Category Archives: internships

internships, parenting, social networks, teen jobs

Skills That Impress Future Employers

skills

Applying for a first job as a student can be tricky. If your student is looking for a part-time job or an unpaid internship to help during their studies, chances are they are worried about their resume. Indeed, it can be hard to know which skills to promote when you have not yet graduated from college. That’s where soft skills and individual interests can make a huge difference. 

Employers appreciate that our students don’t yet have a degree. They understand they can’t expect a business-level skill set. However, students don’t need to have completed their degrees to apply for part-time jobs. More importantly, if your student is looking for a meaningful part-time job as an entry-level experience in their dream industry, they need to understand which extracurricular skills are going to make a difference. We’ve identified three skills that can make their resumes stand out. 

Continue reading Skills That Impress Future Employers →
Guest Posts, internships, Uncategorized

The Top 3 Summer Jobs for Students

2 Comments

summer jobsIf

Summer is a time to relax and recuperate, but it’s also a great opportunity to gain work experience and make money. With a challenging job market facing them after graduation, it’s essential for students to buff up their resumes and make connections while they’re still enrolled in school. For college students wondering about their summer work prospects, here are the best summer jobs fields and positions to explore:

Internships

You’re a student looking for part-time or full-time work during summer break, consider interning at a company you’re interested in working for after graduation. There are a variety of internship positions only open to college students, where you can earn course credits in addition to professional experience. Fastweb has a large list of nationwide internships in various different industries that you can apply to based on your interests or major.

While many internships are unpaid, they all offer the opportunity to make connections and gain new skills, which will pay off financially in the future when you’re searching for a job. After graduating, you’ll be able to list your intern work on your resume and use your former supervisors as references. Your experiences can also help you become more confident and focused during your post-college job search because you’ll have a better idea of your own professional abilities.

Volunteer Work

Similar to interning, volunteering can be useful in helping you decide what you’re passionate about and what field you should pursue after college. Sites like Idealist and Indeed can connect you with a volunteer program that correlates to your passions. So whether you’re interested in education, public policy, environmental issues, or humanitarian work, you can find a position that’s well matched and right for you.

In addition to being professionally valuable, volunteer work can also be personally satisfying. Volunteering allows you to serve others, gain fresh perspectives about the world around you, and gives you a chance to work in a field you’re passionate about outside of academic pursuits.

Freelance Writing or Designing

If you’re a good writer or designer looking for more flexible work this summer, you should consider doing freelance work. Freelancing gives you the freedom to create your own schedule and work from home, since most positions are open to telecommuters. If you like setting your own work pace and want the opportunity to improve your skills as a writer and designer in the digital realm, then a freelance job is right for you.

Since there are so many online businesses and companies that utilize the web for marketing, you can find writing and design jobs fairly easily. Available freelance jobs include web or graphic designer, website content writer, blogger, and social media developer. You can find a position that meets your skill set or knowledge, as well as create a freelancer profile, on sites like Guru.

Many freelance jobs don’t pay well at first but you’ll be able to set higher prices for your work once you have more experience. You can become a more desirable freelancer over time by adding work to your resume and increasing your online exposure. You’ll be able to send links of your work and show that you have an online presence to future hiring managers.

Freelancing, volunteering, and interning, all offer the important opportunity to gain professional experience in fields that you may want to pursue after college. If a position you want is unpaid or doesn’t pay well, you can always take on a part-time server or retail job in order to supplement your income. While food service and retail work can help you gain customer service experience and make extra cash, they don’t offer a career path that’s useful or interesting to most college students. This summer, try to invest your time and energy into a job that can improve your professional skills, add value to your resume, and help you land a job after graduation.

+++++++++++++

Javaher Nooryani is a writer and editor based in Denver, CO. She has a BA in American Literature & Culture from UCLA and a Masters in English & American Literature from NYU. As a former tutor and advisor, Javaher is passionate about higher education and is glad to share her knowledge on CollegeFocus, a website that helps students deal with the challenges of college.

college planning, internships

5 Summer Jobs for Students

 

summer jobs for studentsSummer is the perfect time for students to save up for the next semester and get some practical experience to complement their degree programs. Websites like Randstad Education can help students prepare for job interviews, find work and read articles about teaching.

According to Forbes, some of the best summer jobs for students help to pad a resume, while providing valuable work experience. With the fierce competition of today’s job market, students have to work harder than ever to stand out in a pool of highly qualified applicants.

Freelance Writing

Students that don’t need a job immediately can get started on the road to freelance writing. Getting clients and working to build a portfolio of writing over the summer is the perfect time to get involved in an industry that shows great promise and growth. Additionally, students that succeed can build a source of income that can be accessed for the rest of their lives.

Internships

An internship requires some preparation, and typically an internship is not paid. The benefits of an internship might include some light compensation and the ability to bolster a resume with relevant work experience. If a student decides to do an internship, it’s important to pick one that is relevant to the chosen career field. Often, internships turn into real, paying jobs once the student graduates from college.

Restaurant Jobs

Working in a restaurant is a good way to earn some extra money and develop valuable customer service skills. Students who work as servers, attendants, hosts and hostesses can earn some pay while getting real-world practice dealing with difficult situations. The food industry is notoriously difficult, and working as a waiter or waitress increase a student’s ability to hold information in their mind and increase memory.

Start a Business

Students don’t have to settle for working for someone else while in college. Taking the initiative to start a business can show great work ethic and prove the student is a self-starter. There are plenty of options for starting a business and students can offer tutoring, complete chores for neighbours or create a craft that can be sold on one of the many online websites, like Etsy.

Construction Work

For students who want high-paying, temporary work and don’t care about how it looks on a resume, construction work can be very lucrative. It’s definitely hard work, but construction work helps keep you in shape, teaches the value of hard work and pays extremely well compared to many other industries.

Your student can surely benefit from any of these summer jobs. Not only can it help them earn during summer time, but the value of hard work and experience will certainly help shape them into a more responsible and mature individuals.

 

internships

Mom-Approved Tips: Internship Available

1 Comment

 

internship

I was forwarded an opportunity from my son-in-law who works for an aerospace engineering company in Dallas that has a summer internship available. The application process starts now. I want to pass it along to parents of college students who are majoring in engineering or engineering related fields. It’s a great company and an amazing opportunity for any college students. And, you don’t have to live in the Dallas area to apply.

Here’s the details–pass it along to friends, family, colleagues and anyone you might know that would be interested in an internship this summer. If your students applies, post a comment below and I will give you a referral name to use; and I will pass your student’s name along to my son-in-law.

The 2015 Summer Intern application is now open.  If you have a referral, please have them apply online and let Jeanne and I know that they have applied.

Here’s the link to apply:

http://mustangtechnology.balancetrak.com/lists/172/jobdescription.aspx?q=x7yKR7zu4nwNsLPIZvxYi%2bGNiDCknJuHGLqNPveUchtEmrCg6EsQ12OoWwClZGtNQDH5uIczEi0%2bhQXY723sYd8aBGOMakp1XHen%2fpbkRYA%3d

L-3 Mustang’s 2015 Summer Intern Program begins mid May 2015 and runs through August (approximately).  Our intern program is for Engineering students entering their junior or senior year and typically majoring in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Software, Industrial, Aerospace, Mathematics or Science.

·       All candidates should APPLY ONLINE – Application Deadline – January 31, 2015

·       All candidates should provide a RESUME with your current GPA and expected graduation date

·       All candidates should provide an unofficial TRANSCRIPT for review if contacted for an interview

·       Interviews are generally conducted in the January – February timeframe.

·       Due to the nature of our business we require U.S. Citizenship.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

career colleges, internships, Sponsored posts

The benefits of interning as a paralegal

 

paralegalThe paralegal profession has grown dramatically in importance to law firms since the early 1960s. In 2010 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 256,000 paralegal jobs in the economy and projected that there would be another 46,900 positions by 2020.

The path to a paralegal career requires a college education and, in many states, official certification. Many paralegal programs include a required internship prior to graduation. Other schools offer voluntary internship opportunities that earn credits towards graduation. Either way, paralegal internships are recognized as one of the most effective avenues for ultimately finding a paralegal job. As one writer on the profession noted, internships may be the “golden ticket” to launching a paralegal career.

Finding the right internship can be a challenge. The practice of law covers a wide range of focuses and the first question a student or new paralegal needs to consider is the type of law that interests them. Once a type of practice is identified, there are several steps that internship seekers should follow in their search.

Identify Connections

Networking is the most effective ways to find out about potential internships because law firms rarely advertise for these positions. Brainstorm with school advisers and people in the legal profession. Many colleges actively seek out internships or are contacted by organizations looking for interns. Understand that most internships are unpaid.

Talking to local working paralegals is another way to network. These people often know about upcoming vacancies and opportunities. Local organizations are also a good source for finding out how law firms function and the various roles within a firm.

Look for Internships in Unexpected Places

While the majority of paralegal positions and internships are found with law firms, there are other organizations with legal departments that require paralegal support. Many local, state and federal offices have legal staffs and need paralegals. Insurance firms, medical organizations, real estate firms and non-profit legal services organizations are also great places to research.

Applying for a Paralegal Internship

An internship, paid or unpaid, is a job and requires a formal application even if the internship is offered through a college program. Application packages should include a cover letter and resume prepared specifically for each internship sought. It is also important to ask college instructors for letters of reference and attach the letters to the application package.

Working as a Paralegal Intern

With an internship in hand, it is always appropriate to write a formal thank you letter to the person(s) who awarded the internship.

Successfully landing a paralegal internship is the beginning of another learning process. What students learn in college is a foundation. The actual work performed at a law firm or in a legal department is distinctly different from what is taught in school.

Once in the work environment, it is important to dress, behave and perform duties professionally – it is also an expectation. This is the new paralegal’s chance to learn the ins and outs of legal work. It is a time for asking questions, showing initiative and honing skills.

After the Internship Ends

At the conclusion of an internship, it is helpful for the intern to discuss his or her strengths and weaknesses with their superior. It is also a good time to ask for a letter of recommendation.

The interning firm may or may not offer an intern a job. Even so, write a formal letter of appreciation for the internship opportunity because it is the proper thing to do and because a position might become available later. The most important result of a successful internship is the experience that can be added to a resume.

_______________________

Author Bio

Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he describes a few benefits of interning as a paralegal and aim to encourage further study through Online Degrees at George Washington University.

college guidance, internships, parenting

The importance of college role models

 


Everyone needs a role model at different stages of life; a role model is that the person you look up; it is he or she who inspires you to stay focused on achieving your goals. Role models are very important because they sort of define the path that you should follow in order to reach a certain end. A good way to describe these individuals is as a guiding star; a bright shining light that directs you to where you need to be. Role models are of great importance and more so during the formative years. It is during this period of time that a person requires guidance so that they do not end up on the wrong path.

Quite a number of people have actualized their dreams because of the role models they chose; dream actualization is a vital element in the equation of happiness. The college years are among the most important in a person’s life; in fact for quite a number of people, this is the make or break period. At this level, therefore, good role models are very important. There are various college role models who can significantly influence the life of a college student; the following are some of them.

Coaches

college role models

Sport is a big part of college life. In fact, it is during the various college sporting events that scouts from the big leagues come to search for new talent. It is coaches who are tasked with ensuring that members of the various teams deliver on the pitch, court, in the pool etc. College coaches are very influential because their job is not just to teach team members how to throw, swing or kick; their responsibility exceeds that. How a coach reacts when greatly distressed during or after a game can greatly influence how team members behave in similar times. It is only that, for them, it won’t necessarily be limited to the field, court etc; they may actually extend it to their daily lives.

It is also the duty of a coach to instill sound work ethic to his or her team members. Good sportsmanship is also something that coaches teach as well as general presentation during practice sessions and games. How a coach handles all these aspects of sport will determine just how the team members carry themselves in their daily lives.

Parents

It is during the college years that an individual is supposed to learn how to become almost completely independent. There are no parents to boss them around; in fact, some might say that parents are not needed anymore. This can’t be further from the truth; parents have a very big role to play throughout their children’s college years. How parents relate with each other will greatly influence how their children view relationships. Most college kids are just that: kids, and therefore, they still need their parents to guide them through life. If parents aren’t approachable or available, chances are that their kids will never consult them on vital life issues. Instead, they will find their own solutions; this, of course, can have dire consequences both in the immediate and distant future.

Professors

College professors have a duty to ensure that their students not only get the best possible academic knowledge but life related teachings, as well. Most college students view their professors in high regard probably because of their achievements and what they have gone through to make it to where they are at present. A professor can either use this high opinion to impact positively or negatively on the lives of their students. All this can be achieved simply through the words they use and the things they do both in and out of the lecture hall.

___________

Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the importance of role models in students lives and aims to encourage further study with a masters in coaching and athletic administration.

college planning, internships

College without internships…

…is like cereal without milk, chocolate without peanut butter, and the perfect dress without the perfect shoes!

Seriously though, with all the competition in college for jobs after graduation, you can’t afford to ignore the importance of an internship. We are also recognizing the fact that an internship in high school might be the perfect springboard to help your student pick a major, a college, and eventually a career.

Matthew Zinman, creator of Internship Success, a program created to help students make the most of their internships and provide employers with prepared interns, is offering my readers (and friends) first dibs on a federal grant subsidy. The grant provides a $100 credit toward’s Matthew’s online Career Preparation Certification (CPC) and professional skills training course at InternshipSuccess.com.

The grant provides for 250 registrants to reduce the course fee by more than half. So I invite you (and others you may let know) to use one or more of these credits now available for both the individual and group registration (use “DOLgrant” in the course credit code): http://www.internshipsuccess.com/Register.aspx

Those who take advantage will find this step-by-step course to be very comprehensive. It has three hours of self-paced instruction and 70+ supplemental career-support downloads for students and other job-seekers to get the right internship, gain the most meaningful experience and perform at their best to EARN employment.

In short, this is what isn’t learned in class.

Matthew reminds us, “A college degree is no longer sufficient for graduates to access the current job market. I’ve made it my life’s work to make internships matter and afford those every opportunity to succeed because I firmly believe there is no substitute for experience.”

If you have a student in college, know a college student, or are an employer who uses interns, take advantage of this AMAZING OFFER.