Author: Staff (Page 47 of 62)

      Spending time abroad after graduation

      November 14, 2011 /

      This has been a very difficult time for graduates, as the great recession has made it very difficult to find a job and get your career started. Many young people are stuck living at home with their parents and don’t know what to do next.

      We’ve stressed the importance of creativity and finding a career that suits you, regardless of the economic situations. We’ve also stressed the importance of work-life balance, and there must be more to life than just your work.

      This might be a time for you to also consider doing other things while you wait for the job market to come back. It might seem silly yo think about traveling the world given the economic circumstances, but again it’s a matter of getting creative. If your overall career is on hold, why not figure out a way to see the world? You’re only young once, and now you can take advantage of the freedom of fewer choices here at home.

      Cruise companies are one option, as you can get a job on a cruise ship and make pretty good money. You’ll work hard, but you’ll see new places and you’ll be surrounded by other young people. Just imagine the opportunities that could come from that.

      Europe is also another option. Of course the job market is even worse in places like England, but there are always opportunities for Americans, particularly if you’re willing to consider an internship. Look for companies in the tourism industry or even finance. Again, it’s a matter of being creative. You may find yourself working in hotels in Liverpool or a Cardiff hotel just as easily as you might be working for an American company in London.

      You are only limited by your imagination. If seeing the world is a priority, use this time in your life to find something unique an interesting. It sure beats hanging around in your old bedroom at your parent’s house.

      Your Career

      Facebook and job interviews

      November 5, 2011 /

      Most people are aware now that the stuff you post on Facebook and other social media outlets will likely be researched by prospective employers. This interview with Dr. Lawrence Burgee, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Information Systems, Brown School of Business and Leadership, Stevenson University, illustrates the point. He tells a story of one interview where an applicant was asked if a person could be their friend for an hour to look over their Facebook page while others were interviewing him.

      Your Career

      Dave Navarro gives career advice to musicians

      November 2, 2011 /

      Bullz-Eye.com recently interviewed Dave Navarro as Jane’s Addiction was about to release their first album since 2003. In the interview he was asked about advice he’d give to aspiring musicians.

      BE: What is the number one piece of advice you would give to someone starting a band today?

      DN: I’ve answered that before, and to be perfectly frank, in this climate and the way the music business is, I would say the number one piece of advice is to do exactly what you love, and make sure you love doing it. I think back to when Jane’s Addiction started in the late ’80s, and we weren’t really aware that we would amount to much. We thought we were doing something special, but given the climate and what was successful at the time, we just felt that it was best to do what we wanted to do and stick to who we were, and as a result of that, we were able to gain some attention. The climate has changed so much, and the media has changed so much over the years, I’m astonished with how many people I’ve come into contact with that are really looking for fame, period. And those are all the wrong reasons to do this. You’d just be chasing some dream, and once you’ve reached a certain level of success, their whole life will be okay. But the fact of the matter is, they’re still stuck with themselves at the end of the day.

      BE: So music’s not the end goal for a lot of these bands? It’s just celebrity that’s more important to them?

      DN: I don’t want to say that, because there’s a really great rock movement happening, and there are lots of great artists out there. I’m saying that, and I’m sure you can understand, if you look in the more mainstream/pop world, there are a lot of people just chasing the notoriety. And hey, they’re happy doing that, I’m not saying anything negative about them. I’m just saying to upcoming bands, make the goal to work on the music that you’re most proud of, and the rest should fall into place.

      It’s good advice, and the notion applies far wider than the music industry. Ask yourself why you pick any profession, job or career. Are you doing it for the money or other types of rewards, or is it something you really want to do for its own sake. You have to be honest with yourself.

      Your Career

      Fixing college tuition

      October 28, 2011 /

      We have some serious problems in the country surrounding college education. We have some of the best universities in the world, so the issue is not quality. The issue is price. The cost of college is soaring, and aggregate student debt will exceed $1 trillion!

      President Obama is trying to address the student loan crisis with some sensible reforms, but the bigger long-term issue has to do with the cost of a college education.

      Steven Goodman addresses the problem and proposes a solution.

      Since loans now comprise 70% of financial aid packages, the growing tuition burden falls squarely on student-borrowers who may have saved for college but who still can’t meet the high cost of attendance. Two-thirds of American undergraduates are in debt. This year, student loan debt will grow to more than a trillion dollars, outpacing credit card debt for the first time. As hundreds of thousands of high school seniors prepare their college applications, and their parents compile documents required for financial aid, Congress needs to seriously consider legislation that will rein in future tuition increases.

      There are many reasons for the dramatic rise in tuition, including demand for better student residences, cutting-edge laboratories, IT improvements, cuts in state subsidies and administrative growth. Regardless of which factors are most significant, the fact remains that there has simply not been enough external pressure to force universities to contain costs. Ironically, the accessibility of student loans, while admirable at first glance, has contributed to tuition growth. And while President Obama’s recent proposal to cap student loan repayments depending on income is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t address the bigger problem of runaway tuition in the first place.

      This is where government needs to firmly step in. The federal government contributes billions of dollars to research and development on campus and allows universities to function as tax-exempt institutions. Self-policing of college costs has not worked; government needs to tie its support of higher education to college costs.

      Read the entire article as it presents a sensible argument.

      Your Education

      Your Business Cards

      October 27, 2011 /

      We’ve discussed the cheap revolution before. It’s the notion that you can do so many things today and use countless services for a fraction of what they used to cost. This helps drive entrepreneurship and it helps people sell products or services without a huge support organization. You can be a one-person wrecking crew, using email, the web and social media to network, chase leads and close sales.

      That said, there are still some older traditions that you shouldn’t abandon. While you may not need a fancy office and a receptionist answering phones, you should have a web site or other online presence, and you should have things like business cards. The online and mobile worlds are important, but person-to-person networking is still critical.

      But here the cheap revolution helps as well. You can access business card printing services online and avoid all the hassles of the past. It’s easier and cheaper and you get exactly what you want. So do all the new media stuff, but never abandon old methods of meeting people in person and exchanging business cards.

      Your Business, Your Career, Your Network

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