Five classes they should have offered in college
So you've mastered how to write a 10-page research paper and you know exactly how to cram for a stats exam. To top that, you actually even feel pretty comfortable entering into the real world with your resume that's packed with extracurriculars to compliment your major. But as ready as you may think you are, certain aspects of the real world are going to smack you in the face just like your roommate did when you told her you wanted to get back with your ex-boyfriend. Here are five classes that definitely should make their way onto the required course list at every institution of higher education because they will actually help you in the real world.
1. Groceries for the Graduate. Just because you landed that first real job which means a first real paycheck doesn't mean you have to turn into Rachel Ray. Buying groceries at overpriced, organic supermarkets will drain your wallet a lot faster than you think. Don't worry, you can still think of yourself as a "mature adult" if you buy cereal at Walmart or Kroger like everyone else. Believe me, you'll thank us in the end.
2. Real-World Hangovers 101. Unlike in your college days, you can’t throw on sweats, sleep through your two-hour lecture, then head back to bed after a night out on the town. You have a real job now which means putting on that pencil skirt, grabbing coffee, and showing up ON TIME ready to impress your boss. Having a class to enlighten you on the best hangover remedies and ensure you don’t throw up in your morning meeting might save you your job.
3. Commuting for Beginners. Chances are you are not going to live within walking distance to your place of employment like you did to your 9:30 class. A course with a syllabus showing you how to calculate exactly what time to set that alarm so you maximize your sleep time, yet still can grab that coffee from Panera sounds like a good idea to me.
4. Living at Home, Part 11. You’ve been out of the house for four years but might be forced to move back in after graduation until you can get on your feet. There’s nothing wrong with that, except the fact you might drive your Mom to drink, and vice versa. Readjusting to domestic life with the ‘rents can be a tough one, and a class on the Do’s and Don’ts might help ease the experience.
5. Graduate Level Facebook. You’ve heard it a million times, but you really do need to clean up your facebook before you send those applications out to employers. They will look, and if they find pictures of you drunkenly dancing on tables they won’t be impressed. A class like this should be mandatory for any undergraduate actually looking to get a real world job.
Posted By: Kayla Molczan
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Staying in Touch After Graduation
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| Photo provided by: Taylor Ray |
Keeping in touch with your friends post college can be easier than you may have originally thought! While you won’t be skipping class to watch movies all day or order junk food in the middle of the night, you will be able to maintain correspondence with your best friends with ease. This post highlights some great tips to staying in touch with your college classmates.
Since everyone is already on Facebook try creating a group for your close circle of friends to post comments on, create and organize events, and maintain group communication so no one can be left out! It can serve as a one-stop shop to catch up with everyone all at once.
Pick up the phone when you can.
Nothing is better than hearing the voice of your best friend when you’re down or stressed. Even if you don't have time to have hour-long conversations, call or text every once in a while to let your friends know you still care about them.
Plan a group get together.
While this can sometimes be difficult, try and get together when you can, maybe even once a year. Compile a list of those who live closer to you and try and see them more often.
Keep your contact info updated through e-mail.
Start a mailing list and have anyone update their contact information via e-mail when they move, change numbers or addresses.
Posted by: Taylor Ray
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Digging Inside the Portfolio. Part 3: The Resume
Along with your cover letter and letters of recommendation, the resume is also a piece inside your portfolio you will want to perfect. The resume stands as the key document in showcasing exactly what experience you have done in the past and what you are capable of bringing to the table in the future.
I 1. Include relevant contact information. This is extremely important because you want a potential employer to be able to contact you if they wish to set up an interview! If you start sending out applications while you are still living at school but you know you are moving home immediately after graduation, put your home address on there. Also, make sure your email and cell phone number are easily visible because they will more than likely get a hold of you this way. You don’t want an employer to pass you up because your contact information was not easily accessible.
2. 2. Include specific information. When listing your past experience whether it be an internship or job you have held, or courses and projects you have completed while in school, be specific. Lay out exactly what tasks you were given, what you learned, and what you are capable of doing. Employers want to know EXACTLY what your skills are.
3. 3. Keep the formatting easy to read. You want your resume to be a visual representation of yourself and employers will think of it this way. You do not want it looking cluttered, unorganized or hard to read. Keep the font simple and the text size readable, and make sure the different sections are easily set apart from each other. You want your resume to look as polished as you will look in person when you come in for that interview!
Posted By: Kayla MolczanSaturday, September 25, 2010
Prepare Your Facebook for Visitors
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeOne of the key things employers look at before hiring or sometimes even considering to interview you is your Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and any other form of social networking site you use on a daily basis. The trick to keep these pages active is to clean them up and use them just like any company or organization would, to market yourself. Look at these pages as advertisements for you! Market Yourself: Always fill out the information about yourself, but remember to keep the important information somewhat confidential (full name, address, etc.). This will help keep you safe from identity theft, creepy stalkers and those you don’t want to find you online.
Be smart about your photos: If you’re over the age of twenty-one having a beer in your hand while smiling with your friends isn’t going to portray a negative image, however a photo of you falling over at bar with puke spilling out of your mouth is. Monitor the photo’s you upload and are tagged in.
Be smart about what you write: Whether it is a comment on a status, tweet or wall post be aware that everyone can read it! While in an interview for an internship last year with a public relations firm, my interviewee pointed out to me that employers are digging deep into our sites and monitoring what potential employees are writing on others walls beyond.
Set your security to HIGH: Facebook is constantly changing the security protocol of their site, so it is important to check your settings out every once in a while. Go in depth to check who can see your posts, wall, information, groups, photo albums and etc.
While these items may seem tedious and unnecessary they definitely are important to your success at landing that first job. Remember to utilize your page to make you stand out, stay informed and connect with professionals and past colleges.
Posted by: Taylor Ray
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