Certificate Programs At Community Colleges Offer Employment Opportunities

Tom Snyder, President of Ivy Tech

If you are a recent college graduate and haven’t found a job, perhaps it’s time to think about going back to school and getting trained in a field that is actually hiring.

The best way to do so may be with a specialized certificate programs now offered by all community colleges. Continue Reading

75% of Employers Want to See Leadership, Problem-Solving Skills on College Grad Resumes

When a new college graduate puts together a one-page resume (as experts recommend), every word must count.

An employer spends just seconds scanning each resume to decide if it’s going into the “interview” or the “toss” pile.

In addition to a solid knowledge of the new grad’s field (noted by earning a good GPA and participation in internships), employers are looking for grads who have a number of “soft” skills, according to a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Employers taking part in NACE’s Job Outlook 2013 survey say they look for a range of soft skills, including leadership abilities, initiative, the ability to communicate, and more.  Continue Reading

Top 4 Industries for Those With Associate’s Degrees

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

According to a recent survey of nearly 5,000 associate degree students, the overall top industries for this student group to begin their careers were government, human services, social services, and then education.

“The interest in government as a career option is particularly noteworthy,” writes NACE’s director of strategic and Foundation research Ed Koc. “However, when one considers the large percentage of associate degree students who are majoring in healthcare and social work [a combined 36 percent] and those who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in education, the result is less surprising.” Continue Reading

10 Tips for Talking Politics at Work

Aaron Gouveia, Salary.com contributing writer

In a perfect world, this article wouldn’t have to be written. When it comes to politics, reasonable people would agree to disagree, cast their ballots in private without fanfare, and then go back to office small talk. But during this election season in the most politically divisive time in recent memory, that’s just not in the cards. So the question isn’t whether or not people should talk politics at work, but how to survive talk of the election during office hours. Continue Reading

Best iOS Apps for Mobile Learning

College students and recent graduates who possess iPhones may be interested in the following infographic.  It features the best iOS apps for learning while on the go, according to one source. Continue Reading

What Job Seekers Will Do to Impress Employers

When you need or want a job, you might be willing to do anything it takes to get one.  Some job seekers will go all out to impress employers, while others just stick to the basics.

Sometimes it’s the little things that get job seekers noticed by employers, a new OfficeTeam survey suggests. Human resources (HR) managers were asked to recount the most impressive action they have seen or heard an individual take to try to land a position. Here are some of their responses: Continue Reading

7 Mistakes Every Freshman Makes

Freshman year is one of the best times in college. Everything is so new and exciting, and, best of all, you don’t have Mom or Dad breathing down your neck, telling you to clean your room or get home before curfew. But with this new freedom comes lots of bad decisions and regrettable mistakes. Part of it is learning the ropes of college and the other part is mostly bad judgment. The good news is these things happen to just about every first-year college student. Here are seven mistakes every freshman makes: Continue Reading

With Unemployment High for Returning Vets, Nine Tips for Acing the Job Interview

Jim Camp, Vietnam vet, and President and CEO of The Camp Negotiation Institute

There’s bad news and good news for post 9/11 returning veterans, known as the Gulf War Era II vets. The government’s October 2012 employment figures show that the unemployment rate for Gulf War Era II vets is 9.7%; but for the youngest vets, age 20-24, it’s a whopping 14.5% (compared to 12.1% for nonveterans), and for vets age 25-29, it’s 11.5% (compared to 8.7% for nonveterans).

5 Best Practices for Job Seekers Looking for Next Career Opportunity

A recent survey asked top third party recruiters (also known as headhunters) to weigh-in on best practices to help job seekers find their next career opportunity. The data suggests that when submitting job applications, developing an online profile and networking with recruiters, there are some very clear do’s and don’ts.

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Payoff for Master’s Degree Evident in Starting Salaries

If you are looking to increase your earning potential beyond your bachelor’s degree, then consider getting a master’s degree.

Master’s degree graduates in many fields realize significantly higher starting salaries than their counterparts who hold bachelor’s degrees, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s September 2012 Salary Survey indicates that there can be a significant “payoff” for the higher-level degree. Continue Reading