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Community Service Work Increasingly Important for College Applicants
Tweet Share on Facebook November 30, 2011 Comment (2)While there is much debate about how to build a successful career, many believe getting into a good college or university is the first step. Most Americans believe a college degree is necessary for attaining quality employment. About 7 in 10 US adults (69 percent) strongly agree or agree having a college degree is essential for getting a good job in this country, according to the 2011 study by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation for Education. Similarly, Gallup Daily tracking of unemployment and underemployment in the U.S. finds college-educated Americans do better in the workforce than those without a college degree.
With this data in mind, it’s no wonder Americans put so much emphasis on getting into the right college or university. For some families, this journey begins when their children are ready for preschool. Parents recognize building a solid foundation in the early years helps ensure they succeed as adults.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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10 Myths About Job Searching
Tweet Share on Facebook November 30, 2011 Comment (10)Do you believe any of these myths about job searching?
1. Myth: You need connections in order to get a job.
Fact: Connections are helpful, but plenty of people get jobs by spotting an ad, sending in a resume, and interviewing. Sometimes it might not feel that way, because there are so many job-seekers competing for a limited number of jobs, which means most people are getting fewer interviews (and even fewer job offers). But plenty of jobs still go to people without connections at the company.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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8 Reasons to Continue Your Holiday Job Search
Tweet Share on Facebook November 29, 2011 Comment (4)Despite common misconceptions, job hunting during the holiday season is actually an opportune time to find your next job. Here’s why:
1. You’ve got more time to search for a job since work has slowed down. If you’re still working while looking for another job, chances are you will have a little downtime during the holiday season. Finding the time to make an interview during your lunch break or taking off a couple hours earlier may be easier for you.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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10 Reasons You Don’t Want to Be the Boss
Tweet Share on Facebook November 28, 2011 Comment (13)Think you want that management job? Before you throw your hat in the ring, make sure you’ve thought through what it really means to be a manager. Here are 10 of the toughest parts about being the boss. If you’re not ready to take on each of these downsides, management jobs aren’t for you.
1. You’ll have to make decisions people don’t like. Whether it’s ending a favorite program, not hiring an employee’s friend, or scheduling people to work over a holiday, you’ll have to make decisions that may not be popular with your team.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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How to Look and Feel Your Best for Holiday Networking
Tweet Share on Facebook November 23, 2011 Comment (1)Some people believe this time of the year is not the ideal time to be in job search mode. Conventional wisdom suggests everyone is too busy delving into the holiday season to focus on identifying and securing new candidates. Whether or not you subscribe to the “holidays are slow for hiring” theory, there’s no doubt it is an opportune time to take advantage of networking. Parties and informal gatherings offer numerous chances to meet new people, and you may benefit from people feeling upbeat and generous at this time of the year.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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How Blogging Can Help Your Career
Tweet Share on Facebook November 23, 2011 Comment (13)Thinking about starting a blog and wondering how to make it pay off for your career? Blogging can raise your professional profile, expand your network, and impress prospective employers. But it’s not for everyone, and you should proceed carefully before launching your site.
Done well, blogging can be a boon to your career. It can help you build your reputation, increase your expertise, assist you in keeping up with what’s going on in your industry, and give you a place to showcase your knowledge. And if you’re blogging about your field, you’ll build credibility as someone who, at a minimum, has an intense interest in and passion for the field.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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10 Faux Pas to Avoid When Starting a New Job
Tweet Share on Facebook November 22, 2011 Comment (5)This time of year, the only turkey around should be the one you’re carving. If you’re starting a new job, here are 10 sure-fire ways to serve your own head on a platter.
1. The late bird gets in trouble. Being late occasionally is one thing, but chronic tardiness is another. Showing up perpetually late will put your new job at risk, so set your alarm earlier and get out the door on time.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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What Students Don’t Learn About Work in College
Tweet Share on Facebook November 21, 2011 Comment (5)For all the talk about how college is essential to landing a good job after graduation, higher education often fails to prepare students for the workforce in several key ways. Even with a degree from a competitive school and a high GPA, many students graduate without ever having been taught these 10 essentials for the workplace:
1. Effort doesn’t matter; results do. It’s great to try hard, but if you’re not getting the job done well, it ultimately won’t matter. In the workplace, you’re judged by the quality of what you produce, not by how hard you worked to produce it.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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6 Tips for Moving Your Career Forward
Tweet Share on Facebook November 18, 2011 Comment (2)Every November the National Career Development Association (NCDA) celebrates National Career Development Month. The theme this year is “My Career Dreams,” and participants are encouraged to establish, recognize, and pursue their dreams associated with their careers—whether it is what they want to be when they get older, the goals and aspirations they have for the future, or the steps they need to take to make their dreams a reality.
In honor of National Career Development Month, here are six secrets essential to helping you move your career forward:
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
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Professional Women Choosing Flexibility Over Higher Pay
Tweet Share on Facebook November 17, 2011 CommentJust a few decades ago, women fought for the right to work alongside men. Now it seems they’re not as committed to rising up the corporate ladder—they want flexibility instead. The third annual “Women and Workplace” put out by More Magazine shows that 75 percent of college-educated women aged 35 to 60 nationwide would rather have more free time in their lives than make more money at their jobs. In fact, 40 percent would even take a pay cut for more flexibility.
It seems like flexibility is more valuable to us than ever, for both mothers and single women. While you would expect mothers to skew more heavily toward flexible workplace options so that they could spend more time with their children, 68 percent of women without children also would rather have more free time than make more money. Flexibility for all of us means better balance between the professional part of our lives and the personal.
[See The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]
