NJC Articles

Internships Create an Advantage

Tue, 10 May 2011 21:05:00 GMT

Not only do internships reveal viable career paths through hands-on learning experiences, they give a student an edge over their competition when it comes to applying for jobs. You may have a killer cover letter, a stellar grade point average and glowing recommendations from your professors, but in today's competitive market, employers are ever watchful for the new hire that knows how to jump right in and start running with the ball. "Internships have become key in today's economy," says Melissa Benca, director of career services at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. "Graduating students with paid or unpaid internships on their résumé have a much better chance at landing a full-time position upon graduation. Students are doing internships as undergraduates, and it is now not unusual for recent grads to take an unpaid internship with hopes of turning it into a permanent position or at least making some contacts and building their résumé." Internships allow a student to explore and experiment while gaining professional experience and exposure. Additionally, interning helps participants develop essential skills and build the confidence to secure a first job or graduate school opportunity.

Interning makes sense to high school students as well. Upon applying to colleges, students that intern are showing that they are able to bridge the gap between wanting to become a professional and taking steps to become a professional.

Actual benefits besides getting a foot in the door with a potential employer and looking good on a résumé, internships have other advantages:

The opportunity to "test drive" a career
(Would I be happier in marketing or advertising? Am I more comfortable working with patients or in a lab?)
Chances to network
Establishing relationships with mentors
Possible college credit or certification
An introduction to the field's culture and etiquette
(Are clients addressed by their first name? Are jeans appropriate for Casual Friday?)
Accumulating new skills
Gaining a "real world" perspective in an occupation
(How much overtime do employees really work? How much time is spent behind a desk versus in the field?)

Summer Jobs Tips for Students...

Tue, 10 May 2011 13:19:00 GMT

1. Start looking now. Employers are already thinking about their upcoming summer staffing issues. One way to beat out at least some of the competition is to start your job search early rather than waiting for the school year to end. "Consider telling them, 'I can work 10 hours a week now, and then I can ramp up my hours after school gets out.'

2. Get the word out about your job search. Begin actively telling people that you're looking for a job. Think about all the adults in your life: your teachers, guidance counselors and coaches, your family doctor and veterinarian, your parents' friends, your friends' parents, and so on. This approach could turn you on to job prospects.

3. Plan for a repeat performance. The survey of more than 1,000 hiring managers revealed that 65 percent of their summer staffs will consist of returning workers. If you had a job last summer and you didn't absolutely hate it, consider reapplying again this year. Your past employer will be interested in you because you're already trained.

4. Be professional. Make sure that everything you include in your job application is spelled correctly and is free of grammatical errors. Don't use all lowercase or all uppercase letters. Be sure the e-mail address you put down isn't silly or distracting. The same holds true for the voice-mail prompt on your cell phone or home phone.

5. Do mock interviews in advance. A job interview can be a lot more stressful than you might think. To work out the jitters ahead of time, do a few practice interviews with someone other than a friend or parent.

6. Show some energy. Employers who bring teenagers on board say they appreciate their enthusiasm and eagerness to do whatever it takes to get a job done. Display those traits on your job interview -- and on the job, as well.

7. Get appropriately gussied. Dress nicely for your job interview, as if you were about to attend a religious service. Do this even if the dress code for employees is casual. Absolutely remember to send a handwritten thank-you note after your interview -- a step many adults routinely forget to take.

8. Play up your strengths. Many teens show a tendency to be hard on themselves and minimize their accomplishments. Remember that a job interview is not the place to beat yourself up. Instead, emphasize flattering details about yourself, such as being an honor-roll student, juggling extracurricular activities and volunteering in the community.

10 Scam Warning Signs, Courtesy of FastWeb

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:19:00 GMT

Knowing these warning signs can keep you from being a scholarship scam victim.

1. Fees: You shouldn't have to pay to search for or apply for scholarships. Check out the free scholarship search at FastWeb.com.

2. Credit card or bank account information needed: You should never have to give credit card or bank account information to award providers.

3. Scholarship guarantee: No one can guarantee that you'll win a scholarship because no one can control scholarship judges' decisions. Also, be wary of "high success rates"--they usually do not refer to actual award winners.

4. No work involved: You can't avoid putting in time to fill out a scholarship application.

5. No contact information: Legitimate sponsors should provide contact information upon request. If the sponsor does not supply a valid e-mail address, phone number and mailing address (not a PO box) after you've asked for one, that could the sign of a scam.

6. Unsolicited scholarships: If you are called to receive an award for which you never applied, be alert--it's most likely a scam.

7. Pressure tactics: Don't allow yourself to be pressured into applying for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking for money up front.

8. Claims of "exclusive" scholarships: Sponsors don't make their scholarships available through only one service.

9. Sponsor goes out of their way to sound "official": Scammers sometimes use official-sounding words like "national," "education" or "federal" or they display an official-looking seal to fool you into thinking they are legit. Check with your school if you question a scholarship provider's legitimacy.

10. Your questions aren't answered directly: If you can't get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding their application, what will be done with your information or other questions, proceed with caution.

Safety First

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:29:00 GMT

One of the most important issues in choosing a college is often the most overlooked: the safety and security of your collegiate environment. Different universities handle safety differently, depending on their location and campus size.

Most colleges devote a significant amount of resources to issues of safety and security, and several safety measures have become standard on most campuses.

Call boxes
Most campuses have a number of call boxes prominently situated on campus that can immediately signal the campus police department. The phones tend to be located near buildings that receive a lot of late-night traffic - the library, student center, dorms. Once activated, police response time is usually very fast. Ask your school if they have a call box system in place.

Campus police
Whether as a fully commissioned police force or an auxiliary police force, campus police are usually a strong presence at universities. The department usually has a working relationship with the local city police, and most campus officers have full arresting powers.

Campus escorts
These student volunteers will meet you wherever you are on campus (library, class, another dorm) and actually accompany you back to your dorm. They are usually available throughout the evening. This is an excellent option if you're planning to take an evening class or have evening study sessions.

ID checks
Student ID checks are becoming increasingly common, particularly on weekends when students have more visitors to campus. You may be required to show your ID when entering dorms and other campus buildings, as well as at sporting events. Many campuses also require all visitors to sign in when entering a campus building.

Self-defense and safety classes
These free classes are usually offered through the campus police department. Most safety classes occur during orientation and self-defense classes are often available throughout the course of the semester. Resident advisors should have information on the kinds of safety classes available on campus.

These are just some examples of security measures on college campuses. You should investigate that school's security measures, as well as recent crime statistics (available in an annual report that all colleges and universities are required to produce). Give campus security the same attention you give to academic programs and professors, and make sure that you're in a comfortable and safe environment.

What To Do While Waiting For Admission Letters

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:49:00 GMT

What to Do While Waiting for Admission Letters

Tips for keeping track of your college applications and keeping admissions officers in the loop. It may not look like it after you put your 10 pounds' worth of college applications in the mail, but the hard part starts once you've forked the applications over. For the following three or four months you will feel the stress of the infamous college waiting game as anxiety builds and the days go by without a letter of reply. But a little guidance and a heads up about what to expect can help you play that game like a pro. So until the mailman comes back carrying a university letter with your name on it, here are some answers to questions you may have along the way, compiled by U.S. News with the help of admissions counselors across the country.

How do I know the university has received my application? You should receive an acknowledgement E-mail that your application has been received. If you apply online, you should get this E-mail within a day or two. When it hits your in box, make sure that all information entered on the application (name, home address, etc.) is correct. Don't hesitate to call the admissions office if you accidentally entered the wrong information or if you don't get the E-mail at all. Every school's admission guidelines vary, so be sure to review the admissions requirements online before and after you turn in your application to avoid delaying the time it takes for them to consider your application.

How can I check the status of my application, and how often should I check it? Most colleges have status checks through their undergraduate admissions offices website. The confirmation that tells you they have received your application usually will have a website login and password so only you can see at what stage of the process your application is. Receipts of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores are sometimes noted on these status pages, so check back regularly to make sure the required parts of your application have arrived.

How are admissions decisions made? There are so many factors that go into colleges' decision-making process that it's hard to ever really be certain about why any particular applicant gets accepted. Larger schools often break applicants into geographical sections and assign one or two people to inspect the applications from that region. Smaller schools might employ a board of admissions counselors who make the final cuts. In addition to your transcripts, essays, references, and everything else you've slaved over to meet the application deadline, admissions officers receive a high school profile with information about your school's test scores, curriculum, and college acceptance history, among other things, to better judge whether you are well suited for their college's academic intensity.

What should I do in the meantime? It's easy to become an application-status stalker as you count down the days until you know if you got in, but this in-between period is also a good time to alert the universities of changes or additions to your files. You also should use time to wrap up campus visits and do a sufficient amount of research on each school so that you can make more informed decisions once the acceptance (and rejection) letters start to roll in.

When will I find out if I got in or not? Ah, the million-dollar question. If you applied for early decision (deadlines are usually the end of October, beginning of November), you will most likely be notified before New Year's rolls around. Although you should check the university's website for its specific dates, if you apply for regular decision you will know by at least the beginning of April.

When should I start to worry if I haven't received a response? Give colleges about three weeks. If you haven't gotten a receipt from the school of your application by then, you should call the admissions office to double check. "Each year we hear from a few who thought they applied back in the fall, but they waited to call us in April, after notification letters have gone out, to ask why they didn't hear back, only to find out we never received their completed application," says Amy Widner of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Virginia Tech, which receives 19,000 freshman applications a year. "This is way too late!"

Do I have to wait for a letter in the mail to know if I got in or not or will I find out online? Many colleges send decisions electronically and follow up with a letter of reply.

How long until I receive a response if I turned in my application late? Trick question! Very few schools accept applications past the due date. If you do, however, turn in a late application, be sure to call the admissions office to make sure your application has been received.

What if I'm wait-listed? If you're wait-listed, you should be informed by that college what your chances are for being admitted and the date you will receive final word. You may be asked to call the admissions office or declare online whether you wish to stay on the list or be removed for good.

What if I am accepted to one of my safety schools before I hear from one of my top choices, and the safety school needs a response? You don't have to respond to a school right away, but your commitments to admission and financial aid offers should be given to the schools by the end of April. If you need more time, give the college a written request for an extension. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life, and colleges understand that. Make sure you give yourself enough time to weigh all the options.

Stress and Study Tips

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:35:00 GMT

As educational requirements get more stringent in all levels of education, students everywhere experience considerable school stress. Here are some student stress relief tips and tools that students can use to learn study skills, prepare for exams and minimize their school stress levels to make learning easier.

1. Manage Time Wisely: It's important to give yourself plenty of time to work on your studies if you want to do well, and you can save yourself a lot of stress if you plan ahead with good time management skills. Setting up a schedule for study, breaking up your studies into smaller chunks, and other time management skills are essential.

2. Get Organized: Have a system of organization for note-taking, keeping track of assignments, and other important papers. Being organized can bring you the peace of mind that comes from knowing where everything is, remembering deadlines and test dates, and clearing your mind of some of the mental clutter that disorganization brings. Keep a calendar, a schedule, and a filing system for your school assignments, and you'll find it prevents a significant amount of stress!

3. Create a Good Study Environment: Creating a soothing environment can reduce stress and help you learn. Playing classical music as you study can also soothe you and help you learn (unless you find it distracting).

4. Know Your Learning Style: Did you know that we don't all learn in the same way? It's important to know whether you're a visual, kinesthetic or auditory learner, as you can tailor your study practices around your particular learning style and make success easier to attain.

5. Practice Visualizations: Visualizations and imagery are proven stress management techniques. You can also reduce student stress and improve test performance by imagining yourself achieving your goals. Take a few minutes each day and visualize, in detail, what you'd like to happen, whether it's giving a presentation without getting nervous, acing an exam, or something else that will support your success. Then work hard and make it happen!

6. Develop Optimism: It's been proven that optimists--those who more easily shrug off failures and multiply successes--are healthier, less stressed, and more successful. You can develop the traits of optimism and harness these benefits for yourself, and do better in your studies as a result.

7. Get Enough Sleep: If you want your performance to be optimum you need to be well-rested. Research shows that those who are sleep-deprived have more trouble learning and remembering, and perform more poorly in many areas. Work your schedule so you get enough sleep, or take power naps.

8. Use Stress Management Techniques: Chronic stress can actually impair your ability to learn and remember facts as well, stress management is one of the most important--and most overlooked--school necessities. A regular stress management practice can reduce your overall stress level and help you to be prepared for whatever comes.

9. Learn Study Skills: The more prepared you are, the less stressed you'll be!

Get & Stay Involved in High School and College

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:29:00 GMT

   High school students should remember they are competing against students all across the country to get into a good college. Community service, awards and being involved in clubs and organizations can be the tie breaker to get you into a good college over someone with similar grades as you. Getting involved also prepares a high school student for college and helps gain experience working, interacting and socializing with other people. This helps build leadership experience and proves you can work well with others.
   Getting into the college of your choice should not end your involvement. Not only will your involvement on campus help you to make friends and overcome home sickness, it will also allow you to put a couple more bullet points on your resume. Building your resume through clubs and student organizations is a great way to stand out from the crowd when applying for graduate school or your 1st job. Working on community service projects or clubs within your major will give you hands on experience and shows you work well with others. You can take it one step further and run for a seat as an officer in your club; this shows that you are a leader.
    No matter what grade level you are, start looking for ways to get involved in school and within your community. Just a couple hours a week will greatly benefit your future.

Internships Create an Advantage

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:09:00 GMT

Actual Benefits
Besides getting a foot in the door with a potential employer and looking good on a résumé, internships have other advantages:

The opportunity to "test drive" a career
(Would I be happier in marketing or advertising? Am I more comfortable working with patients or in a lab?)
Chances to network
Establishing relationships with mentors
Possible college credit or certification
An introduction to the field's culture and etiquette
(Are clients addressed by their first name? Are jeans appropriate for Casual Friday?)
Accumulating new skills
Gaining a "real world" perspective in an occupation
(How much overtime do employees really work? How much time is spent behind a desk versus in the field?)

Until next week...

Organization and Planning

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:05:00 GMT

Some minimal organization will keep your finances in order. Each of these is an important adult financial skill.

Track your spending. Use a notebook, or use Quicken if you have it. Good records will prevent you from getting overdrawn at the bank or charging more than your credit limit. This habit also allows you to detect spending patterns.
Make a budget. It doesn't have to be fancy. At the start of the month, estimate how much money you'll receive and decide where needs to go. Remember: you don't need to spend it all.

Save your receipts. Put them in a shoebox under your bed if you must, but hold onto them. You'll need to be able to compare them with statements at the end of the month. And some you'll need to keep for several years.

Guard your vital stats. Don't give out your social security number or your credit card info except to known and trusted sources.

Money Management

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:35:00 GMT

If you play it smart, you can avoid the sort of money troubles that plague many young adults.

Don't get a credit card unless you absolutely need one. Those guys sitting behind the sign-up table are not there to help you. They're there to make money.
Avoid non-academic debt. It might seem like a good idea to put that Xbox on a credit card, but it's not. Focus on developing good money skills with cash. Worry about credit later.
Save and then splurge. If you decide you must have that Xbox, then save for it. Wait until you can pay cash.
Pay your bills on time. Basic advice, but it's surprising how many people lose track of things. If you pay your bills as they arrive, you won't have to worry about forgetting them.