COLLEGE EDGE & BEYOND!

College Edge: 10 GREAT PART-TIME JOBS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

This great article posted in Kiplinger discusses some great ideas for part-time jobs for college students. The author states:

"Throughout college, I found myself torn between growing up and saving the whole “adult thing” for after graduation. One factor in this mental balancing act was working part-time. I needed the money, but I didn’t want a job to take up all of my free time. 

Ultimately, with a bit of time management and the right attitude, a part-time job actually enhanced my college experience. I felt more in control of my finances -- and I didn’t have the guilt of spending my parents’ money on Friday and Saturday nights. I also started to slowly build up my own savings, a habit that I’m happy I acquired. Above all, it pushed me to step outside the “campus bubble” and get to know other people and parts of my community."

Some of the jobs mentioned in the article include:

• Restaurant server
• Retail sales 
• Caregiver
• Freelance Writer and others

Our own son, tutors at college not only for money but it also assists with studying so he is doubling up the benefits of his job. He also works part-time as a social media consultant. So don't limit yourself on what you can do!

Read more: Kiplinger: 10 Great Part-Time Jobs for College Students   

College Edge! NEWS FROM VAULT...MBA Trends Report: Most in Demand MBAs? Highest Salaries and Bonuses?

The latest QS MBA Jobs & Salary Trends report is out. If you were to summarize the report’s content as a whole with a thumbs up or thumbs down, it would be thumbs up.

I’ve listed some of the key findings below. You can read the full report here.

MBA Demand

· In the States, MBA hiring was up 9 percent last year.

· The hottest MBA market is Asia, followed by Russia, then Latin America, and the U.S.

What Industries are Hiring?

· “MBA consulting jobs are forecast to be back at record levels by 2011, with a 19% jump in demand in 2010, followed by a substantial 37% forecast jump in demand in 2011.”

·“MBA jobs in financial services won’t be far behind with a 22% actual increase in 2010 and a further forecast increase of 11% in 2011.”

· Some industries do not have a good outlook, with MBA jobs in pharmaceuticals and healthcare set to decline in 2010. MBA jobs in telecoms will also fall by 4% in 2010 but then recover in 2011, though this decline is concentrated in the USA, with several markets showing growth in telecoms demand for MBAs.

Employers Want

· MBAs with three to five years experience are most in demand. There’s also demand for MBAs with over five years of experience, less so for MBAs with less than three years experience.

·Soft skills over technical skills

Salaries

· “Around the world, MBA salaries have slipped by an average of 5% in 2010 compared to 2009. Despite the world emerging from the financial crisis, an upturn in MBA salaries has yet to feed through in the market for MBAs.”

· “Pharmaceuticals and healthcare reported the highest average base salary this year at $92,264. Financial services companies are paying salaries of $90,926 in 2010, ahead of consulting firms which average $87,627, technology firms which average $85,815.”

Bonuses

· Energy is tops: $73,300, on average; Financial services: $39,323; Recruitment services $29,700. The lowest bonuses are in the public sector, utilities, retail and construction.

Article Source:  Vault Career Intelligence

College Edge! How STEM Career Plans Get Derailed

Blog Source:  Author Laurence Shatkin, contributing author for the Career Success Community. Laurence is an expert in career information systems, and now in books about careers for JIST Publishing, he has focused his career on providing accurate, easy-to-use career information.

Careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are an interest of mine. I have blogged about them several times, have presented about them at conferences, and have written a book about them (Quick STEM Careers Guide). Next month, JIST will publish my STEM Careers Inventory.

The United States needs a steady supply of STEM-prepared college grads to fill the many technological jobs that our economy has created and will continue to create. In fact, if we fail to meet this need, our economy is threatened.

So I was intrigued to come upon a paper (PDF) by two economists, Todd and Ralph Stinebrickner (brothers?), “Math or Science? Using Longitudinal Expectations Data to Examine the Process of Choosing a College Major.” The researchers used data from a longitudinal study at Berea College to investigate how students go through the process of choosing a college major. They focused on large groups of majors, especially the group that they call “math/science.”

The usual assumption about how students choose a major is that students have a self-concept and a concept of the careers that the major leads to. Students are likely to change their planned major if they feel that one of these has changed so that what previously seemed like a good match now appears to be a bad fit. For example, students’ self-concept may change if they discover that they are no longer interested in the major or if they find that they lack the ability to do well in it. Their concept of the career outcomes may change if they learn that an industry associated with the major is not as promising as they previously thought it was or if an internship experience in a related career reveals work tasks or worksite conditions different from what they previously expected. The researchers sought to discover which of these changes were mainly responsible for students’ abandoning their plans to major in math/science.

The survey instrument at Berea College elicited four attitudes that students held toward their planned major: their percent chance of sticking with the major, their expected GPA, their expected income (in dollars) at age 28, and their interest in the major (on a five-point Likert scale). The research report notes that one unique advantage of this survey instrument as a window on the students’ career decision making was its frequency: “Each student was surveyed approximately 12 times each year while in school, with the first survey taking place immediately before the beginning of the student’s freshman year.”

A change in the first of the survey’s scales (chance of persistence) would indicate a change of heart toward the major. An accompanying change in the second scale (expected GPA) would indicate a change in self-concept, whereas if there were a better correlation with expected earnings or with interest in the major, this would indicate a change in students’ perception of the career.

The researchers found that expectations of persistence in the major changed differently for students planning to major in math/science: Expectations tended to decline precipitously in the freshman year (even though students did not have to formally declare their major that year), whereas students planning other majors, if they scaled back their expectations, did so more gradually over several years. And the decline in expectations for the math/science major showed a stronger correlation to anticipated GPA than to anticipated earnings or current interest. In other words, students’ experiences in their freshman year caused them to revise downward their estimates of their math/science abilities, and that’s why they expected to drift away from a math/science major.

I saw examples of this behavior in my own freshman year at a school with a large proportion of math/science majors (The Johns Hopkins University). Several friends of mine abandoned plans for math/science careers after experiencing the rigorous chemistry and calculus classes that freshman math/science majors at JHU are required to take.

The researchers conclude that we need “policies at younger ages that lead students to enter college better prepared to study math or science.” I agree. It’s not enough to get students interested in STEM careers. We need to be sure that in high school (and probably starting earlier than that) young people learn the skills they will need to succeed in a STEM college major.

 

College Edge! Your Parents’ Career Path vs. Yours – How Things Have Changed

Ted Heckman's blog on How Things Have Changed has some great insight.  My son is a college sophomore and often I talk about the "old" days and how things have changed.  Back in the "old" days, I became a Finance major in college because I knew I would make good money and jobs were abundant. It also helped that I worked for the FDIC who paid for my college tuition and expenses. When I graduated, I remained with the FDIC for a while but over the years I had numerous offers and opportunities enabling me to move from one financial organization to another, increasing my salary considerably each time.  I could go on and on but that will be another blog (about how I didn't find what I love until later in life)...  In the "old" days, it was easy to obtain a job (you really just had to be breathing) and then move when you had an urge. Yes, we have challenges today but the good things that are here are GREAT things!

Ted Heckman says:

Like much of the country (I hope), I watched the President’s State of the Union address the other night. One idea in his speech that caught my attention was his remarks about how the employment world is not the same employment world our parents were apart of. His point was to stress we needed to adapt, which I definitely agree with.

The President continued saying we need to look at the bright side of a changing world rather than let it bring us down. And in keeping with that spirit I decided to think of what those positives and “negatives” are. Here is a list of the positives and “negatives” to consider:

The “Negatives”

1. Job Stability/Security

One of the biggest changes since your parents set out on their career path is a change in job stability and security. When your parents joined the world of work, it was expected you would choose a career path and stay in it for life. You may also stay with your first employer for your entire career. Frequently, your career path was mapped out fairly clearly from day one, if you worked hard and proved yourself.

This is no longer the case. You are at a greater risk of getting laid off, as companies change and develop much more rapidly than in the past, and focus heavily on high levels of efficiency. Organizations are considerably flatter, with less opportunity for promotion, and a less clear route of progress to the top. This may at first glance appear to be a negative, but actually, it affords you more opportunities to move around and find what works for you in the workplace.

2. Less loyalty

Directly related to the job security issue, on both sides there is less loyalty. These days, that is not the case. No employer expects you to stay with them for life, and you certainly don’t plan to either. You will likely have a number of different employers over the course of your career, where your parents may have had just one or two. While this may seem risky, it is also considerably more fun. You will have more variety in your career than your parents could ever have hoped for.

3. More Competition

Education levels have changed, and this has meant a change in your career opportunities and prospects. Back in your parents’ day, fewer people went to university to get a degree. These days, it is almost an expectation at 18 years old, you will go to university. Having a degree no longer distinguishes you the way it did in the past. You have a degree, but it doesn’t mean as much as it used to for employers. You might find you need to study for a Masters or other higher level qualification just to gain entry to your field. Overall, competition is greater. On the plus side, education is much more accessible, to allow you to compete effectively.

The Positives

1. Greater opportunities

You have a lot more opportunities open to you than your parents had. Technological advances have led to the world becoming more accessible. Two changes in particular are relevant. One is the development of the Internet. The other is the advances in air transportation that have taken place.

In the case of the Internet, you are able to work from anywhere. You could work for an employer in a full time position from home. Telecommuting is becoming ever more popular. You may never even meet your colleagues in person. The Internet also provides new types of jobs: Online Marketer, Social Marketing Manager, and more.

Advances in air transportation have made travel to other parts of the world significantly cheaper since your parents started out in their careers. This brings a couple of changes in terms of your career. One is you may end up being sent overseas, or to different parts of the country for work, because it is easier and cheaper for your employer to do so than in the past. The second change is you can work anywhere you can find a job. In your parents’ day it would have been much harder to fly to China, Australia, India or Argentina to find a job. These days, you can find all of the visa information you need online for a country that interests you, find a job online, get on a flight and go. Your career does not have to be limited to your home country in the way it may have been in the past.

2. Different types of jobs available

One of the big changes from your parents’ careers is you have a far greater range of jobs open to choose from. When your parents began working there were, for example, very few jobs available in computers and a lot less in the area of customer service, to name just a couple. Your career can take a path your parents could not even have imagined.

3. Greater variety of ways of working

These days you have the opportunity to freelance much more easily than your parents could have. The growth of the Internet, and to some degree, more social acceptance of freelancing, allows you to find work more easily and do it from home without ever meeting clients. This allows you develop your own career completely in your own way, without having an employer to worry about.

Article Source:  Written by Ted Heckman is the CEO of ResumeBucket.com, a FREE online resume storage service that also has one of the largest collections of resume templates on the internet.

CAREEREALSIM ARTICLE: Your Parents' Career Path vs. Yours - How Things Have Changed

College Highlight! The Julliard School...Dance, Drama, Music

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Naples Philharmonic with several good friends.  We were guests of Myra Daniels, Founder and CEO of the Naples Phil and Mitch Norgart, Director of the Naples Philharmonic League.  What a memorable experience our evening was from sitting in the best seats in the house to the Behind the Curtains Event.  The featured artist of the evening was Avery Fisher Career Grant-winning violinist, TIM FAIN.  He was selected as one of Symphony Magazine's Up-and_Coming Young Musicians, was a Strad magazine "Pick of UP and Coming Musicians," was heard as the "voice" of Richard Gere's violin in Fox Searchlight's feature film Bee Season and, most recently, was seen on screen and heard on the soundtrack of the new hit film Black Swan.  

I could go on and on about this fine young man who is a native of Santa Monica, California and a graduate of Philadelphia's Curtis Institute and The Julliard School.  I got to spend a few moments with this Tim and was so impressed by his warm and charming personality as well as his world class manners. I did not confess that he brought tears to my eyes when he played (he is totally amazing) but rather told him how much he reminded me of my own son (looks just like him).  Tim Fain is the total package and I am sure his upbringing, role models and mentors, and education has so much to do with who he is today.  At 26, he is on top of the world but you wouldn't know it if you met him on the street because he has no ego whatsoever.

Yes, this blog is about The Julliard School, New York, NY but it was Tim Fain who inspired me to highlight this school.  Joseph W. Polisi, President of Julliard says "The transforming role of Juilliard is to help talented students harness their dedication to become communicative artists, imbued with the passion and understanding to reach within themselves to affect and move audiences. It is this process that prepares our students for a life in the arts."  All I have to say is...you got that right with Tim Fain.

If you are an aspiring talented dancer, actor, vocalist, or musician you really should explore this school.

A little bit about the Julliard and NYC and Link:  The Julliard School:

 

 

 

College Edge! How to Be Irreplaceable: 7 Action Steps To Maximize Your Value In The Workplace

If you are doing an internship or starting your first job read this article!

Do you know how to be irreplaceable? Is there such a thing? In truth, no one is indispensable. People come and people go. But that does not mean you cannot strive to be irreplaceable. To strive to be irreplaceable will make you almost indispensable. Almost is the key word. But almost will give you the competitive advantage in terms of salary increment and promotion opportunity.

In order to get ahead at work you need to get more done. Eventually the employee that gets more done will be viewed better than one that does not. The answer to how to be irreplaceable is to get more than the rest.

1. Time Management
Are you good at time management? Being good at using time is a sure way of getting more done in a day. Knowing your priorities and time lines are crucial in being effective and efficient. At the end of the day, you will be measured by your output and deliverables. To be able to manage your time well and use it well is crucial to know how to be irreplaceable.

2. Start Early
If you are not an early riser, perhaps it is time to start. Start your day early, get that one or two extra hours in there and see how it changes your day. There is no rush, no unnecessary stress and you start to clear half the things before others even get in to work on it. You will get more done and have extra time for your initiatives. Being early at work also impresses some bosses.

3. Stay Motivated
No one can motivate you. Motivation is something within. It is what drives you. It is what makes you take sacrifices. It is the thing that delays gratification because you know your priorities. Stay motivated at work, when bosses need not worry about how you feel, you are always energetic and positive you are more irreplaceable than an employee that is also down and feeling blue.

4. Learn To Be Collaborative
Learn to cooperate and get people into agreements and find common ground. It is an action not many people can do. It needs you to let go off your ego and work for the greater good of the company. Also, learn to share information, solutions and any ideas that can help improve work. Build camaraderie amongst co-workers. That way you not only have the support of the boss when promotion comes around but your colleagues too. You get more done besides building better networks when you collaborate. How's that for how to be irreplaceable?

5. Stay Connected
You must first be self-conscious about yourself. Without knowing yourself, you cannot say you know others. You must be contemplative so you know your own thoughts, words and actions. Then you can begin to relate to another colleague better knowing this relationship affects the company and its objectives. When you are sincere with yourself then only can you be sincere to others.

6. Passionate
Bring energy and enthusiasm into your work and engage people in it. Be relentless in your pursuit in achieving the greater goal of the company because you know when you do this you can be irreplaceable. When you do this, you become a promotable choice. Speak often about what can be done and seek ways to do it. Be positive in your undertaking and learn to despise being a naysayer. With energy and enthusiasm, you get more done.

7. Aim High
Have good high goals so your bosses know you have ambition. People like winners. They are more likely to help you achieve your goals than to bring you down. If they do, they are likely to be toxic people so work around them or get away from them. Aim high so you know you will stay challenged. Someone who is constantly overcoming challenges becomes good at what he does.

So, how to be irreplaceable? Get more done by doing these 7 action steps today.

By Long Yun Siang. Long as he is popularly known - went through a period of disillusionment many moons ago. 'A slap and a kick' from a good-hearted cousin then woke him. He found himself graduating and having a great career. In his free time he runs http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Download these free eBooks - 52 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Work Life A Week At A Time, Career Success Recipe for Newbies and SHINE At Work: Your 30-Minute Guide at the website now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Long_Yun_Siang

 

College Edge: The 10 Best Jobs in the World You Never Knew Were Real

I found this great blog this morning that has to make you sit up and think of all the wonderful, fun jobs there are out there.  Is there something you have been thinking about that you thought might be crazy...maybe it is not!

Nearly everyone in the world needs to work - it’s the only way most people can get their hands on money. Some people go to school until they have a pile of degrees stacked to the moon - metaphorically speaking - hoping that will land them their dream job. Some are blessed with physical gifts that make them millions as professional athletes, or the talent to act, or something very unique few are suited to in order to garner their riches. Most people however settle into what is available and covers the bills. Sometimes they even learn to like it, or at least tolerate it.

 

Then there are some people that land dream jobs most people would kill for that don’t fit into the above categories. They do not require a wealth of education, or require anything illegal, or even require doing much of anything. Best of all is they pay pretty damn good usually. The odds are you will never land these dream jobs, but you can always keep your eyes open and try - and remember - these are actual honest to goodness real jobs people are paid to do. 

Read on for the: 10 Best Jobs in the World You Never Knew Were Real by Lynette Alice, JobiJobs

 

 

College Edge: Getting Ready for Fall Recruiting? Researching Potential Employers

I have been working with a number of upcoming college graduates getting ready for Fall recruiting at their schools.  They are in the midst of reviewing the list of employers attending their school recruiting day and deciding who they want to target.  Targeting companies that align with their career goals is important particularly if hundreds of employers will be attending a recruiting day.  Their target company lists may be as high as 50 or low as 10 or 20.  I like students to think outside the box first and then narrow the scope.

The next step for these students is to Google their targeted companies. They will develop a spreadsheet of companies, including website, locations, emails, short company information, possible positions, contact names, what attracts them to the company, etc...  Also, is there anyone you know or you can network with to find out more about the company. This information comes in very handy for writing their cover letters.

It is important to do much more research for a specific company when the student has the opportunity to go through a formal interview process (before that first phone interview).  This is where they will do in-depth research using Google, LinkedIn, YouTube, Vault or other sources to find out more about the company from operations, growth opportunities, compensation and benefits, training, culture, press releases/media news, etc...

Lastly, touch base with your college career center and ask them for ideas and suggestions.  They may suggest a company you haven't considered or provide you with knowledge about a particular company you are interested in.

I found this great article that expands on this very topic:

How a New Grad Can Research an Employer by Terrance Williams of New Grad Life

College Edge Career Highlight: Chefs and Culinary Arts

I have to admit, I don't cook a lot but I do enjoy it.  I believe I would be an excellent cook if I took the time to do it.  I love to follow @denverfoodguy on Twitter for great recipes. My interest in cooking started a fire for this highlight.

Recently, I made a connection with Aidan Byrne, Manager at the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort in Naples, Florida on www.CareerSuccessCommunity website. From an early age in Ireland, Aidan was very interested in cooking. He saw recipe books at home and decided it was a good idea to start trying to create dishes from scratch. He was encouraged early on to pursue his career as a Chef. Eventurally, he attended a hotel training school to study culinary arts for 2 years and then spent 3 years in the industry, becoming a Chef.  

Aidan mentioned, in Europe, it usually takes 10 years to become a Sous Chef and then another 10 years to move up the ranks to Exective Chef. Aidan said it takes a life-time to be a competent Executive Chef. He mentioned CIA, Culinary Institute of America, was an excellent school for training as well as chefs who train with the best chefs and restaurants. A career as a Chef requires discipline, creativity and endurance rolled into one to be successful.

In the US, in order to advance as a Chef or have a professional edge you may need either a 2 year Associate Degree or a 4 year Bachelor Degree in food science or culinary arts. A college degree will teach you about basic food safety and handling procedures, cooking, and general business such as finance, marketing and computer classes which can be helpful for those who might someday want to be a chef or to open their own restaurant.

After doing research, there does not seem to be hard and fast rules but obviously, natural talent, valuable training and experiences working in restaurants, education and ability to be disciplined, creative and have great endurance is necessary.  It is not an easy job and requires more than just cooking! According to Chef Career Help, a professional (in general) has the following characteristics and this is true for Chefs: 

• It requires mastery of a specialized body of knowledge and an extensive period of training. 
• It provides a service to society. 
• It maintains high standards of conduct and competency for its members. 
• It offers its members opportunities to become certified or licensed and to be active in professional organizations. 
• It asks members to be committed to lifelong learning or continue study.

Through 2012, job openings for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers are projected to be abundant; however, there should be intense competition for jobs in the top kitchens of up-scale restaurants. Most new positions are due to job growth and especially the constant turnover in this occupation. 

Incomes of Chefs differ in various areas of the US and the world and types of food services establishments that they work in. The highest wages typically come from up-scale and fancy restaurants and hotels in big urban cities where Executive Chefs work.

Excellent In-depth Information and Compensation Information=====> 

Chef and Cooking Careers and Chef Career Help

Cooking Schools Listings====> Cooking and Culinary Schools

5 Well Known Companies Started by College Students

Guest Author Louise Baker talks about companies started by college students:

You don’t have to be a CEO with years of experience to have a fantastic idea that can be transformed into a multi-million dollar business. In fact, many of the most successful companies today were founded by visionaries that were still in college. Here is a list of the top companies started by college students.

1. Microsoft

What many people may not know is that the world’s most successful operating system was first birthed as an idea Bill Gates had while he was still at Harvard. He, in fact, developed his first interpreter of a computer programming language, Altair BASIC, while he was still an undergrad. The project proved so successful that he dropped out of school to found Microsoft with his high school friend and collaborator, Paul Allen.

2. Dell

Similarly, another huge force in the world of home computers began as a project started during its founder’s college days. Michael Dell founded the company, PC’s Limited, while he was still a student attending the University of Texas. Michael Dell soon found that his start-up computer business would be far more profitable than continuing his path as a medical student. Just like Bill Gates, he dropped out of school. The rest is history.

3. FedEx

A Yale student named Fred Smith once wrote a term paper about how to improve overnight delivery of packages using computer technology. According to his story, he received a C on his paper. That professor might feel like a bit of a buffoon now. Fred went on to use the ideas outlined in his term paper as the blueprint for FedEx. As we all know, FedEx is a giant in the package delivery industry that only receives decent competition comes from UPS and the federal government.

4. Facebook

Facebook is one of the most significant and largest social networks ever created. The website began as a collaboration between three Harvard undergrads, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Mark Zuckerberg. While there has been some controversy over whose idea it originally was, it is a fact that Facebook has taken the internet by storm.

5. Google

The world’s predominant search engine was started by two grad students at Stanford named Sergey Brin and Larry Page. As part of their doctorate’s degree programs, they collaborated together on a project that was first known as BackRub. It was a search engine that was ran off of the servers at Stanford. After a year, they decided to change the name of the search engine to Google. The very same Google that performs searches for millions across the globe implements the same basic concepts and programming that originated in this early version.

Louise Baker blogs about getting an online degree at Zen College Life. Her most recent post looked at the best online schools.