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Is a College Degree Needed to Get an Entry Level Paralegal Job?
October 11, 2006 by yemisi aUp until recently, I did not know much about what paralegals do, except that they typically hold less responsibility than a full-fledged lawyer. However, when talking with a friend a few weeks ago, I discovered two things about her: A) that she was a paralegal, and B) that she did not have any college degree whatsoever before being hired as a paralegal. To me this seemed highly unlikely, given all those paralegal training programs out there. After all, why bother taking such a course if you don’t need to?
As it turns out, my friend had one of those rare cases where she was hired on the spot because the employers already knew that she was a good, competent worker. After graduating from high school, she took a job as a receptionist at a law firm. When the former paralegal unexpectedly quit, they hired my friend because she happened to be in the right place at the right time. Several years later, she is still a paralegal at that firm, gaining valuable job experience every day.
For the rest of us, the road to becoming a paralegal is not so quick or easy. While not all paralegal jobs require you to have an associate’s, bachelor’s, or training certificate, almost all of them require you to have had relevant job experience. This job experience can come in many forms, depending on what aspect of law you want to specialize in.
If you’re fresh out of high school or college with no prior paralegal (or equally relevant job) experience, your best bet is to go for an associate’s, bachelor’s, or training certificate. When looking for an educational program, try to find one that offers job placement. Also, attending an accredited school is not necessary, but it certainly looks good on your resume. Lastly, be steadfast in your job search. Paralegal jobs may be steadily increasing, but so is the competition for these positions.
Some info taken from: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm (visited October 11, 2006). -
Entry Level Graphic Design Jobs
October 07, 2006 by yemisi aAs our society continues its trend toward computer and internet-based forms of entertainment, the demand for graphic designers with viable skills will increase. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, by 2014 graphic design will be the design-related profession with the most available jobs.
Fortunately, it does not take an excessive amount of schooling to find oneself qualified for a graphic design job. Most jobs require you to have a bachelor’s degree in graphics design (or an associate’s degree for more technical positions.) However, having a bachelor’s degree is not always enough to land that first job at a design firm or advertising agency. With entry level graphic design jobs being increasingly outsourced, it helps to have some relevant experience which you will make you stand out from other job applicants. Because design is such a versatile field, there are a large number of ways in which you can get experience.
One way is to program your own website. Doing so will give you practice in determining what designs work and don’t work, and will also emphasize your interest in the career when you show the website to potential employers. Another good thing is to volunteer for the design department at a local newspaper. If you’re in college, it’s generally pretty easy to volunteer to help with page layout at the college newspaper. This is incredibly valuable in that it will familiarize you with common design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Quark, and Adobe InDesign. Also, there are many community colleges that offer certificates in Web Design and other design-related fields. Although these certificate programs don’t guarantee you a job, they help you practice your design skills, while building a portfolio in the process.
Some info taken from: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Graphic Designers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos090.htm (visited October 07, 2006). -
The Quest for the Right Internship: Entry Level Computer Jobs
October 02, 2006 by yemisi aUnfortunately, in this day and age, stellar grades alone are not enough to get you the job of your dreams. Whereas a few decades ago, simply having a college degree was enough to open doors, the modern entry level jobseeker has a few more hurdles to clear before landing that first, satisfying job. The key, of course, is to have the right type of job experience. The way to get said job experience is through internships.
Internships can be valuable for any type of career. Even people in IT and computers can benefit. For instance, in the past you were pretty much guaranteed a job by majoring in computers. However, nowadays with outsourcing and the increasing number of people who have these degrees, college graduates in this field need to go above and beyond to distinguish themselves from everyone else.
Case in point: a friend of mine recently graduated from a state school with a computer science degree. Despite his level of intelligence and work ethic, he was unable to find a job. Not to be discouraged, he ended up joining the Navy. He is now working as a computer specialist, adding valuable experience to his resume, which will undoubtedly help him get a job when he gets out of the Navy. This is not an internship per se, but it is equally valuable in that it will add several years relevant work experience to his resume.
If you don’t think the miltary is for you, there are other ways to get computer science experience. If you belong to a local church or social organization, you can offer to program their website, or set up and maintain a database for them. At the very least, you can network with people who may provide you with valuable job leads. There’s also a thing called Open Source, in which computer programmers release versions of computer code online, and allow other computer programmers to help them correct and improve upon it. Or, you could just take the initiative and come up with your own innovative website/computer program. After all, if Harvard graduate Mark Zuckerberg can come up with a revolutionary website like Facebook, then so can you!
Lastly, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned Google web search to point you in the direction of potential job opportunities. -
The Ultimate Work Study Job
September 19, 2006 by yemisi aWhen it comes to working part time while in school, there are definitely two camps of thought as regarding which type of work study job is the best. Some people prefer a simple, low stress job where you can either a) give your mind a rest from studying, or b) finish up extra homework during the downtime. Jobs like this include working at a front desk, working for a call center, or filing, for instance. These types of jobs provide a welcome respite from the stress of studying/other life concerns.
On the other hand, some people prefer the resume-enhancer type of job. Such jobs might include interning at a law office, working for the school newspaper, or doing any type of job that somehow relates to your future career. The upside of this is that it will provide you with valuable career experience before you graduate from college. The downside is that you probably won’t have time to relax/catch up on homework at such jobs, because you’ll be too busy trying to impress your boss. Furthermore, alot of internships tend not to pay money, so you may end up having to take up an additional job to make ends meet. Fortunately though, alot of schools allow you to include an internship as part of your course load. In that case you can treat your internship as a class, and still have enough time for an actual money-making job.
In the end, it comes down to what kind of job you think you can handle, while also allowing adequate time for studying, extracurricular activities, and socializing. It is certainly possibly to do an internship over the summer, and then work during the school year, or vice versa. The flexibility of the college schedule allows for nearly limitless possibilities. -
Interview Roulette
September 11, 2006 by yemisi aEven if you think that everything has gone well, it is best not to leave an interview assuming that you already have the job. Case in point: I interviewed for two positions last week. At one of the interviews, I got along really well with one of the interviewers. (She, along with her immediate supervisor, were interviewing me.) At one point in the interview, the supervisor got an important phone call, and it was just me and the other woman staring at eachother. It could have been a really awkward moment, but instead we ended up just chatting for 20 min.
Even though I left interview feeling highly qualified and comfortable with the interviewers, I ended up not getting the job. Who knows, maybe there were several other highly qualified people that they’d interviewed right before me. Whatever the reason, it happens sometimes in life that even if you do and say all the right things, you just don’t get the job. -
New City, New School, New Job
September 07, 2006 by yemisi aThe last week has been a whirlwind of activity as I find myself gradually adjusting to a new city. Fortunately I already know one person in the city (a friend who I am currently staying with), so it hasn’t been too bad. Classes seem challenging, but at the same time interesting. On the job front, I interviewed for two positions last Tuesday. I got along equally well with both interviewers, and both places informed me that they’d get back to me by this Friday.
It would be nice if I got both jobs (both part time positions), as I could certainly use the extra income. However, I also wonder if working that much will distract me from my class work. On the other hand, though, there are some people who work full time while taking classes. (As a matter of fact, one of my interviewers said that she worked full time while taking classes for eight years!)
In response to a comment on a previous blog entry: I did not hear back from the health food products company I interviewed with, and so I assumed that they had chosen another candidate. However, a week or two after I decided to go back to school, my temp agency called and informed me that the company had chosen the other candidate. However, that candidate had declined the position, so they were now wondering if I still wanted the position. Too bad they didn’t call two weeks sooner. -
Working Abroad, pt.3
August 07, 2006 by yemisi aIf you’re still taking classes in college, then there are a few more options for working abroad for short periods of time. One of the more popular options is BUNAC. Basically you fill out a form and send in a fee, and BUNAC takes care of all the ins and outs of getting a student work visa from another country. BUNAC is not directly responsible for getting you a job or housing once you reach a foreign country, but it does have offices available in each host country that can help steer you in the right direction. The countries available to American students are Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Peru, and Cambodia.
Most of the programs offered by BUNAC allow you to work for 6 months in the desired foreign country (although the New Zealand program allows you to work for up to a year.) Also, some of the work programs are stricter than others about their requirements. For instance, to take part in the “Work in Britain” program, you must have taken classes last semester; or if you’ve recently graduated, you must apply for a work visa no later than six months after graduation. However, the “Work in Australia” program has no such requirements. Because of the subtle differences in each specific program, it’s a good idea to research each one carefully, well in advance of the date you’d like to start working. One nice thing about the BUNAC program is it allows you to work abroad while studying abroad at the same time, if you wish. Or it can be a nice “working holiday” of sorts before you enter the real world.
Here are links for some other student work abroad programs:
IAESTE: International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
JET: Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program
Teach in France
Also, a simple web search for the terms “work abroad” will yield plenty of results. -
Working Abroad, Pt.2
August 04, 2006 by yemisi aI forgot to mention in my previous entry that work in the Peace Corps is as a volunteer. This means that you do not get paid an actual salary while you are over in a foreign country. However, the U.S. government pays for your basic needs while you are over there, and you also get a $6,000 stipend upon completing two years of service.
Another option for those interested in working abroad is the Foreign Service. Upon successfully passing the Foreign Service Exam (which, by the way is no piece of cake), you are given a four year assignment in a foreign country. While the Peace Corps focuses largely on grassroots efforts to improve an indigenous community, the foreign service is more about the diplomatic aspect of things. Based on your level of experience, your first job could involve working at a consulate in a foreign locale, approving visas for people who want to enter the U.S. People with more relevant experience could find themselves in a job dealing more with the agricultural issues of a particular country. More information about career options is available at this website: http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/index.html.
People who are considering the foreign service should definitely put alot of effort into studying for the entrance exam. For instance, a very smart friend of mine who has taken several courses on politics and international relations, took the exam after doing a minimum amount of preparation, and ended up not passing. The exam is only offered once a year, so make sure you check their website periodically for more information about test dates. Also, make sure you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind being away from your family and friends for large amounts of time. -
Working Abroad
August 02, 2006 by yemisi aEver fantasized about packing your bags and moving to another country to work and live? Obviously such an undertaking isn’t as simple as it sounds, but it is possible. In my next few blog entries I am going to explore different career possibilities for people who have an interest in working overseas.
Career Possibility #1: The Peace Corps
If you’re the type of person who wants to make a difference in a foreign community while experiencing a foreign culture firsthand, then this is a good job opportunity to consider. A typical Peace Corps officer spends two years in a foreign country, living and working in an impoverished community to help bring about meaningful social change. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of activities that a peace corps worker can be involved in. Such opportunities could include any of the following: teaching English, teaching villagers about good healthcare practices, or helping set up a computer network in a village. You don’t necessarily need a college degree to join the Peace Corps; other relevant work experience is considered as well. Also, prior language experience is not necessary, as they will teach you the language before you are sent to your Peace Corps assignment. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.peacecorps.gov. -
Unemployment
July 31, 2006 by yemisi aOne of the most daunting situations a job seeker can encounter is unemployment. On one hand, a brief period of joblessness can be a welcome break from the 9 to 5 grind. On the other hand, there is the stark reality of unpaid bills, falling behind in rent payments, and trying to retain your sense of self worth in a society that measures your value by what you do for a living.
When dealing with the prospect of unemployment, the two things you need are a good attitude and perseverance. I myself am currently going through a period of temporary unemployment, as I wait for a new temp job to come through. On a daily basis I try to maintain a positive outlook, reminding myself that I’m still far better off than the majority of people living in third world countries. I also remind myself of fun things I can do to fill up my idle time: read, write, take up old hobbies, etc.
As far as perseverance is concerned, I keep applying to jobs and calling my temp agency on a regular basis. I constantly remind myself that somewhere out there, there is a job waiting for me.
