The classroom is but one of many places to obtain an education and real life skills. Students can opt for a broader experience by participating in college internship programs. Internships for college graduates and undergraduates alike provide valuable work skills vital in today's competitive job market. Students can even earn college credit for participation in some programs.

When evaluating the available opportunities, students seeking an experience above and beyond the norm can chose to participate in an internship abroad. Of particular note are New Zealand and Australia internship programs. These offer distinct benefits beyond work and educational experience.

The benefits of Australia and New Zealand internship

There are several compelling reasons why college internships in the South Pacific are a great choice for students seeking a college experience of distinction. Continue reading about internships abroad ...

Original article by, Susan Slobac and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 29, 2008 at 7:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Yes - I know that the sky is falling everywhere. That's the primary reason why I'm only going to be posting positive news related to jobs and overall employment. Everyone already knows the rest of the story.

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a government contract to re-engine a fleet of Joint-STARS planes for the U.S. military at the Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Florida. The news comes as a welcome relief to the workers in and around the facility - and to a state that has been as battered as any from the housing collapse and subsequent financial crisis.

The new contract promises up to 300 new jobs over the next five years and there is hope that even more jobs may be on the way. Northrop Grumman is awaiting the government's decision on a contract to build new re-fueling planes for the U.S. Military, which would be built at Melbourne as well. That project is estimated to require an additional 500 jobs. A decision is expected by 2010.

Article by, Mick and courtesy of Insourced blog

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 18, 2008 at 4:32 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Washington, D.C. - formally the District of Columbia - replaced Philadelphia as our nation's capital in 1790. The U.S. Congress has supreme authority over Washington, D.C., which is not a state. It has a total area 68.3 square miles and is a hub of political activity that may be of particular interest to political-minded college students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs.

D.C., as it is colloquially known, has a humid subtropical climate that has at times reached record highs of 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The lowest winter temperature on record is -26 degrees Fahrenheit. Once known as a place beleaguered by violent crimes, Washington, D.C. has seen a dramatic decrease in violent crime over the past several years, making it a much safer place to study and work. Some of the colleges and universities in the D.C. area are:

University of the District of Columbia
American University
Howard University
Strayer University
Gallaudet University
George Washington University

Washington, D.C. has growing industries unrelated to government in such areas as education, finance and scientific research. Some of the largest employers in Washington, D.C. where college students can find internships and recent college graduates find entry level jobs are:

George Washington University
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bank of America
Smithsonian Institution
American University
Washington Hospital Center

Washington, D.C. is a city that's chock full of history, culture, and politics. For those college students and recent grads who want to be where the political action is, Washington, D.C. is the place to be.

Sources: Wikipedia
CareerOneStop

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 3, 2008 at 2:16 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Although it is the tenth largest state in terms of land area, Wyoming is the smallest state in terms of population, with an estimated 522, 830 residents in 2007. The state is divided into two regions, the Rocky Mountains in the West and the High Plains in the East. Over 48 percent of the land in Wyoming is owned by the U.S. Government. And any college student looking for an internship or recent college graduate looking for an entry level job who knows anything about Wyoming will know that it's home to most of Yellowstone National Park, which is in turn home of the famous "Old Faithful" Geyser.

The primary contributors to Wyoming's economy are the mineral extraction, and travel and tourism industries, with its national parks and national monuments being the biggest attractions. Some of the biggest cities in Wyoming are:

Cheyenne (the capital)
Casper
Laramie
Gillette
Rock Springs
Sheridan

Because it a sparsely populated, largely rural state, Wyoming has a dearth of colleges and universities, having only two four-year institutions and a small collection of two-year schools.

University of Wyoming (the state's only public four-year university)
Wyoming Catholic College

Unlike any other state, Wyoming doesn't levy either individual or corporate tax and the state sales tax is a mere 4 percent. Some of the largest employers in Wyoming where college students can find internships and recent college graduates find entry level jobs are:

University of Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center
Wyoming Medical Center
Grand Teton Lodge Co.
U.S. Air National Guard

Life in Wyoming is not for anyone who craves the asphalt jungle, but it can be a fun and adventurous place to call home.

Sources: Wikipedia
CareerOneStop

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 3, 2008 at 1:41 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Wisconsin is yet another state with a varied landscape, making it a popular place for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Skiing, ice fishing and snowmobile derbies are three winter events that are big attractions for vacationers. Of course college students doing internships and recent college graduates with new entry level jobs can also enjoy these activities.

The primary industries in Wisconsin were once lumbering, mining and farming (especially dairy). Recently, the service industries, particularly medicine and education have dominated. Some of Wisconsin's largest cities are:

Milwaukee
Madison (the capital)
Green Bay
Eau Claire
Appleton
La Crosse
Janesville
Racine
Oshkosh

Since the beginning, Wisconsin has had a heterogeneous population, so students who want to find a diverse place to study should consider Wisconsin. Some of Wisconsin's colleges and universities are:

University of Wisconsin
Marquette University
Marian University
Edgewood College
Mount Mary College
Cardinal Stritch University

Sports lovers will know that Wisconsin is home of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team and the Milwaukee Brewers major league baseball team. Some of Wisconsin's largest employers are:

Fiserv, Inc.
General Mitchell International Airport
Ashley Furniture Industries
The Bruce Company
Kraft Foods
Kohler Company
Land's End
Kohl's

Wisconsin, known as "America's Dairyland," is well known for cheese. It's also a prolific producer of alcohol, having a large number of breweries per capita. With it's many lakes, parks and professional sports teams, it's hardly could be said to have a shortage of things to interest college students looking for internships or recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs.

Sources: Wikipedia
JobBankUSA

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

West Virginia became a state in 1863, one of only two states (the other being Nevada) formed during the American Civil War. It is the only state that seceded from the Confederate States of America and one of three states that separated from another state. West Virginia has close to 2 million residents and college students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs who like outdoor recreation should note that West Virginia is well known for its skiing, caving, fishing, white water rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking and hunting.

West Virginia isn't only for the outdoor-recreation types, though. Largely considered a southern state because most of it extends below the Mason-Dixon Line, some parts of West Virginia, like Harper's Ferry near Washington, D.C., are part of the Northeast. Some of West Virginia's largest cities are:

Weirton
Charleston (the capital)
Wheeling
Huntington
Morgantown
Fairmont
Beckley
Parkersburg

The main source of income for West Virginia is coal, which is used in the production of electricity. Because the state produces a surplus of electricity, West Virginia is a leading exporter of the utility. No studying by candlelight in this state. Some of West Virginia's colleges and universities are:

West Virginia University
West Virginia State University
Bethany College
Fairmont University
Concord University
Marshall University
Mountain State University

West Virginia attracts many tourists with its casinos and dog racing, but those aren't the only areas where college students and recent college graduates can go to apply for internships and entry level jobs. Some of the largest employers in West Virginia are:

KeyLogic Systems
The Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort
St. Mary's Medical Center
Snowshoe Mountain
West Virginia University
Marshall University
Du Pont Washington Works

Though not a very large state, West Virginia, which is the only state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range, has a lot to offer college students and recent college graduates looking for a fun and interesting place to live, work and study.

Sources: Wikipedia
JobBankUSA
CareerOneStop

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 2, 2008 at 11:22 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Washington, which is named for our nation's first president, George Washington, became the 42nd state in 1889. Located in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., Washington has several national parks, forests and designated wilderness areas. College students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs who enjoy the peacefulness of forests and parks might want to add Washington to their lists of possible places to live.

Agriculture and lumber were Washington's earliest and largest industries. The state has gone through muc growth and diversity over the years. Some of Washington's biggest cities are:

Seattle
Tacoma
Spokane
Vancouver
Bellevue
Everett
Bellingham
Kennewick
Lakewood

Any college student or recent grad looking for an internship or entry level job should take into consideration the fact that Washington is one of only seven states that doesn't levy a personal income tax on its residents. That could really be helpful when it comes time to pay tuition or make student loan payments. Some of Washington's colleges and universities are:

University of Washington
Washington State University
The Evergreen State College
Antioch University Seattle
Walla Walla University
Seattle University
Gonzaga University

Although it is a leading agriculture state, producing such crops as red raspberries, peas and apples, Washington is also a mecca for business, so finding internships and entry level jobs won't be the challenge college students and recent grads might expect. Some of the largest employers in Washington are:

Microsoft
Boeing
Amazon.com
Starbucks
Costco
Nordstrom
Capital Medical Center
Eddie Bauer
Weyerhaeuser

There's a lot to love about Washington, with its mountain ranges, forests, diverse economy and modest sales tax (6.5 percent). Studies have shown that Seattle residents are subject to S.A.D. (Seasonal Affect Disorder) because its so often overcast, but that's nothing a sunlamp can't cure for courageous students and graduates who want to live and work in Washington.

Sources: Wikipedia
JobBankUSA

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 2, 2008 at 9:32 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The Commonwealth of Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was called the "Virgin Queen" because she never married. In 1790, Virginia - along with Maryland - ceded territory for the establishment of the District of Columbia. In 1847, the Virginian land was retroceded. Still, the state's proximity to the nation's capital make it great place fot college students to find quality internships and for recent college graduates to find some of the best entry level jobs out there.

Virginians were instrumental in the drafting of the United States Constitution and the state is sometimes called the "Mother of Presidents" because eight United States presidents were born there. Some of the largest cities in Virginia are:

Richmond (the capital)
Williamsburg
Virginia Beach
Alexandria
Chesapeake
Norfolk
Hampton
Arlington
Langley

Virginia is known for having a high quality education system, and many Virginians avidly follow college sports. Some of the colleges and universities in Virginia are:

University of Virginia
College of William and Mary
James Madison University
Virginia State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech)
George Mason University
Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia has a larger technology workforce than any other state and many of the state's well educated northern residents work for Federal agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. Some of the largest employers in Virginia are:

University of Virginia
Philip Morris USA
Verizon
Northrop Grumman Newport News
VCU Medical Center
Geico Direct

With a state slogan like "Virginia is for Lovers," how could any college student looking for an internship or recent college graduate looking for an entry level job possibly resist this beautiful, historic commonwealth?

Sources: Wikipedia
CareerOneStop
JobBankUSA

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 2, 2008 at 8:39 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Nevada's statewide unemployment rate is at 7.6%, which is the highest statewide level reached in 23 years. As you might imagine, jobs in housing, commercial development and even hotel/casino operations have fallen steadily throughout the current financial crisis, but there are some bright spots in government jobs and healthcare jobs.

Government jobs grew at a 3.6% in October state-wide, with 5.7% growth in Las Vegas. Education and health care jobs, rated together in Nevada statistical tracking, gained 3.5% state-wide and 4.3% in Las Vegas. While most of the news regarding employment is admittedly bad, it's interesting that government and health care continue to outperform most other sectors. In even the darkest economic times, the U.S. government is a rock-solid employer, and with the growing demands for health care associated with an aging national population, it seems that anyone in the medical field is going to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

With the holiday season now upon us, there will also be some seasonal jobs hitting the boards from retailers and other employers. But the estimated number of seasonal jobs to be added -- 3,600 -- represents the worst seasonal job growth since before the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001. With the jobless rate as high as it is, employers are expecting fierce competition for the few seasonal positions.

So you might be better off tweaking your resume or taking classes to qualify for some of the new government and health care jobs that are available in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Article by, Mick and courtesy of Insourced blog

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 1, 2008 at 3:34 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Vermont is the only New England state without a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It's the 49th largest state in terms of population (surpassing only Wyoming) and 43rd in terms of land area at 9, 250 sq. mi. Known for its scenic beauty and dairy products, Vermont is also the leader maple syrup production in the U.S.

More than three quarters of the state is covered in forest lands. Vermont is a great place for college students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs who also love trees and mountains. Some of Vermont's largest cities are:

Montpelier (the capital)
Burlington
Rutland
South Burlington
Barre
St. Albans
Winooski
Newport
Vergennes

The first European settlement in Vermont was established by explorer, Samuel de Champlain, when he erected a fort after claiming the territory as part of New France. Students looking for a quality education might want to consider one of these Vermont colleges and universities:

University of Vermont
Vermont State University
Burlington College
Champlain College
Middlebury College
Norwich University

This truly American state - the state pie is apple - has much more to offer recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs and college students looking for internships than syrup and a plethora of forests. Some of the largest employers in Vermont are:

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
Bruegger's Bagels
BioTek Instruments, Inc.
Green Mountain Coffee
Central Vermont Medical Center
Orvis
Burton Snowboards
Cabot Creamery

Vermont is the least populous state in New England so there's plenty of room for growth. Government, real estate (rental and leasing) and durable goods manufacturing are the three largest contributors to Vermont's economy. It's beauty and skiing are just two of this diminutive state's attractions for college students and recent grads who want to live and work in a state that's beginning to grow and change.

Sources: Wikipedia
JobBankUSA

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 1, 2008 at 6:43 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

New Mexico, our nation's 47th state, has the most unique demographics of any state in the U.S. Forty-three percent of the residents of New Mexico are Hispanic, either as new immigrants or descendants of Spanish colonists. It also has the third highest population of Native Americans, primarily from the Navajo and Pueblo peoples.

This Southwestern state has a very arid climate, is sparsely populated (15 people per square mile), and mostly covered by mountains and desert. But that doesn't mean it's not a good place for college students or recent college graduates to find internships and entry level jobs. For those looking for a more urban habitat, some of New Mexico's largest cities are:

Albequerque
Santa Fe (the capital)
Las Cruces
Roswell
Rio Rancho
Farmington
Carlsbad

During World War II, the first atomic bombs were designed and manufactured in Los Alamos and they were tested in White Sands. The state is home to three Air Force bases and two federal research laboratories. Students or grads interested in working for the government might want to think about giving New Mexico a try. Some of New Mexico's colleges and universities are:

University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University
Institute of American Indian Arts
Apollo College
College of Santa Fe
St. John's College, Santa Fe

New Mexico has several national parks and forests, and tourism is an important contributor to its economy, as is federal government spending. Some of the largest employers in New Mexico are:

Intel Corp.
University of New Mexico
Wells Fargo Bank
New Mexico State University
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Sandia Resort & Casino
Presbyterian Hospital

College students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs may want to consider life in New Mexico, if they don't mind the desert climate. There's certainly plenty of room for the population to grow.

Sources: Wikipedia
CareerOneStop

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 1, 2008 at 6:17 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Utah became our nation's 45th state in 1896. It has the sixth most urbanized population in the U.S. and vast expanses of uninhabited land. The name, Utah, is derived from the Ute Indian language meaning "people of the mountains." For those recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs and college students looking for internships in heavily populated states, Utah with its population of just under 3 million is probably not a place they want to be.

Thanks to the establishment of parks like Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah became known for its beauty and its rugged terrain has often been featured in movies. Some of the largest cities in Utah are:

Salt Lake City (the capital)
Provo
West Valley City
West Jordan
Sandy
Orem
Ogden
Layton
St. George
Taylorsville

A largely Mormon state, Utah is also world renowned for its skiing, serving as host to the 2002 Winter Olympics. Students who love mountain climbing and skiing might want to explore Utah. Some of Utah's colleges and universities are:

Brigham Young University
College of Eastern Utah
Provo College
University of Utah
Utah State University
Weber State University
Neumont University

In 1869, the First Continental Railroad was completed just north of the Great Salt Lake, bringing an increased number of people to the state, including important businesspeople who amassed fortunes there. College students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs might want to consider one of Utah's largest employers:

Hill Air Force Base
Brigham Young University
Wal-Mart
Wells Fargo
Delta Airlines
University of Utah
United Parcel Service
State of Utah

Utah's major industries include mining, cattle ranching, salt production and government services. Tourism is also a big contributor to the state's economy because of the year-round outdoor recreational activities people can enjoy in the state's five national parks.

Sources: Wikipedia
Utah Department of Workforce Services

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 1, 2008 at 6:06 AM | Leave a Comment (0)