Category Archives: career colleges

career colleges, careers

Renewable Energy: Red Hot College Majors to Investigate

 

renewable energy

Too many parents complain that their student’s college major is unemployable after graduation. With the cost of college rising, it means families are conscious of the value of higher education and it’s ROI (return on investment). Even though ROI is not the most crucial criteria for choosing a college and a major, it should certainly be a factor in the college choice.

Renewable energy jobs are red hot right now. Whether you’re looking for a hands-on job in the field such as solar installer or a highly educated position such hydrologist, it’s important to create an education road map to make sure you reach your goals.

Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, and capturing those resources for energy requires many levels of skill sets: construction crew, technician, project manager, research scientist, mechanical engineer, lawyer, financial expert and beyond. While construction and technician positions may only need trade school or associates degrees, many higher-paying positions will require specialized degrees taking four years or more.

Map your green and renewable energy career with these three detailed resources explaining career opportunities in the solar, renewable energy, and green industries:

Breaking into the Solar Industry – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/solar-jobs-careers-certifications/

Renewable Energy Degree Programs – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/renewable-energy-degrees/

Green Careers Beyond Solar – http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/green-careers/

career colleges, careers

Fascinating Career Paths to Discuss with your Student

1 Comment

career paths

As a parent, you want your child to succeed in life. There is nothing strange or unusual about that. But how can you actually make it happen? For a start, it’s important to recognize that your child’s career is not something for you to decide on. You can support them and offer ideas during their education. But, ultimately, it’s something that they are going to have to work out for themselves. However, you should talk to them and be there to discuss options every step of the way.

They will need someone to share ideas with, so shouldn’t be completely out of the loop. As a parent with more experience of the world of work than your child, you could present some ideas. Make the career ideas you suggest appealing in some way. Show them things that could get them excited about their future career. You might not come up with anything that they end up doing. But you could inspire them or give them an idea that they pick up and run with. So, here are some ideas for career paths that are interesting. Discuss them with your son or daughter.

Stenographer

Stenography is a form of shorthand typing. It’s used to take down information rapidly when needed. It’s the kind of job, therefore, that requires a skilled individual. If your child gets the right training, this could be a good option for them in their career. It is used in a few different contexts. Court stenographers are used to take down everything that is said in the courtroom during a hearing. And they are also used to create live TV subtitles as well. It’s a job that’s a little unconventional, and that’s why it could appeal to your child. You can learn more about shorthand typing at http://shorthandshorthandshorthand.com/Speedbuilding.htm.

Dentistry

There are plenty of great career paths on offer in the world of medicine. But why limit yourself to the conventional options? Yes, being a doctor or a nurse or a surgeon might be prestigious.But dentistry can be just as interesting. As long as you don’t have a problem with poking around in people’s mouths all day, it could be the ideal job for your son or daughter. It’s very well paid, and dentists are always needed. It’s a legitimate medical field, but it’s one that many people don’t consider as a career option. If you ask me, that’s a mistake.

Film and Video Editing

These days, we are more reliant on films and videos than ever before. There is more of this kind of content around than in the past, and someone has to edit it together. Whenever you watch anything, there is an editing process behind it. Cutting together clips can be about telling a story or delivering information. But there is more behind that than you might think. It takes skills to deliver a narrative or a pile of information in a way that is interesting and captivating for the viewer. Many young people have a flair for it because they are used to working on computers.

International Diplomacy

Have you ever wanted to be the guy that strikes trade deals and does business with other countries? Those are just some of the things that international diplomats do. If you have an interest in world affairs and want to be a part of it, then you could do a course in international relations. You can find course details at sites like http://www.withmydegree.org/can-international-studies-degree/. It takes ambition and determination to get to the top in that world. And you have to start at the very bottom if you’re going to have any chance of making it all the way. However, it could be worth it in the end.

Land Surveying

Before civil engineering and building projects go ahead, the land has to be assessed. This is where the land surveyor comes in. These are professionals that are responsible for taking data and making a judgement. It requires a skillful understanding of numbers, as well as an ability to interpret complex data. On top of all that, land surveyors have to be able to negotiate and communicate with lots of other people. So, having people skills is important too. It can be an interesting and financially rewarding job, though.

Architect

We are not going to stop needing buildings anytime soon. And there are few jobs more rewarding them designing buildings that actually get built. This is exactly what architects do. They are the ones responsible for shaping the skyline and creating the buildings where we live and work. There will always be demand for people who are skilled in this sector. It requires a level of creativity, as well as a solid understanding engineering concepts. It’s certainly not easy to break into, but it is something worth introducing to your son or daughter.

Forensics

Anyone who has watched a cop show or a serial killer movie in the last decade or so will know a bit about forensics. You don’t have to understand it inside out to know that it’s very important when it comes to catching criminals. It’s work that has to be carried out by competent professionals, however. So, if your son or daughter enjoys science but doesn’t know which part of it to focus on, maybe forensics could be the best option. It allows them to put their skills to good use. Forensic scientists are always in demand, and the job pays well too.

Art Restoration

If your son or daughter has a flair for art, they could use this to their advantage when they are trying to find a career path. Art restoration is one of the most important activities out there at the moment. You can’t underestimate how key it is. If we want our art heritage to be around forever, it needs to be restored and maintained. To be involved in art in an active way doesn’t have to be about creating your own works of art. Bringing old works of art back to their former glory is just as important. So, this could be something to suggest to your art-obsessed child.

career colleges, careers, college majors

How to Choose a Career Path Before College

3 Comments

 

career path

Many college students would like to get a job as soon as they graduate from college. However, this is not always the case for many of them mainly because they had not decided on which career path to take before college. Unfortunately, this situation is replayed in the lives of many graduates making it clear that the decision on which career path to take should be made before applications to colleges are sent out.  Here are some tips to ensure that you do not fall in the same trap of selecting a college before deciding on the best career for you.

  • Work backwards

After high school many students typically start looking for colleges that they would want to attend, then select a major and finally decide on the career they would like to pursue. However, this is not right and things should actually be done the other way round, with the choice of a career path being decided on first and then the rest follow. You should picture yourself filling in application forms for a job that you are passionate about many years after college.

  • Choose  a career you love

Do you know what you enjoy doing? In most cases, the answer to this question will make it easier to choose a career that you are passionate about. Always look into career possibilities that match your personality and in the long run will satisfy your needs for years to come. If your interests seem to be all over the place consider narrowing them down to at least three areas and choose a career that will march them perfectly. Also you can try out online tests that help people find a career path that go with their personality.  

The goal of a good career test is to match you to a group of careers based on certain parameters.  Career tests are typically multiple choice and take under 30 minutes to complete. They match you based on your personality.  For example, they could match you to specific careers based on your skills, interests, abilities, etc. A good career test will not give you absolute confidence in choosing a specific career.  However, they certainly can help you develop or narrow down a specific group of careers and that is half the battle in making your career plan. Here is a free career test that takes a few minutes to complete and custom matches you to over 1000 well paying careers. 

  • Select the right college

When you have settled on the career path you would like to pursue in the future, it is time to choose a major and a corresponding college. Although colleges to choose from are many, research on the best ones in the field that want to pursue so that you get the best education possible in the area. These colleges are also likely to offer several options in terms of majors that you can selecting according to your interests.

Overall, having an idea of the career you want to have in the future as you select colleges will keep you focused and motivated to work towards your dream profession.

________________________

Today’s guest post is from Aaron Ramsey, the owner and writer for Eapplicants.com, an online resource for job seekers to find all the information they need on today’s largest companies.

career colleges, careers, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Consider a Career Focused College

1 Comment

 

planning for a career
Penn College students preparing for careers

With all the news about students graduating without job prospects, parents and students are researching alternatives to traditional higher education. One alternative is a career college. What would that look like? It would be a college that focuses on the career along with the degree–a career focused college.

One such college is Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This college marries a liberal arts education with preparing students for a career after graduation by providing hands on career experience while attending. Students learn to weld, work on airplanes, construct houses, work on automobiles, and much more. Each career path offers a balance between education and career preparation. For more information on Penn College, check out my series: Degrees That Work on my blog.

Another college would be Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern offers a Co-op program: an educational program in which you alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of full-time employment in positions related to your academic and/or career interests in the U.S. or globally. Northeastern explains, “We do this through our experiential learning model which is, simply put, learning by doing. While experiential learning can and does happen in classroom, lab and studio situations, it is much more powerful and robust when students have opportunities to use their knowledge and practice their skills in authentic, real-world situations”.

When searching for colleges, consider a career focused college that focus on preparing students for careers after graduation.

Read Wendy’s post: College and Career Game Plan

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

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

career colleges, college majors

Is Your Student Interested in a Career in Communicative Disorders?

 

communicative disordersCommunication is an important part of a person’s daily life. While there are many ways people communicate with each other, verbal communication is the most prevalent means of conveying needs and wants. For people with communicative disorders such as speech problems and hearing loss, giving and receiving basic information can be a challenge. These individuals need the assistance of trained professionals to provide them with tools and resources to help them navigate their daily lives as easily as possible.

A career in the communicative field can be incredibly rewarding. If you’re considering this career path, here are a few examples of jobs you can apply a communicative disorders degree towards.

Speech Pathology

A speech therapist, also called a speech-language pathologist, diagnoses, treats, and works toward preventing communicative disorders. These disorders may or may not be related to the following factors:

  • Cognitive communication
  • Fluency
  • Swallowing
  • Language
  • Speech

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), you may work with individuals who cannot produce sounds or do not produce sounds in a clear manner. Examples of voice disorders include stuttering, inappropriate pitch, and rhythm difficulties.

Many different organizations hire speech therapists such as schools, private businesses, and therapeutic groups. Whether you work for an organization directly or have a private practice, this particular area of the communicative disorders field has plenty of opportunity for career growth. Keep in mind that a master’s degree is almost always a requirement for most positions in this field.

Deaf Education

A career working with deaf or hard-of-hearing students is rewarding on many levels. Did you know that according to the Hearing Health Foundation (HHF), 1 in 5 Americans have some hearing loss in one ear? Also, 3 out of every 1,000 children born in the United States are born hard of hearing or deaf.

Do these statistics shock you? Do they make you wonder what it is like for people who, on a daily basis, struggle to communicate with their peers and family members? If so, you may want to consider a career in deaf education. Here are just a few of the many jobs that are directly related to individuals experiencing hearing loss:

  • Sign language interpreter
  • Audiologist
  • Social worker
  • Child care worker
  • Employment counseling

As you can see, the types of jobs that appeal to people interested in deaf education are varied. Some jobs provide direct service to individuals with hearing loss while other jobs may focus on educating hearing people about the struggles that their non-hearing counterparts face. These particular jobs focus on finding solutions to make it easier for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to function in a hearing world.

Audiology

The audiology professional is continuously growing and has many career opportunities. One of the reasons for the increased need for professionals in this industry is the growing geriatric population. Baby boomers are entering the later stages of their lives and with this comes hearing loss that can make communication difficult.

Audiologists strive to improve the quality of life for their patients and take on many different roles. Some audiologists provide rehabilitation services while others monitor and prevent hearing loss. Places that hire audiologists include the following:

  • Private, medical practices
  • Public health services
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • Public and private schools (educational audiology)
  • Health insurance providers
  • Research facilities
  • And more!

For a successful and lucrative career in the audiology field, you’ll need to complete as many as 8 years of schooling. The field is slowly transitioning into a doctoring-level profession, which includes an additional year of internship study.

To learn more about the opportunities in the communicative field, work closely with your counselor to find an educational path that will help you fulfill your career goals.

___________________________________________

USU - Heather Jensen[5]Heather Jensen is an Audiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor for Utah state University.  She received her Doctorate of Audiology from Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2004.  She has been an adviser for the student academy of audiology organization at USU for 11 years.  Before coming to USU, she owned her own private practice, but decided she wanted to give back to the field of audiology by teaching students.  When she’s not working she spends time with her four children, she also enjoys doing hearing related humanitarian missions.

admissions, career colleges, college planning, community college, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Is Community College Right for Your Student?

1 Comment

 

community collegeHigher education is a complicated issue for many students and parents today. College education is a necessity for finding success and prosperity in many career paths, but rising concerns about student loan debt and graduate unemployment are making the process of pursuing education more stressful and uncertain than ever before. Community colleges are becoming increasingly popular options for students everywhere, as a means of securing foundation credits before transferring to a university. Is community college a path that your teen should consider?

Community college gets a bad rap

Community colleges are often viewed as being stigmatized in many academic circles. Students and parents alike disdain the idea of a community college education because they believe that more prestigious institutions will look down upon them. Worries about how an employer will view community college education on a resume are disconcerting as well. However, you shouldn’t be concerned about such fallacies. Your teen can study at a community college before transferring to another school, and still have access to all the same opportunities as every other student.

Consider the costs

With college costs soaring, community college remains one of the most affordable options—in fact, it can save you a bundle.

•Community college tuition is significantly lower than that of traditional colleges and universities as well as public institutions.

•While attending a local community college, students can often remain living at home saving on room and board which on average is close to $10,000 a year.

•If your child is employed while in high school, they can keep their job by staying local throughout their college years. This income can often go a long way towards helping pay for transportation and college costs.

•If low grades are preventing your child from getting a scholarship at a college or university, attending a community college to earn an associate’s degree can be an affordable stepping-stone.

While you can likely finance an expensive private college or university with federal student loans or private loans—consider too that your child will be one-step ahead financially if they can enter the workforce debt-free.

Getting an education with potential

Gone are the days when masses of young people went to college for a general liberal arts degree with no specific career focus in mind. With the sagging job market, students have their eye on promising careers with upward mobility and lucrative salaries. For students looking to enter rapidly growing job markets, community college can be a viable option.

Many in-demand, well-paying, jobs require only an associate’s degree. More and more educational programs are offering these career-focused degrees. Careers such as electricians, plumbers, and mechanics are financially lucrative and graduates who can work in these fields are in high demand.

Many graduating seniors have decided to take the community college path before heading off to a 4-year university. They will tell you that they’ve made that choice for several reasons: cost, academic preparation, and the freedom to stay at home for the first few years. Community colleges aren’t just training grounds for technical careers, they are also the first stop for about 4 in 10 of college-bound high school graduates.

Community college might not be for everyone. But, it might be a perfect fit for your teen. And, if your teen is planning on making it the start of a 4-year degree plan, do some research and verify that the classes will transfer to the university they plan to attend.

Read Wendy’s blog: 3 Surprising Reasons to Consider Community College

________________________

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

 

career colleges, careers, college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

Stay Employed With These College Majors

 

college majorsLook to the future and what do you see? Flying cars? Steampunk kids riding hoverboards? Downtrodden dystopias with Harrison Ford-alikes running around in long brown overcoats?

Well, while these visions of the future might never happen, one thing is certain – some jobs will be obsolete, so you have to make your education count.

It’s a tough call to make. But some jobs will always be vital, no matter what era we live in.

So here are a few future-proof college majors for you to study, whether we move into a glistening or a downbeat future.

The children are our future

Despite declining birth rates in the western world, the need to look after and understand the needs of children is greater than ever.

But that doesn’t exclusively lead you towards childcare. For high wages and the chance to work out your brainbox, try studying for a degree in child psychology. Relative to other medical fields, psychology itself is in its relative infancy, making the possibilities for unique advancement high.

Knowing the inner workings of a child’s mind will never go out of style.

Digital love

You can see the impact of the internet on businesses already. As high street stores close their doors and indie retailers struggle to stay afloat, internet giants like Amazon dominate the marketplace.

The future is now in the digital world. As the tech for the internet unfurls before us, the reality is clear – the net is going nowhere.

As such, there are now countless avenues of study for a life in the digital world. Web development, computer programming, app design, game design – the list goes on. Some colleges even offer the chance to study the cultural impact of the web on society.

Not only is the world of the web putting convenience at our fingertips – it’s giving us the jobs of the future.

Get arty

We’ve all dreamed of it in some form or another – wearing a beret on the south bank of the Seine, Paris, you pen your latest novel, pursing a cigarette between your lips and living the life of the moody artiste.

But the successful artist – be they pretentious poet, literary heavyweight, beard-stroking filmmaker or agent provocateur raconteur – is usually one in a million. Yet however precarious a career as an artist might be, it will never go out of date. While the modes of distribution might change, the need for art won’t.

A degree in fine art, illustration or any other creative subject, won’t guarantee you a job straight off the bat. However, many people learn to combine a side job with their artistic aspirations. Creation may not pay amazingly – but it’ll never age away.

career colleges, Uncategorized

Veterans Day–Thanking Those Who Served

 

marinesAbout 20 years ago, my son came to me and said he wanted to join the Marines. You can imagine–as a mom my heart dropped. I felt pride and angst all at the same time.

My father was a World War II veteran and I always loved to hear his war stories. Of course, I’m sure he spared me the painful ones, but I know he had some.

I’m sitting here today, as are we all, because these men in my life served in the military to defend our freedom. It was a decision they made and it took great courage knowing they might pay the ultimate sacrifice. I will always have admiration and respect for our veterans.

What better way to honor our veterans than by sharing some of my favorite posts from my blog and from others:

Our Military Academies–How to apply

If your son or daughter is considering a military academy? There are numerous steps they will need to take before applying.

Is Military College Right for your Student?

For those students who don’t want to attend one of the five military academies, military colleges can be an excellent option.

Best Colleges for Veterans

Do you know a veteran who wants to attend college?

A Tribute to Vietnam Vets on Veterans Day

One of the most heartfelt posts I have ever read and an example for future generations of Americans

Thank a veteran for his or her service today. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

 

career colleges

8 Essential Questions for Finding the Right Certification Boot Camp

 

computer scienceMost people who have been in the IT industry, even for a short time, recognize the value of certifications. According to research, IT certifications can boost salary by anywhere from 8 to 13% through something called premium skills pay. Premium skills pay is money paid by employers who are looking for specific skills that only an IT certification can provide. Of course, you have to get the certification first and there are several ways to go about it.

For many people, taking a certification test without preparation is not an option (or at least isn’t a good option). There is just too much information to in IT and no way to know what subset of that information will be on the test. This means that it is impossible to study effectively without some guidance. To get that guidance, many people participate in training courses, which whittle down the pool of knowledge to provide only the highest yield exam content. Boot camps, a particular type of training course, have become very popular in recent years because they offer all the content in a compressed time formate. Boot camps aren’t for everyone, however. If you are thinking about an IT certification boot camp, then read through these tips to see if the intense training these camps offer is right for you.

What Are the Qualifications to Attend (Choosing the Right Camp)?

Anyone can attend a boot camp, but with price tags ranging as high as $9,000, the decision to enroll shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you are going to invest that kind of money, then you want to be reasonably certain that you will pass the exam at the end of your training. You only want to attend a boot camp if you have experience in the area being tested. In other words, you need the boot camp to focus your studying and hone your skills, but not to teach you too much new information. It isn’t a place to try to pick up new skills, the pace is simply too fast.

The best boot camps will turn you down if you aren’t qualified because they are just as interested in your success as they are in your tuition payment. The best way to find the right program is to contact several , such as those at Countrywide Training, and ask them to explain the qualifications necessary for success. They should be able to tell you if the course you are looking at is right for you or if they might have a better alternative. The best programs will give you candid advice and won’t try to pressure you into a course you aren’t sure about.

Is There 24-Hour Lab Availability?

Boot camps often only last a week or two, which means you need to make the most out of your time. Sleep won’t be something you get a lot of during your boot camp, so look for programs that offer 24/7 access to labs and other resources so that you can study on your own schedule. Don’t be shy when asking about availability of resources before you sign up, it’s your money and your career on the line after all.

It isn’t just labs and resources you are interested in either. You want to know when instructors will be available. Naturally, they won’t be available around the clock, but they should have regular, extensive office hours set aside only for boot camp students. By the same token, be sure that the classes aren’t overbooked. If there are too many students, then it won’t matter how many hours the professors are available because all of their time will be taken up by your classmates.

How Are Classroom and Lab Time Divided?

Different boot camps differ in how much classroom instruction time they offer versus time spent doing hands-on work in labs. Depending on your skill set and what you feel your weaknesses are, a course with more lab time than classroom time may be appropriate or vice versa.

You want both types of teaching (lab and classroom) in your boot camp, but be sure to balance the two according to your strengths and weaknesses. Some people are more at home in the classroom and others excel at lab work. Either way, be honest about your abilities so that you can focus your studies and pass the exam.

Does the Course Offer Free Exam Re-testing?

IT exams are expensive and so are boot camps. If you spend the money on training, then you want some guarantee that the school backs up its teaching. One of the best ways a school can show that it stands behind its training is to offer to pay for your exams if you don’t pass it the first time out. This gesture demonstrates the school’s commitment to training you and covers you if something should go wrong.

What Have Previous Success Rates Been?

Success rates fall into a similar category as the subject above. A program should be able to tell you how many of its students have been successful in the past and how many failed. They should also be able to give you reasons why those students who failed were not successful. Being able to offer good explanations for successes and failures demonstrates integrity on the part of the school and an emphasis on improvement. Strong schools will be proud of their success rates and put a lot of effort into ensuring they maintain the trend.

Can You Talk to Recent Students?

Programs will always present themselves in the best light possible and while you can be certain about things like pass rates and re-testing guarantees, it is harder to assess the more subjective aspects of a program. To understand if professors are friendly, classmates are helpful, the school is receptive to feedback, and so forth, you’ll need to speak to former students. The schools that have nothing to hide will be able to provide you with a list of contacts who previously took the course. If they refuse to give you a list of former attendees, that should raise a red flag.

Does the Program Offer Food and Shelter?

This may seem like an afterthought, but it should be a top priority. Chances are good that the course will be located a good distance from where you live and work. You may not be able to drive home to sleep and you certainly don’t want to be going home for every meal. Boot camps are full-immersion teaching environments, so the more you stay “in the zone,” the better off you will be. That being said, look for programs that take care of things like food and housing so that you don’t have to worry about where you next meal will coming from.

Is There an Option to Withdraw?

This question comes down to integrity on the part of the program and while it is rare that you would have to withdraw, unforeseen circumstances may force you to certify at a later time. Good programs will offer you the ability to take the course at a later time if you are forced to withdraw as the result of an emergency or the like.

Succeeding in IT

Certifications are almost necessary for success in the IT industry. If you have been around the IT block a time or two and need a boost to make that next promotion or obtain a raise, then consider a certification boot camp. A boot camp will not just get you certified, it will get you certified fast. That means you will get your promotion faster and you won’t have to take as much time off of work or sacrifice all of your vacation for certification. If you have the skills and the commitment, then an IT boot camp may just be the best investment you can make in your career.

________________________________

Travis Adams has a passion for careers in technology. He enjoys blogging about training and successful advancement in the industry.

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.