Category: Your Career (Page 41 of 62)

Benefits of Volunteer Work

May 14, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Photo Credit: A.S. Zain / Shutterstock.com

Whether you’re interested in giving back, gaining work experience or filling work gaps, volunteer work has many benefits. For starters, as a volunteer worker, you can gain valuable work experience that can help you begin building a resume. For students, volunteering full-time during the summer months or on weekends during the regular semester will impress future employers and help you stand out from the crowd. For non-students, volunteering anytime will strengthen your resume and help you obtain skills that can lead to advancement opportunities.

Next, volunteering can actually help you find potential employers. When you volunteer, you’re always meeting new people. These people may give you job leads. By volunteering for programs related to your career field, you are also more likely to meet important contacts or other professionals with the same interests.

Volunteer work can help you gain valuable skills. For example, if you’re working for a non-profit, you might learn all about fundraising and develop skills related to working with groups. You might handle donations, help manage projects, and organize events. An organized candidate with management skills and the ability to work with large groups is a great asset to hiring companies.

While working with non-profits can help you gain valuable experience and skills, other fields can do the same. Other fields that may be open to volunteer workers are:

-Education
-Disaster Relief
-Community Development
-Research
-Medical/Health
-Construction
-Administration
-Land Conservation
-Parks & Recreation

To apply for a volunteer position at any given company, all you have to do is contact the company’s human resources department by email or phone and inquire about volunteer opportunities. Most companies have volunteer, internship or other similar programs. If they don’t, they will likely be open to the idea. The human resources department will tell you how to apply if opportunities are available or if they would be willing to consider it. If opportunities are seasonal, the department will give you information about the best times to apply. You will have the option to apply online or via snail mail.

You can also search for volunteer opportunities by visiting any of the following websites:

Good Luck!

Your Career, Your Education, Your Network, Your Team, Your Workplace

Which Careers Require Continuing Education?

May 12, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Continuing education is usually mandatory for jobs that require a license or certification. Continuing education may consist of a few courses or an entire program which can be taught online, on-campus or other location. The different types of careers that require continuing education are in the medical field, education, real estate, law, engineering and construction, to name a few.

Continuing education is not only important to keep up with changes in the law, it is also important to keep up with competition and modern developments. Many companies also require continuing education as a condition of employment. For example, many human resources professionals must attend continuing education classes to stay current with employment laws, salary trends, and other employment related issues.

Although many continuing education courses or programs are mandatory, some are 100 percent voluntary. Many of these programs are for personal development only, so they do not have to be accredited. Courses or programs that are required as a condition of employment or for maintaining licensure or certification must be accredited. Accreditation is a voluntary process. However, only an accredited program or course will meet the requirements of employers and licensing agencies.

There are literally dozens of recognized accrediting agencies covering hundreds of specialized programs and courses. For example, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council Committee is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Before signing up with any given continuing education course or program, especially if it’s a requirement for an employer or licensure, please verify that it’s accredited and that the agency is recognized.

To find out if an agency is recognized by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Your Career, Your Education, Your Workplace

continuing education

Why Major in Political Science?

May 11, 2011 / Michelle Burton

A political science degree is a common degree of choice for aspiring attorneys, public administrators, public relations specialists, and journalists. Although political scientists can find work in these fields and many others, many work in education, research, and government. These areas require an advanced degree, but an undergraduate degree in political science is the first step to acquiring one.

Having a variety of careers to choose from is only one benefit of a political science degree. Another is salary growth. The top paying industries for political scientists are:

-Federal Executive Branch, $114,040 per year
-Local Government $83,790
-Social Advocacy Organizations $77,410
-Scientific Research and Development Services $77,160
-State Government $58,040

Salaries vary, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for political scientists is $104,090 per year. The lowest paid political scientists average $46,520 per year and the highest earners average $151,360. Salaries for political scientists have increased every year since 1999. Increases are significant, with the largest jump occurring between 2004 and 2009.

-Year 1999: $74,280 per year
-Year 2004: $86,460
-Year 2009: $104,090

Job growth in this field is promising for all degree levels, but an advanced degree can increase your options even more. Job growth for political scientists increased between 1999 and 2004 from 4,280 employees to 4,490. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of employees in the field decreased to 3,970. However, between now and 2018, overall employment of political scientists is expected to grow 21 percent. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. Many other career fields for political scientists will continue to grow as well. For example, job growth for attorneys is 13 percent from 2008 to 2018. For public relations specialists, job growth is 24 percent during the same time period.

If you choose a career as a political scientist, you can expect to perform the following duties:

-Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
-Research a wide range of subjects, such as relations between the United States and foreign countries, the beliefs and institutions of foreign nations, or the politics of small towns or a major metropolis.
-Study topics, such as public opinion, political decision-making, and ideology.
-Analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities.
-Conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

If you’re interested in a career in political science, you can get started by earning your undergraduate degree. Political science degrees are offered at colleges and universities across the U.S., but some of the best programs are offered at:

-Columbia University, New York, New York
-Cornell University
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology
-New York University
-Northwestern University
-Ohio State University
-Princeton University
-Stanford University
-University of California
-University of California – San Diego
-University of Chicago
-University of Michigan
-University of Minnesota
-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
-University of Rochester
-University of Texas at Austin
-University of Washington
-University of Wisconsin
-Washington University in Saint Louis
-Yale University

You can find other colleges and universities that offer a political science degree by visiting Princetonreview.com or Petersons.com. For more information about political science careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education

What are the Different Types of Bachelor Degrees?

May 6, 2011 / Michelle Burton

A bachelor’s degree is awarded after completing four to five years of full-time study at a college or university. A bachelor’s degree program can take several additional years to complete if you attend part-time. There are more than a dozen different bachelor’s degree programs, but the most common are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS).

As the name suggests, a Bachelor of Arts requires coursework in the arts. You can expect to take courses in areas such as music, fine arts, humanities, and social science. A Bachelor of Science degree requires coursework mainly in the sciences. You can expect to take courses in the areas of physical sciences, mathematical sciences, and life sciences. Other degrees are more specific and include:

-Bachelor of Architecture – BArch
-Bachelor of Applied Science – BASc
-Bachelor of Business Administration – BBA
-BComm – Bachelor of Commerce – BComm
-BCompSc – Bachelor of Computer Science – BCompSc
-BD – Bachelor of Divinity – BD
-BDes – Bachelor of Design – BDes
-Bachelor of Education – BEd
-Bachelor of Engineering – BEng or BE
-Bachelor of Fine Arts – BFA
-Bachelor of Mathematics – BMath
-Bachelor of Music – BMus
-Bachelor of Pharmacy – Bpharm
-Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering – BSEE
-Bachelor of Science in Forestry – BSF
-Bachelor of Technology – Btech
-Bachelor of Laws- LLB

Some degrees such as the Bachelor of Mathematics and the Bachelor of Laws are also the names of a postgraduate degree in some colleges and universities.

Bachelor’s Degree Earning Potential

A bachelor’s degree offers nearly double the lifetime earning potential than a high school diploma. High school graduates can expect to average $1.2 million during their lifetime. Bachelor’s degree holders can expect to earn an average of $2.1 million. For more information about how a degree can affect your earning potential, read The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Your Career, Your Education

Drug Testing Centers – Why Employers Want You to Visit One

May 5, 2011 / Michelle Burton

It’s a common misconception that employers only request drug tests before hiring individuals to operate heavy machinery or a vehicle. These days, many employers require a drug test, credit check, and/or a full background check before they’ll hire you. Employers aren’t interested in invading your privacy or putting your lifestyle choices under a microscope. What they are interested in is maintaining a drug-free work environment and there are plenty statistics to support this interest.

For starters, companies have a legal obligation to protect other employees from harm. Drug users are 3.6 times more likely to cause an accident at work. Next, companies also have a legal obligation to distance themselves from individuals that may put them in a position to support drug use, whether intentionally or not. Companies must also protect themselves from other issues such as high health care costs and worker’s compensation claims. When compared to drug-free co-workers, drug users are one-third less productive, they are 10 times more likely to call in sick, health care costs are three times higher, and they are more likely to file a worker’s compensation claim.

If an employer uses tax credits and federal grant money, it must comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. The Act states that any company that uses federal money or tax credits must maintain a drug-free workplace. So, if you take a drug test and it comes back positive, no matter how qualified you are for the position, the company cannot hire you, period.

Taking a Drug Test

If a company requires a drug test, they will likely send you to a drug testing center of their choice. They will provide a form for you to take to the drug testing center, but you can schedule your own appointment. After taking the test, the drug testing center will complete the form and send it to your potential employer. A positive result will help move the hiring process forward. A negative result will stop it in its tracks.

It’s important to note that some employers perform random drug testing. This means that even if you’ve been in a position for years and your record is clean, a positive result at any time can still cost you your job.

Your Career