College students can’t find gainful employment. This astounding news came from the U.S. Department of Labor. Their recent survey revealed that as much as 80% of college graduates do not have jobs upon graduation. Of the students that are finding jobs, 60% of them are working in careers that have little or nothing to do with their degree.One of the reasons why may be that college grads do not have the job seeking skills required. While colleges and universities are putting emphasis on class work, there is no motivation given for students to seek out job searching skills. College campuses offer career advice at their career centers. However, these services are offered on a voluntary basis and most students either don’t have the time or the ambition to seek them out. Recent studies revealed that career centers are understaffed and under budgeted. But, to be fair, only about 30% of college students bother to seek out these services, anyway.
Researchers have targeted several areas in which today’s grads are lagging behind their elders (in the area of job hunting skills). Students about to graduate do not invest enough time in the job search process. They often rely on just a few job leads. Relying on just a few leads leaves them empty handed if they all fall through. There is too much dependence on electronic communication methods (email, texting, etc.). Studies have found that students are lacking the skills to communicate face-to-face.
In an effort to combat joblessness among graduates, many colleges have teamed up with Talent Marks to offer a webinar series on job hunting techniques. This webinar is free to actively enrolled students. The series offers a variety of speakers on the subjects of: career planning, networking, using Tritter as a way to find a job, and communication techniques.
The lecture series boasts a panel of industry experts. Richard Boller starts the series off with a lecture about job hunting. Boller is the author of What Color Is Your Parachute . This bestselling book has become the standard in the area of figuring out what type of career field one should choose. Kathleen Barton will be discussing techniques for organization and time management. Her list of clients include many of the greats: M&M/Mars, Pepsi Co and Yahoo! Inc. Susan Whitcomb will be discussing ways to use Twitter as a resource during a job hunt. She has worked with Monster.com and American Online. Dr. Mark Goulston will be lecturing about communication skills. Dr. Goulston is a licensed clinical psychiatrist and a retired FBI hostage negotiator.
Currently enrolled college students who are interested in the webinar series can get more information at their school’s career development center. ]]>
According to the Huffington Post as of January 2010 only 45% of those currently employed are satisfied with their jobs. That’s the lowest it’s been in the 22 years such records have been kept. And even though the poor economy has a lot to do with people’s disenchantment, the NUMBER ONE reason over half the working population has fallen out of love with their jobs is because people just don’t find their work interesting anymore.
Really? And whose fault is that? Is it really your employer’s responsibility to keep you entertained? Of course you could always quit your job, and if you truly hate what you’re doing, then maybe that’s the way to go. However, unless you have another job waiting in the wings, quitting may not be your wisest option (especially if you decide to go back to school part time to pursue a new, more lucrative career).
Instead consider taking some risks at work that might actually pay off. Below are five that may take you out of your comfort zone, but if you’re thinking of quitting anyway, what have you got to lose? At the very least you might end up adding enough “zing” to your career that you fall in love with it all over again.
Fix a Problem
Any place of employment has its share of problems. The persistent ones fall through the cracks because nobody wants to deal with them. So if you find your day-to-day duties boring, try identifying a hardcore problem at work, and then attempt to fix it. Don’t wait for the green light or a cast of thousands to hop onboard with you. Be like a Nike sneaker and just do it. Even if you fail, it shows you took the initiative and as a result, you might be rewarded with more interesting work. And if you actually do come up with a solution, well then you’re a hero. And that feels pretty good.
Make a Decision
Unlike solving a problem, making a decision can be even riskier. If a decision falls flat, for example, critics are quick to bellow, “What were you thinking? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” However, if your disinterest in work stems from collective decision paralysis because everyone else appears to be a bunch of spineless weenies, don’t be afraid to break from the pack. Make a decision that no one wants to make and stand by it. Even if it turns out to be wrong, at least you can say, “Now wait a minute, whom among us was bold enough to move forward? Ah yes, that would be me.”
Create a New Job
If you find your work so deadly dull you think watching your fingernails grow is more exciting in comparison, then decide what you’d like to do at work and create a job proposal for it. Outline the need for the position and why you’re the only person on the planet who perfectly fits this new job description. Present it to your boss with a positive attitude that doesn’t downgrade your current position or the people you work with. The key to selling this is to show how your suggestion directly benefits the company FIRST, and how it helps you SECOND. If your boss turns you down you’re no worse off than you were before. Best case, he says YES or yes, with conditions, in which case the bargaining begins!
State the Obvious
Every company has that elephant in the room, where everyone knows something’s not right, but no one wants to say so. Okay, so now you’re going to be the one who says so. You may not be able to fix the problem, but by golly, you’ll bring it to light. This can be tricky because often times things go to hell in a hand basket at work because someone else drops the ball, but no one wants to be the person to point that out. Elevating an issue to a public level can go one of two ways; everyone sighs with relief that you were brave enough to speak up, OR they all turn on you for being a hard nose. It’s up to you to decide if you want to be the lone soul who states the painfully obvious.
Be Honest
If someone asks you what you think, tell the truth. You don’t have to be a jerk about it, but rather say what you think in a constructive manner. If they don’t agree, then respond with, “Hey, you asked. I’m just being honest.” Even though your frankness may outwardly appear to ruffle a few feathers, eventually people will come to you when they want a truthful assessment, and before you know it you become a trusted advisor whose opinion people seek out.
Obviously, there are additional reasons why people are dissatisfied at work, such salaries not keeping up with inflation and the cost of healthcare, neither of which can be controlled on an individual basis. And even though taking risks won’t solve all your discontent at work, it sure can make for some interesting times. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we hope any job can offer?
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Anthem College Online recently announced that the launch of a degree completion program for individuals who have already earned a medical assisting diploma.
Officials told the news source that the associate's degree completion track for medical assisting enables students to develop the skills they need to advance in their careers or to broaden their employment opportunities.
"Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation," said Bill Hillard, Anthem College Online interim president. "Today's busy medical facilities need [these professionals] who possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills as well as exceptional technical skills."
Officials noted that the program is an attractive choice for busy professionals because it enables them to decide when they attend class, study and complete assignments. Furthermore, students meet with instructors and fellow students in online discussion forums.
According to the 2010 Sloan Survey Learning, out of more than 2,500 colleges and universities in the U.S., an estimated 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one web-based course in the fall 2009 semester.
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