Are You Afraid of the Real World Becomes Make Your Next Move

Readers,

Just an FYI, my blog is not changing, but just in the look and title.

Instead of "Are you afraid of the real world?" the blog has now become apart of JMU's Career and Academic Planning department.  The blog will feature the same content, and will eventually become an outlet for our past student newsletter.  We are currently working on uploading PDF's of past months to incorporate everything into the interactive site.

Keep reading!

Planning On Staying Married? Not With These Jobs!

We all know that the career path in which we chose will shape our future quality of the life.  Professions can affect a person's social status, income, family, location, and more.  But there is one long term affect we may forget: marriage.  It is quite obvious that some jobs can put a high strain on your love life.  After all, jobs with odd hours and high stress levels can cause relationships to deteriorate.

In the world of a 50% divorce rate, it is beneficial to try to avoid this costly and heartbreaking fate which half of our public endures.  Career Overview published a recent blog post that listed the 10 Careers With Incredibly High Divorce Rates.  While some occupations seem a bit strange, for example Fish and Game wardens, they are worth noting.  Other obvious careers included bartenders, dancers, and massage therapists.

One consistency throughout the list was the non-traditional work schedule, for example working nights, and the lack of higher education in the career.  Most of the jobs do not require a college degree.  While we should not stereotype these jobs as being less desirable, there could be a link between the life path chosen and the affect on a relationship. 

On the flip side, a Washington Post article found dancers and massage therapists with the highest divorce rates.  The lower end of the divorce rates included three different kind of engineers, a career that require a high level of intellect and schooling. 

Does this mean only marry the bookworms?  Not necessarily, as each individual case clearly can bear different circumstance.  But with the way society works, keeping to one marriage can be a difficult thing to manage.  Good luck with love!

Happy Holidays! Now Use Your Time Wisely!

Readers,

I would like to thank whoever is reading this blog for helping me in my first real blog experience.  It's been fun so far, and something I never thought would be so rewarding.  My professors as well as the Career and Academic Staff have given me lots of feedback regarding my postings.  Thanks everyone!

I will be going on a short hiatus over break, but I am definitely not abandoning the blog.  I will continue my postings around January 10th, when the first week of class starts.  More job advice coming your way!  Also, a reminder to those seeking employment to look back on past posts about job searching over break.  There is plenty of time to relax, and using your time wisely could help you network and attain more contacts.  Good luck!

Have a good break!
Christine

Forget the First Amedment: Silence is Golden with WikiLeaks

We would all love to believe as Americans that we have the freedoms to say whatever we want wherever we want.  After all, that is exactly what our founders felt was the most important freedom, and why it stands at the top of the list in the Bill of Rights.

But going into the job market sometimes forces us to compromise some freedoms, and especially those that contradict the institution or company to that we are employed.  With the high use of social media like Facebook and Twitter, employees need to be careful we exactly what they say in those status updates or 140 character snippets.

Companies are sensitive to those able to tarnish their reputation online.  Through online searches, they also have the capability of looking into your online profile even before you were hired.  This is a scary thought to many students that do not think of the potential repercussions for their word. 

These key concepts of censorship have recently made headlines with the WikiLeak controversy.  A Huffington Post blog by Rob Fishman announced the State Department's warning to Columbia University students.  They warned students seeking employee to NOT discuss WikiLeaks on their Facebook or Twitter accounts, as it could severely damage their chances of being employed.  This is especially important for those looking into government work.  It gives the impression that students cannot be trusted with important confidential information.  In this case, it seems as though the small risk is not worth it.

So, forget free speech in order to get hired?  This may make you first amendment advocates cringe, but it is important to remember what exactly employers are looking for in a candidate.  While we want to be able to post anything freely, it should not shock anyone that there is always censorship in a company or industry.  It is just the way of the world.

Marketing & Media Majors- A Job Site Just for You!

Mashable.com is a great resource for media students; it's an internet newspaper that focuses mainly on social media news.  It also features entertainment and business areas, but another excellent tool it offers is the job section. 

The section has daily listings of job opportunities from cities nationwide.  The left columns allows for a narrower search; users can filter the jobs by categories and job type i.e full-time, internships, etc.

The jobs range anywhere from those that require 10+ years experience to interships and entry-level.  If you do a basic search, it is easy to find jobs and internships relevant to college graduates.

Each listing contains job description, location, and all the information for requirements for applying.  The companies are also very well know, anywhere from websites to Microsoft to Livenation.  So, check it out and apply!   Good luck

Spice Up Your Resume This Season

 The holiday season leaves us with plenty of time to relax with family and friends and stay indoor to avoid the blustery weather.  Before you spend too much time cuddled by the fireplace, take this time to jump start your job search.

With little to virtually no school work, this is an opportune moment for students to fix their resume and look into new contacts for the new year.

Miranda Gale, a student blogger for USA Today posted similar advice for college students look for prospective jobs in the market.  She highlighted these 5 ideas on how to best use your off time wisely.

1.  Get the Internship- She suggests making a list of your dream job and companies to work for.  Next, attempt and interview with an employer or find out more information. 

2.  Learn a New Skill- Instead of surfing Facebook, she suggests battling through software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, or even just reading a new book in the field of your interest.

3.  Volunteer-  This is not the first article to suggest volunteering; It is a resume builder and a great way to make new contacts.

4.  Fix Your Resume-  Make it perfect.  Add classes you have just completed or things that you accomplished during the fall.  Make sure it all ties back to your personal brand.

5.  Network-  Attend a conference of a company near your house, talk to relatives and family friend.  You never know who is feeling generous around the holiday season. 

Just doing a few of these steps will help you do something productive over break.  After all, May is approaching and you want to have as many opportunities to get into the real world.

This video by the Wooden Group, a human resources group, also makes these similar claims in this news interview.  As you watch, check out their key points:

• Resume- Keep it updated with key words you want to be you
• Networking- People you want to contact within the next year
• Use of the Internet
• Volunteer

 

On the Last Leg: How to Get Through the Next Three Weeks

For most of us, we dread the return to school after Thanksgiving break.  After way too much turkey and laziness, it can be very difficult to stay focused on studies, when we are all itching for the holidays.

These three weeks, however, are crunch time in terms of importance.  Finals are approaching, as well as last minute projects, tests, and papers to finish out the semester.  Before you freak out, here are some tips on how to stay focused and healthy during the final stretch.

Kerry Ann Rockquemore, a blogger for Inside Higher Ed, offered tips on how faculty can stay stress free during crunch time.  Although the article is for professors, I think the advice is suitable for students.  Here is a summary of how she plans to work through the next three weeks, with my college student spin on the advice.  

• Plan Ahead- Get out the planners and make a study schedule 
• Try the Reward System- Don't get a Starbucks treat before you finish that last page! 
• Find a crunch time buddy- Library is always better with a friend.  Even try to get a study room.  
• Get comfortable with end-of-semester conflicts- Deadlines will overlap, so making a schedule will help 
• Move Your Butt-  Exercise relieves stress; hit up the gym after you study to get out frustration 
• No Sunday Funday- Use Sundays to plan and catch up on work, it will make the rest of the week easier
• Keep the End in Mind- It will all be over soon!  Think of how happy your parents will be with a high GPA, especially right before they holiday shop.

It is important to not forget about how important the next three weeks are in the semester.  Last minute work can make all the difference in how you perform in the class.  Keep finals in mind, and look out soon for more study tips as it gets closer to the end!