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Where to Find Obama’s Stimulus Plan Jobs

Compiled from Monster.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:59:00 -0700

Just graduated college and can’t find a job? You’re not alone.

You’ve probably heard about all the money President Obama has dumped into the economy, but chances are you haven’t seen it first hand. So, where are all the jobs?

President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the Stimulus Plan) is expected to save or create 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.

The plan also includes provisions to help both employed and unemployed Americans: 95 percent of workers and their families will receive the Making Work Pay tax cut of up to $1,000, and millions of unemployed workers will receive an additional $100 in unemployment benefits per month. The plan also includes funding to help unemployed workers pay for COBRA health care coverage.

While the stimulus is designed to create jobs across the economy, four strategic sectors are receiving the majority of stimulus funding targeted for job creation. This is where the jobs are!

Find out what sectors are getting the jobs >>

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Energy Jobs

Electrical engineer

Job Description: Designs electrical systems by developing and testing components.

Required Education and Training:

Database Design

Electronic Production Technologies

Electronic Systems

Electronic Testing Design

Electronics Troubleshooting

Engineering Degree

Project Management

Energy analyst

Job Description: Conducts energy audits of buildings, building systems and process systems, and investment grade audits of buildings or systems.

Required Education and Training:

Bachelor’s Degree

Environmental engineer

Job Description: Plans for, controls, and eliminates pollutants by identifying and controlling environmental risks; researching and developing air, water, and waste environmental techniques and approaches; preparing environmental reports.

Required Education and Training:

Engineering Degree

Environmental Law

Site Development

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Healthcare Jobs

Community Health Worker

Job Description: Serves as lay member of communities who work either for pay or as a volunteer in association with the local health care system in both urban and rural environments and usually shares ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status and life experiences with the community members they serve.

Required Education and Training:

Bilingual

High School Diploma or Bachelor's Degree

Registered nurse

Job Description: Promotes and restores patients' health by completing the nursing process; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients, friends, and families; supervising assigned team members.

Required Education and Training:

BLS, ACLS, NRP, and/or PALS May be Required

BSN Preferred

Current State License Required

Graduate of an Accredited School of Nursing Required

High School Diploma or GED Required

Previous Nursing Experience Preferred

Safety Manager

Job Description: Enforces OSHA regulations by record-keeping and reporting violations; leads and supports the implementation of organizational safety and health objectives on projects.

Required Education and Training:

Bachelor's Degree in Construction, Safety, or Related Field Required

Certification Preferred

Previous Experience in the Field of Health and Safety Required

Previous Supervisory Experience Preferred

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Construction Jobs

Construction Project Controller

Job Description: Controls construction projects by developing and monitoring plans and control systems.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Civil Project Management

Coordinating

Critical Thinking

Decision Making

Dependability

General Consulting Skills

Human Resources Management

Independence

Informing Others

Instructing

Mathematics

Negotiation

People Management

Planning

Power Tools

Productivity

Project management

Quality Focus

Results Driven

Teamwork

Tracking Budget Expenses

Vendor Relationships

Welding and Fabrication

Written Communication

Construction Foreman

Job Description: Completes construction projects by scheduling materials, equipment, and personnel; creating budgets; monitoring progress; enforcing code and safety regulations; supervising staff and sub-contractors.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Coordinating

Critical Thinking

Decision Making

Dependability

Developing Standards

Estimating

Independence

Informing Others

Instructing

Mathematics

Negotiation

Planning

Power Tools

Production Planning

Productivity

Project management

Quality Focus

Quality Management

Results Driven

Supply Management

Teamwork

Welding and Fabrication

Electrician

Job Description: Maintains electrical service by diagnosing and repairing electrical wiring and equipment problems in accordance with relevant codes.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Attention to Detail

Basic Safety

Customer Service

Decision Making

Electrician's License

Electronics Troubleshooting

Equipment Maintenance

Equipment Selection

Installation

Lifting

Managing Time

Mathematics

Problem Solving

Productivity

Quality Focus

Repairing

Results Driven

Safety Management

Self-Motivated

Supply Management

Teamwork

Technical Understanding

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Education Jobs

Child Care Aide

Job Description: Ensure a safe environment and developmentally appropriate activities for children.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Client Relationships

Confidentiality

Customer Service

Deals with Uncertainty

Dependability

Emotional Control

Flexibility

Handles Pressure

Informing Others

Internal Communications

Job Knowledge

Judgment

Listening

Objectivity

Quality Focus

Resolving Conflict

Scheduling

Self-Development

Self-Motivated

Supports Diversity

Teamwork

Telephone Skills

Time Management

Verbal Communication

Child Care Teacher

Job Description: Instruct children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Active listening

Confidentiality

Critical Thinking

Decision Making

Flexibility

Instructing

Interpersonal Communication

Judgment

Monitoring

Resource Management

Safety Management

Social Perceptiveness

Supports Diversity

Time Management

Teacher

Job Description: Teach students in public or private schools in one or more subjects; promotes and nurtures the education of students by planning and tailoring courses of study.

Required and/or Suggested Skills:

Classroom Management

Collaborative Teaching - K-12

Confidentiality

Connecting with Children

Deals with Uncertainty

Emotional Control

Handles Pressure

Leadership

Lifting

Listening

Motivating Others

Objectivity

Organizational Astuteness

Persuasion

Presentation Skills

Quality Focus

Resolving Conflict

Results Driven

Safety Management

Self-Development

Self-Motivated

Supports Diversity

Verbal Communication

What's been your job experience? Share on our Jobs & Internships Discussion Board!

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Cool Holiday Part Time Jobs

By Roberta Chinsky Matuson, Monster Contributing Writer — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:39:00 -0700

Work in retail doesn't necessarily mean that every day is the same. If you're looking to add some excitement to your work in retail or earn some extra cash with an out-of-the-ordinary job, there are plenty of seasonal part time jobs that go beyond the general work in retail: ringing cash registers and stocking shelves. While all positions are not the same, consider one of the following cool part time jobs. You may even decide to make seasonal work your career.

*Characters and Entertainers*

For years, people have told you that something about you seems familiar. Perhaps it's a twinkle in your eye or a laugh that reminds them of something from their childhood. Maybe it's time to put that special something to use.

Many retail organizations hire seasonal characters to help bolster holiday sales. A good Santa or Easter Bunny can have a significant effect on store sales.

To successfully play a character, you need to love children, have a good sense of humor, be flexible and have a strong back. Only dependable candidates need apply. Retailers don't want to have to tell little Joey that Santa is off tending to a sick Rudolph.

*Secret Agents*

Picture yourself incognito, skulking through the aisles of electronics as shoppers scurry through the store. Suddenly, you spot a shoplifter and radio for backup. Sound intriguing? Undercover security or loss prevention might be the ticket you need to exit your 9-to-5 job.

Stores increase security personnel during peak buying times. Candidates with police backgrounds or security experience are encouraged to apply. Before you fill out your application, be sure your background is pristine. Security personnel usually undergo extensive background checks prior to being hired.

This job is not for the faint of heart. You also will need to be agile, because you may have to chase down shoplifters.

*Store Ambassadors*

Have you ever walked out of a store because you couldn't find a sales associate? If so, you're not alone. Large retailers and specialty retailers are recognizing the importance of greeting customers at the point of entry, particularly during peak shopping times. Store ambassadors are strategically placed at the front of the store to welcome and direct customers to the appropriate department or salesperson.

If you enjoy putting together a puzzle's pieces, this might be the job for you. Ambassadors need to assess quickly who can best service each customer's needs. Individuals with strong problem-solving skills and friendly, outgoing personalities are prime candidates for these types of jobs.

*Troubleshooters*

Wanted: Someone who can make angry shoppers happy while they wait in long lines the day after Christmas.

Joyful holiday shoppers often return to the store as tired, worn-out customers. They have bags of items to exchange or return, and the last thing they want to hear is a company policy read to them. A calm personality and the ability to multitask will make you an ideal candidate for this type of customer service representative.

*In-Store Demonstration Personnel*

Are you glued to the TV when "Emeril Live" is on? Do you know how to perfectly fold an omelet? You may be ready to take your show on the road. All great chefs have to start somewhere. Why not as an in-store demonstrator?

Such people are in high demand throughout the year, particularly during peak buying times. They do more than just prepare and hand out free samples. They engage customers and create interest in the products they represent. They are in the business of sales.

Don't worry if you can't boil an egg. Stores need people to demonstrate technical products, such as computer printers and sewing machines, too.

This is a great way to get some hands-on sales experience while you work in retail. Candidates with an outgoing personality are encouraged to apply.

The list of cool seasonal part time jobs goes on and on. Professional seasonal workers know this is a great way to try out new things, make some extra cash and have time off to pursue other interests.

This article originally appeared on Monster.com.

My Internship at Towers Perrin

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:43:00 -0700

Internship: Towers Perrin

Name: Brian Murray

School: Hampton University

Major: Business, Management

Internship stats: Hours per week: 35-40. How I heard about it: Through the INROADS program.

Daily routine:

"Although most of my internship for college students time period was spent learning about the company in various training and performance sessions, I also participated in the same responsibilities as other full time, salaried employees. I was placed on the client team Chicago Title and Trust, working beside several experienced team members. On a typical morning, I would come in and receive duties and instruction from my team leader. After completing my individual responsibilities, I would help out my fellow team members with any extra duties and/or special projects. Each day presented a new challenge in which I learned something valuable."

What I got out of it:

"The most important thing I learned during my internship for college students is to always ask questions when you are unsure about something. Because I was so inexperienced as a new intern and did not want to mess up, I made sure I asked enough questions so that I knew exactly what I was doing. Through my internship for college students, I was also able to learn the positives and negatives of working in a business environment. For example, although I enjoyed working in a formal office situation, I realized that I want to work in an area of business other than consulting and administration."

Word to the wise during internships for college students:

"Get to work early and stay after, always dress appropriately, and don't spend a lot of personal time on the phone or Internet."

Congratulations, your Student is a College Graduate. What’s next?

By UniversityParent.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:55:00 -0700

Graduating from college is a major milestone. Once you have finished celebrating your student’s success, it’s time to help your student determine their next steps. Your student’s college degree is a stepping stone to other future life achievements. So what's next for your student after college?

For some students, the career they want to pursue requires a graduate degree; others may decide to continue their studies in graduate school to avoid a bad job market, or to just avoid a getting a job. If your student has opted for graduate school, they have most likely already taken the necessary tests and applied. If not, time is of the essence.

If your student decides they’re ready to enter the workforce, it’s not uncommon for them to have little to no idea what they want to do with their careers. Career experts predict the average person will switch careers, not jobs, four to five times over their lifetime. Encourage your student visit their colleges Career Services center to find useful tools and resources to help them with career choices and direction. Once they have narrowed the field, it’s time to get out there and find a job.

While graduates should have begun their job search prior to graduation, it is definitely not too late to get the ball rolling. One of the biggest mistakes graduating seniors make is by doing the obvious-- looking for job openings. Instead, one of the best ways to land a great job is to research companies that will potentially provide career growth. Remember, your student doesn’t have to find the perfect job the first time. But, at least finding a job that provides options for career growth will allow them an opportunity to find a career they can pursue.

Besides choosing between career and school, your student will also need to make multiple life decisions upon graduation. First of all, where will your student live? Will they live at home or on their own, in the same town as the college or try a new location? To help determine this, your student will need to consider what expenses they will have to handle. For example, consider expenses such as car payments or transportation, insurance expenses, student loans, utilities, credit card payments, etc. The sheer amount of anticipated expenses may dictate your student’s living situation until the job and career path has been better determined.

Article courtesy of universityparent.com.

Sources:
http://www.quintcareers.com/next_after_college.html

Dealing with the Quarter-Life Crisis

By Peter Vogt, MonsterTRAK Career Coach — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:20:00 -0700

When high school pals Alexandra Robbins, 25, and Abby Wilner, 25, got together over lunch several years ago to catch up on their lives after college, they were both ready to tell some glowing stories about how well they were doing.

"At first, we both said we were having a great time," recalls Robbins, an English and American studies double major in college, now working in the New Yorker magazine's Washington, DC, bureau. But before the conversation went much further, the fronts that 20-somethings often put up vanished. Both women admitted they were feeling unhappy, confused and somewhat adrift.

"Then we started seeing that many of our friends were feeling the same way," Robbins says. "And there weren't really any resources to help us deal with what we were going through."

So Robbins and Wilner decided to create one themselves. The result, based on their own experiences and several hundred interviews with fellow 20-somethings who graduated from college in the past few years, is their book, Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your 20s.

When you interview more than 200 of your peers, you inevitably learn a few things you'd like to pass along to others. For Robbins and Wilner, their book and its accompanying Web site are vehicles for doing just that. They also welcomed the opportunity to offer career and personal advice here -- particularly for those in the middle of a confusing, demoralizing quarterlife crisis.

Here are a few of Robbins and Wilner's recommendations:

Don't Have a Career Plan? Don't Worry

You don't need to freak out if you have no idea what you want to do with your life, stresses Wilner, a Web administrator in Washington, DC, who majored in psychology in college. "I temped and got a taste of various fields and companies out there before I settled into my first permanent job," she says. "So don't let those external pressures get to you, don't think that all those people with plans have everything figured out, and don't think of it all as some kind of race and that other people are ahead of you. We all backtrack at some point as we make shifts in our plans. That's just the way it is."

Separate a Job's Meaning from Its Trappings

"Forget about how much money a job will pay you, forget about societal prestige, and forget about what your parents and friends think about your job," says Robbins. "You have to figure out what's meaningful to you in your career and what will warm your heart and make you want to jump out of bed each morning."

Case in point: Three weeks after Robbins graduated from Yale University, she took the first job offer she got after being, "completely seduced by the trappings. The pay was wonderful, I liked the people, I had my own office with a door, and my commute was only 15 minutes."

There was only one problem: "The work sucked," she deadpans.

Robbins lasted for eight months but was miserable the whole time. Don't make the same mistake, she stresses.

Scared, Lost or Clueless About Your Career? You're Normal

Maybe you're questioning yourself and your place in this world more than ever. Maybe you're barraging yourself with intense self-interrogation, as Robbins puts it. Maybe you're filled with anxiety and fear. And maybe you believe you're the only 20-something who feels so confused.

You're not, Wilner emphasizes. "One thing I honestly wish is that I had done the research for this book even earlier, because that in itself helped me tremendously," she says. "Listening to everyone's experiences, anxieties, thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams...so much like my own. Who knew?"

It took Robbins and Wilner hundreds of hours and conversations with their peers to learn that they -- and their peers -- were normal. You are too.

"If I had known back then what I know now, I wouldn't have beaten myself to a mental pulp so frequently," Robbins says. So neither should you.

How to Find a Part-Time Job Today

Making It Count — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:08:00 -0700

There are tons of ways to find out about part-time jobs that are available in your area. Here are just a few:

Word-of-mouth

Make connections with other high school students who have part-time jobs. Talk to them about their jobs and find out what types of businesses are hiring students. You can also make connections with adults who could possibly let you know about job opportunities in their companies. If you're lucky, they can put in a good word for you and get your foot in the door!

Check the newspapers

Look in the classified ads of your local newspaper. There you will find listings of local job openings in just about every field. You can also find phone numbers of businesses you can call for information on available jobs.

Visit local businesses

Stop in and talk to managers at local businesses. Tell them that you're looking for a job and ask them what types of opportunities they have available.

Search the Internet

Many companies post job openings on the Internet. Use job search sites, such as www.monster.com, to locate part-time jobs in your area. Just type in a keyword for the kind of job you are looking for, such as, "cashier," "waiter," or "sales associate," and listings for available jobs based on the criteria you select will be displayed.

Flip through the Yellow Pages

Looking through the Yellow Pages can give you a perfect idea of the types of businesses there are in your area. If something looks interesting, all you have to do is call the number and ask if they are hiring. They will be able to tell you what you should do to go about getting a job with their company.

Start your own business

Be creative and start a business of your own. That doesn't mean going out and buying your own car factory. It just means finding a service that your community needs and using your talents and "smarts" to make it happen. This could be mowing lawns in the summer or even your own computer programming business. There is no better way to show your initiative and leadership skills than to create a business yourself!

Research Careers on the Web

By Kay Peterson, Ph.D. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:56:00 -0700

Getting a job starts long before you send in your resume or go to an interview. Before you can apply, you have to choose a career. And there are a lot of resources online that can help you identify and explore your interests, learn more about different career paths and get the connections you need.

Test Yourself

Online self-assessment tests can tell you a lot about yourself - and may help you match your skills and interests with possible careers.

But before you dive in, keep a few things in mind. First, no test will tell you everything. Second, some online tests are free; others require a fee for you to receive your results or entice you to buy a companion book or pay for a longer version of the test. So before you pay anything, check out your free options.

If you're ready to travel the road to self-discovery, take a look at these online test sites:

* The Career Key: Based on the Holland Career Test, the Career Key provides a brief test of your preferences and career interests to determine your personality type. Top career options are provided, as well as career descriptions drawn from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

* The Birkman Career Style Summary: This online version of the Birkman Test identifies your interests and style, and provides a list of careers that may suit you.

If you like what you learn from online tests and want to know more, visit your campus career-planning center. They may offer a variety of free tests as well as print resources to help you follow up on what you learn.

Get Expert Advice

The Internet can offer the expert advice you need to help you explore your interests and choose a career path. Check for online advice from FastWeb's Career Planning Center, or enter "career counseling" into your favorite search engine.

If you want a more personalized approach, the Internet can also help you locate a professional career counselor. A career counselor can help you examine your talents, identify your likes and dislikes, and help you choose a career path. To find a certified counselor, visit the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Learn More about Different Careers

How do you choose a career if you don't know what it's really like? Get the information you need at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS offers an online version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook which provides detailed descriptions of different careers, including educational requirements, working conditions and compensation. You'll also find statistics about the fastest growing careers.

Another source is America's Career Infonet for information about career prospects in each of the 50 states. The Infonet also offers a variety of informational articles about planning your career and starting the job hunt.

Make Some Contacts

Sometimes the best way to get your foot in the door is to make contact with those already working the field. Start by joining professional organizations and associations in your field.

Even if you're just starting out, professional organizations can provide information, resources and connections to help you build a career. Many professional associations offer student memberships and sponsor functions on college campuses to promote their activities and encourage newcomers to the field. To find the home pages for the professional associations for your field, check out FastWeb's index of professional organizations, or visit your favorite search engine and enter "Professional Organizations."

So let those fingers do the walking on the keyboard and discover a career path waiting for you!

Why We Interned: Benefits of Internships

By Peter Vogt — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:50:00 -0700

If you're on the fence about whether or not to pursue an internship during college, the statistics alone should convince you to do one. Employers overwhelmingly point to internship experience as the most important factor they consider in hiring new college graduates for full-time positions, and they have a variety of self-serving reasons for feeling that way.

How do you benefit from taking part in an internship? Here's what a few of your fellow students and recent graduates had to say:

Gain Industry Knowledge You Won't Learn Anywhere Else

"Being able to talk with people working in the industry I'm studying to work in is priceless," says Jared Smith, a 24-year-old junior at Shasta College, beginning his second Web development internship for Redding Electric Utility in California. "I was able to spend the day in the control room at the power station, which was amazing for me. I was also able to see the data that is going to be important to me in my career. I learned about things I'll never find in the classroom. Now I can focus on my studies and strive for the knowledge I'll need in tomorrow's workforce."

Accumulate Evidence of Your Abilities

Eugenia Sozzi, a 21-year-old senior at the Catholic University of America, majoring in human resource management, says her recently completed internship at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, DC, "Gave me many opportunities to test and refine my skills." She spent her summer creating, implementing and managing a new internship program for the organization.

As a visionary, she says, "I had to create a program from scratch, setting down its foundations through a mission and vision statement and creating the core aspects of the program accompanied by the supporting details. As a saleswoman, I needed to sell this program to the supervisors and directors who had better things to be doing than supporting this program and even allocating resources to it."

Now, Sozzi says she can demonstrate her leadership talents to future employers, her ability to work well with different types of people and her skills in seeing projects through from start to finish.

Make Critical Professional Contacts

"One of the benefits I took away from my internship was the personal references I can use when [future] employers ask for them," notes 22-year-old Michael Charron, a recent communications graduate of Worcester State College who interned for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper during his senior year. "That's important, because now I have an actual reference letter from a work-related person rather than a family friend. Plus, I've also been able to do some networking and get prospective leads on other workplaces that might be hiring."

Your Confidence Will Improve

Michelle Jost is a 22-year-old senior at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who will graduate in December 2001 with a degree in conservation. She's interned as an animal educator at the New England Aquarium in Boston, as an assistant for Natural Health magazine in Boston and as an attractions hostess at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

"How have my internships benefited me?" says Jost. "I'm in the process of finding a job right now, and my resume rocks! I'm not concerned about finding a great position in the field I want. I'm going as a Disney-trained, internationally published educational presenter who has the New England Aquarium as my main reference. So I have the confidence of someone who's been in my field for several years, and I have the names, references and organizations to back me up."

Possibly Land a Full-Time Job

Forty-seven-year-old Wendy Stubbs is now a career development specialist at the University of South Dakota, thanks in great part to the internship she completed at the USD Career Development Center last year as a graduate student. Meanwhile, 24-year-old September McIntyre, who just finished her master's degree in public relations at the University of North Texas, landed her new job as a public relations specialist for BSMG Worldwide in Dallas following a six-month internship with the company.

Research shows that 85 percent of companies use internships and similar experiential education programs to recruit for their full-time workforces.

Fastest Growing Science Careers

By Sandra Guy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:44:00 -0700

Students interested in science and engineering careers have a healthy variety of options for a bright future. Science and engineering fields are among the best and fastest-growing in America, according to career-oriented surveys.

Salary.com cites among the fastest-growing fields: software engineer, technical writer, medical scientist, physical scientist, engineer, physician/surgeon, landscape architect, biotechnology research scientist, biological scientist, environmental scientist, lab technologist, and sales engineer.

The list comprises jobs that have the highest salaries and the most favorable growth-rate forecast for the next decade. Tops on the list is “software engineer,” with a 46.07 percent growth rate in the next 10 years, and an average salary and bonus totaling $80,427. Medical scientist ranked close behind, with a 34.06 percent growth rate and average pay of $70,053. Others with top growth rates were biotechnology research scientist with a 17.05 percent growth rate and $66,393 average pay; biological scientist, with a 17.03 percent growth rate and pay averaging $61,317, and “engineer,” with a 13.38 percent growth rate and pay of $76,100.

Experts and government data also point to careers dealing with energy, such as petroleum engineering, and health care, including biomedical engineering, as surefire career growth fields. The U.S. Department of Labor’s list of fastest-growing fields include computer engineering, medical and physician assistants, and employees at science and technology museums.
Each field opens nearly limitless possibilities. Biomedical engineering comprises such sub-specialties as bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, orthopedic surgery, systems physiology and cellular, tissue and genetic engineering. “The most common thing students may not know is that people who get PhDs in science do not necessarily go into academic careers. They go to private industry, government and non-governmental organizations,” said Deborah Stine, associate director of the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy at the National Academies in Washington, D.C.

The National Academies are comprised of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academies were chartered by Congress to advise the government on matters of science and technology.

Science careers are receiving heightened attention and support from the federal government due to an Oct. 12, 2005 National Academies report, titled “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” which warned that the United States’ historical advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology had started to erode. The report, requested by two U.S. senators, recommended that grades K-12 receive improved mathematics and science education, and that the United States develop, recruit and retain top students, scientists and engineers both in this country and abroad. Ironically, the report comes at a time when technology companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Apple Computer, Google and Skype are soaring in popularity and equity value.

A study by Universum Communications, a research firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, showed that Millennials — people born in or after the year 1982 — ranked Apple, Boeing, Microsoft and Intel among their ideal choices of potential employers. Science majors chose Mayo Clinic, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, GSK and Merck in their top five, according to the survey of 37,000 students.

Connie Hall, an assistant professor in biomedical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, said high-school and early-college students interested in science and engineering should take as many classes in math, physics, chemistry, biology and, if possible, physiology, as possible. Also, students should attempt to find high school engineering internships. “It’s tough because students don’t usually get into engineering until their sophomore year in college,” Hall said.

Hall suggested that students seek laboratory experience and search for classes in which they must solve open-ended questions. “Classes involving more problem-solving and less memorization give students a better shot at doing engineering,” Hall said. “In any engineering discipline, you must visualize and translate in three dimensions.”

Make the Most of the Monster Network. It's Not Just a Job Search Engine.

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:24:00 -0700

It's Never Too Early to Start Job Searching

Peter Vogt, Monster Career Coach — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:07:00 -0700

Is it ever too soon to look for the postgraduation job you want?

The short answer is, "No, it isn't." But the more complete answer is, "It depends on what you mean by look."

Timing is critical in your job search, just as it is in many things in life. Perhaps that's why so many college students have questions like the one below, which appeared recently on the message board:

"I am currently a senior in college and graduating in May. Is it too early to look for jobs?"

Again, the short answer is, "No, it isn't." But the more complete answer is, "It depends on what you mean by look."

One common definition of looking for a job centers on the idea of applying for current job openings by sending a resume and cover letter and trying to land an interview. If this is your definition of looking for a job, then there is such a thing as too soon; it really makes no sense for you to look for a job in this particular way until shortly before you graduate. After all, if you apply for a current job opening in, say, October but you won't be graduating until the following May, then you're really wasting both your and the employer's time and effort.

On the other hand, it's never too soon if you expand the idea of looking for a job to include strategies that are more future-oriented and, usually, more effective. Among the search activities that will help you no matter when you start them:

Talk to People in Your Future Industry: Regardless of when you'll be graduating, you can start learning more about your field and the opportunities it offers (both now and in the future) by talking to people who are currently working in the industry. This method of looking for a job lets you build the all-important personal relationships that will help you launch your career and maintain it for years to come.
Read About Your Field: What critical issues are emerging in your future industry? What are people worrying about or looking forward to within your field? Perhaps most importantly, where will the job opportunities be in the near and not-so-near future? You can find out all of that and more by keeping up with trade publications, journals, newspapers and other periodicals in your field. And, of course, the Internet, too, offers volumes of information on all fields, if you're willing to go out and find it, either on your own or with the help of a campus career counselor or reference librarian.
Monitor Job Listings: Using Internet sites like Monster.com as well as industry Web sites and publications, you can easily get a sense of the types of jobs that are opening up in your field. Keep your eye on current job listings -- not so much with the idea of applying for them, but learning from them. What skills do the employers seem to be looking for the most? What experiences do the employers seem most interested in? And where, geographically and by company, are most jobs currently emerging?
Network with People You Already Know Well: If you're going to graduate in May, for example, it certainly doesn't hurt for you to mention that now to your professors, your parents, your other relatives and everyone else you run into in your day-to-day life. Start putting out feelers with the people you know, and tell them you're always open to hearing their suggestions or, better yet, learning about job leads they're aware of.

The timing may not always be quite right for you to apply for an appealing job that's immediately available. But it's never too early to start your job search in a behind-the-scenes sort of way. The knowledge you gain and the personal relationships you develop will ultimately put you front and center in the minds of employers, and that's where you want to be anytime.

This article originally appeared on Monster.com.

The Top 25 Cities for Recent Graduates' Careers

Tania Khadder, Anna Hennings, Adam Starr, Alice Handley | WomenCo. — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:31:00 -0700

Now more than ever, it’s important to get the best bang for your buck. And there’s no question about it — when it comes to value, not every U.S. city is created equally.

Why chase a great salary if your rent swallows most of it, unemployment is skyrocketing and you spend two hours a day just to get to and from work?

So, which cities offer the most overall value in 2009?

WomenCo. has come up with the top 25 — and some may surprise you! After examining various city lists, weighing the rankings and taking note of our personal opinions, we’ve produced a list of cities that’s sure to offer something for everyone.

Our Criteria

We looked at cities' growth rates, average salaries and costs of living.

We factored in average commute time — which, according to experts, has a colossal impact on your overall happiness.

We looked not only at unemployment figures, but also at the rate that unemployment has actually increased since February 2008.

Thinking of relocating for better job prospects? Need to compare two top contenders? Just curious to see where your city ranks? We’ve got you covered. Read on!

Next Page: City #25 >>

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#25. San Diego, CA

Population: 1,266,731

Average Salary: $45,210

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 91

Average Commute Time: 23.4 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 208

Unemployment Rate: 8.8

San Diego is a splashy surfers paradise in Southern California. If wealth were measured by sun and sand, San Diego would be the nation’s richest city. Unfortunately, the recession has burned San Diego with a 3.8% increase in unemployment. Still, the city enjoys a mean income of over $45,000 and a top-25 ranking amongst the nation’s best cities for job growth. So grab your board and your resume because San Diego remains a promising place to work and even better place to play.

Next Page: City #24 >>

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#24. Philadelphia, PA

Population: 1,449,634

Average Salary: $44,460

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 59

Average Commute Time: 29.4 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 176

Unemployment Rate: 8.0

The "City of Brotherly Love" — and the largest city on our list — has experienced a modest 3.1% uptick in unemployment, but has maintained an unemployment rate much lower than that of comparable cities. A mecca for tourists and American history buffs, Philadelphia also promotes itself as a center for biomedical and pharmaceutical companies. In recent years, education and health sectors have emerged as principal drivers of the local economy, helping the city stay in our top 25.

Bonus fun fact: The lemon meringue pie was invented in Philadelphia.

Next Page: City #23 >>

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#23. Cincinnati, OH

#18. Columbus, OH

Population: 747,755?

Average Salary: $40,770

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 17

Average Commute Time: 20 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 178

Unemployment Rate: 7.9

Named after Christopher Columbus, the largest city in Ohio is also one of the largest cities on our list. The city boasts a robust economy, ranking in the top 10 in the nation. Government jobs provide the largest source of employment here, followed by its large higher education institutions. Columbus offers a relatively low cost of living and also boasts the lowest unemployment rate of all the 25 best value cities on this list.

Bonus fun fact: 50% of the United States population lives within a 500-mile radius of Columbus.

Next Page: City #17 >>

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#17. Buffalo, NY

Population: 272,632?

Average Salary: $38,640?

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 1

Average Commute Time: 19.4 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 174

Unemployment Rate: 9.6

Known for an abundance of greenery, a historic waterfront and a diverse cuisine, Buffalo has a lot to offer in terms of overall value. New York’s second largest city topped the list for cost-of-living per income ratio, and boasts one of the lowest average commute times in the nation. Unfortunately, this city also has one of highest unemployment rates on the list, so this year it ranks in the bottom half.

Bonus fun fact: Not surprisingly, buffalo wings were invented here!

Next Page: City #16 >>

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#16. Boston, MA

Population: 599,351

Average Salary: $51,730

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 80

Average Commute Time: 27.3 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 118

Unemployment Rate: 7.4

The unofficial "Capital of New England" is home to 21 four-year colleges and universities, making it a national center for higher education. These schools add to the local economy, not just by creating jobs but by attracting loads of high tech industries to the city. And at an average salary of $51,730, Boston boasts one of the highest incomes on our list. Living costs, however, are on the higher side, which pushes this iconic city farther down the list.

Bonus fun fact: The first telephone call was made in Boston.

Next Page: City #15 >>

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#15. Charlotte, NC

Population: 671,588

Average Salary: $41,200

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 36

Average Commute Time: 25.2 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 125

Unemployment Rate: 11.7

Home to the nation’s largest financial asset – Bank of America – as well as a number of Fortune 500 companies, this comfortable North Carolina city offers a solid salary to cost of living ratio. However, this has also left it more vulnerable to the economic downturn. It would have scored higher on our list, were it not for the drastic increase in unemployment since last year (up 6%).

Bonus fun fact: Charlotte has two nuclear power plants!

Next Page: City #14 >>

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#14. Pittsburgh, PA

Population: 311,218

Average Salary: $38,190

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 9

Average Commute Time: 21.2 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 169

Unemployment Rate: 7.6

With its former steel-manufacturing base and 446 bridges marking its skyline, Pittsburgh is unofficially considered both "The City of Bridges" and "The Steel City." Our #14 pick is historically known for its heavy industry, but today its leading industries are healthcare, education, technology, robotics, fashion and financial services. Boasting the third best income to cost of living ratio and third smallest drop in unemployment rate, Pittsburgh comes WomenCo-approved and recommended!

Bonus fun fact: Beloved TV personality Mr. Rodgers’ real neighborhood was the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.

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#13. Kansas City, MO

Population: 450,375

Average Salary: $37,970

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 25

Average Commute Time: 20.7 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 164

Unemployment Rate: 8.4

Kansas City houses the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies and several more Fortune 1000 corporations, providing a richly diverse economy with significant trade and transportation sectors, government programs and business services. Its cost of living has consistently been at or below the national average, boosting its rating on our list. Not only that, Forbes.com claims “there's a ‘zone of sanity’ across the middle of the country, including the region around Kansas City, Mo., that largely avoided the real estate bubble and the subsequent foreclosure crisis.”

Bonus fun fact: The city is well known for its contributions to jazz music as well as the blues.

Next Page: City #12 >>

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#12. Virginia Beach, VA

Population: 433,746?

Average Salary: $37,550?

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 37

Average Commute Time: 21.7 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 160

Unemployment Rate: 7.2

This beachfront city is best known for its thriving tourism, but is also home to 208 city parks, a national wildlife refuge, long-protected beach areas, three military bases, two universities and numerous historic sites. Major employers include Geico car insurance, Amerigroup health care, Virginia Beach-headquartered Lillian Vernon and Navy Exchange Service Command, while a large agribusiness sector gives our #12 city an extra boost, keeping it just in the top half.

Bonus fun fact: The Guinness Book of World Records lists Virginia Beach as having the longest pleasure beach in the world.

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Unemployment Rate: 8.8

One of the nation’s top areas for overall growth, Raleigh-Cary shines with expected job growth in technology, tourism and academia. Home to one of the largest high-technology R&D centers in the world, our #5 pick is becoming a preferred location for cutting-edge technology and manufacturing firms. Its relatively low income to cost of living ratio and potential for growth definitely place it in the top tier.

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#4. Oklahoma City, OK

Population: 547,274

Average Salary: $35,970

?Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 15

Average Commute Time: 18.7 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 44

Unemployment Rate: 5.6

Ranked by Forbes magazine as 2008’s most recession-proof American city, Oklahoma City is still bustling with the prospect of significant job growth. With last year’s up trend in the leisure and hospitality sector as well as employment increases in natural resources, wholesale, mining and construction, Oklahoma’s capital city has managed to hold steady with an impressively low change in unemployment rate since the recession’s outbreak. Our #4 pick remains a center for government and energy exploration while also continuing to foster positive working environments, boasting an exceptionally low average commute time for workers and a sensible income to cost of living ratio.

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#3. Salt Lake City, UT

Population: 180,651

Average Salary: $39,590

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 41

Average Commute Time: 23.4 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 36

Unemployment Rate: 5.2

Service-oriented Salt Lake City is not only home to the headquarters of the Mormon Church but is also the nation’s largest industrial banking center. With stimulus from seasonal outdoor recreation tourism and a recent rebound in information-sector jobs, Salt Lake City has high expectations for job growth both now and after the economy recovers.

Offering better employment conditions than most other large cities, Utah’s biggest city boasts the lowest unemployment rate and the second lowest average commute time on our list — boosting it right near the top.

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#2. San Antonio, TX:

Population: 1,328,984

Average Salary: $34,610

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 29

Average Commute Time: 22.5 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 20

Unemployment Rate: 6.0

The second largest city in Texas (and on our list!), San Antonio has one of the most solid salary to cost of living ratios in the country and has seen the lowest change in unemployment rate since the onset of the recession. Its projected job growth is extremely promising and consistently high-performing, with plenty of opportunity in the education, health care, manufacturing, government and service sectors. Famous for its River Walk, the Alamo and Tejano culture, San Antonio’s tourism also continues to thrive despite a down economy.

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#1. Austin, TX

Population: 743,074

Average Salary: $41,330

Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 51

Average Commute Time: 21.9 minutes

Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 6

Unemployment Rate: 6.3

Austin tops our list with robust projected job growth and one of the lowest changes in unemployment rate since the onset of the recession. The city has enjoyed a recent explosion of high-tech entrepreneurism, and its two largest employers — the state government and the University of Texas — are expected to add a couple thousand jobs this year. A “best cities” list veteran, Austin’s our top pick!

Related Reads:

A Recent Grad Shares Her Job Search Nightmare

The New Reality of Entry Level Jobs

<< Back to the Beginning

Resources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau
City-Data.com
Forbes.com's Best Cities for Jobs
Best Cities For Jobs In 2008

NewGeography.com's Best Cities for Job Growth
Wikipedia

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A Recent Grad Shares Her Job Search Nightmare

By Lauren Bayne Anderson — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:45:00 -0700

When Ashley Anderson graduated in December 2008 with a BA in marketing, she expected to send out a few resumes before she found a job in her field.

But four months, 500 resumes, and countless interviews later, Ashley was happy to land the only job she could-- a customer service position with a computer software company. A far cry from the entry-level fashion marketing gig she’d dreamed of.

Ashley is just one of thousands of college students graduating into one of the toughest job markets in decades. This year, employers expect to hire fewer recent grads. And those who do score jobs will earn less than they would have had they graduated just a year ago.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers expect to hire 22 percent fewer new grads in 2009 than they actually hired from the Class of 2008. And starting salaries for the class of 2009 are down 2.2 percent.

“More than two-thirds of employers said the economic situation forced them to reevaluate their college hiring plans, and nearly all of those said they have decreased their planned number of hires,” said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, in a press release.

Ashley, a University of Hartford graduate who was searching for a job in New York City, said at first she looked for a job in marketing. When that failed, she started applying to banks, since she had experience working as a teller during college. Finally, she said, she just applied for anything she could—receptionist, assistant, customer service representative and other positions that normally wouldn’t require a college degree.

“I made trying to find a job my full time job,” Ashley said. “I would go to certain websites everyday and constantly keep refreshing the page all day -- and when a new job would pop up I would apply for it.”

But she wasn't the only one hitting the "refresh" button. When she finally landed the customer service job, her new boss told her that she was lucky to have been chosen—the company had received more than 250 resumes within the first hour of posting the job on Craigslist. Many of the applicants held Master’s degrees and there was a recent Harvard grad who’d also applied.

“This is not where I pictured myself being when I graduated,” Ashley said. “But this is the only choice I have.”

But not every field has been strongly affected by the recession. Accounting and Engineering majors are still in demand and hiring rates in those fields are holding strong despite the economy, a NACE survey shows.

Still, many employers aren’t optimistic about the future. More than 46 percent said they are unsure about their hiring plans for fall 2009, and 17 percent are already reporting that they expect to trim further their college hiring, NACE reports.

And while the economy is in a slump, so are the once optimistic and bright-eyed college graduates, now soured by the tough job market.

“I got my degree in the mail, but I haven’t even looked at it,” Ashley said. “I feel like it was an absolute waste of money—it has gotten me nowhere.”

So what are this recent grad’s tips for other 2009 grads?

Start Looking Now. “If you’re graduating anytime soon, you need to have started looking for a job yesterday— you’re already late. If you procrastinate at all, it’s not going to happen.”

Get Experience or Start at the Bottom. “Even if you have tons of experience—there’s someone out there that’s been laid off that has more experience than you. If you can afford it, do an unpaid internship after college to get experience. If you can’t afford it, like me, you have to really work your way up from the bottom.”

Look Outside Your Field. “Of all my friends, not a single one of us got a job in our field-- except one classmate who was an accounting major. Be ready to settle for something you may not have considered before.”

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College Grads Facing Startling Unemployment Rates

Kathryn Knight — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:46:00 -0700

College grads this year are facing one of the toughest job markets in decades.

As of March 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate for people age 20 – 24 was 13.9%. That’s 5.4% higher than the national average, and 3.7% higher than last year.

“Graduates who are unable to find jobs are at higher risk of default on their student loans," said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and FastWeb.com. "Even so, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates is less than half that for people with just a high school diploma."

The old saying goes that searching for a job is a job in itself. If that’s the case, then college graduates should be prepared to put in a few extra hours with these helpful tips:

1. Post your resume on Monster.com. This should be the first place to start with any job search, regardless of the economic climate. It’s no longer simply a convenient place to virtually post your resume. The new Monster also has interactive job-seeker tools like resume writing services, interviewing workshops, career mapping, and salary wizards to help you get your footing.

2. Visit your campus career center. Your career center on campus has probably become the most popular building in recent months. Campus career centers have great resources for job searching students like alumni contacts, industry databases, and resume or interview workshops.

3. Make due with an internship. The recession has revolutionized internships. You may not get paid, but you’ll be getting experience, which will pay off big time when the economy is back on its feet.

4. Get a job with a temp agency. Temping opportunities pay and provide workers with experience. Some temping agencies even provide employees with 401K, medical, and vacation benefits. If you find a temping experience that you enjoy, it could potentially turn into a full-time job.

5. Know how to market yourself. Remember reading to third graders one afternoon your sophomore year? Or how about that Saturday during junior year when you helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity? Alone, these details seem insignificant but combined to a figure or 200+ hours of community service gets you noticed. You don’t have corporate skills to tout so utilize your study abroad, leadership, volunteer, and internship experiences.

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First Job Dos, Don'ts and Disasters

By Roxana Hadad — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:58:00 -0700

It's your first job and you want to make a good impression. But chances are what passed for appropriate conduct in your dorm room and classroom won't earn you points at work. So cop a professional attitude and use on-the-job etiquette to get ahead.

Watch Your Time

Start with the most basic rule of business etiquette: Be punctual. Always arrive to work on time, if not early. If you think you're going to be late, call in and let your coworkers know.

Timeliness also applies to the work you produce. Always submit projects by deadline or before. Blow important deadlines, and you may find you won't be trusted with bigger responsibilities.

Dress for Success

No matter what job you have, it's important that your appearance fits the corporate environment. Find out what the dress code is and observe what your co-workers are wearing. Even if the atmosphere calls for casual outfits, make sure to wear clothes that are clean and in good taste.

Choose accessories carefully; they should accent your appearance, not overwhelm it. Don't wear noisy jewelry or a huge amount of cologne or perfume.

Telephone Tactics

Business protocol has developed alongside advances in technology. Use the technology but don't abuse it.

When picking up the phone, don't just answer "hello." Use a greeting and identify yourself (e.g. "Hi, this is Jane Smith.").

Keep your outgoing voice mail message current. State when you will be back if you are going to be away from the office for an extended period of time.

Limit your personal calls. Time them for your breaks, and keep them brief and low-key. And never keep a fellow employee or client waiting while you finish a personal call.

Unless you're waiting for an urgent call, it isn't polite to put a person on hold when you get another call. Let the voice mail pick up the other call and respond to the message as soon as you're finished with the first call.

If a coworker is on the phone, don't hover outside their office or cubicle waiting for them to finish. Leave and come back later to talk to them.

Netiquette

The Internet and e-mail can be valuable work tools. Make sure the technology works for you, not against you.

Your e-mail messages shouldn't include anything you wouldn't want anyone else to see. E-mail can easily be forwarded and passed around.

Because it's so easy to send e-mail, it's just as easy to send a message that's poorly written or incomplete. Always proofread and spell-check before you hit send. And double-check to make sure you've included all attachments.

Never use abusive or objectionable language or forward an e-mail message that does.

Internet access can be a big boon to business, but don't abuse it. Limit your personal Web surfing, and don't use your access to the Web to visit inappropriate sites.

Use the Right Words

In all office communications, use proper written and spoken language. If you need help with grammar or spelling, and spell-check doesn't always catch your mistakes, have someone check over your mail, memos or reports before you distribute them.

Never use foul language. It can be offensive and doesn't say much for your vocabulary skills.

Keep the Company in Mind

Remember at all times that you are an integral part of your company. How you behave impacts the organization as a whole—and reflects on you as well. Help the company and improve your professional image by following these tips:

Maintain a positive attitude at work and when dealing with clients. Your demeanor reflects on you as well as on your company.

Don't abuse company resources. The fax machine, printer, letterhead and office supplies are for office use only. If you have to conduct personal business, save it for lunchtime and use a calling card or credit card for long-distance calls.

Keep all company secrets to yourself. Whether it's good news or bad news, don't relate anything that is meant to be confidential inside or outside the company.

To survive and succeed in the work place, you have to make a positive lasting impression. Keep professional and keep to the codes of office etiquette, and you'll make the best impression—one that will get you ahead.

Don't Miss Out on Your Dream Job

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:56:00 -0700

Question: How can I make my academic and extracurricular responsibilities look
more professional?

Answer: Be specific in your accomplishments. Use numbers whenever possible.

If you were an employer looking at a college student's resume, which of the following
entries would impress you more?

"Wrote news releases"

"Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines"

Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to
quantify the writer's accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer
understand the degree of difficulty involved in the task.

With a little thought, you can find effective ways to quantify your successes on your
resume. Here are a few more examples:

"Wrote prospect letter that brought in more than $25,000 in donations"

"Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000"

"Introduced 17 student-service-improvement proposals as residence hall
representative for student government"

"Recruited 25 members for a new student environmental organization"

Question: How specific should my "Objective" statement be?

Answer: It is best to use broad categories of desired jobs and internships so that you can
be considered for a wide variety of positions related to the skills you have. This is
particularly important if you're not sure what career field you're planning to enter.

However, if you have a specific internship or career that you really want, such as "art
therapist with the mentally handicapped", then you should state that.

Question: Should I include my GPA on my resume?

Answer: If you are a student or recent graduate, list your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher.
Consider including a lower GPA if you are in a very challenging program. Add your
major GPA if it's higher than your overall GPA. If your school doesn't use the standard
4.0 scale, avoid confusion by listing the scale (e.g. GPA: 4.1/4.5). As your career
progresses, college GPA becomes less important and can be removed.

Question: What do I do if I don't have much professional experience?

Answer: Students and new grads with little related work experience can use the education
section as the centerpiece of their resumes, showcasing academic achievements,
extracurricular activities, special projects and related courses.

For example:

ABC College -- Brooklyn, New York

B.A. in communications, concentration in advertising

Anticipated graduation: June 2008

Senior Project: Currently completing mock advertising campaign for
Coca-Cola (billboard/print/TV/radio ads, direct-mail campaign and press
releases).

Related Coursework: Advertising, Advertising Writing, Direct Mail
and Telemarketing, Media Plans in Advertising, Marketing and Advertising,
Public Relations, Broadcasting

Question: Should I include any information from high school (honors, activities,
etc)?

Answer: No.

This article has been reprinted from Monster.com, the Internet's leading global careers Web site. For more career tips and job search tools, check out http://www.monster.com.

Negotiate Your Way into a Bigger Paycheck

By Paul W. Barada — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:54:00 -0700

While it's difficult to make definitive statements about what to do and what not to do in every negotiation situation, there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of before entering the negotiation process. Here are five of the most common no-nos.

Initiating Negotiations Too Soon

Timing is important here. The appropriate time to negotiate is when a formal offer has been made. If the offer meets your needs, by all means accept it. Never negotiate just for the sake of negotiating, but don't assume you can't negotiate at all. There's nothing wrong with asking for time to consider the offer or outright asking if the offer is negotiable.

Only Negotiating Salary

While money is the most frequently negotiated piece of the compensation package, it's not the only one. It's also true that many employers have benefits such as vacation time and health insurance coverage established by company policy, and are therefore nonnegotiable.

But other areas of the package may be able to be negotiated. They include signing bonuses, unpaid leave, relocation expenses, flextime, severance and predetermined timeframes for salary reviews.

In the end, it's important to maintain some salary flexibility until you've seen the whole package, including benefits. For instance, the job you're seeking may have a built-in profit-sharing plan, a great company-funded health insurance program, or a bonus or incentive program, which all have real dollar value.

Mistrusting the System

Many job seekers operate under the assumption that employers will, without exception, try to lowball them, no matter how well-qualified they are for a position. While there are employers who pay employees below industry standard, you should never enter a negotiation with a "them versus me" mentality. And don't assume that just because you've researched a job's market value you'll get an offer within that range. While market averages are good barometers of pay averages, they're just that -- averages.

The fact is, many companies have a predetermined budget for every position and have pay ranges and benefit packages based on their established compensation hierarchies. An offer may boil down to a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, only because that's all the budget allows for the position, not because the employer is trying to take advantage of you.

Assuming Your Degree Entitles You to a Higher Starting Salary

Increasingly, having an advanced education is nothing more than a threshold requirement that enables prospective employers to narrow down the pool of applicants to a manageable size. If you have relatively little real-world work experience, your degree may keep you in the running, but it won't entitle you to a higher salary.

Also, don't assume your degree is all you have to offer the employer. Having significant work experience will probably carry more weight than a degree alone. There's a major difference between job-performance potential, which a degree can suggest, and past job performance, which indicates previous work experience and achievements.

Believing Every Negotiation Will End in Your Favor

No matter what you bring to the negotiating table, it's naive to assume you'll always get what you want. Negotiating isn't a win-lose proposition; it's a compromise, and you should expect that going into discussions. Very few of us are in such demand that we can write our own tickets. That doesn't mean you should settle for any offer that comes your way, but sometimes an agreement won't always be made. And accepting a job just for the sake of a paycheck could lead to mutual dissatisfaction. It could be better for you to continue your job search.

This article originally appeared on Monster.com

Why your Degree Won't Guarantee a Job

By Peter Vogt, MonsterTRAK Career Coach — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:52:00 -0700

Let's pretend you're a senior biology major, but the only reason you chose biology in the first place is because you liked going to zoos and didn't really know what else to major in. Now as graduation approaches, you wish you could go back and major in communications and become a writer instead.

Changing your major now isn't a realistic option. You simply can't afford it in terms of money, time or energy. You just have to wrap up what you started and graduate with the wrong degree.

Does this mean you're doomed to a career you don't care about? No. As author Patrick Combs writes in his book, Major in Success:

If statistical averages and present-day trends are any indication of how things will go for you, there's a 70 percent chance your first job will be related to your major. But after that, it's likely your career will progress like a pinball. Many, if not most, people end up in all kinds of jobs that have nothing to do with their major.

Here are some ways to apply your wrong degree to the right career:

Focus on Transferable Skills

These are the skills you can easily transfer from one job or career to another. If you're a biology major who wants to work in communications, your transferable skills might include:

The research skills you gained in your biology lab courses. You can use them to gather, analyze and make sense of information before you write about it.

The analytical skills you developed when researching your biology papers can be used to determine if the information you're gathering is accurate and legitimate.

The writing skills you polished when actually creating your biology papers can now help you write about other topics.

Supplement Your Wrong Degree with the Right Experience

As biology major, for instance, you may not have even considered doing an internship with a public relations firm or publishing company. But that doesn't mean you can't pursue such an internship now, or even after you graduate. As any employer will tell you, appropriate experience will make up for the wrong degree or even surpass the right one.

For example, you could combine your biology background with your interest in gaining communications experience by:

Pursuing an editorial internship with the National Wildlife Federation.

Offering to write content for a scientific publishing company's Web site.

Volunteering to develop brochures and other marketing materials for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

Look for Exceptions to the Rule

Maybe you've heard from other people, "You have to be a communications major to become a writer." Not so. In practically every field, there are exceptions to the rule.

As author Richard Bolles writes in his best-selling career book, What Color Is Your Parachute?:

…No matter how many people tell you that such-and-so are the rules about getting into a particular occupation, and there are no exceptions -- believe me, there are exceptions (except where a profession has rigid entrance examinations, as in, say, medicine or law). Rules are rules. But somewhere in this vast world, somebody found a way to get into this career you dream of, without going through all the hoops that everyone else is telling you are absolutely essential.

Your job then, Bolles stresses, is to find that person and ask him how you can do the same thing, whether you're a biology major trying to become a writer or any other major trying to become something outside the norm.

In all but the most strictly regulated fields, there's no such thing as the wrong major. So if you find yourself thinking you've taken the wrong educational path, think again. Start exploring the many ways you can turn your wrong background into the career that's right for you.

Let the New FastWeb Help Jumpstart Your Career

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:48:00 -0700

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Land Great Internships for College Students

By Ariana Finlayson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:54:00 -0700

If you had asked me four semesters ago, I definitely would not have thought I was capable of doing half the things I have. That's what is pretty neat about getting older: You have the opportunity to reflect back on where you were in your life, and compare it to where you are now. And usually, you see a lot of growth!

As a print journalism major, I've been fortunate enough to have held internships at CosmoGIRL!, Parenting and Cosmopolitan, with another internship in the works for this spring.

My major only requires me to have one internship, but I chose to take three. Why? Because for me, it comes down to gathering as much experience as possible, learning different departments of a magazine, and meeting editors and establishing meaningful connections with them.

Below, I've crafted some tips for the three stages of "internshipping":

• Looking for an internship/The internship search

• Interviewing

• What to do once you're there

1. Looking for an internship/The internship search

• Shape up your resume: Meet with a career counselor or advisor at your school. Many times, Web sites have resume templates or offer tools to build your resume from scratch.

• Use your resources. Often, meeting up with an alum in your career field is a great way to get your foot in the door. If the alum is very fond of their alma mater, they will also be fond of you. Ask your academic advisor is he or she knows of any opportunities. Check around your campus. Is it possible to take your internship without even stepping far outside the classroom? Lastly, scope out networking events that may be happening in your area. If you go, dress nicely and bring business cards.

• Do your research: Make it clear to the employer that you know about their company. When you know about the company, you will feel more comfortable and it will reflect in your resume. Bonus: If you get invited back for an interview, you will already be semi-prepared.

• Take care of your cover letter: Keep it precise and concise! A lot of companies accept cover letters and resumes through e-mail now, so make sure you spellcheck before you send it. (Speaking of e-mail, use an address that isn't "HotTstud4U@blahblah.com.") Your cover letter will be your point of entry, so let them know your availability, major, school year and experience, but be careful not to repeat your resume. Tell them about your strengths and how you can help them.

[page]

2. Interviewing

• Be early, but not too early: Showing up five to 10 minutes early is fine, especially if you have to go through security. Anything more than that will be considered rude. Wait, early = rude? Yes, because your interviewer is probably very busy taking applicants, as well as doing their own work.

• Dress the part: Ask about interview attire -- sometimes a pencil skirt for a girl and khaki pants for a boy will make the cut. But you still need to dress nicely. Bonus: Dressing nicely will also give you confidence because when you look the part, you feel the part.

• Bring copies of your resume: This shows you are prepared and you care about the opportunity being given to you.

• TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE! And if you're sitting in the waiting room, do NOT whip it out and start texting/holding a conversation. Keep your paws off your mobile device and just sit still.

• Be an attentive interviewee: Actively listen to what your interviewer is saying. Answer their questions and, if you need to, pause to think about your answer before spouting off. When they ask, "Do you have any questions for me?" make sure you ask! Ask for a further description of the assigned tasks. Ask about their work day. Ask who you'll be working with. Asking something of substance will show that you paid attention in the interview, and you are engaged in the conversation.

• Send thank you cards: After the interview, you should send hand-written cards to anyone who interviewed you. They should be mailed out in a timely fashion. Many prospects forget to do this, but among other things, it's common courtesy. Do not resort to sending an e-mail! [Ed. note: In our experience, an e-mail to follow up is becoming more accepted these days.]

3. What to do once you're there

• Keep yourself in check: You will be "the intern" for your entire time there. Depending on how the workplace views interns, you can gauge how much you can be seen and heard. You don't want to come off as pushy, overeager or apathetic. Observe the office environment and adapt to it. Are the staffers very laid back, listening to music in their cubicles and introducing themselves to you? Great. Is the environment quieter, where everyone keeps to themselves? Fine. Whatever it is, follow suit.

• Mind your p's and q's: Manner towards your supervisor, manner towards other staffers around you, and manner towards the doorman and custodial staff are all a huge deal. When you are a respectful person, people will notice.

• Don't refuse any task: Running for coffee, making copies, and stuffing envelopes are common duties that come along with the office environment. Do not treat the tasks as insignificant. If you can't make copies, your supervisor will not think you are capable of handling a larger task, like writing a sidebar or sitting in on a meeting.

What I listed above is a combination of what I got from Web sites, the career center at my school, supervisors past and present, and my own doings.

When I stepped into my first internship, I had it in my head that I was going to mess up so terribly, the whole publication would come crashing down. Well, I think I gave myself too much credit because there was no way I'd screw up that badly -- and I didn't! But I was frightened, and my supervisor could read it on my face. At the end of my internship, I recall her telling me to not be so scared all the time. During this experience, I learned not to be frightened, and not to put so much pressure on myself.

At my next internship, my perfectionism became my biggest flaw. Perfectionism is both a strength and a weakness. My supervisor wasn't easy on me, but I learned tons from her. She taught me that perfectionism needs to be nipped in the bud sometimes, and that the first time isn't always perfect.

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