastweb.

Lose versus Loose

Be careful here, these words mean two completely different things!

Examples:

a. Be sure you don’t lose your scholarship applications.

b. The scholarship guidelines were loose – pretty much anyone qualified.

Chose versus Choose

“Chose” is the past tense of “choose.”

Examples:

a. She chose not to apply for scholarships and now she’s in debt.

b. Did you choose which schools you’re going to apply to yet?

Compliment versus Complement

a. “Compliment” = something kind someone says

b. “Complement” = the act of doing so, something that adds to, completes or supplements

Examples:

a. I loved her shoes, so I complimented them.

b. Her shoes really complemented her outfit.

Principal versus Principle

One easy way to remember the difference between the two: Your principal is your pal. Though cheesy, it helps!

a. “Principal” = The director of a school or, in some cases, of high importance

b. “Principle” = A fundamental value of conduct or action

Examples:

a. Our principal was kind to all students.

b. He was a man of principle.

Dessert versus Desert

One trick to remember the difference between the two: desserts are very rich so there’s always an extra “s” in the word.

a. “Dessert” = The delectable, often sweet, final course of a meal

b. “Desert” = Desolate, arid or barren, often a type of land or to leave

Examples:

a. We ate the meal quickly because we couldn't wait for dessert.

b. She would never desert her friends.

Accept versus Except

a. “Accept” = To receive

b. “Except” = To take out or leave out

Examples:

a. She accepted his apology.

b. Everyone was invited, except Joe.

Addition versus Edition

a. “Addition” = Adding numbers

b. “Edition” = A version or issue

Examples:

a. The first grade class was learning addition.

b. He gave her a first editionof her favorite book for her birthday.

Historic versus Historical

a. “Historic” is used for an important event

b. “Historical” is used to refer to something that happened in the past

Examples:

a. The historic dedication of the statue was something we’d always remember.

b. Visiting historical landmarks has always been my passion.

"-ible" and "-able"

a. Use "-able" when the complete root word is used

b. Use "-ible" when part of the root word is used and the word would not make sense without the ending

Examples:

a. I found it laughable the she didn't believe me.

b. The boat was visible from the shore.
To, Too and Two

a. “To” = As in direction, limit, toward something or someone

b. “Too” = Means also

c. “Two” = The number between one and three

Examples:

a. I want to apply for scholarships.

b. I want to apply for scholarships, too.

c. I applied for two scholarships.

Fewer versus Less

a. “Few” or “Fewer” = Use for things you’re able to count

b. “Less” = Use for things you’re able to measure

Examples:

a. I applied for fewer scholarships than she did.

b. I drink a lot less water than the recommended amount.

What other grammar mistakes do you notice most often?

Jobs for the Jobless

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:00:00 -0700

If you find yourself unemployed, don’t fret. You've got tons of potential, you just need to utilize it! Plus, there are plenty of easy, money-making opportunities out there to fill the void during your job-search.

Check out these easy, money-making opportunities you can utilize in order to keep your bank account full while on the prowl for a full-time position in your field.

Get ready to wear a lot of different hats because it's going to be a very interesting ride!

See the job opportunities >>>

[gate]

[page]

Side Jobs

Let others outsource to you via sites like TaskRabbit, Workaholics4Hire, DoMyStuff and Craigslist, where you can become someone’s personal assistant, helping out with things from delivering flowers to grocery shopping.

GigWalk and Zaarly are great options if you’re looking for company-assigned jobs like collecting data, mystery shopping, reviewing brands and evaluating services. oDesk hires more contract-based positions for virtually every field.

At Shopkick, you won’t actually get paid, but you’ll get rewards for doing tasks (think free lattes for a certain number of store walk-ins). Not a bad deal, especially if you were already planning on going to Target in the first place.

[page]

Create

Do you have a knack for something creative?

Share your talents on sites like Etsy, where people buy and sell unique homemade goods.

You can also create and sell goods on your own web site, utilizing creative web platforms like Pinterest to advertise for free.

Just take photos of your creations and share with others, linking back to where they can purchase your items.

[page]

Haul

This one requires a vehicle, but if you have such a resource, it can be fruitful. You can make cash using your car by assisting people with rides, hauling heavy items (especially if you have a well suited car, like a pick-up) or running errands.

Check start-up sites like Lyft or SideCar or you can default to the trusty Craigslist and TaskRabbit for opportunities in your area.

[page]

Sell

If you’ve got a closet full of clothes or a house full of items you don’t wear or need, sell them!

You can sell locally on Craigslist or there’s always that little site known as Ebay.

If you haven’t heard of the newest clothing resale craze, Poshmark makes the process about as painless as possible. On the app, you can take photos to list your items.

When you sell an item, the company sends you a printable shipping label. That way, all you have to do is put your item in a box and tape on the provided label. Once the buyer receives the item, they’ll give you the option of direct deposit or credits for the site.

Who said making money had to be difficult?

[page]

Care

Are you great with kids or the elderly? Babysitting gigs can really rake in the dough and, lucky for you, it’s a job that will always exist!

Pay varies on area, whether or not a nanny lives-in, the number of children and a variety of other factor but, if you enjoy spending time with children, it’s a great way to pass the time.

Check out web sites like Care.com, SitterCity, Babysittingjobs.com or, even, Craigslist for childcare opportunities in your area.
There are also great opportunities in caring for the elderly, but most require a degree or certification.

If you’re looking for side-jobs but have such qualifications, check out TheCaringSpace or Care.com’s elderly care section.

[page]

Write

Have you ever considered freelance writing? Before you write it off (bad pun intended), consider it. Because, here’s the thing about writing: if you write what you know, you’ll likely be decent at it.

Write about a subject you’re passionate about and pitch your stories to local newspapers, online and print magazines or blogs.

Don’t forget to arrange compensation before submitting your completed stories, though!
[page]

Thrift

Attend local garage sales, resale shops and vintage/antique markets to pickup goods you think collectors might like to purchase. Then, resale them on sites that vintage lovers frequent, like Poshmark, Ebay and Etsy.

[page]

Pets

Pet owners will pay a pretty penny to ensure their fur-balls are in the right hands. If you’re an animal lover, why not offer dog-walking or pet-sitting services?

Depending on where you live, rates vary, but you can certainly make money doing so! Hook up with opportunities via sites like DogWalker.com, or check out Care.com and SitterCity’s pet sections, which also offer dog walking services.

Whether dogs or cats catch your fancy, there are plenty of paws to go around!

Utilize the above tips to keep yourself afloat in the meantime and keep yourself active and sharp. Keep in mind, however, that no matter how many side jobs you take on, your full-time job search should be your number one priority.

[page]

Teach

You can always fall back on your basic skills and teach or tutor other in conversational English (or any other language skills you may have).

Language is a necessity in this world and others are always looking for kind, patient teachers. You could easily make up flyers and place them around town in local coffee shops, churches and schools and hope for a bite.

Sites like Craigslist are always great to advertise your services, also!

Can you think of any other opportunities to add to this list?

April is National Volunteer Month

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:54:00 -0700

Across the country this month Americans will be giving their time and energy, but not getting paid for it. What gives?

It's national volunteer month! A time when you have the opportunity to help your fellow Americans by volunteering.

April also encompasses National Volunteer Week. According to Nationalserviceresources.org: [gate]

"National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week. Additionally, governors, mayors and other elected officials make public statements and sign proclamations in support of the event.

"During National Volunteer Week, thousands of volunteers around the country will be honored with local organizational awards for their community service. Thousands of organizations also will distribute the President’s Volunteer Service Award to their deserving volunteers. This award is the most prestigious volunteer award currently connected to the White House that all Americans can aspire to achieve. It provides organizations with the unique opportunity to bestow national and presidential recognition on their volunteers who have made a sustained commitment to service."

Interested in volunteering? Here are some resources to check in with:

Volunteermatch.org —Matches users to volunteer opportunities with over 70,000 nonprofit organizations.
Americorps — Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. And, even better, members who complete service may be eligible for an Education Award of up to $4,725 ( to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans) plus living allowances during their term of service.
Points of Light Institute — a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in the United States of America dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems.
The Red Cross —Helps prepare communities for emergencies and keep people safe every day thanks in large part to volunteers.

Don't forget to check out DoSomething's Cause of the Month! If you're ever looking for a way to give back, Fastweb updates their Cause of the Month...well, monthly! That way, there is always something that you can do to help others!

Top 10 Cities for New College Grads, 2013

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:48:00 -0700

These are 2013’s top ten cities for new college graduates, according to Rent.com.

The cities were ranked based upon cities with the most rental listings, compared to unemployment rates (which Rent.com doubly weighted), the cost of living in that particular city and wages.

The cities ranked in the top ten were those that new college graduates would be most likely to find work with a reasonable paycheck and affordable housing.

Check out the top ten cities, listed in no particular order.

[gate]

[page]

Seattle, Washington

Mean Annual Income: $54,800

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,300

Unemployment rate: 6.7%

Whether it’s the indie art scene, state parks or outdoor markets that peak your interest, the whimsical forest-turned-city sights and sounds of the city with a waterfront backdrop will undoubtedly reel you into its ultra-hip population.

[page]

Atlanta, Georgia

Mean Annual Income: $46,600

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $800

Unemployment rate: 8.4%

Atlanta is one of the few cities where culture and class exist without pushing the cost of living through the roof. This makes the city with small town charm and postcard-worthy weather a perfect place to begin for new college grads.

[page]

Washington, D.C.

Mean Annual Income: $62,900

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,600

Unemployment rate: 5.2%

For those with political aspirations, this city is the key to your future. For those without? It can be difficult to escape, though possible. The city boasts historical landmarks, beautiful scenery and amazing cultural attractions, like museums and galleries.

[page]

Denver, Colorado

Mean Annual Income: $50,300

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $970

Unemployment rate: 7.4%

While Denver is well-known to outdoorsy types, there’s more than just mountain man appeal. The city boasts endless recreation opportunities, historic sites and an ever-exciting nightlife to boot.

[page]

Boston, Massachusetts

Mean Annual Income: $57,500

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,590

Unemployment rate: 5.9%

Rich in culture and the arts from every angle, Boston seems to have a little something for everyone. The city hosts free festivals, has a museum for just about anyone as well as a lively night scene, including the infamous Boston Symphony Orchestra.

[page]

Dallas, Texas

Mean Annual Income: $46,200

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $900

Unemployment rate: 5.9%

Dallas boasts a classic Americana vision of fun: food, nightlife, sports and entertainment. The city has a bright lights, big city feel that leaves visitors in awe of all it has to offer.

[page]

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Mean Annual Income: $49,800

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $900

Unemployment rate: 5.1%

For those looking for the small-town feel of the Midwest, Minneapolis or St. Paul may be you home-sweet-home. In addition to having great Midwestern values, the area is notorious for its environmentally-friendly residents and their lifestyles. If this sounds like you, maybe Minnesota is where you belong.

[page]

Houston, Texas

Mean Annual Income: $47,500

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $800

Unemployment rate: 6%

If you’re looking to go South, Houston is a hot spot that’s always hopping. Pulsing with energy, the city is lovely and offers a variety of attractions, including sports and diverse entertainment that any Southerner could enjoy.

[page]

St. Louis, Missouri

Mean Annual Income: $44,200

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $960

Unemployment rate: 7%

The Gateway City is packed to the brim with eclectic bars and restaurants, a lively music scene, unique shopping areas as well as must-see landmarks like the Gateway Arch and the Delmar Loop.
[page]

Raleigh, North Carolina

Mean Annual Income: $45,200

Median Price for a one-bedroom apartment: $800

Unemployment rate: 7.5%

There’s so much to do in Raleigh, it’s no wonder that the city is the host to so many great job opportunities. Raleigh is a small southern town combined with an exciting city, wrapped into one, giving residents and visitors the best of both worlds.

Were you surprised by any of the cities listed?

Does Presence Equal Promotion?

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:40:00 -0700

Experts say that when you’re trying to get your career off the ground, you should go to work. This may seem like common sense: if you want to keep working, go to work. What we’re actually referring to here, however, is the value of being present in the office. [gate]

But my office environment is flexible and my boss doesn't mind if I work from home!

Perhaps that’s true, but there is something to be said about being present in the office. It says you’re dependable. It says you’re ready to conquer the day’s tasks and that you prioritize work.

Yes, there are valid excuses to work from home. What we’re referring to is working from home on an all-too-regular basis.
Think about it: what happens in the office if you are working from home?

For example, your boss needs to assign the next big project to someone. Who will he or she give it to? The person they cannot see at home or someone who came in that day? Likely, the latter.

A person’s presence reminds you to think of them and, in this case, keep them in mind for projects.

More than likely, to someone who comes in everyday. The truth is that trusting relationships are built when colleagues see one another, day in and day out. They become staples in each other’s days, as any other form of normalcy.

Reminders or Issues? Forget about it. If you’re not present, you’re on your own.

The best way to gather information is always from the source.

Whatever arises throughout the workday is usually unexpected and, on the rare occasion that it’s exciting, the people that have been there for all of the issues (even the boring and mundane) will be there to hear about it first and deal with it.

Most likely, they’ll do this before even considering calling you at home.

If you’re chalking your career up to being at the right place at the right time, we’d strongly suggest being in the office – a place where many successful people have been “discovered.”

After all, how can someone give you a promotion if you’re never present?

Avoidable Interview Mistakes

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:39:00 -0700

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: interviews can be tough. You’re a bundle of nerves and you really want that position. You don’t want to mess up or say the wrong thing.

You think you’re doing everything to prepare but what if you’re making one huge mistake that’s ruining everything?

After all, everyone wants to walk away from the interview with the wow-I-just-nailed-it feeling. At MonsterCollege, we want you to feel that way, too.

Here are some common interview mistakes that you should be avoiding like the plague:

Long Answers –

It’s great if you are enthusiastic during the interview and could go on for hours. It doesn't mean that you should, though. Interviewers prepare a set of questions and are likely allotting a short amount of time for each. So, although you might be able to go on and on, don’t. It may come across as egotistical or (gasp!) boring.

Not Answering the Question –

Whether or not you like their question is irrelevant because, obviously, the interviewer likes it if they asked it. Don’t half-answer in order to bridge to another question you’d rather answer. This will likely only irritate the interviewer and cause them to believe you wouldn't or, even worse, couldn't answer their original question.

The Smile and Nod –

It’s great to seem friendly and also to nod in agreement when the interviewer is speaking. But do that the whole interview and you can come across as disinterested, checked out or not listening – all qualities that people don’t look for in potential employees.

Embellishing Experiences –

It’s tempting to exaggerate your experiences, even if ever so slightly, but this can easily come back to haunt you down the road. Whether it’s through references or just qualifications, make sure you can back up what you say during the interview process. Focus on qualities and skills you have strength in and don’t get carried away with silly exaggerations.

If you find yourself needing to exaggerate too much, you may be interviewing for the wrong job position.

Shooting Down Ideas –

If the interviewer shares a potential idea that is a task falling under the position they’re hiring for and you don’t agree with it, wait until you get the job to take a stand or give them advice on the position they're hiring for.

Know Your Presentation Format –

You may have the most advanced technology out there for your presentation but do you know how to use it? It won’t help you one bit if you don’t. Practice beforehand so you’re familiar with your presentation format and because technology can be unpredictable create a back-up plan just in case things go awry.

In the event things do go south (technology –wise), use it to your advantage to show the interviewer your organization, preparation and flexibility. Many interviewees would freeze in the situation but, when prepared with backup materials, you can roll with the punches and shine.

Dismissing Personnel –

Don’t judge an interviewer or other office personnel by their age or position. Be kind and courteous to everyone that works where you’re interviewing. After all, they work with the interviewer and people do talk.

Snarky Answers –

There are times when an interviewer may rub you the wrong way, ask a question that you find inappropriate or, perhaps, irrelevant. It’s always best to respond with grace than with attitude because, regardless of the question, the person is still your interviewer.

Poor References –

If you give references, make sure they are favorable ones. A gap in employment is always better than a negative reference from a former employer.

Sometimes references aren't negative, just halfhearted or unresponsive to a potential employer’s inquiry. Make sure that you ask your references ahead of time if they mind so that they can be prepared for the responsibility.

Remember, you can also always ask to see any letters of recommendation sent on your behalf to ensure they meet your standards.

The Yes-man –

While everyone wants to appear friendly and agreeable in interviews, beware of just seeming like a “ yes-man.” It’s great to communicate that you value working as a team and collaborating with others but, when you emphasize the importance of getting along with others too much in a interview, the interviewer may view you as weak or too concerned about what others think to get the job done.

Unawareness or Unwillingness to Admit Weaknesses –

Nobody’s perfect. This shouldn't be news to anyone; yet, many candidates think they might be able to trick an interviewer into thinking they are. It takes a stronger person to admit their weaknesses than to hide them.

Conditions –

Although you might be far in the interview process make sure to remember: if you don’t have an offer in writing, you don’t have an official offer. Don’t list conditions of employment before you actually have an offer because, chances are, that will take you out of the running faster than you can say “paid vacation.”

Pretending You Know Answers You Don’t –

Sometimes, it’s really OK to admit you don’t know an answer. Most interviewers will be refreshed that you can admit ignorance rather than trying to pretend you know what you’re talking about. Trust us; you’re not fooling them when you babble on about company statistics, data and reports you know nothing about.

That being said, this only works to a certain degree. Prepare for an interview beforehand so that you know answers. Not knowing one answer is human. Not knowing any means you might need to prepare more or, perhaps, you’re interviewing for the wrong job position all together.

Have you ever experienced any of these mistakes? What happened?

Alternative Spring Break

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:36:00 -0700

What was once a time to party and kick back with friends has now become a time to give back and serve others – at least if MTV has anything to say about it.

The network that infamously hosts annual Spring Break specials has put the party agenda aside this year in order to encourage college students to make a difference.

The cause behind the decision? The devastation that occurred in New York and New Jersey communities as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

MTV, in partnership with United Way and mtvU, has come up with this year’s alternative Spring Break dubbed "Spring Fix," where they’ll bring 50 college students together to work to rebuild the affected communities, clean up the damaged shores and rubble from the demolished houses. [gate]

“Spring Fix” begins March 17 and continues through March 23rd, with a televised concert special at Six Flags Adventure in New Jersey which will also coincide with the park’s season opening.

Park attendees, as well as “Spring Fix” volunteers, can enjoy the free concert and a portion of the day’s proceeds will be donated to United Way.

MTV plans to document the experience in its entirety, just as they would with their normal Spring Break broadcast, though we’re thinking the tone will be slightly different than in years past.

How can you get in on the action? Well, if you think giving back is something you might be interested in, here are some suggestions of how can you make a difference:

Alternative Spring Break

Though the application process for this particular alternative Spring Break experience has closed, there are still plenty of other ways to serve if you’re interested in making a difference through an alternative Spring Break, both with victims of Hurricane Sandy and many other great causes.

Donate

There are plenty of great causes out there! Find one you’re excited about and donate! If you don’t have the funds, no worries, there are plenty of ways you can fund-raise to make a difference.

Become an Advocate

Speak about causes you care about – many people care but just don’t know enough about issues out there to get involved or make a difference. Educating people often makes all the difference in the world.

Volunteer

Every cause needs volunteers in all sorts of areas – from cleaning up disaster zones to making phone calls. Whatever you’re comfortable with and whatever your talents are, utilize what you can to help the causes you’re most passionate about.

Would you consider an alternative Spring Break?

Using Twitter in Your Job Search

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:15:00 -0700

Can Twitter actually help in your job search?

Apparently, using social media can be an effective tool in making the hunt a little more manageable.

By utilizing the simple tips below, you can position yourself into becoming a social networking super sleuth, detecting jobs tweet after tweet. [gate]

Tip 1: Brand Yourself

Whether it’s your name, a description of your capabilities or your occupation or your brand, make sure that your Twitter handle is personal, professional and represents your personality and flare.

For example, a Twitter handle showing a description of your capabilities might read @strngleadr, while an occupational handle might be @designerofgraphics.

Tip 2: Network

Find people within your field and follow them. They could be past or present colleagues, people within your business network or other acquaintances.

Introduce yourself via Twitter and utilize their connections once they follow you in return.

Tip 3: Tweet It

While it can be challenging to express yourself in 140 characters or less, look at it as a writing challenge. Create your own original content that is thought-provoking within your field and share it to your followers.

When tweeting, it’s always great to consider the follower. Would I want to read this? Would I find this useful? You won’t gain much recognition if the answer to either of those questions is a resounding “no.”

Tip 4: Search

Make the most of Twitter’s search function by looking for job openings. Become familiar with how to search in different ways, through hash tags (#), which make twitter topics easier to sort through.

Search terms like #jobs, #job, #nowhiring, #careers, #work and other related topics will be most helpful to include within your search.

In addition, you can add terms that apply to your specific situation to narrow down the results, such as #scientist or #Chicago.

If you see a company that looks interesting, but they don’t have an opening that fits your specific criteria, you can follow them in case they post an opening at a later date. That way, you’ll see the job posting come up in your news feed immediately.

Tip 5: Become a Follower

On Twitter, you’re able to follow anyone. You don’t need to have the other party’s permission to follow them and they don’t have to be following you back. Follow industry leaders, recruiters and headhunters and people within your field you’d like to get to know.

Remember, it’s all about connections!

Tip 6: Retweet

Never underestimate the power of a retweet. Read the tweets of people you’re following and, when you find something interesting or insightful, retweet it. It will flatter the person that wrote it and likely get them to notice you.

It would be especially noteworthy if you add an additional insight to their tweet. Do this only when you actually have something of value to say, otherwise you won’t be drawing the right type of attention to yourself.

Tip 7: Share Your Story

Cautiously share tidbits of information that others looking to hire might find valuable. Without becoming a braggart, post tweets letting others know when you accomplish something or make a significant contribution within your area of expertise.

Share opportunities with others like seminars, events, articles and exhibits they may find interesting or relevant. That way, you will soon position yourself to become a staple user profile they regularly check for the most up-to-date information, making you noticeable, valuable and helpful – all qualities people would like to see in a potential employee.

As always, remember the rules of social media etiquette.

Stray from controversy, profanity and unprofessional topics. Keep in mind that once you post something, it will always be out there.

If you wouldn't say it during a job interview, then don’t post it for potential employers to see.

Tip 8: Play Favorites

Twitter also allows users to “favorite” tweets. If you read a tweet you find particularly fascinating or perceptive, add it to your “favorite” list.

The person that composed the tweet will be notified that you've chosen their tweet as a “favorite” and will likely be flattered that you value their thoughts and added your own as well.

Have you made any job connections via Twitter?

Now Hiring

Elizabeth Hoyt — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:11:00 -0700

Where are all of the jobs?

This question has plagued job seekers in recent years, especially with companies cutting back on hiring due to the economy.

The economy is better – in fact, 5.5 million jobs have been added since 2010, but there’s still improvement necessary.

However, according to U.S. News, some industries seem to be resilient enough that they’re recession-proof. This may be because of the nature of the particular industry or are need-based.

Either way, the following industries are definitely here to stay, with record-breaking amounts of jobs available now and, more than likely, in the future.[gate]

The Healthcare Industry – 14.5 million jobs

Healthcare is a recession-resistant industry. It grows along with the population and, as the population grows, they age – all of which aid the industry in a booming hiring spree that doesn't seem like it’ll slow down anytime soon.

The Food Industry – 10.1 million jobs

Bars and restaurants will always be around as long as people get hungry and thirsty.

Now that the economy is starting to look up, people are spending money on eating out again, especially when they feel they’re receiving value for their money.

The Retail Industry – 5.3 million jobs

Only certain types of retailers are at particularly high hiring levels.

What do these types have in common? They’re the retailers that sell necessities, like grocery stores and tire shops, or the ones that sell discount items at places like pawn shops and bargain basements.

Management Positions – 2 million jobs

Even though many companies have been forced to cut back on spending, people with management skills are still in high demand to ensure that day to day business runs smoothly.

What other industries do you see hiring trends in?

college

Writing a Resume Fresh Out of College

Gaining Control Over Your Job Search

FAFSA Updated to Accommodate Same-Sex Parentage

Realities versus Perceptions of the Job Market

Friendship Deal Breakers

The Art of Negotiating Job Offers

Clever Ways to Answer Pesky Questions About Post-Grad Plans

Sarcastic and Silly Ways to Answer “What are you doing after graduation?”

Shocking Student Debt Statistics

$1.1 trillion:

37 million:

2:

$101.8 billion:

Nearly 300 percent:

$26,600:

40 percent:

More than 80 percent:

Nearly 1 in 5:

6.8 percent:

More than 1 in 10:

22.7 percent:

5 Tips for Staying Safe During Spring Break

Helpful Health Tips

The Perfect Internship

The Grammar Guide

Jobs for the Jobless

See the job opportunities >>>

Side Jobs

Create

Haul

Sell

Care

Write

Thrift

Pets

Teach

April is National Volunteer Month

Top 10 Cities for New College Grads, 2013

Seattle, Washington

Atlanta, Georgia

Washington, D.C.

Denver, Colorado

Boston, Massachusetts

Dallas, Texas

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Houston, Texas

St. Louis, Missouri

Raleigh, North Carolina

Does Presence Equal Promotion?

Avoidable Interview Mistakes

Alternative Spring Break

Using Twitter in Your Job Search

Now Hiring

Sarcastic and Silly Ways to Answer

“What are you doing after graduation?”