Graduate School may not be the Best Course to Get a Job

Graduate School may not be the Best Course to Get a Job Graduate School may not be the Best Course to Get a Job All in Favor, Say AyeAn advanced degree may serve as a gatekeeper, of sorts, to entering or advancing within the career path of your choosing. Even if you have years of experience in your field, prospective employers may be sticklers about that piece of paper. If you find yourself being turned down for jobs because of your lack of credentials, then a diploma may be exactly what you need. You might just learn something, too.Another good reason to return to school is if youre thinking about radically switching gears. If youre considering a drastic career change, make sure to look for a program that offers internships, hands-on training, or shadowing. While its important to learn the theory behind the practice of your new career, its equally important to get on-the-job experience and network with your future colleagues. Be wary of online programs that promise flexibility and convenience at the cost of credibility where you went to school is often as important as what you studied.All Opposed, Say NeighIf youre thinking about going back to school merely as a stopgap, you may regret it later. If you study for the sake of staving off unemployment for a year or two, youll find yourself no better off after you graduate. And, on average, youll be $30,000 deeper in debt. In addition, becoming a full-time student may cause you to lose your unemployment benefits, so make sure you know the rules before registering for classes.Pursuing a more generic course of study- business or English, for example- is less beneficial than targeting a specific, high-growth field. Graduate school should be a means to a specific end, not merely a continuation of your undergraduate studies. That said, there are many alternatives to taking on a full-time degree program. If you need a particular certification to move ahead in your career, either study for the exam on your own or sign up for a low-cost training program. You can also find mentoring and networking opportunities through professional organizations and civic groups, both online and locally. Colleges and tech schools usually offer continuing education programs that will allow you to learn new skills and sample new professions without investing too much time and money.Recently, more and more universities have begun to offer massive open online courses, or MOOCs. These distance-education opportunities are free, although some may require you to purchase textbooks, and usually last four- to six-weeks. You can sign up to study anything from ancient history to computer programming. While fruchtwein offer no college credit, theyre a great way to expand your horizons and keep your skills up to date while you search for a job. Best of all, theyre presented by some of the top academic institutions in the world. Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Berkeley all offer free online courses. For even more choices, check out Cours era and Udacity.Whether youre crafting a cover letter to land the perfect job or writing an essay to get into the school of your dreams, grammar counts.

5 Fun Jobs That Havent Even Crossed Your Mind

5 Fun Jobs That Havent Even Crossed Your Mind5 Fun Jobs That Havent Even Crossed Your MindI dont want my job to be fun, said no one, ever. The average person spends at least 40 hours a week at their job, so why shouldnt your job be fun? Im sure youve already heard that just because its work, doesnt mean it has to be boringWhat exactly makes a job fun? This is definitely subjective, but a common thread of all fun jobs is the ability to be creative and make others happy. Check out the jobs below that employers have described as the most.Retail ManagersFrom curating store window displays to helping a customer make the perfect purchase, a retail manager position would be the most fun for someone who loves to shop. You already have the shoppers mindset, so why not use your insight and skills to make money? Your main responsibility is curating the ultimate shopping experience to ensure maximum revenue and smooth store operations.Average salary $42,000Number of jobs that claim to be fun 61, 000Search retail manager jobsCooksIf you spend most of your time in the kitchen or daydream of fixing up delicious meals, you should definitely consider becoming a cook. Cooks are not only needed in restaurants, but anywhere from health care facilities, country clubs, hotels and corporate offices. Youll be working in a fastpaced environment with the opportunity to make people happy with your tasty creations.Average salary $30,000Number of jobs that claim to be fun 27,000Search cook jobsSoftware DevelopersDo you find yourself thinking, That would be a great app more than once a day? You can learn the skills to make your idea come to life by becoming a software developer. If solving problems creatively and working on a computer sounds fun to you, this job will surely keep you happy. Also, software developers are in high demand at a lot of tech companies with company perks like catered lunches and dog-friendly offices.Average salary $73,000Number of jobs that claim to be fun 20,000Sear ch software developer jobsSpeech Language PathologistsA speech language pathologist role would be the most enjoyable if you are an excellent communicator and problem solver. Your main responsibility is diagnosing and treating patients with speech and language disorders. If youre up for the challenge, speech language Pathologists need a masters degree to work in most states.Average salary $57,000Number of jobs that claim to be fun 15,000Search speech pathologist jobsHairdressers, Hairstylists and CosmetologistsDo your friends ask you for advice on all things makeup and hair? If you consider yourself a beauty guru and enjoy making others look their best, becoming a hairdresser, hairstylist or cosmetologist can be in your future. Youll have the option to work steady hours at a salon or freelance with your own hours, but the responsibility to develop your own clientele. This job is what you make of it. If youre intrigued, you must attend a state approved cosmetology program.Average sala ry $38,000Number of jobs that claim to be fun 15,000Search hairdresser jobs and cosmetologist jobs

15 Characteristics of a Successful Mentor

15 Characteristics of a Successful Mentor15 Characteristics of a Successful MentorGone are the days when assigning an informal buddy to ratgeber a new employee meant going out to lunch and teaching the employee a few lessons about succeeding in the workplace. These buddies generally had no mentor training, and they were clueless about their overall responsibility in welcoming the new employee. Helping her integrate seamlessly and quickly into the new workplace was well outside of their job description. Nor was it the organizations expectation that the mentor is an integral component in a new employee welcome. This has changed for the better. When making every employee successful as soon as possible became the new norm, formal organization needs from a mentor grew. A formal mentor relationship can jump-start the learning curve and help a new employee succeed. These are the characteristics to seek in employees who are asked to or assigned to formally mentor new employees or employees w ho are new to a department or job. These required characteristics will differ somewhat in an informal mentor relationship that develops casually between two individuals or a higher level employee and the new employee. Both types of mentoring start with these needs and these characteristics. Use a Formal Mentor Process With a formal mentor process, the transmission of a body of knowledge and other cultural teachings are an expectation of the mentor relationship. You will also find that a small component of the mentor relationship is evaluative in nature. In the sense that your organization is expecting employees who mentor to assess the new employees fit within the culture of the organization, the role evaluates the new employee. With the body of knowledge, the mentor must convey, the mentor must also know whether the employee is learning the required information to succeed in his or her new job. If the employee is slow to learn or not learning, the mentor can help the department make adjustments. Seek an Informal Mentor Employees are also encouraged to seek an informal mentor for each area of expertise the employee wishes to develop or explore. The partie in this mentor role is purely a coach and a teacher with no assessment responsibilities. Characteristics of Successful Formal Mentors They want to mentor another employee and is committed to the employees growth and development and cultural integralrechnung.They have the job content knowledge necessary to effectively teach a new employee significant job knowledge.They are familiar with the organizations norms and culture. Can articulate and teach the culture.They demonstrate honesty, integrity, and both respect for and responsibility for stewardship.They demonstrateeffective communication skills both verbally and nonverbally.They are willing to help develop another employee through guidance, feedback, and occasionally, an insistence on a particular level of performance or appropriate direction. Th ey initiate new ideas and fosters the employees willingness and ability to make changes in his or her performance based on the constant change occurring in their work environment.They have enough emotional intelligence to be aware of their personal emotions and is sensitive to the emotions and feelings of the employee they are mentoring.They are an individual who would be rated as highly successfulin both their job and in navigating the organizations culture by coworkers and managers.They demonstrate success in establishing and maintaining professional networks and relationships, both online and offline. They are willing to communicate failures as well as successes to the mentored employee.They can spend an appropriate amount of time with the mentored employee.They are open to spending time with diverse individuals who may not share a common background, values, or goals.They can initiate conflict to ensure the employees successful integration into the organization. Willing to acknow ledge, as a mentor, that an employee may not succeed in your organization.They can say when the relationship is not working and back away appropriately without regard to ego issues or the need to assign blame or gossip about the situation. If you select employees who have these characteristics to mentor, you will ensure the success of your formal mentor relationships. The new employees benefit from each of these characteristics that the employee providing mentorship brings to the table.This, in turn, will ensure the successful integration of the new employee within your work unit.