Although there are still some college students out there who believe that a bachelor's degree alone is enough, there are many more who know better.

Yes, it is true that a college graduate hired for an entry level job will earn more than a high school graduate; however, the fact of the matter is that a college graduate who has one or two internships under his belt will earn an even higher salary in the same entry level job.

This is more than enough reason to get out there and do those internships. Whether they are paid or unpaid, the practical experience is invaluable. For writers, the opportunity to increase your portfolio should never be passed by. That entry level job can be quickly parlayed into something more substantial in a lot less time if you bring loads of experience to bargaining table.

I have only had two internships, both unofficial, but I have an extensive, diverse portfolio. So, when you finally graduate and go out interviewing for the entry level job that will pay more because you have more than just good grades to show for my four years in college, you will know that you have earned it.

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 31, 2006 at 3:52 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I find that in my job searching persistency is the key to success. In the past I had been timid about calling my potential employer. This proved to be a mistake. The jobs I have gotten have all been the result of me picking up the phone and expressing my interest.
If I hadn't heard back from a place that I submitted my resume to I decided I had to call.
When you call they can't forget you... it puts your name back in their mind and that's important in the decision making process. What's more important is it shows your drive and desire for the position. That is a good indicator that you will do a good job as an employee.
In my experience picking up that phone is almost as important as the interview itself. Almost.

Visit Recruit.net to find Australia jobs.

Posted by Amber W on August 31, 2006 at 10:30 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

A nice resource is provided on the Simmons College Libraries website and has links with information about careers in international relations. Most of the jobs listed are governmental in nature but the links highlight career paths and opportunities for those interested in international relations. There are many internship opportunities as well as fellowships and graduate opportunities that can place you overseas where you can live and work, or even go to school. There are also non-governmental ways to get-your-foot-in-the door at the entry-level in international relations. The three links on that page will keep you busy for some time and give you valuable information as you embark on your next international opportunity.

UC Berkeley also provides a job listing page on the career center website and is pretty extensive and talks about international relation jobs opportunities in a variety of countries. For a site that lists international jobs in general visit iagora.com. Browse a bit around that site and see what entry-level international relations type of jobs you can find. In my opinion the best bet is finding one of those international fellowships or scholarships and taking advantage of either being paid to work there or go to school while abroad. There is not much in life better than that.

Simmons College:
http://www.simmons.edu/resources/libraries/crl/ir.html
UC Berkeley:
http://career.berkeley.edu/Infolab/JobSitesIntnl.stm
IWork:
http://www.iagora.com/iwork/jobs/latestAds.html

Posted by Samantha T on August 30, 2006 at 1:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There is this nice flashy entertainment job website (4entertainmentjobs.com) that looks like THE place to start. It even has mini US maps that shows where the jobs for the week are located (of course mostly West-Coast concentrated, although there are many jobs listed on the East Coat). The annoying news is that to reap the benefits of this site you have to pay a fee of about $30 a month (although there is a trial option $10 for the week). It sucks to search for a job and have to pay for it, but I decided to mention it and let you decide.

Next there is entertainmentcareers.net, which I think is the next best thing to a free and useful job-searching site. If you want to concentrate on entertainment jobs in the New York area, simply look at those jobs as all are separated by region. Today when I visited the site there were about 275 entry-level entertainment jobs listed, those seem to be decent odds.

The next site has a nice catchy title, bigapplehead.com, and also separates entry-level entertainment jobs by regions (New York, DC and Boston to be exact). This site lists internships, fulltime and entry-level jobs in these regions and has all jobs separated by category. Look for the entertainment category and see what turns up. I also suggest looking at the writing/editing/publishing, as well as the TV/radio links as these can all connect to the entertainment industry.

Two other honorable mentions are topusajobs.com and filcro.com. These sites you have to do a bit more filtering to find first the jobs you want and then the region you want.

The Flashy Site:
http://www.4entertainmentjobs.com/amform.cfm
Entertainment Careers:
http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/jcat.asp?jcat=127&offset=25
Catchy Title Site:
http://www.bigapplehead.com/
Honorable Mentions:
http://new.york.new.york.jobs.topusajobs.com/?f=link&t=www.google.com&sid=j4B274-8018-a727-41Q67357-1085-058&
http://www.filcro.com/

Posted by Samantha T on August 30, 2006 at 12:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

After thoroughly thinking things over, I have decided to go back to school. I've spent the past year in less-than-inspiring temp jobs, and I think it's time for a change. While for some people, temp jobs are a perfectly valid and successful way to make a living, I feel like there's another type of job out there for me that would better suit my personality. By taking a wide range of classes in the fall, I am hoping to hone in on a career that would be both enjoyable and lucrative.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 30, 2006 at 12:08 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

I was talking to my mother last night in an attempt to plan the easiest way to haul my stuff to my new apartment this Saturday. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned to her my genuine disappointment at not being awarded the graduate assistantship at my school. Being the wonderful mother that she is, my mom consoled me and pointed out that I did not necessarily do anything to hurt my chances at the assistantship but rather that the decision was simply not made in my favor.
I have a profound respect for my mother. I admire her not only because she is a superb caregiver, but also because she has been an outstanding mentor. When I look at all she has accomplished including achieving her PhD. I am beyond impressed because I know how much determination it took to elevate her to that achievement. My mother has always gone after what she desired even if there were obstacles in her path. She is a wonderful professor and administrator who studied what interests her while pursuing that passion as a career. Her willingness to devote her energy to a job she truly loves is my motivation to pursue a career in the magazine industry, which I truly love.
I let my mother know that the real despair at not receiving the assistantship was due to the fact that it was another form of rejection. Her response was very basic, but at the same time extremely striking. "You have to learn to accept rejection." How true that statement is! My mindset has always been that once you have been rejected professionally it somehow leaves the impression of loser stamped across your forehead. I spent the better part of a year unemployed, struggling to even buy groceries and I maintain a deep fear that I will inevitably end up in that same spot. Every single time I don't get a job, internship or in this case, assistantship I feel one step closer to falling back into the realm of unemployment. I am already growing paranoid that I will not be able to find a job upon graduating with my Master's degree. My mother's comment about acknowledging rejection as opposed to hiding from it, spoke volumes to my confidence. As a writer, I am somehow used to my words being overlooked or ignored by publishers. When it comes to jobs or internships however, it is like I am being rejected, not simply my words.
I realize I need to rework the manner in which I approach potential job interviews. The confidence I feel regarding other aspects of my life, I need to instill regarding my job search. I am a firm believer that a positive outlook and approach can yield positive results. My admiration for my mother reinforces this view and hopefully, I can use her faith and belief in me to foster my own surge of confidence.

Posted by Morgan S on August 30, 2006 at 11:36 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

There is a central database for every job imaginable! I don’t think the job search could be easier, it sure keeps the stress level at minimal (or near minimal) levels.

The Engineering Central is one of those databases I was telling you all about a couple of sentences before. Go there, you chemical engineering folk, and browse those entry-level jobs. What is great about this job central database (dear I say all?) is that it has many of the tools we know and love: salary wizard, resume tips, other extra resources… great stuff. Heck, this may be the one and only stop you have to make in your search for chemical engineering jobs.

If not, don’t worry, engineer.net is another place to visit for chemical engineering jobs and looks just as useful as the one above. In fact, many more jobs are listed here and even the date the job was posted (although I’m never sure what the use of that is) but still, maybe it’s handy. Lastly, visit about.com, jobs.com and salary.com (all sites I find continually useful). You’ll be engineering chemically in no time.

Engineering Central:
http://www.engcen.com/entry.htm
Resources:
http://www.engineer.net/
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/engineeringjobs/
http://chemical.engineer.jobs.com/
http://collegerecruiter.salary.com/careers/layouthtmls/crel_searchjob_EN04100003.html

Posted by Samantha T on August 30, 2006 at 11:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

No worries. For certain all you computer science majors are headed for a lot of mula in your chosen field. Just look at the article by CNNMoney about “working your degree” and you’ll see the truth for yourself. The sweet, sweet, green, truth, about 80,000 worth (and climbing) makes me wish I were more computer savvy. Take a look at this article because it goes over prospects, and the top employers in the entry-level computer science field. The rewards are plentiful it seems. Next see what the Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say about the computer science job market. It provides an even more detailed description on the specifications of anyone interested in computer science related fields. It’s a part of the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the site and givens you even more assurance that a job in computer science is definitely promising.

Finally, start searching for those lucrative (I know I’m obsessed) jobs. Try techcentric.net, about.com, and even a site called Dice to start you on the entry-level computer science job track (FYI: the Bureau has job search links as well). In the words of CNN, it is a fast growing and changing field and so the job opportunities should not only be abundant but diverse. Start making money!!!! Oh, yea…and doing what you love too.

Bureau of Labor Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm#earnings
CNNMoney:
http://money.cnn.com/2000/07/21/career/q_degreecompsci/
Job Resources:
http://www.tech-centric.net/search/anonymous/tech-jobs.aspx/entry-level-computer-jobs
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/entryleveljobs/
http://seeker.dice.com/jobsearch/servlet/JobSearch?op=1013&FREE_TEXT=computer%20science&ppc=google

Posted by Samantha T on August 30, 2006 at 9:20 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

The only little problem is that the editor (in Ontario, Canada) of the first link decided to change some things and she made some typo mistakes. uuuggghh.

Check out these links:
http://aries.oise.utoronto.ca/highered/viewarticle.php?id=107&layout=html

http://www.academicleadership.org/volume4/issue3/student_research/portugal_lisa_marie/index.html

http://www.academicleadership.org/volume4/issue3/student_research/portugal_lisa_marie2/index.html

The Punk Rock PhD
Lisa Marie Portugal

Posted by Lisa P on August 29, 2006 at 5:04 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Well, I made my first major step to securing job number two today.
A company that I had contacted a long time ago finally e-mailed me back in recent days telling me to go on to their website to secure a conference call slot in the upcoming days.

Well, today was the day. The call went smoothly and the majority of it was spent watching a slideshow on the computer, taking notes, and preparing to submit an area that we can work in.
I have to admit, I'm horrible on phones. However, this wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be. Something about being on the line with other people from around the country really put me at ease. Overall, the whole thing was done in about a half an hour, and now I just have to wait approximately 3 buisness days to hear the final verdict.

The upside is that this job is (currently) a bit of a part time thing. I can easily do this while still working at my other job. It's not that I don't want to work there anymore... it's just that six hours a week aren't really enough for me to find an apartment on.

I got my first paycheck in a while a few days ago. It was for fourteen bucks. Aaah, starting at the bottom. It's an experience, if nothing else.

Posted by Bryan P on August 29, 2006 at 2:35 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

There are sooooo many sales jobs on the internet right now and there are many who feel that they are the highest paying entry-level jobs out there. I suppose they have the potential to pay well, if you're in to that kind of thing. But there is also an even greater chance that those sales jobs will not pay well at all. Most entry-level sales jobs start with a base salary of less than $20,000. The potential to earn more with commission is definitely there; but for a higher base salary, without the fear of not making commission, there are so many positions that are in high demand right now.

Throughout my search I've found that, right now, IT is where it's at. Along with entry-level sales career sites are overflowing with entry-level IT jobs and their base salary is quite a bit higher than that of sales. In some areas, new Information Technology grads are getting almost $60,000 a year, starting. Of course, this isn't everywhere, but it's possible, and there's no fear of not seeing that money.

Posted by Sara S on August 29, 2006 at 12:09 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I'm back after a long period of changes and excitement. The wedding was gorgeous and my husband and I had a wonderful honeymoon. When we returned to my hometown in Ohio, the worry began because we weren't sure how we were going to pull off moving 900 miles south to completely different surroundings. We stayed with some family for two weeks but in a week and a half we had secured a wonderful apartment in which to live and I got a job as a teacher at a local high school. I had to cancel my reassignment to the bookstore in Tampa because it was too far a drive for me to justify spending the gas. But I also knew I had come to Florida with a career in education in mind.

Needless to say, I was thrilled at how success I was after just arriving in Florida. The websites had told me how desperate Florida was for teachers, but I had no idea that when I walked into my first interview for a teaching position, I would be hired on the spot! I am someone who has no experience in front of the classroom. I only have tutoring experience and that was where I had made my mistake. Here I was, proud of pulling in my first salary with all these responsibilities on my shoulder, but I didn't stop to assess whether I would be cut out for the type of job I had accepted.

My first day was enough to let me know I needed more training. First of all, managing a classroom of teenagers is difficult, even when the kids are in the advanced classes. Second, I was coming into the school year ten days late and third, I had five classes of remedial reading students who had only me as their last chance at passing the FCAT and getting their diploma. Therefore, they were understandably frustrated with the school system and with themselves and since they are young, they lash out their frustrations at each other and their educator. I was terribly nervous and hurt at their behavior because I had gone into the classroom believing they would be willing to listen and better themselves so that they could get their high school diploma. My severe misjudgement left me unprepared to deal with the students because of my lack of training in classroom management and also my lack of practical teaching skills. Although I felt angered and wounded at the students' comments about me and my personal life, they did so because they sensed my lack of experience and therefore did not want to take me seriously.

Sadly, I informed the principal that I was not experienced enough to instruct these kids in the manner they deserved. I was very depressed at leaving a good salary and the prestige of being a professional teacher behind. Yet, it was a good learning experience for me. I realized that I need to take on instructional assistant jobs and attend classroom management after school courses first before I can be fully prepared to take on a classroom full of young people who need a lot of discipline and direction. Another reason why this was a tough learning experience was because I took on the job because I felt we needed income as soon as possible instead of focusing on the experience and know-how the job demanded of me. Thankfully, my husband has secured a manager position at a local store that will bring in enough income for us until I can find my niche in the educational world. I am interviewing for instructional aide jobs and signing up for classroom management classes offered by the school district and although I won't receive as much money as a teacher, the experience and peace of mind will be well worth it.

Posted by Kimberly A on August 29, 2006 at 10:42 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I had not been familiar with the concept of online volunteering until an article I read yesterday in the newspaper. This idea is growing as more Internet access becomes available around the world; it is especially popular among African and Latin American organizations needing assistance. One volunteer group in San Francisco, California helps volunteers learn about online and onsite projects. They can build websites, translate documents, prepare training manuals, or mentor teen-agers from a computer hundreds or thousands of miles away. Last year, 14% of the group's volunteer opportunities were virtual, as opposed to just 1% in 1998.

The idea may not be practical for everything, however. For example, you have to be physically present to serve food to the homeless or coach a baseball team (two examples from the article). You can, though, order the food or reserve the baseball field from your computer. Online volunteering may not be for everyone because it takes real time, not virtual time; it is also a commitment. It is a good option for flexibility as a disability, a work schedule, or a budget might eliminate time to travel.

One volunteer I read about is helping West African farmers in the country of Cameroon; she gets feedback every other day from the country. Another volunteer recently spent time translating documents for a refugee group's newsletter. Volunteers and the organizations they help generally communicate by e-mail or instant messaging, not often by phone. A research assistant for an international poverty center in Brazil was initially unsure of online volunteering but has seen positive results. He hired volunteers from an organization to translate the English, Spanish, and French languages, and who were educated in specific subjects. He also saves money by not needing office space and other support.

I guess it goes to show that in the 21st century, no matter where you are in the world, you can truly make a difference in people's lives, even at the click of a mouse.

Posted by William F on August 28, 2006 at 2:09 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

Do you keep hearing that you're perfect for the position but you just lack experience? Well, maybe it's time to take a break from the conventional entry-level job search and take a less conventional entry-level job. A lack of experience is a huge problem that a lot of grads are facing right now. It's been discussed on this blog more than a handful of times and is obviously something with which a lot of us are dealing. So what do we do? First of all, stop stressing! We're young! The rest of your life hasn't started yet and that's okay.

Getting a less glamorous entry-level job like waitressing or bartending or (heaven forbid) a retail job, may not be a bad idea. I know how hard rejection can be on your self-esteem, which can be hard on your interviews. Getting a part-time entry-level job could free up time to explore your options and even find a way to take an unpaid internship and get that experience that you're desperately lacking.

Remember: It doesn't have to be now or never.

Posted by Sara S on August 28, 2006 at 1:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Competition is a natural part of life. We find ourselves fighting for our place in society and more importantly in the work force. But, when it comes to competition between friends and loved ones, where can we draw the line between our personal lives and our professional endeavors?

As a college senior I will be starting my second internship of my college career. I landed my dream position as an intern by searching through the career center database for journalism internships. After a grueling interview and application process, I was selected! Now I have the opportunity to work for my university’s magazine, which includes writing, reporting, interviewing, and anchoring for a sports show on cable TV.

Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed with excitement, I feel guilty. My boyfriend and most of my friends that are journalism majors are envious of my newly appointed position as head anchor of my own show, along with the other luxurious responsibilities. Even though they claim to be happy for me, they also admit to being jealous. I don’t want my new success to cause a rift in my personal relationships. But, I’m coming to the conclusion that I have to take the opportunities that are best for me, and hope that it won’t be demise of my personal relationships.

Posted by Laura W on August 28, 2006 at 1:23 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

So you're looking for an internship. You could go online or hope that your parents know someone who knows someone who needs an intern for next summer but you may be in for a tough search. The easiest way to find an internship may be right in your backyard, or west campus anyway.

College career centers have the resources that you need to find an internship. Not only do they have the Internship Bible and all the internships that the local businesses offer but they have people that can answer questions and guide you in the right direction.

Don't be afraid to utilize these resources! They can and will help you in your internship search.

Posted by Sara S on August 28, 2006 at 11:01 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I am posting for a new position at my university. The position is far better suited to my background and what I would like to do as a career. Where I work has excellent benefits, so until I find a job that will surpass the benefits I enjoy here, I will have to stay put. I work with friendly staff and I have learned quite a bit. Today, I go back into the abyss of the administrative world. A world filled with gossipping and bossy secretaries. I hope I can last until my boss comes back on Wednesday, and I have high hopes that he will put an end to the "floating" predicament I have been put in.

Posted by Alexa F on August 28, 2006 at 9:53 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I have touched on the importance of internships before, but now I am going to expand on it a bit. Beginning today and throughout the fall semester, I will be blogging about internships, their importance and how to find the best ones out there.

Internships are important because they help you to gain practical experience in your major. Today's job market is a lot tougher than it was 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, a college graduate could get hired with a major in English Literature and work experience at McDonald's or Old Navy. Back then it was the experience of working in general that was important. Now graduates have to hit the ground running and catch up with their colleagues as quickly as possible.

I have never done an on-site internship so I cannot even to begin to speak on it. I have, however, worked as a temporary employee and, as I have said before, temping and interning are very similar. I can tell you how it feels to have to learn a job in two or three days because you only have two or three weeks in which to complete it. I can also tell you about spending three months working on a project for one employer, then taking those skills to another employer. The looks of appreciation are a clear indication that it's great to have someone come in who already has some idea of what needs to be done and how to do it.

So, the next time you think you can make it without an internship in your chosen field of study ... think again.

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 28, 2006 at 9:08 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Well a lot has happened since my computer died and was able to post here. I have been on 3 job interviews, and not one turned into a job for me.

The dream job that I wrote about in one of my last posts, well it really was my dream job. However, the job ad, as it turns out, was nothing but a scam. I thought that I had researched the company and job well, but when I was unable to get a response to any of my inquiries I started to get a little more suspicious and decided it was time to see if the company/job came up in a search of job scams. It is very much a scam, and people have actually turned this job ad into the many job boards online that it was posted on. All but one of the job boards have removed the job ads for this company. Needless to say my spirits were a little down after this. I really had high hopes for this job.

I was later contacted by a company who found my resume on Monster, and it was for an administrative assistant position. I researched the company and that specific office before going to the interview. I made sure to arrive a little early for the interview. I was dressed in my business suit looking sharp, and had my portfolio with a few extra resumes inside. As the interviewer asked me questions my hopes slowly diminished for landing the job. Although I have extensive experience using Microsoft Office, the one program that I have limited experience in was the one that they required for the job...Access. I told the interviewer that I was more than eager to learn the program if offered the job, and I am a quick study. However, when I left from the interview and got to my car the first words from my mouth were, "I'm not getting the job." Sure enough a day later the interviewer called me thanking me for coming in, but that they had filled the position.

I then received a call a few days later after this dismal interview experience from someone else who apparently found my resume from another job board that I had posted my resume. The job seemed promising and I had actually been contacted in the past by this company to interview for them, but was at the time currently employed and happy where I was working. Well, I went to the interview and while there the gentleman who interviewed me applauded me on my skills, personality, and general demeanor during the interview. He gave me some information about the company, as well as some internet links to visit about the company. I was to return to a second interview/informational meeting in a week. While I was out of town for the weekend I looked up the links, and I started to get nervous about the job. It looked to be another scam. However, I decided to still attend the meeting to see what the job was about. I don't know if it is considered a scam, but it turned out they wanted me to pay them $200 to start my own home business with them to do financial consultations and loans. Well being out of work and being in school full-time I couldn't afford the $200, and I got more and more uncomfortable with the idea of this job.

So I had 3 hits over the last couple of months with little to show for it, with one exception. A lesson well learned to research until my eyes are tired to be sure of the legitimacy of a job opportunity. I really thought I had the heads up on the job scams out there, but it turns out that I had yet another lesson to learn in that respect.

My hopes are not totally dashed. I finally heard back from one of my former employers. I may have a job waiting for me in the next month or so with them once again. In the mean time my search for a job is still going on. In fact, the next couple of days before classes start back up for fall will be filled with me faxing, e-mailing, and driving around looking for work. I've already printed up maps and directions to jobs posted in all the local newspapers to drop off resumes. Here's to hopefully a successful search.

Posted by Cynthia K on August 28, 2006 at 2:59 AM | Leave a Comment (5)

It seems to me that the only entry-level jobs that can be found online are sales jobs. I looked at four different websites just to see what kind of entry-level jobs were available around the country. The first ten pages on each site was almost completely filled with entry-level sales positions. That's all just fine for some but what about people like me who have no interest in sales?

Finding a good entry-level position in a field other than sales takes a lot more work than just surfing the net. In order to find one of these mysterious entry-level jobs, it seems that one must actually leave home and do some research. Now maybe I'm the only one who is just figuring this out, but I think that the first step in finding an non-sales entry-level job is to narrow your search to where you're willing, or wanting, to work. Even if you've narrowed that "where" down to fifty places, it's still a start. Once you have the "where", it may become less difficult to find the "how".

Posted by Sara S on August 27, 2006 at 8:42 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Career Service offices and Staffing agencies can often resemble a game of musical chairs, whether you are a part of one agency or three.

At first, I only signed up with one agency; however, both of my parents chimed in advocating that my chances of finding a job would be better if I didn't put all my cookies in one basket (I'm not an egg person).

The first agency I interviewed with danced me around their office like it was a game of musical chairs. It is hard enough mentally prepping for an interview, but to have a mountain of paperwork, two separate inteviews and a test all rolled into one, moved it into the category of "Nervewrecking." The agency had me fill out paperwork, interview, fill out more paperwork, then interview again with someone new. I was then sent to the computer room to test my skills at Word and Excel with two other uncomfortable unemployed graduates. After the test, I had so gotten into the musical chairs routine that I plopped myself down in the waiting area again for the next round. However, I soon realized that my success at grabbing the last chair in the room was useless; my interview had ended.

The second agency I signed on with only had me interview with one person. However, every time I got a phone call from the agency, a different voice came through the phone.

The last agency, third times the charm, ranks #1 in my book. I only interviewed with one person, and that same person was the one to call me each week with an offer.

My advice would be to sign on with more than one agency to better your chances of finding the most efficient one. That, and prepare yourself to mentally, and physically, move yourself around a lot with agencies. Not only do they have a multitude of people working for them, but they also might have more than one office. Keep notes on each agency and service, so you can increase your chances of not being without a chair.

Posted by Christina B on August 27, 2006 at 9:25 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I chose to define entry-level server as a job in the food industry, since it can also have something to do with technology and programming. I guess that is an article for next time. For all of the entry-level servers out there who intend to serve food and beverages, continue reading this blog entry.

I found two sites that I thought were the most helpful, but of course I advise to always check out collegerecruiter.com, careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com, craigslist and any other jobs search engines you have found useful in the past. The first site that I found for entry-level server jobs is a site that actually highlights bartending jobs while the other is more culinary based. Take a gander and see what is served up there.

Bartender Site:
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Restaurant+Server&as_ettl=Entry+Level+Bartending+Opportunity
Culinary Focus:
http://www.starchefsjobfinder.com/js-jobinfo.php?v=192362&s=-1&t=j
Other Entry-Level Server Resources:
hospitalityonline.com, foodservice.com/employment, hotelrestaurantjobs.com, finediningjobs.com, foodwork.com

Posted by Samantha T on August 26, 2006 at 9:45 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Working at home is just quite simply paradise, unless you don’t like where you live. However, for most of us working at our own pace, in our own environment, on our own schedule, are the ingredients for an award-winning job. It seems like the person looking for entry-level work at home as a typist just might have the right idea.

The work at home information center provides information—of course—about a variety of work at home opportunities. Lucky for all us entry-level paradise seekers there are a lot of opportunities out there. Take this time to read a bit more about what a work at home typist job entails, what the qualifications are and potential job prospects. Make sure you know what you are getting into; no one wants paradise to turn into a nightmare!

Now, you are ready to start the job search. There are various sites I found with my preliminary search, just to help tease some ideas out. I list a few of them below but I’ll mention BizPeak.com because it features “home based business opportunities and ideas.” It lists work at home ideas as well as providing links to entry-level jobs. It’s also a nice resource, but more practical than the information center I mention above. Meaning it has resources for searching entry-level work at home typists, instead of just providing background research type information for the person not yet sure if this is the area they want to pursue.

Information Center:
http://www.comprehensiveadvice.com/workathome/Entry_Level_Work_at_Home_Typist.html
Home Business Essentials:
http://www.bizpeak.com/directory/entry-level-work-at-home-typist.shtml
Resources:
http://www.jobbankusa.com/workhomejobs/june20/entry_level_work_at_home_typing__clerica.html
http://www.bigapplehead.com/listposts.aspx?c=0&o=0&r=Long%20Island&e=Full%20Time%20Entry%20Level

Posted by Samantha T on August 26, 2006 at 9:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Several of my friends have had difficulty landing entry-level, money-on-the-side jobs at restaurants or retail stores, or even higher positions at banks or firms. They have the education, often the experience, and certainly the aptitude to succeed, yet are rejected seemingly out of hand from these low-level positions.
The only solution presented was dishonesty, in the form of one's mother, who suggested omitting the college education from the resume, or omitting the resume altogether and declining to mention anything beyond a two-year degree on the employment application. Those in the upwardly mobile world of college education aren't likely to stick around at an entry-level retail job, will bail at the first opportunity, and the employers know it. It's not prudent to sink energy and training into employees who are doing little more than biding their time. If one party isn't willing to commit, neither will the other.
The mere mention of someday hoping to attend graduate school blackballed another candidate, whose Stanford education served as more of a detriment than a badge of pride. There is such a thing as overqualified, and it prevented these semi-students from landing a paycheck.
That's why internships or temping can be so useful, as they allow students and otherwise commitment-fearing employees to gain valuable experience and cash without having to bail after a brief spell of work.

Posted by Eytan L on August 26, 2006 at 6:37 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Throughout the last three years of my college education, I have been told repeatedly by friends and family how important it is to have an internship under my belt before I reach graduation. The experience derived from an internship will prove to be more than just beneficial, but more so as a necessity if I want to find a respectable job upon graduation.

I recently applied for an internship affiliated with my university that dealt with my three passions- sports, reporting and writing. I immediately applied to the position of course, because it could not be more fitting! To my surprise, I was chosen for the coveted position among many other candidates.

It’s a strange feeling to actually get what you want. Now I am bogged down with the anxiety that even though I succeed in the classroom that I may fail in the field. I am worried that while my passion and love for journalism and sports is unparalleled, that maybe I won’t be able to live up to the program's expectations.

I suppose it’s like diving into a pool. I can’t just sit on the side, worrying about how cold it may be, but instead, I must dive in headfirst and hope that my passion, education, and drive will be enough to keep my head above water.

Posted by Laura W on August 26, 2006 at 3:04 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I was talking on my cell phone Thursday with my friend when a call came through. I didn't take it because I thought it was a wrong number. Several minutes later, the person called again and I took it. I told my friend to hold on (she eventually hung up, but I called her again) and I took the call. It was Spherion and she found my resume on HotJobs.com. She thought I would be perfect for a position with a background check company that needed someone to proofread or edit their documents before they go out to their clients. I had an interview yesterday with Spherion and everything went well. All I have to do is call Spherion Monday and see if she talked to the company to see if they liked my information. This was completely by chance and if something comes from it, I will be forever grateful.

Posted by Rebecca N on August 26, 2006 at 11:21 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

So you are in Texas (Houston to be exact) and you don’t know where to turn, where to look, where to work!! You are hot, sweaty, and ready to hit the pavement, but you don’t want to waste your time. Great. You don’t have to. Make sure you do your research first and that entry-level job will be yours after the required legwork.

I love job sites that are specifically tailored to cities; it’s so much more useful sometimes then trying to filter out irrelevant information. Especially if you know that Houston is where you want to be, browse through the Houston employment guide as well as jobing.com. Both of these sites allow you to search throughout the Houston area for entry-level jobs in a multitude of fields. If I were going to be in Houston this is where I would look first.

Then there is jobs.net and jobs.com, where you can specify a Houston focus and they’re not bad either. Remember that not all jobs listed are entry-level opportunities but see what you can find, it can’t hurt to search, then there is always the tried and true sites: collegerecruiter, careerbuilder, craigslist, hotjobs and monster. Look into it and soon you will work the entry-level job you always wanted in your beloved Houston. (Pep talks are great).

Houston Tailored Sites:
http://houston.jobing.com/search_power.asp
http://houston.employmentguide.com/
Other Resources:
http://www.jobs.net/Texas-Houston.htm
http://houston.jobs.com/
http://nyjobsource.com/entry/houston.html

Posted by Samantha T on August 25, 2006 at 9:31 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Wow, you have the authority to look at “classified” and “sensitive” documents and potentially get paid for it, what sounds more interesting that? Not much I’d say! Getting paid to keep secrets sounds like a pretty interesting way to enter into the job force…I think I watch too much television.

Money is interesting and being able to estimate how much you can potentially make in a certain job field is even more interesting. As a person searching for the next entry-level security clearance job there is a great document produced by clearancejobs.com that lists the 10 highest security clearance jobs by location as well as the salaries listed by clearance level (and some other odds and ends).

Once you figure out how much money you can stand to make let’s find you an entry-level security clearance job so you can start gaining that work experience and move up the security clearance ladder. I found a bunch of sites that have entry-level security clearance jobs listed to look through—just check the links below. This should help get you started.

We all like to mouth off as well, I know I can’t wait to vent about my job at the end of the day!! It relaxes me. If you are like me, or just like to talk with like-minded people, look into certcities.com and their forums. People into entry-level security clearance jobs chat it up daily. This could be useful as well as fun.

The last thing to leave you with is a plug for all the international travelers out there. I found a job site for entry-level security clearance job seekers out there in the UK. Sounds like fun and jobs should be right?

Salary document:
http://www.clearancejobs.com/salary_survey.pdf#search=%22entry-level%20security%20clearance%20jobs%22
Job Search Sites:
http://seeker.dice.com/jobsearch/servlet/JobSearch?op=1013&FREE_TEXT=security%20clearance&ppc=google
http://www.thingamajob.com/Job-Search-Results.aspx?CRITERIA=%22security+clearance%22&STATE=-1&COUNTRY=1&SORTF=&SORTD=D&PAGE_NO=3
http://aftercollege.com/companies/post.asp?job=26349
Forum:
http://certcities.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?tid=1879&pn=1
The UK hookup:
http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/security-clearance-jobs.html

Posted by Samantha T on August 25, 2006 at 7:23 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Some people might advise you to apply for any job for which you fit the basic qualifications. I am advising you against that. While it might seem like a great idea, and you might find something quicker than someone a bit more choosy than you, don't do it.

Finding an entry-level position to start your career can be a long, tricky process. I thought that it would be a good idea if I flooded the market with my resume in hopes that, by sheer quantity alone, it would reach someone who would ultimately be interested in hiring me.

It worked, at least, in theory. I was granted an interview for a sales position because the woman hiring liked the diversity in my experience and the extensive background I have in customer service from all my years working part-time jobs to support my education habit.

After a lot of soul-searching, I declined the interview. I hate sales, and I wouldn't ever be happy doing something like it. I do need to get more experience, but I need experience that will serve me well as a writer and proofreader. My ideal position would let me read a lot, and correct grammar, too.

I am not advising you to hold out for the brass ring of careers. That wouldn't be a great idea. Just keep your ultimate goal - whether it be a career as a publishing executive or as the head of a sales team - in your mind while you search.

Posted by Krystal Kane on August 25, 2006 at 3:30 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Today I had my second part of my training for the project. It was not nearly as gruesome as the first day. Basically, all we did was go over some of the points that she had made with me previously and then test those out. I'm really glad that I wrote down all of the things that we went over the first day. The notes sure came in handy for today. After tonight, she unleashed me to the game. Now I get to wander around the prison (in the game) and find empty rooms that I want to describe.

At first I did not know how the whole role playing game worked. I was asking the trainer how the players graphics turned out after we made these detailed descriptions of the rooms. She told me that the game is text-based so that the players just read it all. So basically, everything that I see, they see. Let me tell you, this screen is dead boring. No wonder I never played games as a kid. I asked her what age group this game was aimed for. She informed me that it was aimed for all ages, though they were legally pg-13 rated. I have to say, when my parents heard that it is a text-based game for teenagers they laughed at me. My brother, who is 14, hates to read. I doubt that if this game ever fully hits the market, that it won't sell well. No graphics and a ton of reading? It's like a punishment game for kids.

At least for me this is a great opportunity for me to hone my describing skills. She gave me so many good ideas. If all else fails, use your senses to describe the room. I've noticed that before in novels, but have never thought of writing like that myself. When writing the layout of the room, I'm going to have to give the player the feeling of the room without telling them that they should feel scared. How fun does that sound? I'm excited because I'm finally stoked over a job and it's all volunteer! I really hope this good feelings last when I'm running low on the cash.

Posted by Allison C on August 25, 2006 at 4:15 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

A job in law enforcement is not for the ill at heart, and now that I’ve decided you are not (humor me)…let’s find you a nice entry-level law enforcement job—in the New Jersey area no less.

Start with the New Jersey Department of Personnel (NJDOP) and you will find that every entry-level law enforcement job seeker must apply for, and pass, the Law Enforcement Exam (LEE). There is also a training course offered to prepare for this examination (LEEP—the P is for “preparation”).

Okay, once all you entry-level law enforcement people are qualified, start looking at sites specifically tailored for the New Jersey area. I suggest flipdog.com, which has a list of jobs and career resources (provided by monster.com) and all those other nice job helping tools. If you decided that New Jersey is not where you want to be, well, other cities are listed there too, just for your convenience. You can also check out smarthunt.com to see what turns up there.

To keep up with all your law-enforcement news and events go to NJLawman.com, which provides news and headlines for the New Jersey area, as well as links leading to the LEE and LEEP as well. It’s a plethora of law enforcement fun. Check out the links and enforce the law!

NJDOP:
http://www.state.nj.us/personnel/public_safety/entry-level_opps.htm
FlipDog:
http://www.flipdog.com/jobs/new-jersey/law-enforcement/
Smart Hunt:
http://www.smarthunt.com/smart-job-listing.cfm?state=NJ&catid=33
Resources:
http://www.njlawman.com/index.htm
http://www.njlawman.com/Links%20Page.htm

Posted by Samantha T on August 24, 2006 at 9:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Definitely, the easiest way to find entry-level MBA jobs is to search for jobs in the business arena. I got limited hits with the entry-level MBA jobs search term and decided to go a bit broader just to start out and was more successful.

As for business jobs, I found a lot of websites I’ve never heard of (probably because I’ve never searched for jobs in business) that have promising opportunities available for entry-level MBA job seekers. There’s one site called dmoz.org (in partnership with AOL) that is an “open directory project.” Basically, it is comprised of editors—ordinary people just like you and me—who sign up, write about whatever they know about and are regarded as an expert in that field. Sounds pretty cool. The goal is to create a “definitive catalog of the web,” quite ambitious, but there you go. So go to the website and you will find a list of search sites that will helpfully lead you to that next entry-level MBA job. When I went to the site there were about 44 options listed, so you will have a nice group to search from.

How about a site that lists “the best job resources” for all you MBA people out there? I think that sounds promising so look into Quintessential Careers and find a long list of sites that will help out the entry-level to executive-level business seeker. It’s just too good to be true—but it is! I also found something for the conservation nut that is also interested in business!! You can have your cake and eat it too, and to get started you must visit Green Dream Jobs through the sustainablebusiness.com/jobs site.

Quintessential Careers:
http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_jobs.html
Open Directory Project:
http://dmoz.org/Business/Employment/Job_Search/Entry_Level_and_Internships/
Dream Green:
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs/

Posted by Samantha T on August 24, 2006 at 6:12 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

By nature, doing temp work requires a certain tenacity, a state of mind in which one is able and willing to accept change--whether that change is for better or for worse.

Good change can involve getting a new, better paying position. For instance, my mom's friend started out at one job, and in a week she was promoted to a better position with substantially higher pay. Or there was that lucky friend-of-a-friend who signed up with a temp agency and instantly got a well paying position as an executive assistant.

Then there are the changes that aren't so good. An employer decides they don't need you for as long as they thought they did. Or that one, perenially disgruntled coworker pushes your last nerve, and it's all you can do to keep your cool. Or, my personal favorite--when an employer decides that you don't fit the job, and decides to terminate your assignment. Regardless of the reasons for change, having to transition from one temp job to the next can sometimes be awkward and stressful.

In my opinion, the best way to deal with these challenging transitions is not to take things personally. After all, the reasons people are fired from jobs are sometimes quite arbitrary and petty. So the best thing to do is let it roll off your back, and look forward to the next assignment with a good attitude.

Sometimes this can be a challenge, though, especially when there was tension between you and your boss/coworkers before your assignment was terminated. In this case it might be good to talk with the person at your temp agency who handles your assignment, in order to get a better perspective on things. Also, your contact at the temp agency might have helpful tips on dealing with similar situations in the future.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 24, 2006 at 4:06 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I was thinking back the other day to one of the worst experiences I had with interviewing.It's good for a little laugh anyway.
I had this interview at a marketing firm, which was so exciting to me because I have always love public relations. This one seemed like just the right one too. The interview went well, I even bonded with the interviewer, as we were from the same hometown. When he asked me that question about the reliability of my transportation, the lie just sort of rolled out of my mouth. Sure I had a reliable vehicle, reliable in that it would almost always reliably break down at just the wrong time. When I went to my car after the interview, this just appeared to be one of those time.
And of course what I mistook as good fortune when I got that amazing parking spot right in front of the building earlier, seemed to convert into bad luck when the whole office could see me pop the hood of my car through their large front window.
It was unavoidable, they saw me, and the interviewer was soon out front, offering me his phone and delighting himself with a small giggle under his breath.
I didn't get the job. While they said they appreciated the fact that I was trying to sell myself, and while this is a benefit to a marketing position (I imagined another under breath laugh around here) they had another candidate they felt was more qualified.
I hadn't thought about this interview for a while, partly I think because I repressed it. But now thinking back, I realize how much it taught me. No matter how much you are trying to sell yourself to an employeer, lying is not going to help. You can only offer what you have, and believe it or not, that is all some people are looking for.

You'll find marketing jobs in Canada at HigherBracket.ca

Posted by Amber W on August 24, 2006 at 2:49 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

This morning, I watched a morning radio sports show I often tune in to, and the subject of money came up. The debate concerned why athletes get criticized more often than rock stars and movie/tv stars for complaining about not making enough money. For example, you sports fans out there know of a highly publicized football player who was upset about his contract, which helped lead to his departure from that team. Keep in mind, this guy was making millions of dollars already. Well, the hosts went on to talk about a high profile actor who was recently let go from his production company. He said it was ok because he has millions of dollars elsewhere to help his career move forward.

The hosts said if this athlete would have come out and made the same statement concerning how much money he had, the media would have slammed him more than the actor. Why? One idea is because there is a higher level of expectations from our athletes as opposed to other entertainers. Another suggests that a family who makes an average income more likely can afford going to a movie rather than a pro football game. To me, though, athletes, rock stars, and movie/tv stars all probably make great money. I think if you're going to criticize one group here, you criticize them all, if you think they make too much money.

I do believe that everyday people in everyday professions don't get paid enough such as teachers, police, and firefighters. Many of us will agree with that. But all of us have to remember that we decide what we want to do and live with it, including the pay, unless we do something about it. It is easy to be upset with celebrities about how much money they make because of they lavish lifestyles many of them live. But think about it, at the end of the day, don't you think it cost a whole lot more to be a celebrity than just an ordinary person. :)

Posted by William F on August 24, 2006 at 11:51 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I never thought I would miss waitressing. It was very simple - you take an order, you put it in, get the drinks and the condiments and sides necessary. Then you hand out the food check on the customers a couple of times, and you hand them the check. No muss, no fuss. And occasionally, you have to bring back a dish that's undercooked. Simple. At least you felt as though you were doing something that was directly contributing to someone's day.

I shredded eleven garbage bags worth of paper today. I am a college graduate, now attending graduate school. Ever since I left my position at the mortgage company I worked at for 3 years in 1999, every job I have had has landed me as an administrative assistant. I know I am to blame for this, but how do I get out? I am overqualified at this point for an administrative assistant position, and I would rather work at a place where I could write and express my creativity, or teach. I cannot see myself working at an office job. The politics and gossip are ridiculous. I am also tired of doing busy work, and watching people who are far less qualified than I am rising to positions higher than mine. And then me having to take direction from them to boot. The person above me doesn't even speak English, yet her job requires writing. So guess who's doing the writing? Me!!!

I believe that the reason that I am stuck in this state is that I didn't have enough confidence in myself to pull off a deadline. In the creative sense. But as I was standing for 3 hours shredding I figured, I have the ability, I just need to do it. It doesn't make sense for me to continue shooting low - I will only wind up shooting myself in the foot! I am making a decision today to start finding my career path - one that doesn't involve shredding and filing!!!

Posted by Alexa F on August 24, 2006 at 11:51 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I have been on several interviews since I graduated college, both in my hometown and in the city of my alma mater, and I just can't seem to land a job. I have been complimented numerous times on my resume, and I always seem to have a good rapport during interviews. Here's an example:

I interviewed for this great position that I thought I really had a shot at. I interviewed with the Director, and she and I got along wonderfully! Very casual, relaxed interview, chit-chat, the whole bit. She told me there was one other person to interview who had to cancel (she displayed a slightly annoyed expression at that), and that I would hear something by the end of the following week. So, I waited. No word. I e-mailed her the day I was supposed to hear something, and she said they were still in the interview process. I finally heard back from her today, two weeks later; I let the call go to voicemail because I basically knew I didn't get the job. Well, I was right. She said that, while they were pleased with my coursework, I didn't have enough "relevant work experience." What a Catch 22! How am I supposed to get "relevant work experience" if no one will hire me?

I have come to the conclusion that maybe my major is to blame. While I am very proud of my English degree, I think it's just too broad for what I want to do (journalism/advertising/design/copywriting area). I have found a couple of excellent portfolio schools whose two year programs are equal to 5-7 years at an agency, which is what the positions I have researched require.

Also, I am thinking of going to visit a friend in Germany for at least a month this fall, and perhaps start the portfolio school -- assuming I'm accepted -- in January 2007.

Any thoughts on this? Am I on the right track here? I honestly didn't think finding a job would be this difficult. I never had any trouble in the past. I am getting beyond frustrated about this. Any feedback would be really appreciated.

Posted by Ashley H on August 23, 2006 at 3:08 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

As all us writers engage in our necessary research first, I suggest looking at the US Department of Labor and its section on writers and editors. This site provides information on the nature of the work, job outlook, training and qualifications necessary, earnings and much more useful information for the budding entry-level writer. I definitely bookmarked that one!

Now that you are even more convinced that you want to become a writer check out career builder.com and put “entry-level writing jobs” and the search term and a bunch of jobs should jump out at you. I did the very same thing, today actually, and was pleasantly surprised to see a really diverse mix of entry-level writing jobs that are currently available out there!! Writing is just SO interesting and coveted, and it is easy to dabble in a variety of domains writing about a variety of topics. As someone who gets bored easily, this is incredibly appealing, and so got bookmarked too!! (I promise, I’ll leave some jobs out there for the rest of you).

What else did I find…okay, I found a website called sologig.com for all the freelancers out there. You create your “freelance profile” consisting of your contact information and your job category (for our purposes that would be “writing/editing/translating”) and theoretically the employers find you. I’m not sure how many entry-level writing jobs there are through this site, so do some more researching into it. This site also features helpful hints and articles and current “gigs” to look into.

Another two ideas I’ll mention are Craig’s list (always a good tool to remember) and search sites sponsored by universities, if you can find them. Doing my own quick preliminary search I found one such search site on the UC Berkeley graduate school of journalism site. It lists some pretty interesting entry-level writing jobs! Just be sure to pay attention to the deadlines listed and the people to contact. Now, go get ‘em you writer you!!!

Resources:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos089.htm#top (Department of Labor)
http://jobs.aol.com/?sem=1&ncid=AOLCAR00170000000004 (careerbuilder)
http://www.sologig.com/?source=google&gclid=CJL2jpOS9oYCFSwaFQodGF23fw (Freelancers)
http://www.craigslist.org
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/listings.php?view=job (UC Berkeley)

Posted by Samantha T on August 23, 2006 at 3:00 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Well, everyone, I decided to go back to school. Well, I'm taking one class at the community college I had gone to before. It's for six weeks, unlike the other class that I wanted to take which was six months. This class is for business writing. I hope it gets my "foot in the door" at an office. The class wasn't expensive at all and I'm really excited about going. I hope the class goes well. I wasn't sure if I should register for any classes at all for various reasons, but I'm glad that I did. I think the pros out weigh the cons. The school is close to home, inexpensive, and has to do with writing. I never thought that I would be going back to school, but I know if it will give me more experience and training, then it's worth it.

Posted by Jill E on August 23, 2006 at 1:35 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

This year, Labor Day Weekend will include laboring to move all my stuff to my new apartment. I am looking forward to having my own place again. I managed to find a charming one bedroom apartment with hardwood floors in a mainly student occupied building. The best feature however is that my new place will only be a ten minute walk from school. I should be saving along the lines of $60-$80 per month because I no longer need to catch the Regional Rail to reach my graduate school classes. I applied for a graduate assistantship, which requires at least a ten hour weekly commitment to the graduate studies department. If I do receive the assistantship, it will be super easy to manage achieving those ten hours because the campus is so close by. My new pad is also closer to Philadelphia.
One of the only drawbacks is having to fork over all the money necessary to properly relocate. True; I'm only relocating a short distance but hauling all my stuff is still quite the chore. Luckily, my mother, stepfather and little brother are journeying up here to help with the big move. My mom and stepfather both have trucks and I really only have a room full of stuff. It has also crossed my mind that I may have to move again in a year depending upon where my job search leads me. I signed a one year lease, so I know I'll be here through next summer. My heart seems to be longing to return to California after graduation, but that solely depends upon finding a job at a publication out there. My former roommate from Cal is definitely behind the idea of reclaiming California as my home. I have always felt a connection with California; Southern California specifically. The idea of having to move all my stuff across country in a year is a bit intimidating, but it will be worth it if I can find a great job.
I'm getting really excited about the decorating potential involved with my new place. My budget however is not quite as substantial as the decorating potential. I rely mainly on student loans to get by, so I can't go hog wild on outfitting my space. I compiled a list of necessary items and hopefully I can manage to do something with what I can get my hands on. With all the hardwood floors, I know I need to invest in at least a few rugs. I truly am getting excited about settling down in my new apartment. I only hope the Fall Semester provides just as much in the way of excitement.

Posted by Morgan S on August 23, 2006 at 11:15 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

The bad news is that most entry-level driver’s training programs offered are going to cost some money—and I don’t mean pocket change. There are private organizations that offer training in packages consisting of videos, manuals and certificates, and some organizations that offer classes (even a university or two). All will cost you around $250, although the university course was $2,000. If entry-level driver’s training is something that interests you, remember that these are required programs dictated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for all entry-level drivers. Of course there are also driving schools, which offer all of these classes as well, but they are not free and so to get either your commercial driver’s license (CDL), which is what one strives to get as an entry-level driver, get comfy with the idea of these classes.

I wrote another article a little while ago about entry-level driver training and I know I talked about some classes that were available out there for these training programs. I recommend checking out the DOT’s website where there are endless resources for driver’s in general. The site will show you the different rules and regulations out there that all entry-level drivers must know before they can get a CDL or any other type of professional driver’s license. Then shop around for the best deal out there for entry-level driver’s training (I list a couple of sites I found below).

DOT website:
http://www.dot.gov/
Rules and regulations:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.asp?section_type=D
Driver’s Training:
http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/types/training.htm
http://www.foleyservices.com/pc-47-9-driver-training-package.aspx
http://ntassoc.com/drivertraining.htm
http://southseattle.edu/programs/proftech/comtruck.htm
http://www.business.com/directory/transportation_and_logistics/education_and_training/truck_driving_schools/

Posted by Samantha T on August 23, 2006 at 10:26 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Today was my first training. The girl who trained me is very nice, but I feel like an entire manual was stuffed in my brain. She informed me that since working on this project she has learned four different languages. We had talk some more and then it dawned on me to ask her what kind of languages, computer or foreign. She said computer. I was hoping that she meant foreign. I hope that I don't have to learn a bunch of languages too. All the codes that we have to put in, though simple to some, are not for me. I had to write down every single command word for word just so that I would remember everything. She did make me smile though when I successfully wrote the command to have an 'echo' appear in the game. She said that I was her first trainee to master it on the first try. That boosted my confidence a little.

I'm pretty excited about actually begining to write though. After reading some of the descriptions that others have written I'm quite enthusiastic about working for this project. They have very detailed guidelines that you have to follow for the descriptions. We have to focus on the room as a whole rather than specific objects in the room, though you do have to make 'extended descriptions' for any object that you happen to mention in the main description. It probably would have helped if I played role-playing games in my youth, or even now. Games really aren't my thing. Even watching people play puts me to sleep.

The game itself isn't fully public yet, only the first part has been release to a selective few, but with all the work that is being put in it, there should be a good pay off. I'm just not sure who that pay off is rewarded to. I asked my trainer if we get compensated at the end if this game indeed goes public and her response was "what, besides immortality and ultimate power?" That wasn't really what I was expecting. I guess for now the experience with writing and this code stuff is really what counts. I'm guessing that in the end my name will be in the credits for writers so that I can use this project as a good reference for my resume. Even if this game never goes public, I can use this experience on my resume, right? I'm guessing so, because this is the most interesting writing job, and the most complicated, that I've had. I actually get to tap into my creative writing abilities. Hopefully I'll make my professors proud.

Posted by Allison C on August 23, 2006 at 2:59 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

This week I finally got to sit on the other side of that interview table. I have been through so many interviews over the past year, and it's always been a stressful experience for me. This week I was allowed to be an interviewer for a change, a big difference from being the one put on the spot.
Nonetheless, there are many things you can learn from this experience.
I had been told, it seemed a million times, that I was just not right for the position, or someone else was a better candidate.
Being an interviewer I saw that no one person was better than anyone else, some people just fit better. I realized that the times I had been turned down it was because it wasn't a fit. Now that I've got a job that I love, I realize how important fit is. I wouldn't have this job now, if I had gotten one of those other ones I was turned down for. You have to remember when you're interviewing there are numerous reason why you might not get a position, and these are reasons that may have absolutely nothing to do with your performance in the interview. Don't feel overwhelmed if you get turned down, don't feel like everyone else in the world must be more qualified than you. I guarantee the person who gets the job over you, probably isn't this amazing, super employee, they are probably a lot like you.
The point is don't lose faith. You will get hired for that right job, it may not be the first one, but if you are right for the job that will show to the interviewer. It will show in your confidence, your speech, and just the way you interview. Finding that job is just up to you.

Checkout
call center jobs at JobsInCallCenters.com.

Posted by Amber W on August 22, 2006 at 11:36 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I start training tomorrow for my new writing position. I downloaded the program that they use, but I'm having a hard time logging in. I'm so confused as to what to do. I've been emailing my contact over and over again to figure it out. I'm a writer, not a computer programmer. I don't want to tell them that I'm not too computer savey, but I'm afraid of the repercussions.

Posted by Allison C on August 22, 2006 at 12:48 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

After graduation I had very little experience under my belt. I was a telemarketer and a bartender during college. Those jobs both taught me very valuable skills but I had no idea how they would translate into the real world. I had no idea how to make my resume look good with nothing but the ability to push an old lady into taking on unnecessary long distance and being known for making the best martini in town. So I got a job that didn’t apply to anything that I wanted to do. For a while I thought I was wasting my time as an administrative assistant but then I was promoted after only 3 weeks to a position that was very hard to fill, and not only fill, but keep someone who could do the job correctly. I was the best title clerk that car dealership ever had and I stayed in that position for 8 months, all the while wondering why I was staying in this dead-end job.

That’s the point, though. I had never had an office job, never held a position that required resourcefulness and brainpower…or so I thought. That dead-end office job helped me learn about myself in a way that the telemarketing and bartending never did. That job showed me that I do, in fact, possess the skills required to go out there in the real world and get what I want.

Sometimes entry-level jobs aren’t exactly the jobs that we may want and we may think that they’ll take us nowhere, but it turns out they may teach us more than we could ever have imagined about ourselves and our abilities. Patience is a virtue but holding out for the perfect entry-level job may not be for the best. Maybe taking a not-so-perfect entry-level job would be better if you’re still a little unsure of your resume and your skills. For those of us who couldn’t afford to take the unpaid internship during college, we may be a little behind with our self-assessment and maybe a “dead-end” job for a little while may not be so “dead-end” after all.

Posted by Sara S on August 21, 2006 at 9:41 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

Like I always say, it’s important to do background research on whatever it is you plan on doing, especially your career, and entry-level public relations jobs are no different. So, I think it is helpful to take a look at what the Public Relations Society of America has to say about the field in general and also subcategories (financing, multicultural affairs, government etc) in the public relations field. It’s a handy resource and would benefit anyone looking for an entry-level public relations job, get a feel about what the profession entails and if it is the right fit for you.

Then take a look at those job researching sites, the oldies (collegerecruiter.com, salary.com, smarthunt.com) are always good places to start finding those entry-level public relations jobs. I also found a newbie (http://www.brubach.com/eljo/publicrelations.htm) that might be interesting to look at as well. Make sure you provide strong references, resumes, and cover letters to get those entry-level public relations jobs, and the tool listed above will make sure that is possible.

Public Relations Society of America: http://www.prsa.org/_Resources/profession/careeroverview.asp?ident=prof2

Posted by Samantha T on August 21, 2006 at 7:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As all of us proceed in this blogging experience, it is important to remember that how we say something is just as, if not more important, than what we say. Sometimes our passion may get the best of us, but we have to be careful not to intimidate anyone. I have to believe that many employers are reading our blogs on the daily and are forming their own opinions about us. Depending on how you address a certain subject, you can either attract or repel potential employers. You can stand up for what you believe in with a good attitude and develop a positive image in the minds of all of your readers.

Posted by William F on August 21, 2006 at 1:53 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

For a nice list of entry-level finance jobs you need look no further than collegerecruiter.com, and click on a few of the links provided there. The job title, position and position type are all listed, and if you have a profile created on the website (hint, hint) applying for said jobs is as easy as a simple click to the “apply to job” link. What is nice is that on each job-listing page there are “tools and resources.” Not all of them are entirely useful, but I clicked on one such link and it provided professional educational seminars. This could be useful if you want to get more out of your entry-level finance job, by pairing it with a seminar or two. It’s always worthwhile to continue learning and perfecting your level of expertise, or in this case, future level of expertise. Just thought I’d put that out there.

There is another online website that is actually a career bank and lists all sorts of entry-level finance jobs. You can search by state and by type of job, and by company and the site also has the fun tool we all love so much--the salary wizard. Again with the education theme, the site provides a professional education center, articles on writing job-winning entry-level finance resumes, and this new tool called the salary survey. It lists the typical salary by gender, employer size, marital status and a ton of other factors. It’s a bit more specific than the typical salary wizard and a lot more fun.

Tools of the finance trade:
http://entry.level.finance.jobs.careerbank.com/
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/pages/entry-level-finance-jobs.php

Posted by Samantha T on August 21, 2006 at 1:41 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I had a couple of comments about my wanting to go to Lesley, and have I been up there. Here's the story: At the beginning of the year, I decided it was time to go on vacation since I've haven't been on one or on a plane in 6 years. My destination-Boston. I was born and raised there (until I was 7) and hadn't been up there since 2000. In June, I was ready to go and I decided to make a stop to Lesley and talk to someone and just to see what the campus looked like. At first, I was disenchanted about the program because I didn't have to move up to Boston (at least that's what I heard) for the program, but I would have to be up there for the 10-day seminar they have every year. I want to be in either publishing or just plain write for a newspaper or magazine and they have a really good internship program students have done. They've gone and got a job with that company. That's what I want. Is it my dream to move back to Boston? Yeah, but as my mom says, it's not easy. Cost of living is expensive. Also, employment in Boston sucks, according to some websites. Yeah, of the two schools I applied to, Lesley is my top choice. I know it won't be easy if I get in. How will I pay for school? I'm almost up to my limit for finanical aid from the government. It really won't be easy. It'll be difficult. But hey, who said achieving your dream was easy? I just wish renting an apartment was easier. My mom told me renting an apartment in Boston in the 70s was $150/month. God, why can't we go back to simpler times?

Posted by Rebecca N on August 21, 2006 at 10:48 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

"Well that girl had very very poor grammar," my granddad said at a restaurant one day.

I put my mudslide down and reran the conversation through my head- nothing unusual, regular restaurant chatter with a fascinating intro about the steaks they were serving that day. So I asked him how he had come to that conclusion.

"She kept saying "yeh." "Yeh yeh yeh." It's "yes.""

My sister and I told him that these days, saying that word is mere habit. We told him that times have changed. I remember my grandma once told me that she thought my guy friend was "so charming and gay." ... Talk about confused... After figuring out she meant "happy," my family sat her down and told her what definition that particular word had these days.

The fact of the matter is words evolve and change, and although "yeh" has permeated our culture like water through Bounty, most of the people you interview with will be from the time period where "yeh" is still unacceptable. As it well should be in the professional world.

My dad's advice before interviews was "Pop a mint beforehand and have a hardy handshake," my mom's advice was "Remember...say "yes.""

It's the little things in interviews that give you the edge. If it comes down to the wire, you will want to know that not only did your resume speak for itself, you literally spoke well.

Posted by Christina B on August 20, 2006 at 10:53 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

My boss wears Prada; however, she isn't the devil. She's no angel, but I'm glad I'm working for her.

Amoungst the mayhem of interviews I had (seven total), I figured out one thing very quickly. Wherever I would work, whatever I would do, however far away from home I would be... I would work for someone I could tolerate.

I can handle most anybody; I'm a pretty tolerant person. However, there was one man I interviewed with who I found incredibly rude. He worked for an advertising agency; I was very excited about the position. However, I rarely got to express my thoughts, or tell him what an asset I'd be to their company, because he kept cutting me off. I felt like an unworthy ASSet, if you catch my drift. If I had been on the road with this man, I'm sure the bird might've flown, or my choice swear words of "gosh dangit" would've been loudly voiced.

I left that interview feeling two emotions. First, pride for breathing deeply and giving my best to the interview; second, worry that I would get the job. I didn't learn until after two interviews for sales positions (not my cup of tea) to politely decline offers after job positions showed their true colors.

Later I had an interview with my current boss at the university. In the interview, she actually treated me with respect, not like I was the mud on her Sex in the City shoes.

I'm not saying don't take a job if your boss isn't the nicest person in the world; that's a Tiffany's bracelet in the Sahara desert. However, make sure that your next job, or your first job, isn't the job from Hades because of your boss.

I truly believe that one of the main reasons I love my job so much these days is because I was blessed with a great boss, one I have no trouble tolerating or learning from.

Posted by Christina B on August 20, 2006 at 10:29 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I spent a fair amount of the summer trying to calm myself into believing that when friends started going back to school I would bite my tounge and not whirl into some sort of sorrow filled abyss. I think that I reached this point in the past few days. Instead of dwelling on everyone leaving, I've found myself thinking about the next two weeks, in which I will need to finally find a job. I'm thinking it might be nice to have some time off before I start something new, but I'm also battling the awkward limbo of waiting around for interviews or breaking down and heading towards an Employment Agency.
On that note, why do employment Agencies have such a bad rep? They're always portrayed as a last option, like the people who go there go fired from one poorly paying labor job and need to find another one quick before their power gets shut off. Why do I think this? I'm an intelligent person, plus I know of companies that only use employment agencies. Is this something I can shift onto the media? Maybe. I'm also starting to wonder if it's appropriate for me to walk into one and ask them to find me something that won't shove me in an office for eight hours a day, forcing me into high heels and a sore backside. I may also have to add that I can under no curcumstances be a receptionist due to my small bladder and coffee intake.
I'm kind of worried and kind of thinking something will pop up; the feeling is new and old.

Get the latest on diversity issues in the workplace at Diversity Jobs.

Posted by Ashleigh H on August 20, 2006 at 10:19 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

It occurred to me the other day that the odds of me having a normal, stereotypically important job are very slim. Not because I can't find a job that pays well, but because I don't think I'd be suited to work at any jobs like that.
In any case, I worked my first shift at my new job the other day. The pay's low, and so are the hours, but eventually I'll get more. The company I now work for is actually a lot bigger than I thought. It's kind of neat going from small, independent companies to a titanic powerhouse with opportunities to move up.
Anyway, once I get trained and find out what hours I can count on having, I'll start looking for job number 2. Working is not nearly as hard as finding a job to begin with. Yeesh.

Posted by Bryan P on August 20, 2006 at 7:15 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

A year ago I was ready to be a teacher. I changed my major from Animal Science to English. Once I began to work on my English Degree, I began to help a friend’s mother who teaches fifth grade. The students were all great kids, but with standardized testing being the most important thing in the state of Texas the students cannot really learn everything that they need in life. Texas school students do not receive the education that other state students get. I do not think that the Texas School Boards care about the education of the state’s children. In my former school district the School Board elected to buy new football equipment over new textbooks, now tell me is there any justice in that? Sport over Education? I always thought that education should come first.
Then the state’s Judicial Branch decided that Texas had an unjustified school tax. The governor and Legislature are not working hard enough to figure out where the money for schools will come from. Most teachers are already under paid babysitters, and now they may get a pay cut, because the state government cares more about the roads than the schools.
Well, even after all of this, I still wanted to be a teacher, until my college put a stop to my want. The program to become a teacher is ridiculous. It would have required me to block certain classes together, and make my schedule impossible. My parents are only going to pay for four years of college, and I want to be out in that time limit. At the first university I attended the requirements to become a certified teacher did not require me to block classes together in a way that would make it impossible to take any other classes. The degree plan would have had me out of school in three and a half years, which would have been nice. I then had to transfer closer to home, because of an illness in the family. Their school made my degree plan harder. There were more education classes and less English classes. An advisor told me that I had to make a certain grade on the college entrance exam’s math portion. I had already passed to test, but the grades were exempt on it, because I made an exceptionally high grade on my ACT test. The advisor said that our state college test was more important that the ACT test. So I paid $40 to retake the math portion of the test. I drove down to my home town, to our community college so I could take it before the end of the fall semester. I did not get the grade I needed, but I did find out that my ACT test score would override the state test score after all.
Well after all of this pain and misery I decided that teaching was not right for me. I decided to minor in journalism and do something with writing and editing. It is less of a headache.

Posted by Laura S on August 19, 2006 at 12:53 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I've spent alot of time walking into offices asking if they are hiring? I always go prepared to speak with someone, resume in hand, usually wearing a nice pants suit in a flattering color and smiling. I put my intention on getting the job and interview most times on the spot. I live in an area where the competition may not be that stiff but financially stabilizing employment is scarce.

Grooming is a definate key factor and it is well known that people hire people that appear attractive. Your character can be the key factor sometimes more than your skill and you definatly have to tell them who you are in a short and to the point verbal mini summary that hits the highlights and makes you stand out. You may need to practice what you will say at home. I know that sounds silly but it works.
I was a member of a public speaking group that taught me how to relate body actions and words in a constricting manner that causes people to feel assured, while squaring my shoulders towards them to translate that what they are saying to me is important and I am listening.(even if i wasn't). I make continuous eye contact with the interviewer,keeping my hands folded in my lap until my turn to talk. This draws attention subconciously from them to you. When speaking I use my hands to help paint a clearer picture too whatever I am verbalizing.It's important to find some common ground with your employer whether that be knowledge of the postion you want or using an icebreaker for humor sometime during the interview.

Most recently an employer called me for a postion and he asked," what could I tell him about myself". I froze for a second because I was watching mtv and the last thing on my mind was what could I offer this company. I took a few minutes to answer, as I thought to myself, who am I? My next words flowed so smoothly as I told him what I had done before, what I agreed with from my last job and what I was looking for in the future. I gave alittle personal information, for common ground that made him laugh. When I finished he explained what the job consisted of and told me I was a good match. But it was one of those jobs that required a start-up income and since i'm looking to relocate and BROKE(lol) this wasn't the right choice for me. I thanked him and asked if he would keep me in mind if he became a broker and needed a recruiter. He told me would and he later e-mailed his information that we could keep in touch. Again the confidence came from a very expensive journey in college but the rewards have proven to be priceless.

Posted by Nicola B on August 18, 2006 at 10:24 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

My hopes are a bit dashed now that I realize I did not receive the internship I had been pining for. Obviously, it was not for lack of effort. I even went to the open house the publication threw in order to have a chance for me to impress the editors in the flesh. That was the plan at least. I debated what to wear; do I go with style or practicality? There is always that disturbing question of what exactly the company is looking for in a potential intern. With the concept of preparation on my mind, I ventured throughout two towns and countless stores trying to obtain the most recent copy of the magazine. No such luck. Everywhere I dragged my tired body to was sold out of the publication or did not even regularly carry it. I decided to just double-check on the web site to catch the latest issue, but of course the site had to be undergoing construction. I was a bit nervous about going into the interview without at least glancing at the most current issue. The actual interview was over pretty quick and I had no real gauge upon its conclusion about how well it went. We were supposed to have heard from the magazine by the end of this week, so my assumption is that the interview did not go exceptionally. At the very least, the interview did not go as well as other candidates. I can always apply again for the Spring Semester and hope for the best. The one advantage I will have at that time will be my introduction to it through this experience. It is hard not to let it get your spirits down and stress about how you will possibly succeed in the real world. I try and keep in mind that everything has its time. I will be offered an internship someplace if I am persistent and dedicated to the process. If I graduate without achieving an internship than I will draw from all of my classroom and freelance writing experience in order to land my dream job. Internships are a wonderful preparation for the real job market, but life is not meaningless without one.

Posted by Morgan S on August 18, 2006 at 3:54 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Recently a friend of mine quit her job for a lower-paying one. Everyone was baffled because her salary wasn't very high to begin with. It wasn't even closer to home. She tried to explain herself, but I was the only one who didn't chastise her.

Recently I started a summer internship at a foundation. I do very intern-esque work. I file, I copy, I sort, I enter data. Really, that's about it. But I don't hate it. The two women I work with make all the difference. We swap man stories and discuss our weekend plans in between answering phones and filing. I encouraged my friend to leave precisely because she hated the people at her last job. I tried to help her explain that money isn't everything. Dreading work in the morning isn't worth a slightly bigger paycheck.

Posted by Karen W on August 18, 2006 at 1:17 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I don't know if any of my fellow bloggers out there are using a popular search engine referencing your "throat" (hint, hint), but if so, you might want to be careful. This company has recently issued a warning as it relates to users who follow links to other sites containing "spyware" and other harmful code. Apparently, the warning says, "The site you are about to visit may harm your computer!" Any online users can receive more information on "malicious code" at another website (email me if you want it), or take a risk by clicking on these links.

This search engine said it is in the beginning stage of identifying these sites, but will further this process as time goes on. Here is a quote from the company, "Finding new and better ways to protect our users is a perpetual project, and we'll continue to work hard in this area."

The company of this search engine is a primary sponsor of the other website I made reference to. The website is a project that researchers from two universities want to use as a clearinghouse for spyware information and other damaging software.

Posted by William F on August 18, 2006 at 10:49 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The first step to make it to vault.com to make sure that your entry-level sales resume is up to par and competitive enough to get you the next job you come across. Of course all of these resources are just guidelines but in my experience resume templates are incredibly useful and they are mostly discipline specific. So make sure your resume is specific enough for the entry-level sales genre.

Another nice entry-level job search website I’ve come across (as you might have guessed already, there are infinite amounts) truecareers.com. It’s aesthetically pleasing, very professional looking and provides a brief abstract on what the company is about, what your responsibilities will be, what the requirements of the job are and even salary and contact information for the company. If you make a free profile you can simply click on the “apply now” link and apply for that entry-level sales job on the spot—it’s as easy as that.

Posted by Samantha T on August 18, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

What moves you first of all? Is it a job in graphic arts or as an art director? When I thought of art I thought of it in the traditional sense. I thought of hip, starving artists. Just my ignorance and I was intrigued to find a nice variety of entry-level art jobs available.

If you are interested in an entry-level art job in graphic arts check out: http://graphic.designer.artist.jobs.com/. If you are interested in an entry-level art job as an art director be sure to pay particular attention to: http://www.smarthunt.com/Jobs-Smart.cfm?SubCatID=105. Once you’ve got that taken care of why not look at some salary calculating tools? It is always nice to know what you are liable to make in any job, why not for the entry-level art seeker? The site salary.com has a nice tool as well as collegerecruiter.com and I’m sure a host of other places.

There is also this nice site, while a much broader job search link, is incredibly informational and extensive. The site www.job-hunt.org is helpful to any and all career seekers and so if the above sites are not helpful for you entry-level art job people out there stop by this one.

Posted by Samantha T on August 18, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I'm so excited. Although this job is all volunteer based, I'm super stoked. I've just joined a team of people working as a writer for an online Harry Potter role playing game. The person who I have been in contact with is all about the flattery, which I have to admit boosts my ego quite a bit. I'm a little nervous because he mentioned something about writing "commands". I have no idea how to do any of that stuff. He assured me that people are brought in who don't know how to do that stuff, but I'm still feeling a little apprehensive. I think I will be able to catch on well enough since my boyfriend is a computer nerd. We will have to see.

I've also been thinking about putting an ad in the news paper about personal scrapbookers. I'm very into scrapbooking and have realized recently how much time and effort it takes to put one together. After making one as a wedding present for a friend, I want to try putting together books for others. I was thinking that by putting a little ad in the paper I could see if people in my local area are interested in having someone document their memories for them. It seems like a good idea for now, since Americans never seem to have enough time on their hands now-a-days. After I make my big move I'm going to head to the local paper and test out my theory. Hopefully it will be a success. If this does turn out to be a good idea, I'm not entirely sure why I went to college. Oh well.

Posted by Allison C on August 18, 2006 at 3:11 AM | Leave a Comment (4)

A truly useful site that we all know about, and is worth talking about again, is craigslist.org. Whoever thought of this gem is a genius and I am very grateful for their genius. How great is it to be able to specify your housing and job needs by city? Very nice indeed. This site can also help with the entry-level paralegal job search as well, and you’ll be glad you did it.

For your researching needs visit www.collegegrad.com and also newbie (for me) called soyouwanna.com, information is bountiful on entry-level paralegal jobs. Make sure to browse all the available sections. After that you are free to visit any host of sites that provide job search links for those interested in entry-level paralegal jobs. A couple of news ones I found, just to spice things up, is on MSN and the Execu/Search Group. Cities like New York, Boston, DC, (I even found something for Delaware) are highlighted a lot in entry-level paralegal job searches.

Execu/Search Group:
http://www.execu-search.com/legal_staffing_jobs.cfm

Posted by Samantha T on August 17, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

What a broad topic. Entry-level employment can entail many, many things. You, my friend, need to get more specific. I say look into collegerecruiter, about.com, careerbuilder.com, monster.com, hotjobs.com…any of these sites are perfect for entry-level employment.

Then ask yourself what you are interested in. Is it helping others? If so look into social service jobs. Is it managing others, science, math, computers? I have good news for you; there are jobs for all this stuff! You just need to dig deep, be proactive and you’ll find what you are looking for.

Along with the entry-level employment search, you must have certain tools under your belt such as a strong resume and cover letter. All of these sites provide help in these areas. If you are the adventurous type, try looking internationally. Have fun with it and remember that the entry-level employment search is a process, and not necessarily a quick one.

Posted by Samantha T on August 16, 2006 at 6:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I always agree that background research is the biggest job-seeking tool out there and should be done prior to the initial job search. The same is true for entry-level opportunities in oil drilling, and lucky for you drillers out there the information is plentiful. So check out some information on the oil and gas industry itself and what entry-level opportunities in oil drilling look like and what they entail.

As soon as you feel educated enough on oil drilling seek out those opportunities by job searching and be as specific as those sites will allow. There are registries out there, which I believe are very much like professional organizations in that it is database-like, and after supplying your personal information will supply a list of entry-level opportunities in oil drilling.

One interesting site on entry-level opportunities in oil drilling went over the basics on how to search for these jobs in the first place. Provides a list of keywords, search engines and tells you what to do once you find an employer (the oil career proposal letter for starters). So start drilling into that information (pun intended).

Resources:
http://www.rigworker.com/jobs/entry.shtml
http://www.jobmonkey.com/oilindustry/html/oil_drilling_overview.html
http://www.oiljob.com/
http://www.oilfieldworkers.com/
http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/Divisions/CollegeCareerDevelopment/Career%20Resources/JOBS_OIL_GAS.htm
http://www.oilcareer.com/affibuslet.htm

Posted by Samantha T on August 16, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

At last! After several weeks of anxiety and penny-pinching, I'm employed full time again. Granted, it's a two week temp position. But at this point I'm grateful for any bit of employment I can get. In the meantime I've also interviewed for two positions: one at a theater, and another for a company that makes health products. I haven't heard from the theater company (even though I called them twice and emailed them) and it's been two weeks. So, I'm assuming that it's a bust. However, the health product company called me in for a second interview, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. After a year of doing temp work, I'll be glad for the familiarity and set schedule that a full time, permanent position would bring.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 15, 2006 at 6:51 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

This is what it has come to.
There are five of us young professionals looking for a job to take the place of the ones we hold at our seasonal concert venue near the city. We love it. It loves us (mostly). However, love is fleeting, especially in the live music industry, or so it appears, and we are begging our seperate but equal ways around the problem.
This is how things happen.
We convene in the morning, with coffee, and discuss who has found what job, how interviews went, how interviews are found, and what we all might do in order to make a living if nothing on the backburner pans out. One would think this would turn into some sort of competition, but it has yet to do that, and I don't see any future meetings turning violent. The thing is, looking for jobs in the concert production industry is simple because there are none.
But we are getting creative in our intrepretation of "concert production" and even better at talking ourselves into applying for jobs that aren't what we want, but interesting, workable, and advancing.
I feel the post-graduate idealism wearing off. Slowly.

Get the latest on diversity issues in the workplace at Diversity Jobs.

Posted by Ashleigh H on August 15, 2006 at 6:46 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

So you want to pick people’s brains eh? Well, since you’re looking for entry-level jobs in psychology, you’re definitely not qualified (I'm joking of course), so let’s take it one step at a time. I think that psychology.about.com is a good place to start, provides a nice brief summary of the types of jobs available to the person looking for entry-level jobs in psychology. Basically someone right out of undergrad without the professional degrees and so honing those research skills, interpersonal skills and writing skills can open up a lot of jobs such as a library assistant, probation officer, business manager, case worker, or in sales, marketing, case management, and government welfare protection agencies. The list seems endless, a nice beginning to the entry-level job search.

Looking at a nice breakdown of entry-level jobs in psychology is a good idea as well. There are certain jobs in business, social services and an apparently miscellaneous category. It is definitely worth looking into for all you psychology majors out there.

Next try listening to some professional advice. I found a website (www.psychwww.com/careers), a pretty random website that actually had helpful links on it. There is advice and direction provided for all psychology aspirers, not just the entry-level job in psychology seeker. Links tailored to exploring careers with the same skills and abilities a student in psychology might have, entry-level jobs, graduate school advice and job searching resources. There is a nice timeline available, so those of you whom have not graduated yet, look into this right now.

Posted by Samantha T on August 15, 2006 at 6:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

This is the title of the latest online article I read. It is a technique designed to help a college student gain more real world experience while simultaneously fulfilling a class requirement. It can really be a helpful tool, especially if your project gives you the opportunity to work inside a particular company of interest. If no special projects are assigned during the tenure of your class, you might consider asking your professor to replace your final with this assignment, or as extra credit. The Department Chair might even allow this project to be an "Independent Study" project. Once you get past this step, the next thing to do is to choose the company you would most like to study, and contact it to find out as much general information as possible. You will more likely have an easier time entering the company for research purposes as probably the only student working on a project for a college course.

The article uses this example: "I am in the process of completing a special project for my ____ class and have chosen your company to research. Could you please provide me with some information?"

This type of approach is natural in trying to gain entry into a company. Your thirst for knowledge will impress the otherwise closed-mouthed employees so much, it can cause them to share information you would never get. Remember, while conducting your research inside the company, you also have a chance to get the names of key people and titles from within the organization. Because you are likely the only college student using the company for an academic project, it will leave you in a good position with the company for any future job openings. Another reason being you have already gained access inside the company.

As a result of all your hard work, you have accomplished three important tasks: meeting your academic requirement by completing the special project, having greatly enhanced your resume, and gaining access to a company of interest. It's a win-win-win situation! In other words, the special project technique gives a student the chance to fulfill an academic need, and experience a connection with the real world.

Posted by William F on August 15, 2006 at 11:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

A week ago I was very worried about my job statues, needless to say I still am. I had two job interviews a week ago which I wrote about in an article titled, Welcome to Chicago. It was 7am in the morning a quick grab of my belongings and I'm out the door; downtown Chicago, a smile, and I'm standing infront of the receptionist desk thirty minutes early. I was having a job interview with a big bank company on the 34th floor and I was exited as ever. My first interview was with an alumni, which was great, I loved her energy, she said, "Where can you work?" I told her I would work anywhere! She remarked, "Seriously?!" So, i was having my second interview with HR who stripped and inquired about everything that has happened in my professional life, but i did it with a goal in mind. I wanted this job, so I went and sold every piece of my body. Gladly, I was very happy to hear her words, " Your my top candidate for this position." Three hours later I'm back home chatting it up with my girlfriend about how it went. So why I'm i so worried? For one, leaving my house in such a rush made me blind to the type of outfit I was wearing. Black pinstriped suit and a blue shiny tie. However, I left and observed my pants, they were blue, i mistakenly took blue pants instead of black pants. Secondly, i had to type my background information into a server online, for a background check. I think I made a couple of errors! So what now?
I was at a Theme Park in Gurnee, Illinois. I was meeting up with a lot of friends and decided the day before that although money had become my worst foe, I was prepared to have fun. So I bought two season passes. I think the best decision of my summer so far. September is coming up, so are tons of bills, I've made a plan.
Contact my HR and focus on other hobbies because the best things in my life have happened when i was having fun.

Posted by Jose G on August 15, 2006 at 9:48 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

España is definitely one of my loves and if you have the good fortune to make it there and live and work there, well, then, you’re doing all right. Anyway, I suggest looking at the article I wrote before entitled “Job Seekers: Entry-level International Jobs Are Available!!” as there are good links there such as careerbuilder.com. I did a simple Spain search for managers and came up with at least 11 entry-level jobs in Spain. It’s a nice place to start.

I also found this other site www.iwork.iagora.com that also has some promising information on entry-level jobs in Spain. This site is specifically tailored to entry-level jobs in Spain unlike some sites that list a lot of jobs and you find a few that you actually qualify for. The only “bad” side is that to access the entire site you have to pay a fee of about $25 for the year, $12 for four months, and $7 for one month and then you will be able to create an “iwork premium” profile. I know I always shied away from job search sites where I had to pay money for their services or either I just forced myself to be content with the free services. There’s also www.aftercollege.com that offers free and not-so-free services. To be honest, with that site the not-so-free services are pretty inadequate but you can be the judge.

Again look at my previous posting to find more general international information on entry-level jobs and just specify Spain. Good luck.

Posted by Samantha T on August 15, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I'm a huge Harry Potter nerd. I saw a job offer for writers to help out with a website that is doing a MUD game. I didn't even know what MUD was so I had to look it up. The whole gaming world is a big blur to me, but Harry Potter is not. I applied today for two position openings. The best part is that since it is a website, I can do it from anywhere. My location changing won't affect it! I'm hoping that I can get this job to have under my belt. It seems like it would be a great experience and add to my resume. I'm not actually sure if it is even a paying job, but I figured any writing experience right now will help me in the future. Right now I'm pretty stoked. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Posted by Allison C on August 15, 2006 at 4:12 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

First off, if you are looking for careers in geography in the first place—kudos—because you are already an impressive person. Now to make you marketable, I stay start with the Riley guide (www.rileyguide.com) as it lists all types of geography related jobs. Definitely the most important step in the job search is to know what it is you really want. Be as specific as possible since saying, for example, that you want an entry-level geography job is quite a broad statement, too broad in fact to actually do the search any justice. So visit the site, read up on the different types of entry-level geography jobs that are available out there and see which ones are perfect for you.

After you have the necessary research out of the way, the fun part comes in realizing that dream job. That’s where www.geosearch.com comes in by listing all types of geography jobs and where in the world you can find these opportunities. Just remember this is not the only resource available, click on the links tab and see what else pops up, you just might be pleasantly surprised.

I’m also a fan of professional organizations so see what the Association of American Geographers (www.aag.org/careers) has to offer. In my experience these organizations (for a small membership fee) provide links for internships, resumes, cover letters, the application process, conferences, contacts…a variety of useful stuff. Even before you start the entry-level geography job search, this site might be something of interest.

One last tidbit I found: jobs for geographers that don’t know GIS. Geographic Information Systems is a mapping software program used as a model of the world to find patterns in weather and even populations. Clever program. However, it seems that not all entry-level geography job seekers have experience in this software and an article on www.directionsmag.com has some advice for those people. I wouldn’t do it justice by summarizing it here, since the geography specific jargon goes over my head, but look into it.

Posted by Samantha T on August 14, 2006 at 6:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If Germany is your next destination for entry-level international job experience, you’ve made an interesting choice. Along with the mix of cultures and communities, the entry-level job search in Germany is not an impossible one. In my brief search for entry-level German jobs, Goingglobal.com seems to be the most promising site for these opportunities. It provides a cultural profile of Germany giving a background on the types of people whom live there and how the society functions. Prepares one for a living change by discussing visa requirements, the cost of living, preparing resumes and cover letters, how to apply for entry-level German jobs and what to expect from the jobs that are available. The site, providing details on a variety of countries, is geared towards serious international job experiences. It’s a pretty extensive job search and will provide loads of information for entry-level jobs in Germany searches.

Another website made me want to drop everything and find an entry-level German job. Seriously! It’s called transitionsabroad.com and lists short-term work abroad (such as au pairs) and long-term jobs abroad. There are even lists for internships, volunteering and such and made me wish I had done this search in my undergraduate career—dang hindsight!! There are even databases for language study abroad programs (and obsession of mine) and so many tips and tricks for living abroad—even providing classifieds!!!! As you can see I am too excited about this website and I have no plans in the near future to relocate to Germany and find an entry-level job. So all interested people please check out these two great sites and when you find a nice opportunity…think of me.

Posted by Samantha T on August 14, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Well folks, I just quit the security of my normal summer job, thrusting me into the spirit of finding a job in Boston, and moving out of my parents' house! $6 an hour won't cut it for THIS college graduate.

I'm trying to find a job in the publishing industry -- preferably an "editorial assistant" or "assistant editor" position -- so I can learn the ropes and eventually start my own publication. Stay tuned.

Posted by Chris C on August 14, 2006 at 2:53 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

A cool website, www.business.com, has tons of links that list trucking jobs that are available. The website is just one big link database to truck driving jobs out there, it will take some major searching to actually narrow down which sites are the best, and which are actually useful. But then the job search is always a slow and laborious one anyway; at least you can see that the truck driving business is not an abstract one. Meaning there are people just like you out there searching and hoping for that next opportunity.

Some sites show that some companies even sponsor the CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) training classes that all entry-level truck drivers must take. One such company even boasts a simple three-week program and at the culmination a nice entry-level truck driving job to look forward to. It seems like a nice deal to have the opportunity to gain the license in conjunction with truck driving experience. Check it out and start driving.

Posted by Samantha T on August 13, 2006 at 9:12 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

So, I guess the phrase of the day is "when it rains it pours."

After three months of little-to-no responses on the job front, I finally get hired by one company, hear back from another, and get an e-mail asking me to sign up for a conference call to see if I'd be a good addition to "the team."

All three of these happened in about two days of eachother. So now, I have a job, I need to wait to see when I work next week to schedule the conference call, and I have to tell another place that I'm already employed and that I could work as long as they don't mind me working another job.

I am a bit concerned about the conference call. Well, I guess nervous is a better word. I've never done one of those before, and it makes me feel like I'm going to be up against a firing squad. Usually, I just get interviewed by one person- with other people walking in and out to say hi. This makes me feel more like I'm on trial, and that answering a group of people who have taken the time to put together elaborate questions pertaining to my meager work experience.

I'll let you all know how it goes after it happens. I also start work on wednesday. Just imagine. Next time I post, it might not be about the pains of finding a job. I may actually move on to the pains of working.

Crazy, huh?

Posted by Bryan P on August 13, 2006 at 2:04 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

About a week and a half ago I got a call from a headhunter. She was nice at first, very young (younger than I), and pushy. She was recruiting for a sales opening at a huge corporation that has a location close to my home. She asked me what my goals and aspirations were and I told her that I want to be in publishing and, eventually, be an editor. This apparently didn't phase her and she told me that everybody has to start somewhere and the company that she was representing is a great place to start. The company has a bad reputation and I really didn't want to do sales but she talked me in to interviewing. She mentioned that the training class starts on August 14th, which would allow me to give only 1-week's notice. I mentioned to her that I wouldn't be able to start that soon. She didn't really respond. She just kept telling me how great the company is and kept trying to sell me the position.

Monday morning, as I was reluctantly getting ready for my interview, she called me again. She was telling me what to wear and how to act and what to say (which I found very condescending) and I told her again that I would not be able to start on August 14th. I explained to her that I had to give 2-week's notice. At this, she lost it. She started yelling at me and telling me that I was unappreciative that she was trying to help me and get my career started. She told me that I "need" a full-time job, I "need" benefits. I stopped her and said, "You don't know me, you have no idea what I need." She asked me why I couldn't just explain to my boss that this is a great opportunity and I had to start in a week. I tried to explain to her that my boss is also my friend and I wouldn't take advantage of her like that and it's common courtesy to give 2-week's notice. She got even more upset, telling me that it's not her fault that my "friend" (putting snide emphasis on "friend") couldn't understand that I was getting a great opportunity. She said that the company wasn't going to appreciate this very much and it would make her look bad. I told her that if they didn't understand that I had to give 2-week's notice then I didn't want to work for them at all.

This bickering went on for about 10 minutes while I stood in my driveway, uncertain as to whether I should even bother getting in my car. I stayed calm while she yelled at me and insulted me. At one point I think I even laughed at her because she was being so ridiculous. Finally, she stopped and asked if we could wipe the slate clean and start over. I said fine and I went to the interview.

I knew that I didn't want to be there and after talking to the headhunter, I didn't want to be anywhere. She put me in a salty mood for the day and I just wanted to wash my hands clean of the situation. I happened to know the girl that interviewed me and she asked me back for a second interview. The job was basically glorified telemarketing. I don't need that kind of starting point. I told her thank you, but I wasn't interested in the position. She understood and we said goodbye.

The headhunter called me back to see how the interview went. I told her that I wasn't interested in the position. This set her off again. Again, she insulted my intelligence, my choice, and my current situation (which I am perfectly happy with). She asked how I left things with them and I told her everything was left just fine. It was like she didn't trust me to know how to speak to people in a professional way, ironic. After I finished telling her everything that was said, she said, "Thanks a lot!" and hung up on me.

I'm sure that she just needed one more person for her commission and I hope that I totally screwed that up for her. I've been waiting until I cool down to contact her supervisor. She's not messing with some stupid kid. I don't have a full-time job by choice and I'm certainly not going to take the first sales job that comes around. And aren't headhunters supposed to assess your wants and needs and fit you to a job that you would actually like to have? I don't know how headhunters work but if they're all like that girl, I don't ever want another call from a headhunter again. I was so offended and appalled by her unprofessional behavior, her supervisor will definitely be hearing from me.

Posted by Sara S on August 13, 2006 at 11:46 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

I just read Zack's blog about setting up an interview for an article that he wanted to sell to a certain publication.

He successfully got the go-ahead from that publication, but I would not recommend doing that again. The wording of his e-mail was ambiguous enough to allow the argument to go either way. Although he did not specifically say that he was a reporter for X magazine, when he said he was writing the article for X magazine, the inference was easily made.

I made that mistake the first time that I wrote an article. I said I was writing the article for the local paper, which I was; however, because I was not an on-staff reporter for the paper, the editor who purchased my story - probably because my professor was an on-staff reporter and because I was a lowly student trying to get published for the first time - let me know in no uncertain terms that I should not ever again represent myself as a reporter for their paper.

The point was taken. I am a freelance writer. Period. I only say I am writing an article for a particular publication if they tell me directly, write this article for us. When that happens, they usually also set up a contact for me who will connect me with the interview subject.

I'm glad things worked out for Zack. I think that's cool, but I also think that we as writers need to tread carefully when dealing with editors. We don't want to bite the hands that may one day feed us.

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 12, 2006 at 2:26 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

At my new job, one of the tasks I was assigned was to read a pretty good book on selling with integrity. I found a lot of the tasks/goals to be things I did naturally and knew intrinsically, and I thought they were very applicable to job-seeking and perhaps the reason why I’ve generally found success without a lot of disappointment or trouble. A lot of our success is what we create for ourselves internally. Sounds cheesy, but it works! According to the author, there are three levels of self – I think, I feel, I am. It’s the “I Am” level that often screws people up or catapults them to success. It’s getting the goals and traits you need into the “I Am” level that makes one successful.

I think this lacking “I Am” level creates a lot of hardship for new graduates and those with little work experienced. The “I Am Inexperienced” is so ingrained in them that the message comes across loud and clear to any potential employer, and that is not a great message. I’m not saying that anyone should lie or bluff in any way, and they shouldn’t inflate their own ego to believe they are “experienced” but to dwell on a lack of something is never good, especially something that is fleeting. After all, you’re inexperienced today, but you could be more experienced tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that, etc. In interviews, I always fully admitted my lack of experience in an area when it was pointed out, but I did not dwell there.

A month ago, in the phone interview for my current job, for instance, my now-boss was looking through my resume, sizing me up, and one of the early things he said was, “It didn’t seem like you had much advertising experience.” And I didn’t. I conveyed as much, but I pointed out my sales experience and marketing experience and also managed to convey an interest in advertising that allowed him to bring me in for the interview, back several times for more interviews and a personality/aptitude test, and eventually give me the job. In my “I Am,” I had neither the fear of my inexperience, nor the delusion that I had experience that I did not have. I had the knowledge that this was a job that I would enjoy and be good at. Looking back, at many of the jobs where the process failed to progress --- where I failed to sell myself as a candidate --- it was either where my enthusiasm in the job or company lapsed or where my "I Am" failed to fit with the job, where I felt I could not or would not want to do it.

For me, it is something I believe I did naturally because I have resilient, carefully developed self-esteem and a good sense of self on a professional level. Everywhere I’ve been – from the earliest, part-time job in high school, I have been seen as one of the best and most successful, and that made it easy for me to believe “I Am Successful” on that level. I was actually quite down on myself when I was younger (ugly duckling syndrome) and I worked to develop my self-esteem as a whole because of that. It gets harder as you get older and your “I Am” gets more settled, but certainly everyone can do it, especially at the age of most college graduates. It will not happen overnight, but if you change your “I Am” and make your doubts and fears into more positive beliefs, I think that you will be at least 10 times more successful than you currently are. I still have some that I am working on, and it helps every time I eradicate a fear or erase a doubt.

I wasn't sure if I could list the name of the book here, but if anyone wants to know it, they can e-mail me through my name, I think.

Posted by Alison H on August 12, 2006 at 10:24 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

I bet I know what you are thinking: how great would it be to work at place where I can get all the discounted coffee that I want!! Does this sound like you? Okay, first, I want to say lay off the coffee, just a tad, and second, let’s help you do something about this…aspiration?

Again, I say utilize the tool I touted before, Hcareers, hopefully that will be of some use. If not, let’s try a different tactic. How about going right to the official website of the company (www.starbucks.com) that is bound to produce some areas of interest to potential Starbucks entry-level job employees. In fact it actually does and I find it the most direct tactic to take in searching for Starbucks entry-level jobs or any job within the company. We find again handy search tools, nice pictures, graphics and even a career center sponsored on the website. Interestingly, Starbucks hosts internships throughout the summer as well as recruiting events and provides a section on “retail careers.”

The website actually is very good at giving you a feel for the company as it highlights its impact on the world in a section entitled “social responsibility” to build community and equality, while also having a press room and a list of international stores. It’s a big Starbucks love fest, but it is interesting at any rate. I say rummage around the site, read up on the company (something any job seeker should do anyway) and then check out some of the Starbucks entry-level jobs listed where you currently reside. If the amount of stores around the world is any indication, there should be a way for all interested parties to find a Starbucks entry-level job somewhere in the neighborhood and stock up on all those coffee discounts. (Obviously, I have no clue whether you actually will get discounts--so don't quote me).

Posted by Samantha T on August 12, 2006 at 10:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

According to the US Department of Labor, to be a nurse in 2012 is to have increased and added benefits and a nice pay increase. Experts on monster.com warn that this does not mean that an excellent nursing resume has been phased out, a contraire, strong nursing resumes will promote you, bring in a higher salary and “get you noticed.” As in all resumes highlight your qualifications, your expertise, experience, and awards. Keep searching on monster for sample resumes available, even collegegrad.com—another known site.

Then there are the websites begging job seekers to post nursing resumes such as (rnwanted.com/classpm/resumebuilder.html). So after you create an award-winning nursing resume, simply post on one of these special sites and an opportunity is sure to appear. It’s nice that sites provide advice for the beginning nurse and the nurse that has already been in the field for a while. Obviously, wherever you happen to be in your nursing career, the benefits are only going to get better and by utilizing these tools you will surely be on the receiving end.

Monster:
http://featuredreports.monster.com/nursing04/resumesample/
http://featuredreports.monster.com/nursing04/resumesample2/
CollegeGrad.com:
http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickstart/nursing.shtml
Posting resumes:
http://www.rnwanted.com/
Students:
http://www.careercenter.ilstu.edu/students/nursing/Resume/

Posted by Samantha T on August 11, 2006 at 7:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I’ve been asked to do a conference call for a Reporter position in California. I’ve never done a conference call and to be quite honest I’m a little bit nervous about it. How am I going to survive a full hour of the typical, “Tell me a little bit about yourself” and “Why would you be good for the position” questions? What are the key questions I should be asking?

I’m sure I should research the company before the interview. I do know that it is a web-based business. I can assume that working as a reporter for a web-based business probably means I’d be working from home, right? If I am unable to work “on the field,” as they say, I am definitely not going to be one hundred percent happy. Oh well. Who is one hundred percent happy at their job anymore? I’m guessing the only way to really prepare for this phone interview is to research the position and the company as much as I can. If there is any other specific advice I need to know, I’m all ears!

Posted by Magda O on August 11, 2006 at 3:49 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

All you creative cookers out there, or aspiring cookers, or those who just like to be around food, fret no more: with the simple click of a button and some spare time you can make all your dreams come true. Those entry-level restaurant jobs you’ve been salivating over are ready, or is it ripe, for the taking. I want to introduce you to a superb site that has everything you need to get the foot-in-the-door and it’s called Hcareers. It provides all anyone ever needs to find restaurant jobs, retail jobs, and hospitality jobs. Just click on the appropriate link (restaurant jobs) and then an entire list of restaurants pops up, you can click on one icon to find out more about the company and where the employment opportunities are located. If you change your mind and decide that food is not for you, you still have two other links to peruse—what is better than that? For the inclined person, create a member profile, post your resume and be “the first to know” about job opportunities by getting information sent to your email address. Who doesn’t love that?

For those adventure lovers check out Hcareers in Canada, the UK and Ireland.

There is also hospitalityonline.com, foodservice.com/employment, hotelrestaurantjobs.com, finediningjobs.com, foodwork.com…as you can see the list is quite extensive. My personal favorites are hospitalityonline.com and foodwork.com as they seem to be the easiest to navigate, provide the most amount of information on the employers, and the specific jobs available, and even subcategories of fastfood, restaurant or kitchen jobs (foodwork.com).

In my opinion the more specific the better and the more extensive the search the more opportunities one will have access to. Both sites provide contact information for the companies and even salary estimates. Hospitalityonline.com is a bit more extensive in what the requirements and specifications are for jobs and adds a nice touch by including detailed specs on the company in question.

So go eat!

Posted by Samantha T on August 11, 2006 at 2:00 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It seems that finding those entry-level government jobs is not the hardest thing to search for in the working world. There is an official website for government jobs called USAJobs (http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/?WT.svl=searchbutton) and provides one of those handy job search tools (yay search tools) that allows you to specify what type of government job you want, in what state/province and requires you to specify even further the job description (manager for example). It couldn’t be easier to find entry-level government jobs, it seems, and to make the process even easier you can search by agency, and occupational series (how federal jobs are grouped). There is also the senior executive search, which is, apparently, one of the top job levels in the federal government.

There are even sites available out there that allow for an even more specified search for government jobs such as Cyber-Sierra's (http://www.cyber-sierra.com/nrjobs/gov1.html) natural resources job search for government jobs in conservation. This site is nice because it provides a plethora of different links for all types of government jobs and assistance in searching and obtaining government jobs. It’s a nice little database for government jobs and even has resume help as a featured tool.

There are many ways to specify the search at these sites so just tinker with those handy search tools.

Posted by Samantha T on August 11, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I jump on any and all opportunities to go out of the country and I’m lucky that I will be able to do so again as I go on to graduate school. However, it is one of my hobbies finding new and exciting ways to go out of the country. I found a fabulous website that is geared toward students and study abroad or student exchanges, but also provides a job-search center for the ambitious job seeker. Here you can look for entry-level international job opportunities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and Australia with serious planning tips for “thorough preparation” and a “successful application.”

The site provides information on working permits for the country in question, the application procedure, writing a resume and cover letter for the country in question (such as what and what not to stress) and even the culture of the job force for potential international job seekers. This website is a true asset for any student, or person, interested in any type of exchange abroad be it school or work related. There are endless resources and links available to help with all steps of the international relocation process.

Once such link that is absolutely perfect for the entry-level international job seeker is the website for expertise in labour mobility and is actually an addition to the website provided above. It provides “country guides describing the main routes to employment in 31 countries.” The mission of the site is to promote mobility in the “global workplace” and so is absolutely essential for any and all potential international job seekers to look into. While it does not directly provide a job search link, it provides all necessary information for a smooth transition into the workplace of another culture.

As for the actual entry-level international job seeker search (say that five times fast) careerbuilder.com provides a nice search tool by job sector for the UK, Canada and India, currently, but there are various partner job sites listed for South America, the Middle East, Korea, and various European countries. The one caveat is that most of these partner sites are not in English. I’m sure there are mountains of search and site possibilities out there, but hopefully these will give you a heard-start.

Study Abroad Resource Center: http://www.internationalstudent.com/jobsearch/uk_article.shtml
Expertise in Labour Mobility:
http://www.labourmobility.com/
Career Builder’s International Job Search: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobFindIl.aspx

Posted by Samantha T on August 10, 2006 at 11:07 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

One thing I’ve learned this summer in my attempts to get started as a writer is how to construct a query letter. A query letter essentially is a pitch to an editor about an article that you’d like to write. You give them some bio information, your idea for the inner workings of the story, why you’re the right guy or gal to write the story, etc.

Doesn’t sound too complicated, right? I don’t think it is. But it is very strict, very regimented, very there-is-really-only-one-way-to-do-it—at least if you want to do so professionally and be taken seriously. Which has been my aim.

Two weeks back I queried the editor of an entertainment magazine about doing a piece on an up and coming entertainer. We’ll call the entertainer Suzie.

The editor responded, “You’re query was great. And it’s good to know that we’ve got a guy in Philly. Unfortunately, we only assign profile pieces to our staff writers. However, if you’d like to write it on spec, you’re more than welcome to send it on over for consideration.”

On spec means that if they like what you wrote, then they’ll buy it. Not before. They want to see it first. In other words, you don’t get paid as a writer-on-assignment. There’s a chance that your article won’t get accepted and you won’t get paid at all. It’s all a matter of show-me-what-you’ve-got.

For me, this was a good thing. A great thing. This is how it starts.

My next step was to contact Suzie to convince her to set up an interview. So I did. I emailed her and said that I wanted to do a piece on her and her upcoming show in the area. The piece would be a bit of an interview, a bit of a review.

I waited a day. In that timeframe, Suzie’s people contacted the magazine about me. Later that day I got an email from the editor. “I did not assign this article to you. I said we would look at it on spec. You DO NOT ever say you are an X reporter. DO NOT contact people under the pretense of an X writer. This does not speak well on your character.”

Oddly enough, that didn’t bother me. Not a bit because I disagreed with what he said. I thought he misunderstood what had happened. So I emailed him back and forwarded the exact language of the email that I sent to Suzie about the interview. It read, “Hello there. My name is Zack and I’m going to write an article for X and I’d really like to set up an interview with you…”

See, it’s tough. I thought what I said was legitimate. I still do. My name is Zack? It is. I’m going to write an article for X? That’s the whole idea. I’d really like to do an interview? That was also correct. I never explicitly said, “I’m an X reporter.”

Lost in translation I guess. My aim wasn’t to swindle Suzie or the magazine—my aim was to land the interview, write a damn fine article, and get published. I finished my response email telling the editor that despite everything, I still want to do this article and I’m determined to get published.

***** I wrote everything before this point on a Greyhound bus earlier today. I have since gotten home and checked my email.*****

I opened up my email account just now. There was a response from the editor. He said, “Point taken. I look forward to seeing the article.”

Not too shabby, huh? So, Suzie. About that interview?!

Check out my book. Tales of a True American: The Legend of Badass Kyle Lewis 2003-2006.
http://www.lulu.com/content/366324

Posted by Zack K on August 10, 2006 at 9:54 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

A good thing to consider after going in for an interview is to write or email the company a follow up letter. A follow up letter is good for several reasons. First, it reinforces your interest in the company. Thanking a company for interviewing you shows them that you're very eager to be hired for the position. Second, it looks polite--and politeness can only add to a company's positive opinion of you. Third, a follow up letter can be used to check up on a company that you interviewed for, who has not contacted you afterwards in a timely manner. (A follow up phone call can also be helpful in this instance.) You can also use the letter as a brief way to include pertinent information about yourself that you may have neglected to mention during the interview. Above all, a follow up letter will make you stand out from all the other candidates, as many candidates neglect to send out such letters after being interviewed.

A follow up letter can be as short as one paragraph. (You probably don't want to make it much longer, as you don't want to take up too much time from the person who is reading it.) It is appropriate to send the letter/email one day after being interviewed.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 10, 2006 at 12:46 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

On Tuesday, my mom and I decided we wanted to have Chinese food for dinner, right? My mom placed our order for delivery and asked to have it put in the containers minus the staples. This is because we had a prior experience where one of the orders had a loose staple, and we didn't want to take a chance on eating from it. Ever since that time, we always ask for no staples when ordering. Anyway, mom specifically asked for this request three times; they said ok. Guess what happened when we got the food; the containers had the staples. Mom called the place back to let them know, and the guy on the phone said either you want the food or not. She said no, and he hung up on her. When mom called back, he did it again, this time while I was listening in. Talk about being unprofessional and disrespectful. What ever happened to customer satisfaction? He didn't get the last laugh, though, because we went to the restaurant to give him the food back (untouched) and get our money back. We decided to get Chinese food from another place that was more professional and respectful to us.

I don't know if this guy was having a bad day, but that is no excuse to mistreat customers who are trying to do business with you. Simply put, that's bad business! So to all employees and employers out in the real world, remember, people only want good service, not your bad attitudes.

Posted by William F on August 10, 2006 at 12:35 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

The most nerve-wracking part in beginning any job search is definitely the foot-in-the-door, and for me that has been my resumes and cover letters. It has been hard for me to decide what should be included in my resume as a recent graduate, because it is still a very inexperienced or entry-level one. I don’t, however, want employers to read my cover letter and resume and think “this candidate has no experience,” and so tweaking an entry-level resume into a competitive resume, while still being honest, has become my task. Luckily, I have some relevant internships and courses that add to my field of study but I found that adding any and all activities, especially the ones highlighting leadership capabilities, is the way to go. Details matter, and any way that I could make something I did in the past relate in a positive way to the current job I was seeking were added.

One tip I learned was that it is not only the content in the entry-level resume that is important, although that is a big factor, but also how it looks on paper. In my opinion a well-formatted resume and cover letter draws the eye to it—the first step—and then when potential employers read it, make sure you sell yourself well. The most important feature is a clear objective or direction on which to focus your resume. For me, realizing that I wanted to highlight my international experiences and my journalistic abilities—and the relationship between the two—helped focus my resume greatly. I knew what to include, and what not to include, and how to make everything emulate this focus. It showed employers what I wanted out of my job, how their company would help me achieve my goals and what assets I had that would add to their organization.

You don’t have to take my word for it, however, collegegrad.com has an extensive entry-level resume section on its website as well as resume-resource.com and even jobsearch.about.com, and I’m sure a host of other websites. It is possible to take a less-experienced entry-level resume and make it into a competitive and strong portrayal of what you have to offer.

Posted by Samantha T on August 9, 2006 at 7:00 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Summer is nearing the end, and the disturbing pang of back to school echoes in the back of my head as September inches closer. September, a month of new beginnings, new classes, friends, and potentially jobs. Finding a summer job was as daunting a task as ever, especially with recent college graduates biting at the heels of the most eligible employers like a pack of ravenous dogs. Being an incoming Senior left me with few opportunities, as most employers were looking for a college graduate.

There is a thin line between professional jobs and mediocre, summer, minimum wage jobs that are offered to college graduates and seniors in college respectively. Nine months stand between that line and me. Graduation is nine months away, and upon graduation I will be eligible to work for companies that have the desire to hire a college graduate. It is not to say that after graduation, professional jobs will be flung onto my doorstep, but at least I can qualify for them.

The frustration is mounting as I feel that no matter how intelligent, experienced, or right-for-the-job I am I will not be able to get such a job until I hold that piece of paper in my hands, rewarding me for the last four years of hard work. Is it so necessary?

I have heard many success stories of college dropouts who have gone on to live fulfilled successful, meaningful lives. So, all in all, how important is that college degree?

Posted by Laura W on August 9, 2006 at 3:54 PM | Leave a Comment (3)

The Internet is wonderful!!! A plethora of resources and information, if you just know where to look; it’s great! So I was thinking about the future today (I do so often) and also about a part-time job I’m thinking of taking on in September. I want to make a budget for myself because I plan to go to graduate school Fall 2007, and I need to save money, so I’ve recently been calculating expected costs. Such as, if I make this much money I’ll be able to spend this much money and still have this much saved up for next year. I stumbled upon the salary wizard created by collegegrad.com (under the heading “salaries”) that allows one to calculate entry-level salaries based on the location you live in (you can also search by a ton of other job categories.)

What is also great is that the website provides a nice parabolic graph listing the lowest entry-level salaries, the average entry-level salaries and the highest entry-level salaries for the job in question. There is a tab that factors in bonuses and benefits and you can get an even more detailed personalized calculation by including your background information, such as your experience and educational information, (although this requires a profile on the website). Quite useful information if you want to know what salary you need from a particular job, especially if you’re like me and have to start paying back loans soon!

Another gadget on the same website is a “cost of living calculator,” which I had a lot of fun with. It takes your base salary now, where you live and work, and where you are moving to, then calculates what you need to earn in your new location to “maintain your current state of living.” Also complete with nice graphics comparing the cost of living between the two places, say between Raleigh, North Carolina and Chicago, Illinois. The gadget even tells you how much higher, or lower, the living costs are between the two locations. Then there’s the stuff just for fun such as the job assessor, salary timer and millionaire maker, but I won’t ruin it for you.

Posted by Samantha T on August 9, 2006 at 12:21 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I am a scheduler. I like to try and plan ahead, as best as I can in order to keep a watchful eye on my impending agenda. Despite my need to make "To Do Lists" and write down every angle of details regarding upcoming appointments, I have not invested in a personal planner in quite awhile. With all the "To Do's" which inevitably come with being an active graduate student, I finally felt the pressure to obtain some sort of planning assistance. My first instinct was to log on and check the latest prices for PDA's. My logic was grounded in my acceptance of my desire for structural security and I knew that I would constantly be adding on new appointments as well as intimate details to my organizer. Unfortunately, due to my graduate student status, money is a commodity in short supply so the concept of dropping nearly $200 for a digital organizer ventured into the realm of pure insanity. I set my sights on obtaining the paper version of the PDA; the personal planner. I was astounded how difficult it was to track one of these valuable commodities down. Store after store had no trace of the non-electronic form of organizational bliss. Ultimately, I had to wait until the middle of the month of July to obtain a planner from my school bookstore. I had to wait that long because the planners follow the academic school year, which usually starts around August 1. With my busy course schedule for the fall semester and a potential internship or assistantship, I was desperately trying to get prepared for the crazy over-scheduling to come. Don't get me wrong, though. I love being busy; I thrive off it. I hate sitting around, twiddling my thumbs because I have nothing important to do. I believe there are few things more satisfying then being able to return to your "To Do List" or your planner and cross out items upon respective completion. Of course, I don't need every single moment of my chaotic life scheduled. There has got to be some spare time allotted to relax, contemplate and dare I say it, have fun. I just like knowing what is coming down the road inside of being blindsided by a car which comes out of nowhere and sideswipes your vehicle leaving you spinning from the encounter. Although part of me still longs for a digital personal assistant(I hope to have one someday), I am quite content for the time being to make friends with my planner and entrust it with my very life.

Posted by Morgan S on August 9, 2006 at 12:17 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I am a scheduler. I like to try and plan ahead, as best as I can in order to keep a watchful eye on my impending agenda. Despite my need to make "To Do Lists" and write down every angle of details regarding upcoming appointments, I have not invested in a personal planner in quite awhile. With all the "To Do's" which inevitably come with being an active graduate student, I finally felt the pressure to obtain some sort of planning assistance. My first instinct was to log on and check the latest prices for PDA's. My logic was grounded in my acceptance of my desire for structural security and I knew that I would constantly be adding on new appointments as well as intimate details to my organizer. Unfortunately, due to my graduate student status, money is a commodity in short supply so the concept of dropping nearly $200 for a digital organizer ventured into the realm of pure insanity. I set my sights on obtaining the paper version of the PDA; the personal planner. I was astounded how difficult it was to track one of these valuable commodities down. Store after store had no trace of the non-electronic form of organizational bliss. Ultimately, I had to wait until the middle of the month of July to obtain a planner from my school bookstore. I had to wait that long because the planners follow the academic school year, which usually starts around August 1. With my busy course schedule for the fall semester and a potential internship or assistantship, I was desperately trying to get prepared for the crazy over-scheduling to come. Don't get me wrong, though. I love being busy; I thrive off it. I hate sitting around, twiddling my thumbs because I have nothing important to do. I believe there are few things more satisfying then being able to return to your "To Do List" or your planner and cross out items upon respective completion. Of course, I don't need every single moment of my chaotic life scheduled. There has got to be some spare time allotted to relax, contemplate and dare I say it, have fun. I just like knowing what is coming down the road inside of being blindsided by a car which comes out of nowhere and sideswipes your vehicle leaving you spinning from the encounter. Although part of me still longs for a digital personal assistant(I hope to have one someday), I am quite content for the time being to make friends with my planner and entrust it with my very life.

Posted by Morgan S on August 9, 2006 at 12:17 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I spent a lot of time looking for a full time job, most of that time I occupied at a part time job that I really loved. However, after months of feeling underappreciated I had to give up my position to pursue full time employment. This was a heartwrenching time, as the job market was tough and every job I interviewed for seem to have another candidate that was more qualifed.
After some time searching for the new wonderful job opportunity waiting for me I was beginning to get impatient. That's when the old job started calling again.
I went on again, temporarily at first. My second day back on the job they were already giving me my full time dream job.
I thought a lot about my background, and how well I did at that job and thought that those references would help land me a job. After a while though, I thought, "No employer will ever know that I'm such a good employee! How can I show them?"
As it turned out, I was such a good employee, I didn't have to show anyone, in fact I already did. In the end I got my dream job... at least for now.

BIS provides background checks to employers worldwide.

Posted by Amber W on August 8, 2006 at 7:43 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Searching on the web I found a useful tool for all those interested in finding entry-level job opportunities in Michigan; all cities included. This site identifies high-growth, high-employment, and even high-wage employment in the state of Michigan, while even listing occupations in high demand. There is even a nifty link near the bottom of the page that lists additional links providing career information, and employment and labor statistics (if that’s of any interest).

For your information, the jobs with the most annual openings are jobs such as systems analysts, computer engineers, managers and computer support specialists—to name a few. All of these jobs can be characterized as entry-level jobs as all that is required is either a BA degree, an associate’s degree or relevant work experience. Of course the needed skills to perform in these jobs is also a prerequisite, but if you are so able these seem to be jobs worth looking into.

I even found a nice resource for job seekers who can search for work by industry, location, occupation or keyword. This tool is useful for job seekers across the United States. Staying with the Michigan theme, however, it’s as simple as choosing a vocation, say engineer, and relevant subcategories pop up until you reach your target occupation. Then a list of companies based on the selected region is listed with the companies’ address, telephone number and size. Surely, this is not a fool proof method, as it is not possible to know if these companies are accepting new applicants, but it is a nice place to start. This advice is most definitely for the proactive job seeker.

The link for entry-level jobs in Michigan is: www.michimi.org/jobseeker/layout040201.jsp and can also be found via Michigan’s state governmental site. The link for the employer locater is: http://www.acinet.org/acinet/employerlocator/emp_loc_result.asp.

Happy hunting!!

Posted by Samantha T on August 8, 2006 at 5:59 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As much as it pains me to say this, I do believe that cover letters are a good idea. Although I have never, to my recollection, received a callback from a resume that I sent out with a cover letter, that does not mean that they are not effective.

Thanks again to the PAS office at the university, I have some information on why it is a good idea to always include a cover letter with your resume.

One David A. Humphrey, owner of Beacon Communications Concepts, a resume-writing and career-coaching service in Naperville, IL, says, "The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, and the purpose of the cover letter is to get someone to read your resume. Actually, the cover letter is a sales pitch for the resume."

For all you writers out there, a resume cover letter is absolutely no different from a query letter. In fact, I believe that if you read "How to Write Irresistible Query Letters" by Lisa Collier Cool, you will be able to kill two birds with one stone: You will learn how to get your work read by editors AND you will learn how to get your resume read by employers.

Mr. Humphrey goes on to give some guidelines on how to write a cover letter that will get you noticed. He says it should be no more than three paragraphs long. He also advises - and I think this is a mistake a lot of people make - that the heading with your name and contact information should be IDENTICAL to the heading on your resume. Don't think for one minute that I haven't gotten all fancy with the cover letter heading only to go bland and professional with the resume heading.

He advises stating that "you are a strong candidate because of your qualifications" at the end of the first paragraph and that you are "a strong match for this opportunity and are looking forward to meeting them," at the end of the third. He also recommends - and this was actually discussed in a previous blog - that you should be proactive and say "if you don't hear from them in a week or 10 days, you will call them." Of course, once you have said that, make sure you follow through on it. It's amazing the things people will remember. And believe me, they will remember you when you call; and they will be convinced that you are someone who really wants to work for their company.

Give it a try, if you haven't already. See what happens. And let us know!

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 8, 2006 at 3:33 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I have an extreme love-hate relationship with the Internet. I love using it to shop and chat, but I’m so sick of putting my resume on all of these job sites just to get a big fat NOTHING in return. I realize that patience is a virtue that I don’t have too much of, but seriously! What ever happened to the good ol’ days when you could hand your resume directly to the manager? Although it hasn’t even been a week since my resume has been on these websites, I am already insecure that my resume is not good enough. But I can’t expect to turn a rock into a diamond. The fact of the matter is that I do not have experience in my field of interest. I can try to sugar coat it on my resume and pretend that my collegiate endeavors were more than enough to get me a great job, but it’s just not true. Furthermore, simply thinking about my “not good enough” resume wears me out so much that I don’t even have the energy to try to change it. Maybe I could get a Headhunter to find a job for me. But using a Headhunter for an entry-level job is probably just a waste of money. So, with nowhere else to turn, back to the Internet I go!

Posted by Magda O on August 8, 2006 at 2:42 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

It’s almost time to head back to school and I’ve spent almost my entire summer searching for a job. Application after application and I find myself still unemployed, still not having fulfilled one of my main summer goals. The whole aspect of job hunting is truly a chore, from filling out applications, to emailing or faxing resumes and then the dreaded interview. The interview has to be the most nerve racking aspect of the prospective employment process. Job boards have made this process a bit less tedious. With various listing of different industries, job boards allow the hunter to locate jobs in whichever industry they desire. They also give the unemployed the option of applying to locations outside of their home state. So maybe job hunting isn’t so bad, waiting for that call or email reply is another story.

Posted by Priscilla R on August 8, 2006 at 1:55 PM | Leave a Comment (2)

The highest paying entry-level jobs are in areas that have, unfortunately, no interest at all for me. Surprisingly, just days after I posted my resume to some online career sites I received emails from insurance institutions such as Ameriprise International or the United American Insurance Company seeking me as a potential interviewee. I assure I have absolutely no experience in the insurance field, but apparently there is not a lot of initial experience required for these types of jobs. A “field representative” or a “unit manager” can stand to make up to $100,000 a year, which is a lot of money for a recent graduate—for anyone really. To me, it seemed like a complete scam but I actually have a friend who will be working as an entry-level employee at Ameriprise International starting in the fall.

She is required to get a certain license before she can start working with customers, and she is now studying for the test that she has to pass. True, the license is about a 2-3 month study ordeal but if you have great customer service skills, and don’t mind studying for an exam, this seems like a pretty rewarding high paying entry-level job opportunity.

Jobs such as these also require that you obtain and maintain your own customer base, but my friend, even before working, has a bunch of contacts already. These people consist of family friends, but a large majority are also professors from her university as well as families who live in the community that surround the university (a great strategy in my opinion).

The insurance industry, from my point of view, seems to be a booming one and I always find new job openings for these companies. In my opinion, and experience, these are the highest paying entry-level jobs for candidates.

Posted by Samantha T on August 8, 2006 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

As you all know, I have been searching for a job for months now. I come from a small town where the job opportunities are few. I do apply to companies in my area, but most of them inform me that I am not qualified. I have also applied for jobs in other states, but here again I face competition against those who have higher qualifications as well as experience.

My degree is in creative writing and the open jobs I have seen here in my area have been for legal secretaries and receptionist. This is about as far as it goes for jobs that are somewhat in my area. Being a legal secretary is something I'm interested in so I called a community college, the one I attended before I transfered to my other college, and luck has it, they are having a six month course to be a legal secretary.

I was planning on taking this course, but was depressed to find that the tuition was over $1,000. I don't have the money to spend on this course. I asked the obvious question about making payments on the course, but was turned down due to the fact that the class is non credit and there is no financial aid. The best they could do was to allow me to put at least half down on the payment. This also didn't work for me because I'm currently working to help pay off my stafford loan.

i was told that I have an option of getting a loan for an interest rate of 10%, but that is absurd. Then after calling a local career center, they told me they might be able to help me pay the tuition for the class in full. The woman whom I talked with asked me a few questions and when we were done, she told me that I could not have the class fully funded because I already had a degree. Apparently, the funding would only be permitted for non-degree seeking individuals. I was so frusterated.

I desperately wanted to take the class because I knew it would assist me in finding and obtaining a job and in time it would help me build up experience for something better. After this major downfall, I have been seriously thinking about going back to my alma matter and majoring in elementary education. My whole family tells me that I would be a great teacher and it may be easier to find a teaching job as opposed to a job with the degree I have now.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to do right now. I feel discouraged and I groan at the thought of going back to school. I have so much money already put into my education. Do I really want to go back to school, spend more money, if being a teacher is not exactly what I want to do? I keep hoping that some employer will give me a chance and allow me to gain experience by working for their company, but no one has taken that risk yet. I have done all I can think of in order to improve my chances of finding jobs, applying, and getting hired, but there aren't any takers as of yet.

It seems as if other people have all the luck. I feel that my education is going down the drain because I'm not using it. I want to be able to go to work knowing that I'm doing what I love to do and not dreading having to do it. Everyone keeps telling me that I will find something, but being in the position I'm in, I highly doubt that I will. Did I major in the wrong thing? Why can't there be a demand in writing or at least an employer give me a chance? I can't see myself working as a dietary aide the rest of my life and wasting my education.

Posted by Jill E on August 8, 2006 at 6:00 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Well, I'm back from a month long graduation trip and now I have to figure out what to do with myself. I've decided to move out to upstate New York with my signifcant other, but still want to be able to go home for months at a time. This fanciful desire of mine doesn't make me the best candidate for internships/jobs though, so I don't know what to do. I've thought about volunteer work to beef up my resume and have come to the conclusion that it is my brightest option since I won't be glued to one state for long periods of time. If anyone has any other suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by Allison C on August 7, 2006 at 8:08 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

In my experience the internship has proved the best way to find an entry-level job and/or point you in the right direction for an entry-level job. In some cases a “good” internship can even be your entry-level job, which will give you the needed work experience to help propel one into more skilled work. The unfortunate fact is that most of the really rewarding internships are unpaid, or for school credit only, and the ones that are by chance paid are extremely competitive. There is a tool out there that is invaluable in the search for these internship opportunities and it’s your institutions’ career services.

My university has an entire list of helpful search engines that point students towards internship opportunities based on their field of interest and I have obtained many opportunities utilizing my university’s resources. If you are a current student go to your career services website as soon as possible, it is essential to start early, and apply to at least five programs. I you are a recent graduate the search might be a bit harder to find non-undergrad opportunities but your passwords should still be functioning and those opportunities are out there. Again, start early and apply to a bunch of programs to guarantee that you will hit at least one.

To help with the search, since in my experience it has definitely been a long process, I recently stumbled upon an internship hosted by the Institute for Humane Studies. This Institute hosts a variety of paid internships, contests, fellowships, scholarships and summer seminars all designed to educate and train students to be young professionals in a variety of fields. The seminar I recently engaged in was the topic of public policy and economics and liberty issues tailored to students interested in careers in politics or journalism. This website has so many tools and is a great starting point for the student who wants more experience, a paid internship or a direction.

I never had much luck doing the google/yahoo search thing and so I simply advise the career center at your institution and www.theihs.org, both places have pointed me in the right directions and into rewarding internships and career programs.

Posted by Samantha T on August 7, 2006 at 7:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Chin up, shoulders back, strong eye contact, firm handshake...check check check check. Everything is accounted for. You say all the right things, you laugh at all the right mild jokes and still you don't get that coveted 2nd interview (that's right, for those of you just entering the workforce, many executive level positions require 2 or 3 and sometimes more, interviews). I worked as an administrative assistant for years while in school and have seen many candidates come through many offices that I have worked in that looked great and were very impressive, just for my boss to say, "Send him/her a rejection letter". Many times it was not a lack of qualification or a faux pas during the interview. It was simply "not a good fit".

Have you ever walked into a company and and after a couple of minutes thought, “Now this is me!” or conversely “I’d rather eat rat poison than work here everyday”. Just like you can sense when some place is “not a good fit”, employers often have that same intuition if they have been interviewing people for years. If you know you nailed it and have the skills to do the job, and still didn’t get it, sometimes it’s just a matter of match making. Don't obsess or over analyze yourself to the brink of crucifixion. It just leaves room for a good match to come your way.

If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.

Posted by Pilar G on August 7, 2006 at 5:14 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Well, it only took me around three months, but I finally got an interview today!

In a way, it's a little depressing since I put out a lot of applications and the only place that really had interest in me was a retail job that's very part time. On the other hand, I'm psyched. I finally have something to do again! I'll finally have an income! Just imagine, actual money coming in!

Anyway, the interview went well, and I was told that as soon as they call my references, they'll let me know when I can start working. Well, that is if the references don't bash me when they call.

An interresting side note- I was asked a lot of questions during the interview. Like, a lot more than I remember being asked when I got my last part time job. Apparently, they have a sheet filled with questions that they're required to ask all potential employees. I kind of liked it better than the interview I had for my dishwashing job a few years ago that consisted of several large, scruffy-looking men asking me if I know how to wash dishes.

It pays to have accomplishments, by the way.

Posted by Bryan P on August 7, 2006 at 5:04 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I'm assuming that taking the GRE would be beneficial to me by taking it and seeing what kind of score I get. But here's the rub--I don't have $140 to take a test I know that I'll flunk. That is the reason why I chose only graduate schools that don't require the GRE. Granted, my GPA isn't up to par (it's a 2.8 because of major changes and some grades are horrible), but I hope my statement of purpose and recommendations are okay. As of right now, I applied to Rosemont College in Rosemont, Penn.(English and Publishing program) and Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. (Creative Writing program). There are other schools I want to try like Sarah Lawrence (which will never happen), University of Baltimore, University of Mass-Amherst, and a couple of other ones on the West Coast. Like I said before, I got in provisionally at Rosemont. I mailed back a form saying I would go there next summer to take two classes to see if I will be accepted fully. I'm waiting to hear from Lesley and I really, really hope that I get in Lesley because their program is excellent. Plus, I want to be near family. I'm originally from Boston and want to move back up there, but it'll be hard, for sure. Anyways, I'm just waiting to hear from Lesley. It could be any day now. I really think that either school will be good for me. It'll give me a chance to be on my own for the first time in my life.

We'll see what happens.

Posted by Rebecca N on August 7, 2006 at 3:27 PM | Leave a Comment (3)

Like most people that just graduated, I began looking for a job. I began polishing my skills on interviewing and resume writing and had got to the point where I felt confident enough to begin my career search. Two months gave gone by and was beginning to lose hope. Here I was a native of Chicago thinking that I had a step up on the competition because I lived here. I was so wrong; I had sat down with a CEO at my last interview for a marketing firm, who was making his final decision on me. He explained the situation, "Tons of college grads from the surrounding states are rushing in to the city for an opportunity like this one, why I should hire you?” I began sweating. Why did I want to work in marketing? Was it because I was desperate for money or was I really passionate in sales? Fortunately for me I realized what I wanted and it did not involve aggressive sales.
Over the last two months I have been searching, calling, interviewing. I realized that employers do not want grads that are looking for jobs but careers. On one of my adventures I had stumbled on a job that involved phone sales for an online university and I was extremely exited to find that they had set up an interview. I showed up early had great energy and stories to share, but as I waited for the interview in the lobby, I felt fatigued. I lost my energy and my thoughts began to eat at my enthusiasm. I got to the 5 floor and I came off as insecure, misinformed, and lacking the energy that would have helped me.
So what’s next? I have an interview for a film in pre-production and an interview with a bank. How am I feeling? Well let’s just say, I do not want to come off desperate during my next interview. If I learned from my past interviews is, energize your employer and make him or her feel passionate about what you want to do (Hopefully it’s that job).
-Jose G

Posted by Jose G on August 7, 2006 at 1:55 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

If 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.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 7, 2006 at 12:37 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Are there any college students out there who feel a little homesick once you have left the nest? Well, according to an article in yesterday's newspaper under the "perspective" section, parents are not the only ones feeling a void in their daily lives. One student completing her freshman year said, "A lot of students go through periods of loneliness." She goes on to talk about how the social structure on a college campus can get crazy, and how people tend to lose close friendships while establishing a broader range of acquaintances. She also makes a point of the fact that students create these online profiles where they claim to have a countless number of friends, many of which they don't even know.

Another gentleman, who works at an Illinois counseling center, says students are having a more difficult time of "making really satisfying connections" despite the university's effort to engage students in various activities it offers. He says all of his students have many so-called relationships online but without the risk of having to confront someone face to face. One professor, who teaches in California, even put together an intervention program for lonely students. As expected some of them were reserved, while others seemed quite social on the surface. He believes the best way students will overcome their loneliness is by sharing their feelings, by analyzing why they are lonely, and by working on their social skills. This professor says someone who is lonely may not be aware of tendencies which allow this problem to continue; it is an issue that can be fixed.

I wanted to share this article because I don't know how often this problem is addressed in today's media. This may be a reason as to why some students' lives end in tragedy; they feel completely unwanted by everyone. But on a lighter note, without good social skills it may be harder to make good network contacts for future job opportunities. Just remember, we all need good love and support to make our lives more happy and more healthy.

Posted by William F on August 7, 2006 at 10:55 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

So, you are in need of a good job after you've worked hard for your degree. As you look around at your classmates, what else runs through your mind? Who were you close to during these years? Are you close to 90% of your professors? Can you ask for a recommendation from any one?

Watch Your Mouth

Everyone is aware that college is the best opportunity to schmooze your favorite professors, employers, and associates. Are you caring yourself in a professional manner at all times? Do you know who was watching you grow into this mature, professional adult with a degree in Marketing? College should not be dull, but you should pay attention to everything you're doing in front of people.

For example, making slanderous comments about your professor could harm your chances of a recommendation. You do not have to be best of friends with all of your instructors, but you should show them respect. What if a classmate repeats your comments? What if a classmate hears your disrespectfulness and tells their employer not to hire you because of your sour attitude? The possibilities are endless in college; be sure to know your audience!

Pro Bono Work
Are you a good writer? Help your professors write or rewrite their newsletters for your class. Are you a great people person? Use those skills to create awareness for an organization you enjoy being a part of. You do not need to get paid to get experience in doing the things you like to do on-or off-campus. Do NOT be a glory hound (ugh, they are so annoying). Be someone who does what they love to do without recognition - your participation speaks for itself. Plus, you'll meet new people as you all work together for a greater cause than your self.

Mean What You Say

Do NOT butter up a friend, professor, or employer. That can be a signal for fakeness in the work world. People do not endorse or encourage pretentious behaviors because they'll have no idea of who you truly are. I can not stand people who want to make flattering comments to me when they are wishing I'd leave them alone. What's the purpose? Everything you think, feel, and hope someone else to see will blow up in your face if you're not sincere. Mean what you say to your professors! Ambigiousness can create conflict between what your intentions are and what the professor is willing to do.

Notice that half of the people who ARE successful in their job hunts and careers have the heart to network with people who respect them for being honest. Integrity can align many things to occur for the needy heart. You may feel that others' opinions don't matter, but who gave you that idea in the first place? Be real to those that will be real with you.....your life will be much easier.

Posted by Tahjia Chapman on August 7, 2006 at 3:54 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

If I told you there's a language that most people speak and they're not aware of it most of the time, then would you think I was coo coo? Let's just get this term out there - nonverbal communication. The way you make eye contact, the way you shake hands, and even the way you keep annoyingly rub your neck evry five seconds because you're experiencing 'nervous itchiness' all is a form of nonverbal communication.

The exact amount is argued by all the communication scholars and writers, but at least half of the meaning of your message is conveyed through nonverbal communication. Did you ever have a conversation with somebody and you could tell they weren't paying attention because of their nonverbal communication?

"Honey, please take out the garbage," said Tony's wife.
"Yeah, I will in a second," Tony exclaimed as he stared blankly at the television set watching seductive girls fire large machine guns.
(Tony then proceeds to watch television and completely forget to take out the trash.)
"What's that noise," Tony asked himself, as he saw every single piece of expensive china fly out of the kitchen and smash on the floor.
*smash, crash, Boom, and lots more Batman sound effect noises ensue*
Tony then walked out to the kitchen to see what was going on, to see his loving wife flipping out, throwing every thing in sight while making sigh noises and aggravated caveman grunts.

Would Tony dare to ask what was the matter? He better not. Most of you probably wouldn't either. Why is this? Nonverbal communication - that's why.

So if you're ever attempting to get a job, then you better be extremely aware of your nonverbal communication. It's an extremely important and vital part of the whole communication process and it carries a lot of the meaning. Somebody may completely take something you said out of context, because of your facial expressions or because you just sent out the wrong one. Don't try sitting on your hands and preventing you from looking like an idiot with the way you use your hands, frankly, because even that will make you look stupid. Just be careful. Be in touch and aware of what you're doing, and have confident nonverbal communication, and you'll have a better chance of getting anywhere in life.

Posted by Matthew M on August 6, 2006 at 7:32 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

So for all you still looking for a job…
What do you think of entry-level jobs without benefits? Are they worth taking? Especially if you need health insurance and it is very costly otherwise?
This is my current dilemma. I haven’t even been offered the job yet but it’s a good possibility. Any thoughts are welcome.

Posted by Danielle H on August 6, 2006 at 3:32 PM | Leave a Comment (4)

Since I won’t be enrolling into graduate school until November, I might as well take any job that is available to me. Anything, but work in retail. I’ve been applying to every major company I can think of, and I’ve registered with every job search website on the internet. I’ve scoured the newspaper and driven around the city, searching for any business that would hire. I do have an interview for a teller position at a local bank, but let’s say I’m less than enthused about it. The pay for the amount of work is lousy. The training is intense, but I’ll take the offer if it’s extended. Frankly, I need the money until something better comes along. I’d like an administrative job, but beggars can’t be choosy. I’m truly at my wits end.

Posted by Shameka P on August 5, 2006 at 3:21 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Just a quick little update of the things I've learned lately- the places I'm applying for are horribly unorganized.

I'm really just looking for any job I can take (I'll even take retail at this point) so I can afford my writing addiction, but every place that I've applied to has either:
1. Not looked at any applications
2. Lost my application
3. Lost my contact information entirely
4. Decided to not hire anyone and then forget to tell the applicants.

Really, this job search is getting irritating. My next step is to utilize a string of contacts that I only know because they are friends of relatives. I'll let you all know how that one ends up.

Posted by Bryan P on August 4, 2006 at 8:10 PM | Leave a Comment (3)

Well, I graduated in December 2005 and I thought, like most graduates, that I would find an awesome full-time job right out of the gate. Wrong! I'm still looking for a full-time job that will fulfill my passion. When I tell people that my major was English, they naturally assume that I want to be a teacher. Yeah, I love kids, but not in a collective group where I have to fight to get their attention. I'll break out in hives.

I really want to work in publishing and I sent resumes to publishing companies and also newspapers (I want to write, too), but I don't have the experience that they're looking for. I thought about graduate school in Penn. and I got in (on a provisional entrance), and I'll probably go, but my ideal school is Lesley Un. in Cambridge, Mass. I thought about Emerson, too, but it's too expensive and I'm not smart enough to get in anyways.

I'm a pessimist, so if something doesn't go my way, I won't feel so bad about, but if it does, I'm all a-flutter. Then again, I get these high hopes about certain things like finding a job that deals with my passion or going to the school of my choice and I obsess over it. When it doesn't happen, my bubble is burst sharply with a dull needle so it'll hurt more.

I know now I'm not the only one who feels hopeless in trying to find that right or right now job when I read the entries. It helps me a little to know that I'm not such a loser. It's good that people are writing about the hardships of trying to enter into the professional world. Like most parents say to their children, "Welcome to Adulthood."

And it sucks...hard.

Posted by Rebecca N on August 4, 2006 at 5:06 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I 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.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 4, 2006 at 1:38 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

As a lover of internship and volunteer activities, I encountered an employer interested in getting the best out of me without compensation. I'm not interested in being paid everytime I do an excellent job, I do expect the employers to give me room to breathe. For example, I received my first internship as a writer for an online company earlier this summer; I was very comfortable with the deadlines and the workload for a while. I finished 3 projects with no problem at all...then there was a big bang in-between what I read and what I knew.

My employers asked me to complete approximately 250... 400-word blurbs without pay. Now, for those of you unfamiliar withfreelance writing or the writing industry, this was TOO much to ask for an intern to do! If you add the amount of money you can be paid writing as a real job it outweighs gaining the experience. Take your career seriously, but keep your dignity and self-respect in the process. I would hate to see other students encounter something like this as their first internship. IT IS NOT RIGHT! A company should not ask you to slave ridiculously to earn credit for your work. To me, it's very disrespectful and may discourage you from attempting other internships in the same field. I was unfamiliar with the aspect of internships, but once I noticed this I started initiated what I will and will not do without compensation.

Do not fret if you don't get the internship of your choice the first go-around. Come back stronger than ever to look for more interesting opportunities. There is no way any student can not get an internship with all of the businesses in this country and around the world. Take your time, make the right choice, and you'll have the experience you were looking for as well as great references from considerate employers.

Posted by Tahjia Chapman on August 4, 2006 at 11:56 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Posted by Jesse E on August 4, 2006 at 12:02 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

College kids have it all these days. Or at least, they’re told they do. The job market’s great, the options are limitless, everyone is storming the campuses looking for new recruits. But it’s a different story when you start looking for anything that pays decently well, the vast majority of jobs demanding something that plenty of college grads lack–real world experience.
How can anyone get a foot in the door when everyone looking to hire requires 2-3 years of experience? Entry level positions can be pretty menial, jobs that don’t go anywhere, and certainly don’t pay very well. And besides, 2-3 years of entry level won’t look especially good on a resume.
We all know the answer is internships–it’s the easy way to gain what we all know is valuable experience and some great recommendations. Employers have an easy time hiring someone in whom they have confidence, instead of someone they’ll have to give a chance.
They don’t seem so attractive, however, when they pay a measly stipend or the enticement of “for credit only.” Waiting tables or overtime construction is a much more efficient way of paying the bills, and, in the case of the former, way more fun. But come graduation day the kids who slaved away in office, for credit only, will be far more presentable across the desk in an interview.
As a recent graduate whose only job experience is in retail, especially as one who took some time off and graduated late, I can say it’s rather frustrating that I have to start from scratch at the age of 24, and will be playing catchup to those whose summers were spent wearing ties and getting coffee. A year from now, at 25, I’ll be in the same place as those kids when they were 22. I’d like to think I’m too good for nine bucks an hour. But no one else seems to think so out there.
If it doesn't pay much, think of it as a class. You're getting an education and working hard for it so you can get a great job later. It might take the stress out of having to work for no pay.
Not to say there aren’t fun opportunities that pay well, because they’re out there. Just make sure to get them before you proudly don the cap and gown and get ready to enter the real world. It’ll be a lot smoother, and you’ll thank yourself for it.

Posted by Eytan L on August 3, 2006 at 1:30 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

One year out of college and still no career. It’s a bittersweet feeling, I must say. Definitely “bitter” because job searching is turning out to be a lot more difficult than I expected. And the “sweetness” of it all? I guess it comes from knowing that I’m not tied down just yet…

The world is supposed to be your oyster if you graduated with an English major. You can teach, become a novelist, or even go on to law school. But until then, how do you sneak out of the infamous “Catch 22?” For those who don’t know, the infamous “Collegiate Catch 22,” as I like to call it, is the in-between period when you have all the knowledge and skills acquired from school to land an awesome job, yet no one will hire you because you lack field experience. How are we ever supposed to find a job if no one gives us the chance to prove ourselves worthy?

To handle this tough question, I put myself in one of my Buddhist-like trances, which really consists of me biting my nails to the cuticle while lost in deep thought. And then it hits me! The people who “make it” are always persistent. Maybe persistence is the key to success; not education, knowledge, or even passion. To celebrate my revelation, I will register with all the job websites that I can today. I’ll also go out and apply for anything and everything under the sun that interests me. I’ll keep doing it till I’m blue in the face, or at least until the sun goes down today. Then I’ll drink till I’m blue in the face and try to remember that it’s not so bad being young…

Posted by Magda O on August 2, 2006 at 5:09 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Ever 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.

Posted by Yemisi A on August 2, 2006 at 3:38 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Right now, I am looking to pursue a career in business marketing. However, I have not completely decided which area of marketing I would like to go into. There are various areas to explore such as advertising, public relations, market research, non-profit, product management, and retailing. When people have asked me what part of marketing I want to get into, I just say something in marketing. But what? That's is what I need to figure out, and I know I will. When I first heard about this writing internship, it was located under the categories of media / communication and public relations. Who knows may be I will take a closer look at public relations since I am enjoying this internship. I had not thought of this job opportunity as one related to my major until I looked back at some notes I had written earlier this year from a marketing website. I do realize that it is important to consider different opportunities inside or outside of my major, which may lead me to my dream job and career. Only time will tell.

Posted by William F on August 2, 2006 at 1:50 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Recently, I received a phone call from a PR firm I had applied to several months ago. The woman explained that the firm would be holding informational/training sessions on a Mon. and Wed. night and wanted to know if I would still be interested in attending. I said yes because you should always say yes--Right? Well, come Monday, I had to take off at my other job, but I figured if this turned out well then it was certainly worth missing a day. I called the firm the day of to confirm and ask if I needed to bring anything, and also was trying to get a better idea of what the night would be like. That didn't get me anywhere. I decided to do a trial drive-by of the company to make sure I would be able to arrive on time when it counted. I set off, and about a mile before I was to arrive at my destination, my directions led me into a large, new-house development. "That's weird," I thought, "Where will there be a company among all these cooker-cutter homes?" I turned onto the street, located the correct number, and it was someone's house. There were no signs indicating this was actually a business, but there were several cars in the driveway so maybe its probably nothing to worry about. I followed the directions precisely with no problems and this is where it led.
Later that night, I made the trip back to the house, but this time there were no cars. Of course I had arrived early so I parked out front and took observations. "Where are the other cars? I thought this was a group session? Where is the person that will be conducting the session? Why is there a basketball hoop in the driveway? Oh--there's a swingset in the back. Okay--clearly this is someone's house." A car pulls up. "Finally, someone else has arrived." The car continues into the driveway. A woman emerges--blond hair, shirt, mom jeans. She walks right in. Well, I had come all this way--I'm going in. Even if I totally disturb some random household. I walk up to the door, passing a window that revealed what seemed to be a home office. Good. I ring the doorbell. An eleven-year-old, snotty-nosed kid answers. "You must want my mom," he says. He walks away leaving the door wide open and me standing on the porch. I feel the cool air escaping this huge house and let myself inside. I stand there a few minutes until the same blond from the car descends the staircase. I get a better look this time. Bad bleached blonde hair, frizzy, severe black eyeliner, scary, those faded mom jeans, and-oh my god-bare feet. I extend my hand, "Hello. I'm Jillian." She offers me the loose hand shake and never says who she is. "Come in and take a seat anywhere." We enter a small, cramped office with about three desks. I sit. She sits. A 200 pound Golden Retriever comes running over and sets up shop at my feet. "Oh-you don't mind dogs, do you?" No problem. My $300 suit is dry-cleanable. The phone rings, but she can't find the phone to check the caller ID. She does not want to get into a client call while I'm there, she explains, but it might the other girl lost. "Oh well, if you can't even follow simple directions and make it here--why would I want you working for me?" she laughs. HaHa. "I love it," she continues, "the other day, I had a girl show up on the wrong day. Perfect. If you can't even manage your own schedule what could you possibly do for me?" Wow lady. Yes, we all know if you show up late, or wrong day/time you probably have ruined your chances of getting the job. But, please don't say this out loud to a potential employee. Isn't that bad ettiquette to be talking badly about other candidates? So, we begin. Her big session consists of just two people--me and her. She proceeds to explain a bit about the company, then the position. She shows me a generic press release, then makes me compare it to her super-duper press release. The position seems to be a whole lot of phone calling and landing radio interviews for her clients. Great--telemarketing--just what I want to do. I ask about any potential to write in the position. "I'll let you write a press release as a homework assignment, but I'm not gonna PAY you to write one. Because what I can write in 10 minutes would take you all 4 hours." I had been interjecting throughout to keep up a minimal dialogue, but after an hour she seemed to have run out of steam. It was my turn to ask questions, I thought. Question one--what do you think I will learn in this position as far as skills and such? She paused, "Well, what do YOU think you will learn--based on what I've told you about the position?" What. Did you really just turn around my question? Okay--I respond appropriately. "Yes--exactly," she says. Question two--What sort of mobility is there in this company? "Mobility? So you want to learn what you can here and go somewhere else?" Well, not exactly, but being that I see only three desks, I'm wondering what me future would be here. Your position seems almost stagnent. "Oh no! I see this is not going to work. Maybe you should try looking at firms in New York. What. So you don't believe in progressing your employees or expanding your company? "Yeah. We're done here. You can keep in touch if you'd like, but there is nothing here for you." She basically shows me the door.
"Wow," is all I can say. I took off work to come to some lunatic's house to have her dog drooling all over my fancy clothes while she inflates her ego sans shoes and then kicks me out after finding out I am too good to do her busy work making 50 phone calls a day while she brings her kids to soccer practise and back. Chock it up to experience--even if its bad, it all has value.

Posted by Jillian Z on August 2, 2006 at 12:05 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I have spent the better part of the past few weeks constructing and then promptly dissecting my cover letter for an internship at a local magazine. I want to make sure I produce not only a well-written letter, but a captivating one as well. I try to keep in mind what I used to say to the high school kids I worked with regarding their college application essays. "You have to make yours stand out from the pack because they will be reading hundreds of these submissions." The trick is unearthing that key distinction which will highlight your presentation and make it engaging. I had a teacher back in high school who used to have a hook hanging from the ceiling in her classroom. It wasn't the kind of hook you hang a plant from in order to freshen up the demeanor of the classroom, but rather a large, bulky, black hook like the kind characters such as Captain Hook might fashion. The point of the hook, no pun intended, was to illustrate the need for using a device in writing to grab an audience's attention. The "hook" was the introduction of your paper and it was designed to stimulate interest in your piece. Take a moment and think of your favorite novel or short story. More than likely it begins with some sort of hook; some imagery presented to seduce the reader into pursuing the story. The hardest part of creating the cover letter has been creating a monumental hook. Monumental in the sense that it needs to be almost awe-inspiring in order to distinguish my letter from the other candidates. It is even more vital for the letter to be interesting because the magazine is filled with riveting articles. I had a small selection of people read over a few versions of the cover letter to get a feeling of the reaction it might arouse. Of course, I ended up getting a variance of reactions and seemingly no set opinion on the overall effectiveness the piece proclaims. I am vainly trying to collaborate all the commentary from my experimental census in order to emerge with one complete and hopefully, dynamic piece. The letter serves as my own personal introduction and I want it to speak highly of me. I have to send everything in by next week, so the cover letter needs to be perfected by then. I just hope that it commands the attention of its intended audience because it has demanded so much of my scrutiny.

Posted by Morgan S on August 2, 2006 at 11:36 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

It's hard to paint a masterpiece if you don't put the brush on paper.
You've picked up the paintbrush, you've signed up with job search websites; now the work starts. I know that's not what you want to hear, but its the truth. Yes, some employers will seak you out, but the bulk of seaking rests on your shoulders. A winning combination, or palette, is job seaking - applying - following up - following up some more -hopefully an interview - writing a Thank You note - following up some more.
You will stand out amongst the hundreds of applications if you actually prove to them that you want to work for their company. You just have to keep in contact with them.
A strange thing happened after I got my job, I stopped getting contacted so often about job openings and interviews... Because I stopped applying and following up on the status of my resume. If that's not a sure sign that you need to be passionate about getting a job, I don't know what is.
Getting a job isn't like taking a photograph -*click* you're done-; it's like painting a masterpiece; it takes time and passion.
I always remember loving the English tests that had the "comparisons" (Sun : Moon = Day : Night, etc). Think about it this way... Be Passionate : Get the Job = You : Happy.

Posted by Christina B on August 1, 2006 at 10:55 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

You've heard "Shake what your momma gave ya," but how bout "shake like you mean it"?
If you want to make a memorable first impression, the best thing you can do is have a hardy handshake.
A hardy handshake equates to a hardy, bold, devoted personality. A loosey-goosey handshake says just that. You are loosey goosey.
I know a lot of women out there tend to have these delicate handshakes as if to say "I just got my nails done," but ask any male about handshakes. My family, my dad in particular, judges people on their handshake.
One thing my dad told me before every interview (besides "always pop in a mint five minutes before") was "don't forget about the handshake." I'll be honest, that is one of the best pieces of advice he's given me.
One interviewer went so far as to compliment me on my handshake; he said it spoke a lot about me.
In conclusion, don't break your interviewer's hand, but take it with confidence, it can only help.

Posted by Christina B on August 1, 2006 at 9:48 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As soon as I walked off that stage, a barrage of questions concerning my career plans came my way. It's to be expected. The most common question was if I wanted to teach. I guess a degree in English equals a teaching career to most people. I gave it some thought, but after working at a 5-week summer enrichment program as a 6th-9th grade English teacher, the answer is absolutely not.

So then the question became what did I want to do. I still don't have a clue. My dream job is to become an entertainment/food/travel critic for a major magazine or newspaper. I love rhetoric, and I love to give my opinion. The realist in me is aiming for a corporate writing or publishing position. Maybe I’ll do a little teaching on the side at a community college or local university. Freelancing is always an option.

However, the job offers aren't exactly rolling in, but I didn't expect them to either. Thus, I began my job hunt. I applied to any job that both incorporated my education and previous work experience. However, entry-level jobs are hard to come by in the writing field, especially if you have less than two years of experience. Oh, yeah. That's the other problem. I have no experience. My college doesn’t offer internships for English majors. Although it offers both literature and professional writing concentrations, most of the English courses catered to Lit. majors. As a professional writing major, I feel I was cheated.

The upside to all of this is that there is always graduate school. I found a nearby university where I can pursue a M.A. in English and obtain certification for technical writing at the same time. The certification offers an optional internship, something I definitely will be doing this go-round. From what I've researched, a career in technical writing can be very lucrative.

So until I start grad school in November, I’ll try to find any job that will hire me, which you would think is easy now that I have a degree. I’ve quickly learned that it's not what you know, but who you know. Networking is extremely important. That’s another post for another day.

Moral of this post: Intern, network, and do your research while you’re still an undergraduate. It makes life a little easier once you’re on the other side of the fence.

Posted by Shameka P on August 1, 2006 at 7:35 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

I recently accomplished what many college graduates dream about and sweat over.
...I got a job. The best part about my job? I love it. I used to go to bed at 3 am; now I go to bed at 10:30 pm so I can be chipper in the morning.
If I could pass along any bit of advice to people searching for jobs it would be this: don't settle. I went through seven interviews, three staffing agencies, sent my resume to hundreds of different employers, and registered onto three job search websites.
I finally held out for a job that I thought would keep my interest. Surprisingly enough, I never thought I'd work for a university. I always thought I'd work for a magazine, I was a Journalism major and Graphic Design minor. However, it just goes to show you you can't judge a book by its cover. I find my skills are being used to the best of their abilities in the assistant/data position I now occupy.
To summarize, don't settle, you worked your butt off in school, do as my dad says: "Take your degree out for a spin; see what it can do."

Posted by Christina B on August 1, 2006 at 6:56 PM | Leave a Comment (1)