Category Archives: careers

careers, community college, gap year, Penn College

What Are the Alternatives to Traditional College?

traditional college

If traditional college isn’t for everyone, what’s the alternative?

Yesterday I posted an article: “Should Every Child Go To College?” The answer: It’s not for every child and parents shouldn’t push if it isn’t happening. You know your child better than anyone. Think outside the box and help your child find the right path.

Here are some other options beyond the traditional college path:

Community college

Many graduating seniors have decided to take the community college path. They 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.

A gap year

More and more students are considering a gap year (or gap years) after high school. This time would be to explore career options, travel to discover yourself and gain cultural experience, volunteer for a year in a community service job or abroad, or work with the goal of saving money for college.

The military

While the military is not for everyone, it is a viable option for many students. Not only will you learn discipline, organization, and teamwork, but you will also gain job experience. The military has numerous career options to choose from that will transition into the workforce after your term of service is over. An added benefit is the education benefit veterans receive, allowing you to attend college using government funding.

Work and community college

Another option you might choose is working while attending community college. You can take as few courses as your time permits and ease into the college level courses. Working during community college also allows you to pay for college as you attend, avoiding large amounts of student loan debt.

Trade school or apprenticeship

The trades and/or apprenticeships are certainly overlooked as a path after college. Pursuing a trade ensures job security and future earning potential. You can go to a specific career school such as an art or fashion institute or a culinary institute, or you can work in with a professional learning their trade. Another option would be to consider a college that focuses not only on academics but also on hands on education. One such college is Pennsylvania College of Technology. You can read all about them in these series of articles.

Internships

Students can also work at paid or unpaid internships after high school. These internships will help you discover your interests and gain insight into various careers and what training or education you would need. Many employers offer paid education benefits while working and will often hire you as a full time employee after completion of the internship and/or education.

If your student seems unmotivated or uninterested in college have a serious discussion about his plans after high school. Make it clear that he needs a plan and help him formulate that plan. If they become part of the planning process and are involved in the decision making, they will be much happier with their choices.

careers, parenting

Should Every Child Go to College?

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college

I published this article about five years ago, but I feel it’s content is still true today. Too many parents push students to go to college when they are not prepared either academically, emotionally or financially. So many students go and fail because college is simply not for them.

_____________________

I read an article a few years ago in The Atlantic: “In the Basement of the Ivory Tower“, that gave me some food for thought. It’s been on my mind for quite awhile, especially since I have a close friend who is a financial aid counselor at one of those infamous “for profit” colleges.

She would answer my leading question with a loud and emphatic, “NO”, based on her experience dealing with those who are not prepared to attend college and don’t understand the consequences of borrowing money they can’t pay back. They have been convinced that without a college education, they can’t get a job or pursue a career. They’ve been told by someone that it doesn’t matter how much money you borrow as long as you get that degree. Once you get that degree you can earn enough money to pay back what you’ve borrowed. But we all know that’s not often the case.

In the above mentioned article, the English professor makes an interesting point:

America, ever-idealistic, seems wary of the vocational-education track. We are not comfortable limiting anyone’s options. Telling someone that college is not for him seems harsh and classist and British, as though we were sentencing him to a life in the coal mines. I sympathize with this stance; I subscribe to the American ideal.

Sending everyone under the sun to college is a noble initiative. Academia is all for it, naturally. Industry is all for it; some companies even help with tuition costs. Government is all for it; the truly needy have lots of opportunities for financial aid. The media applauds it—try to imagine someone speaking out against the idea. To oppose such a scheme of inclusion would be positively churlish.

I’ve come to realize that Americans truly are snobs. We brag about what we have and what we have obtained. Like it or not, we are a classist society. We snub our noses at those who haven’t been to college and brag heavily about our numerous degrees as if they are badges of honor. And while graduating from college is an accomplishment, so is learning a trade.

Often, we push our kids to attend college when we know it’s not for them. Why? Because we are a society that measures success by the number of degrees hanging on a wall or the dollar signs that can be found on our bank accounts. It is noble to dream big and education is always a noble goal. But so is being a plumber, a carpenter, a cosmetologist or a civil servant like a police officer or fireman.

What’s my point? My point is that you need to know your child. If they want to go to college and have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful there, then encourage them to go. But if they aren’t interested or motivated, save yourself some heartache, disappointment and money by letting them pursue a trade or career and even consider a college that offers both. There are so many fabulous careers out there that they can do without higher education. You will be happier, they will be happier and they will fill an important role in society. College really isn’t for child.

career colleges, careers, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Consider a Career Focused College

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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

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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.

careers, college majors

Is Your Student Considering a Career in Nursing?

 

nursingObamacare is changing the face of healthcare, and with it the nursing profession. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering this field.

LPN

An LPN is one of the most widely-recognized types of nursing degrees out there. LPNs are licensed practical nurses and perform a variety of tasks under supervision of an RN. They administer medication to patients, check vitals, and give injections. They can also take blood.

RN

A registered nurse, or “RN,” is what you probably think of when you think of a nurse. It’s an individual with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. They often assist physicians in hospitals and have extensive job responsibilities that can include management. But, they are also responsible for hands-on care of patients. Then consider upgrading your RN to a BSN here: RN to BSN San Antonio.

Clinical Specialist

A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse. This type of nurse is proficient in diagnosing and treating illnesses within a specialized niche. These types of degrees are available through online colleges in Florida or specialized nursing schools.

A clinical nurse can focus on patients and families, staff management, or administration. They are often placed in leadership roles because of their extensive medical knowledge.

Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner might work under the supervision of a doctor, but more and more of them are becoming autonomous and taking on the role of a physician. NPs can diagnose and treat diseases, prescribe medicine, and initiate treatment plans for patients. This is basically the nurse equivalent of a medical doctor.

Nurse Case Manager

A nurse case manager coordinates long-term care for elderly or disabled patients who need long-term skilled nursing care.

They often choose to specialize in treating people with diseases like cancer or the elderly.

PhD

Getting your PhD in nursing almost always means you’re headed into teaching or some kind of educational role. A PhD in nursing is heavy on theoretical knowledge, but also allows a nurse to gain a deeper understanding of the practical application of the nursing profession.

Travel Registered Nurse

This type of nurse works in temporary jobs across the country or in foreign countries, sometimes for weeks at a time, and even years at a time. Travel nurses may perform many of the same duties as a traditional RN, but often work for an agency that needs to supplement core staff at a facility.

Staff Nurse

A staff nurse works in a variety of different settings, including rehab centers psychiatric wards, ICUs and critical care, and outpatient facilities. They often provide direct care to patients and administer medications, perform IV therapy and assist LPNs and RNs.

Emergency Room/Triage Nurse

This type of nurse treats patients in an ER, and often works with trauma victims, though many types of individuals enter an ER and a triage nurse needs to be quick on his or her feet in order to address emergency and life-threatening situations. The job is stressful, but the pay is commensurate. If you don’t mind working in constant chaos, this job is for you.

______________________________

Audrey Lovett works in a senior role involved with medical recruitment. She likes to be able to share her insights and experiences with an online audience. Her thoughts have been published across a variety of different websites.

careers

5 Things That Make an Educational Company Great to Work For

 

When you were young, school didn’t seem like somewhere a person would choose to work. For the few who defy their younger selves by venturing back into the halls of learning in adulthood to help educate a new generation, a deeply rewarding and well-regarded career awaits. Here’s a few things that make an educational company great to work for.

1. A culture of positivity and purpose

School are now, more than they’ve ever been, a place of purpose and positivity. This is reinforced through every layer of the establishment, from faculty to the student body. Great educational institutions will place a huge premium on both the distribution of knowledge and generation of a positive atmosphere for all on campus. Places like these make every part of the school a much more pleasant place to work.

2. Growth opportunities abound

Many companies have a big focus on growth opportunities for long-term employees but that doesn’t always mean sticking to a traditional career path. Depending on the way the school apportions their budgets and manages their facilities, you may find that while your position does not change much over time, evolving technology, training and equipment may allow you to be much more effective at your job.

3. The opportunity to work with people you respect and admire

As an educator, being surrounded by like-minded people who hold a similar set of values to your own is one of the best parts of working at an educational institution. It allows you to network, hear different opinions and explore new areas of thought and study. You’re able to learn from people whose work you respect and literally train with the best. Institutions such as Evocca College place a large emphasis on providing a high degree of training and support for their educators – you can find out more information here.

4. You face new academic challenges daily

Problem solvers make great teachers and educators. Becoming an educator is an excellent career for those who like to be challenged by their profession. Figuring things out, cracking codes, making important breakthroughs – it’s something we as a species thrive on and nowhere is this itch better scratched than when working in the educational sector.

5. You get to make a difference

One of the very best parts of the job is knowing that you’ve helped shape a new generation of people, hopefully for the better. You’ve provided them with all the tools they need to not only survive in a hostile world but to make it better. You’ve managed to truly touch or even change lives with the knowledge you had to give and that is the kind of reward that’s not easy to come by in any other profession.

A great company is somewhere that allows you to do amazing things and enjoy yourself alongside like-minded people who desire the same things. That’s what you get when you go to work for an educational company, and it’s why they’re pretty great to work for.

careers, Uncategorized

What Path Should You Take For an Investment Career?

 

college applicationsInvestment careers, although challenging, can nevertheless be very rewarding and fulfilling. The investment industry is quite a dynamic industry which is ever changing. If you wish to make a career in the sector, you need to be willing to work hard and put in long hours, but the rewards are well worth it.

A wide variety of investment careers

There are various investment careers that one can embark on in the investment industry. They include:

  • Investment managers, who handle the clients’ money and invest it in equities and bonds. Their role also involves providing sound investment advice and options to their clients.
  • Research analysts, who undertake fundamental investment research as well as valuation. Their main role is to determine the growth potential as well as the future outlook of the investment in question.
  • Investment bankers, who assist in the sale of stock by businesses and governments to members of the public. They can also assist these entities in floating their shares in the stock market.
  • Client account managers, whose main role is to maintain good and fruitful relationships with clients by communicating regularly with them about ongoing investments.

A mathematics degree, while not essential, would help you get into an investment career since number crunching is an important skill to have. A finance degree or an MBA would be even better to have. You should also not expect to enter into investment management straight after graduating, but should aim to start off as an investment research analyst first then build up from there.

Wesley Edens: an investment management success story

Wesley Edens is a successful investment manager who serves as a good example of just how much you can achieve in the investment world if you work hard and diligently. Mr Edens is a principal as well as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fortress Investment Group LLC. He is in charge of the company’s private equity business as well as a wide variety of publicly and privately traded portfolio companies. In the past Mr Edens has also worked for BlackRock Financial Management Inc. and Lehman Brothers as a managing director in both companies.

Investment careers require you to put in a lot of work and grueling long hours, the compensation can be extremely high. The nature of the work is also not only demanding but also unpredictable. All the same, it remains an exciting and very rewarding way to make a living.

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.

careers

Preparing For a Career in Finance

 

career in financeAs a parent, you obviously want your children to achieve success in their education and careers. It is often easy to guide your children when they follow your example, but when they show aptitude in subjects and topics in which you are unfamiliar, then it can be difficult to know how to help.

This guide provides you with practical advice to ensure your son or daughter will be fully prepared to enter the competitive and rewarding world of finance.

Why should you help?

Some parents take the attitude that once their children reach higher education it is time to stand back and allow them to find their own paths. However, many young adults in school have little idea about how the working world operates, and while colleges and universities provide some career advice, it usually comes from scholars who have spent most of their working lives in academia.

By taking an active role in preparing your children for their careers, you will greatly increase the chances of them landing a role that will offer excellent prospects for the future.

How you can help

There are many ways to prepare your children for a career in finance, such as understanding more about their education and interests and how this may fit opportunities. Start by talking about what their main interests are in finance. The financial industry requires more than just accountants and investment managers. Firms require business development managers, client service executives, data analysts, human resource managers, IT systems support, and marketing officers.

After gathering details from your children, begin researching the career paths that will allow them to reach their goals. To achieve the best positions in finance, they will need to obtain financial certificates and further qualifications. Students who begin studying for these qualifications as soon as they graduate will give an excellent impression to prospective employers.

The best way to determine which courses are required is to review job listings and read the qualifications. Many websites will list the latest opportunities, and the qualifications and experience required for each role.

Many roles ask for candidates to have knowledge and practical experience with specific computer packages; many of these can be studied online and courses can provide a good foundation in using them.

Although your child will not beat out somebody with several years of experience, in the recruitment process, they may well come across as the best of all graduates, if they can demonstrate they are familiar with the computer systems used.

Teach interview skills

Interview skills are possibly the most important part of landing a good career. How a person performs in 30 minutes in a room with two total strangers can determine his or her entire career.

What many students do not appreciate is that an interview is an opportunity to sell themselves; this is where you can help. Encourage your children to list all of their most positive aspects, their best skills, and their educational strengths and get them to talk candidly about these.

People who can casually talk about their best aspects come across as being confident, articulate, and professional. An interview is not the time to highlight to an employer all the things that you do not know; it is a time to sell yourself as an asset they cannot afford to lose to a competitor.

What companies are the best?

This is one of the most common questions asked by parents. Many people assume the best companies must be the huge financial organizations that are in the news every week. Although J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America Corp, and Citigroup are the largest in America, they do not necessarily offer the best career prospects; competition within the banking industry is extremely tough and they all take on hundreds of graduates each year.

It is often better to look to the smaller investment companies that provide a more bespoke and personal approach. In a smaller company, it is often easier to impress and rise through the ranks to board level, which is ultimately most people’s ambition.

Some excellent local opportunities that are an ideal match for your child may be available, so research the local area. Small regional offices can often be a great place to start a rewarding career in finance.

Supporting your children during this time is a challenge, but with a little information and some research, you can help guide them and hopefully they will land the career they have been dreaming of, or at least, the one they would have been dreaming of, had they known what opportunities were out there.

careers, social networks

Using Social Media to Find a Job

 

job searchThese days the recruitment process has moved online, which includes a shift to social media. Not only do employers browse social profiles when deciding who to interview, they’ll also use social channels to advertise opportunities. This media can help you or it can hinder you when trying to land that dream job, whether it’s for a learning mentor or a care worker, marketing professional or a skill tradesperson. Here’s how:

Private versus Public

There’s a strong chance employers will try to learn more about you via your social media profiles. For this reason, your public profile should convey the right impression. If anyone and everyone can view your Facebook or Twitter profile pictures, make sure they’re professional. Pictures that reveal aspects of your private life show you drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or generally just clowning around are best reserved for friends only. This also applies to the information you choose to publicly display on your social profiles. Do you want potential employers to be able to see your relationship status, the bands you like or even your birthday? If there’s any information you don’t feel entirely comfortable with employers seeing, switch your settings to private.

An opportunity to network

Many companies use social media to head hunt as well as recruit. Setting up a professional profile can get you noticed. At the same time, you don’t have to wait for employers to approach you. LinkedIn is an excellent networking tool and there’s no harm in trying to connect with companies or organisations you might like to work for in the future.

Creating the right impression

There are, of course, social profiles you might want potential employers to see. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you’re likely to use it to network and hunt for jobs. This makes it essential for your profile to create the right impression. Choose a professional-looking photo. If in doubt, ask a (trusted) friend or family member which photo to use. You should also update your profile regularly, ensuring it showcases your talents and experience. List all of your skills and try to get LinkedIn references from past employers. Your social profile could be your first impression—and you won’t get the chance to make another one.

Employers advertise through social media

Advertising positions online is commonplace nowadays. As well as updating their website with job details, many employers add vacancies to their social media feeds. If you want to be amongst the first to know when new jobs come up, connect with employers you might like to work for via their primary social channels. LinkedIn is particularly useful because you can receive email updates of jobs in your sector. Some sites are even area-specific, such as S1Jobs, and following their social feeds you can plan your next career move within a particular part of the country. Perhaps you’d like to work with children and young people by becoming a learning mentor. You could use social media to showcase your experience to potential employers and hunt for jobs.

Whatever career path you want to follow, social media can help you land that dream job if you use it wisely. Make sure all the public information you display gives the best impression.

careers

Adding Up–Career Paths for People Who Work Well With Numbers

 

mathDo you have a head for figures? With a decline in people enrolling on maths-oriented courses and the decided increase in demand for mathematicians, you don’t have to be Einstein to work out that your future employment prospects look bright. It’s tricky to reconcile something as conceptually abstract as mathematics with notions of a career path, but your skills qualify you for a range of stimulating and rewarding jobs. Read on for some career options worthy of your talents.

Surveyor

Surveying is well-paid, specialized work, which can unlock opportunities for you to travel the world and see the great outdoors. It can take a commitment of up to eight years to gain the necessary qualifications, but once accredited with a reputable firm, it’s likely you’ll be in demand.

Accountancy

Wherever there’s business, there’s a need for accountancy and people skilled with numbers. Accountancy jobs open doors and those who have qualified as an accountant will have the grounding needed to join a firm and work towards partnership, pursue a career in finance or even start their own company. Although often ridiculed and stereotyped, accountancy is an inherently stable, well-paid and enjoyable way to make a living.

Teaching

If you have the passion and the patience, teaching is a highly rewarding, varied career option. Whether in secondary or higher education, passing on your unique grasp of a concept, inspiring young minds to blossom and articulating theories could be a perfect fit. What’s more, if you choose to pursue a professorship in Higher Education, it goes hand in hand with contributing your own research and theories towards your department, and being surrounded by stimulating and intelligent people.

Actuarial

Do you find life to be one big game of calculated risk? If so, your next throw of the dice might just come up with actuarial work. Analyzing statistics, solving problems and having a numerical mind are all prerequisites in your bid to provide companies with the stats and advice they need to make game-changing decisions. Although becoming an actuary will require you to immerse yourself in risk on paper, it’s a dependable choice.

Physicist

If you’re inspired by super-minds like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Steven Hawking to unveil the wonders of the universe, you may wish to become a career as an apex predator of mathematics: a physicist. Whether you’re seeking work in a hi-tech industry, research and development or astrophysics, you’ll have to be able to rise to a challenge, and nurture a highly inquisitive outlook.

Architecture

If you want to balance your mathematical skill with technical prowess and a dose of creativity, make plans to be an architect. This is one career path that requires passion by the truckload, taking up to ten years to qualify for and demanding long working hours. Competition is fierce, and you will have to relish teamwork to drive a project to its completion but you won’t get bored, and your work will be written on the skyline for generations to come.

Crunching numbers isn’t everyone’s thing, and that’s exactly what creates such demand for people who are skilled with numbers. It’s definitely the way to a successful and rewarding career.