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5 Ways To Make Extra Money In College


dogwalkerCollege costs were lower, once upon a time, and so working part time in the summer plus a small loan or two would get you through to graduation day. Now with college costs soaring and jobs scarcer, getting a diploma without getting into massive amounts of debt takes a whole lot of hustling.

Even if you’re getting a full ride thanks to scholarships or generous parents, it pays to make a little extra cash. Not only does it give you some walking around money for the weekends, but a side hustle also gives you a taste of what it’ll be like to bring home the bacon after graduation.

In the best case scenario, you find a way to turn a hobby or passion into a part-time profession that still gives you plenty of time to hit the books. But if that’s impossible, there are still plenty of ways to bring in extra money without sacrificing study time. Here are just some examples:

Put your writing and editing skills to use. Content marketing is big these days and there is plenty of work for freelance writers who can work fast. Fiverr and Craigslist can help you get started, though you may be able to drum up business on campus by helping people polish papers, too. This is flexible work that can be done anywhere, anytime – especially during semesters where you’re not doing a ton of writing for class.

Be a part time virtual assistant. A phone is all you need to make between $3 and $7 for quick tasks like calling to make appointments, doing light research, or finding the best prices on services and products. Sites like Fancy Hands are almost always looking for organized, friendly people to sign on as assistants, and it’s easy work that doesn’t require an hourly commitment.

Buy and sell online or IRL. If you have space to store goods, reselling on eBay or Amazon is an easy way to pick up some cash. This is a good option for students who have the patience and time to go grab free or low priced items locally to ship out nationwide or anyone who has the skills to refurbish old furniture or electronics. Another option specifically for those born with the persuasion gene is starting up a legit business with Amway or Mary Kay.

Do the boring things no one else wants to do. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk is a micro-task site that pays minute amounts for tasks that take seconds but the work tends to be uninteresting. Click Worker will hook you up with data entry and SEO work, and sites like UserTesting pay you to evaluate their clients’ websites. All three are good options for students stuck in work study jobs that involve a lot of sitting around.

Move stuff. Websites like Movers Corp let you sign up to be the muscle when businesses and individuals need a strong pair of biceps. The company provides the truck and the supplies; students (who set their own rates and availability) provide the manpower. It’s a solid option for anyone who has free time and a strong back.

Remember that having a side hustle during your university years won’t always be easy or fun, but the feeling of knowing you’re not going any deeper into debt is absolutely priceless.

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Graduates – 5 Tips on How to Write an Effective Resume


interviewWe all want that job. It’s great if you get to the interview stage for one job opportunity, but do you find that you’re not getting there as often as you should be? Perhaps it’s your resume that’s holding you back. You have the experience, yes, but are you conveying this effectively? Research indicates that it takes an average of six seconds for recruiters to decide if you’re right for the job or not, just based on your resume! You’ll need one that will make you stand out. Here’s five tips on effective resume writing.

1. Seek Professional Advice

If you’re really struggling to determine your career objective and find the exact job you’re after, this is often conveyed in your resume. Approach a career counselor for help at your college or university. Most tertiary institutions will guide you on the right path to finding your ideal career, meaning you can expertly tailor your resume towards the specific position you’re aiming for.

2. Make Your Name Stand Out

A lot of people make the mistake of heading their resume with ‘Resume’. Don’t! Your name should go at the top in a bolded print along with your contact details, in a standard print. Include one address, one phone number and one email address. You can also choose to put your qualification next to your name, for example, ‘Ann Smith B.Sc.’

3. Decide if You Will Include an Objective

Recruiters are divided on this – some like to see an objective, others don’t. While it may show you have a real purpose, it can also mean you are narrowing your chances by limiting yourself to that one goal. You can decide for yourself if you’d like to include one, but experts say you should only do it if the objective is not a generic one.

4. Have the Right Number of Pages

Your experience should be reflected by the length and formatting of your resume. If you’ve had several years’ experience, keep it to two pages if possible, three maximum. Some recruiters feel that if you’re in your twenties, your resume should only be one page long as you surely don’t have enough experience to justify adding a valuable second page. However, if you’ve interned and worked hard all through college, embrace that second page!

5. Layout is Important!

Don’t add so much information to the point of overcrowding the page – it’s exhausting to read. Use white space to draw the reader’s eye to specific information that you feel is important. Make it a pleasure to read – add bullets, italics and bold fonts to highlight certain accomplishments. Include keywords from the job posting as some recruiters use software to sift through resumes – you don’t want yours to be missed.

The bottom line? You’re selling yourself in just two pages. You must mould your resume into what the recruiters want to see. Something in your resume needs to make you stand out against other candidates – whether it be an achievement, or simply in the way the resume is formatted. Small things can sometimes make a big impact.

Today’s guest article is provided by Francis Benjamin. He is a recent graduate of Evocca College where he studied website development. When Benjamin is not helping his friends succeed in finding jobs after college, you can find him diligently glued to the twitter tips provided by his alma mater (Evocca).

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The Dollars and Sense of Library Science Degrees


collegedegree1If you are like most college students, you spend every waking moment at the library when you are not in class (just kidding… but I imagine your professors are hopeful that you see the inside of a library at least once during your educational career!). A library doesn’t run itself and it is amazing how technology has been woven into the framework of our more contemporary libraries. Next time you are passing through a library (or just accessing their online electronic databases from the comfort of your dorm room), give some thought to whether you would like to be part of that information delivery highway. If you think it is for you, check out the following infographic to give you some insight on how to maximize your earning potential in that field of work!


Infographic Source: USC Library Science

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4 Impending Job Shortages to Take Advantage of


While the job market continues to rebound, there are still some fields that are slow to recover. However, there are actually areas where employers are struggling to find qualified workers. It’s not just one industry either, there are areas in several different industries that are experiencing a lack of qualified workers. The following fields have a need for well educated, skilled workers:

Civil Engineer

Engineer

Civil engineers play a direct role in constructing our towns and cities. They are responsible for designing large construction projects such as airports, roads, bridges, tunnels, and water supply systems. Since they are responsible for such large projects, they usually earn about $79,340 a year. While civil engineers mostly spend their day in an office, they can also spend time on construction sites to make sure the project is running smoothly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) believes that over the next 10 years, employment for civil engineers will grow about 20 percent.

Electrician

P1000688

Electricians will always be needed to install and keep up electrical power in homes and businesses. That’s why the job outlook in this field is expected to increase 20 percent over the next 10 years. Most electricians learn the job through an apprenticeship where they master knowledge such as electrical code requirements, wiring, and blueprint reading. Most states require electricians to hold a license. Since all homes and businesses involve electrical wiring, electricians can work indoors or outdoors in both commercial and residential settings. The average annual salary for an electrician is $49,840.

Accountant

Accountant

With a 13 percent increase in the job outlook over the next 10 years, anyone who is good with numbers should look into accounting. Accountants prepare financial records and make sure that businesses and people pay their taxes correctly and on time. They can work either full-time or part-time. Accountants will usually need a bachelor’s degree, although some positions may call for a master’s degree. They can expect to earn around $63,550 a year.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse

For those interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, the field is wide open. The BLS reports that in the next 10 years, there will be a 31 percent increase in this occupation. They consider this increase faster than normal. Nurse practitioners work directly with patients to perform physical exams, prescribe medicine, and set up plans for patient care. They can work alone or with other nurses and physicians. They must earn at least a master’s degree, and must also be licensed in their state. The median annual salary for a nurse practitioner is $96,460.

With millions of people still looking for work, it seems unusual to hear about job shortages. However, these fields show that skilled workers are still in high demand. For those struggling to find work, or those who will be graduating from school and are unsure of what to do next, focusing on one of these fields that has a high demand for workers means a faster transition into the workforce.

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Learn What the World’s Best Programmers Already Know


CareerIn today’s hyper-connected programmable world, coding skills are at a premium. Programmers are vital to the way we live and work: how we learn, do business, and socialize with one another. The need for programming expertise will continue to increase in the coming years. Becoming a programmer can be a lucrative and steady career path, with opportunities to advance into analyst and leadership roles.

The challenge for beginners comes in determining which languages can help pave the way to the future. Industry experts stress the importance of striking a balance between established and emerging programming systems. Employers have a specific skill set they expect from their programmers, and it typically includes several of the following languages.

The Four C’s

C is the most popular programming language in the history of computing. The versatility of C is credited for advancing the world as we know it today. It provides a foundation for C++, Java, C# (C-Sharp) and Objective C, and also serves as the basis for development of languages like Perl and Python.

Knowledge of C and C++ is essential to moving forward with other more complex languages, including C# and Objective C. Both of these languages incorporate object-oriented extensions of the original code and offer opportunities for sophisticated programming. C# and Java are common in web applications development work, and they are used for creating XML web servers, loading or storing database information, and many other web applications tasks.

PHP

PHP is a free, server-side scripting language that is installed on approximately 20 million web servers worldwide. The flexibility of PHP makes it an ideal choice for e-commerce, social media, blogs, and other applications that need to work across multiple browsers. WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are all based on PHP. It is also a helpful language for building Facebook applications. PHP has been available since 1995 and has consistently grown in popularity because of the ability to embed PHP commands directly into HTML documents.

Java

Java was also first released in 1995 and by all accounts changed the programming world forever. Java allows coders to write one program that can run on any hardware platform. This is possible because when Java applications are compiled, they are converted into a universal byte code that is understood and translated by any operating system that supports the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Java makes it easier to write complex programs for enterprise-wide applications. The language is powerful and efficient, and essential to website development for multiple devices.

HTML5

HTML5 eliminates the need for Flash, which has proven to be slow loading and resource intensive, so it is not compatible with battery-powered devices. This emerging language allows for exciting animation and Flash-like effects, but is far more efficient and search engine friendly. HTML5 works on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as across most browsers. Programmers who know HTML5 will be the ones who advance website development into the next generation.

Ruby

Ruby gained in popularity in the mid-2000s with the advent of the Ruby on Rails web application framework. The advantage of the language is that it allows for rapid development of complex apps. The recent and much-awaited release of Ruby 2.0 is anticipated to fix performance issues that have plagued Ruby programmers over the years.

Perl

While it sounds elegant, Perl is actually a “quick and dirty” open source utility language. It has been embraced by systems administrators around the world as an easy solution to scripting problems. Perl has a very active user community that offers exceptional support for coders.

Python

Python is a dynamic open-source language that programmers use to create highly flexible scripts and objects. It is quicker to code than Perl, Ruby and Java, and is available for all major operating systems. Python has become extremely popular with independent and third-party developers who want to distribute their apps and scripts to the mass market.

Author Byline:
Today’s guest article comes from Laura Mingo.She writes in the field of higher education and this article aims to offer career advice for university students in relation to IT and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding a master in computer information systems online.

Sources:

http://www.onwardsearch.com/careers/most-requested-web-developer-skills/

http://bestteneverything.com/top-ten-most-popular-programming-languages-2013/

http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#referencelibrary/GettingStarted/Learning_Objective-C_A_Primer/

http://www.python.org/

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Opportunity Knocks: 5 Benefits of Attending Your College’s Career Fair


CareerYou’ve received fifteen emails about it from the university career center. You’ve also seen dozens of tables being set up, and you’ve had to dodge the handouts being shoved in your face from the event’s organizers. There’s no avoiding it; the career fair is here. You’ll probably have some classmates who are prepping for it, but you don’t really see its appeal. But here are five reasons why you should give the career fair a shot.

Job and Internship Opportunities

Let’s start with the primary reason college students attend career fairs in the first place: jobs. You’ll be speaking with recruiters whose primary roles are to find the future employees of their companies. Understandably, the competition is fierce. The attendees compete with each other to make great first impressions and wow the recruiters, and the recruiters compete with each other to snag the best new talent.

The first rule is to come prepared. Dust off your formal business suit, print multiple copies of your most up-to-date resume, wear your best smile, and shake some hands. Do preliminary research on the companies that will be there, and make a plan of which tables will be your top priorities to visit. Create talking points relevant to each one, and try to engage the companies’ recruiters in a conversation. After they go back to their offices to sift through the resumes they received, they’ll try putting faces to the names. If you left a good impression, they’ll remember the interaction, and you’ll stand a higher chance of getting callbacks from potential employers.

Immediate Networking Opportunities

The older you get, the more truth you’ll find in the saying, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” Putting your name out there, and a positive image of yourself, is essential. Not only will you be developing your own network of contacts, but you’ll also be interacting with real-world professionals who have well-established, extensive networks of their own. Even if you’re not the right fit for their company, they can put you in contact with the right people or point you in the right direction.

Don’t forget about the attendees like yourself as well. These are your peers, and chances are they’re interested in many of the same careers you are considering. Talk to them and incorporate them into your network. They could be your potential business partners.

Resume Feedback from the Professionals

Professional recruiters look at thousands of resumes, and they only spend about six seconds gauging each one, according to a 2012 study by TheLadders. When you hand your resume to a recruiter at the career fair, don’t be too shy to ask for a quick assessment of it. They can let you know what works and what doesn’t, what you can cut and what to emphasize. This information is invaluable; many people resort to paying professional resume writers, but at a career fair, you can get quick advice from the authorities on resumes for free!

Insight to Different Industries

Maybe you’re unsure of what kind of career you’d like to pursue. A career fair can help you gain valuable insight and a preview into the various industries you are possibly interested in, all conveniently located in one place. Speak to the professionals at the career fair. Come with questions about what they do.

What’s a typical day for them? What’s the company culture like? What do they like most about working there? Tell them what you’re most interested in, and they can tell you where you’d fit. You’ll learn from the insiders’ perspectives what it’s like to work in their respective fields, which can help you decide which direction you might want to go in for your future career.

Future Networking Opportunities

The power of networking can never be emphasized enough. Take every chance available to you to network. To this end, you can use a career fair to find out where and when the recruiters will be convening again. Make plans to attend if the representatives will be coming to your school or to an area nearby.

If you’re interested in going into the finance industry, for example, you could ask where the Fisher Investments upcoming events will be. Chances are you’ll find even more companies related to the same industry that you can network with. Do not underestimate where networking can take you. It can make all the difference between having to settle for the time being or landing your dream job.

Armed with this knowledge, don’t be intimidated at the prospect of immersing yourself in the career fair experience. Career fairs typically come to campus a few times per year, depending on your university. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s never too early for you to start attending. Whether you’re a college freshman or a senior, you only stand to gain from a visit to the career fair. Best of luck!

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How To Score The Best Job During Your College Years!


gotjobsIf you are not just looking to make money while in college, but also want the jobs you take on to give you some experience to put on your resume, then this article is for you. The whole point of going to college is to get the education you need to get hired for the job you want. However, getting the right job doesn’t have to start after graduation. If you need to work while in college, you mine as well get jobs that will further your career and look great on your resume. We have some tips on how to get hired in your industry and some ideas for the best jobs for college students.

How to Get Hired in Your Industry

Getting hired for a job that will look great on your resume and further your career is obtainable, even if you are in college and have little or no experience. How can you do this?

1.       Make yourself look good on paper.  Show all relevant accolades from high school and college on your resume. Include volunteer work, internships, awards, scholarships, and anything that you are proud of academically or socially to show your worth.

2.       Make yourself look good on social media. Take care in what you post on your social profiles and make sure that you come off as a professional that a company would want to hire. This includes your Facebook page. Take down or lock down images that are personal and especially leave off any clues about partying in college.

3.       Interview well.  Study up on how to interview well and follow all the tips that are provided on how to perform well at an interview. One sure fire way to gain an advantage in an interview situation is to do some research about the company ahead of time. How do the employees dress? What other clues can you find about the way they do business?

4.       Show your willingness to go above and beyond. During your interview process, show your eagerness and willingness to adapt, learn, and fit in to the corporate culture of the company you are applying to work for. This is where doing your research about a company can also come in handy. Look them up on social media ahead of time, follow them on LinkedIn. See what they write about and what the company is up to according to their profiles.

5.       Make local LinkedIn connections. Search for individuals and businesses in your area and ask to connect. Look for local LinkedIn groups for interns or companies that are hiring.

Ideas for the Best Jobs for College Students

When you start your job search, where should you look? Instead of taking on any old job working at a restaurant or type of job unrelated to the field you want to go in try to get jobs that will look good on your resume and give you that much needed experience.

1.       Tap the LinkedIn connections you have made. Search the groups and send messages to contacts letting them know you are looking for work. If you are polite and courteous, you will find that people are very helpful.

2.       Look for opportunities where you can gain experience. Volunteering, speaking to other students, or starting a blog all can establish yourself as an authority on the topics in your area of expertise.

3.       Check with your school job placement department. Your school’s job placement department is not just there to place students in positions after they graduate.  You can contact them at any time for job placement assistance.

4.       Call local businesses. It never hurts to ask. Call local businesses in your field and ask if they are hiring or offering internships. Even if they say they are not, ask if you can still give them your resume. You can then mail or bring in a copy of your resume dressed in appropriate business attire. It will make a great impression.

5.       Start your own business. There is no better experience than your own. Establishing your own company is a great experience and could be the beginning of a beautiful entrepreneurship!

About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Josh Ferrell. He is a blogger and Brand Manager for DiplomaDisplay.com. He enjoys writing about career and college topics.

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Ripe for Picking: Selecting a Career in the Medical Industry


gotjobsSelecting a career can be a daunting task, whether you’re fresh out of high school and listening to your family urge you to seek one direction or another, or you’re an adult reconsidering your path. In today’s economy, it’s important to choose a career that will weather the possible storms and provide you and your family with security.

Medical careers are a great choice, whether you are just beginning your professional life or making a change later in the game. Many people erroneously believe that in order to excel at a medical profession, they must possess a specific skill set. But the truth is that the medical industry, as other industries, requires all kinds of people with all sorts of talents.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (or PAs) accompany physicians on medical tasks and work closely with the physicians on most forms of treatment. In all 50 states, PAs are able to prescribe medications to patients and provide primary care for patients. A PA’s role might also include education, research and administrative duties.

Educational requirements:
The core difference between a PA and a Physician is the amount of formal schooling and the requirement of internships and residencies that physicians are required to have. Nevertheless, PAs, like physicians, do take most of the same courses in medical school and are required by law to pass a national exam.

Nurse Practitioner

If you want to advance your nursing career and interact more intimately with patients, think about becoming a nurse practitioner. These advanced nurses obtain certification and education beyond what is required of an RN (registered nurse) and are able to treat patients themselves for a variety of maladies within the scope of their practice — without the long hours or the cost of malpractice insurance, in most cases.

Educational Requirements:
The educational requirements for a NP include more coursework and clinical trials than what is required of a Registered Nurse. NPs are required to have a Master’s degree in Nursing and, in some cases, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) as well.

Physical Therapist

Imagine helping someone take those first few steps after a car accident or other severe injury. Physical Therapists are the folks who help patients manage their movement and deal with physical pain either as the result of an accident or illness. If you consider yourself a “hands on” person who wants to help others, this is a rewarding career choice.

Educational Requirements:
You’ll need a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in order to practice. PTs also have the option to become board certified in a certain area (such as Geriatrics or Pediatrics) but this is not required.

Occupational Therapist

For the chance to enhance a patient’s everyday life, become an Occupational Therapist. Occupational Therapy’s history can be traced to 1910 when a group of OTs argued that a patient’s wellbeing is connected to social and economic factors in addition to physiological factors. Today, OTs help patients recover and maintain daily living and working skills after illness and injury.

Educational Requirements:
You will need a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. OTs also have to pass the exam administered by the Board of Occupational Therapy.

Speech Language Pathologist

If you love to communicate and would enjoy a career in which you help patients communicate effectively, consider Speech Language Pathology. SLPs help patients with speaking difficulties pertaining speech, language and voice. They also work with cognitive components such as attention and memory. SLPs can work with either individual patients (which is most common) or with groups or families.

Educational Requirements:
Requirements include a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology, passing the Speech Language Pathology Praxis exam as well as supervised clinical hours.

Clinical Pharmacists

More and more pharmacists these days are working directly with the patient, not just doling out prescriptions. A clinical pharmacist works with physicians, nurses and other medical staff to supervise medicine therapy and make recommendations. As you might guess, the CP works in a medical setting, such as a hospital, where he or she can interact with medical staff and patients more easily.

Educational Requirements:
A Doctor of Pharmacy (D.Pharm) degree is required of Clinical Pharmacists. CPs also experience rotations in hospitals as part of the D.Pharm degree, and learn from other licensed pharmacists.

Keep in mind that these careers are far from being your only choices in the booming healthcare industry; there are many others. You can check the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook website by visiting http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ and read up on the growth of the industry. A career in healthcare can be both emotionally fulfilling and financially rewarding, and, with a bit of research, you’ll no doubt find the one that suits your skill set.

About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Steve Gingrich. He is a brand manager for CompHealth, supporting their 3 Allied Staffing and Placement divisions and the occupational therapy jobs division. He loves contributing to the blog and social media outlets as his side gig, and has worked for CHG Healthcare since 2010.

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