Local Educator

Resources for Teachers, Students & Recent Grads

Make Your Summer Resume Worthy: Restaurant & Tourism Experience

Looking to get some restaurant and tourism experience but want to enjoy your summer, too? If you are studying hospitality and tourism, there are unlimited ways to gain experience that is relevant to your industry.

Restaurant/Service

This may be the most prevalent and easily attainable option.  Almost every restaurant/bar is hiring at any given time – especially in the summer months.  No matter what the position, there is no better way to gain hands-on service experience.  Apply for the position of host and learn the essential ins-and-outs of customer service and restaurant management.  Greeting customers, seating a busy restaurant during dinner service, and making small talk with the clientele why they wait will open your eyes to the other side of dining.  Waiting tables or tending bar is another great way to truly understand the restaurant business.  Navigating through a busy kitchen, juggling multiple tables and orders, and working long hours will all provide a distinct appreciation for this industry out of the classroom.

Event Planning

This summer, inquire at your local country club, tourism office, or community center for positions in event planning.  Summer is a time for barbeques, socials, weddings, outdoor events, and parades.  From contacting florists, caters, and local bands; at your communities church, symphony, country club, or local bar – any venue in your neighborhood will welcome the help, and a summer spent planning events and networking will go a long way on your resume.

Tourism

Want to spend the summer by the beach, but don’t want to compromise work experience?  No problem! Call up a couple friends, pack a swim suit and some sunscreen, and head to the beach! With a little bit of spring semester research – a current tourism and hospitality student could easily land a job at a beach bar or hotel for the summer.  The possibilities – and destinations – are unlimited.   A summer spent out of your comfort zone, and trying something new will show your dedication to this industry.  You’ll come out of it with some great memories and a pretty impressive resume!

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No Comments by Crystal on July 22, 2010
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Make Your Summer Resume Worthy: Entrepreneurial Projects

When looking to spend your summer adding to your resume and building your professional portfolio, there is no better way than taking on an entrepreneurial project. Show your prospective employers how you chose to spend your free time because that can be just as telling as your job history.

Maybe you’re in the tail end of a business administration degree or even taking one of the many online MBA programs.  Even if you’re not pursuing a career in business, creating something and seeing it through to success will translate in to any industry.

If you have a free summer, don’t waste any time – begin evaluating your skill set and turn that into full-time work!  Are you an older sibling or did you babysit weekends in high school?  Advertise online and around your area to provide your nanny services.  Or, take that one step further; get a few friends together, and start a summer day camp for the kids in your neighborhood!  Create a business plan including start and end-dates, your summer mission, inexpensive or free ways to advertise, daily goals and activities, and even a budget.  Spending your summer outdoors playing sports and organizing arts-and-crafts will be so fun you will totally forget that you just started a successful business!

If you’re a pet lover this same idea can be applied to a dog walking and grooming business.  All you need is some flyers and a little word-of-mouth buzz around your neighborhood.  With some creativity, you can apply any of your individual skills or interested to an entrepreneurial project.  Here are some more ideas:

  • Grocery delivery service
  • Summer landscaping/gardening company
  • Book club
  • Cleaning service/odd jobs
  • Painting projects (houses, fences, community facilities, etc)

Imagine how impressed your future boss will be when he sees that type of commitment while looking over your resume?  Given the benefits to you when you are out looking for employment, get out there and create your own work experience this summer!

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No Comments by Emily on July 7, 2010
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Make Your Summer Resume Worthy: Volunteering

One of the most productive ways to spend your summer – or any time for that matter – is by volunteering.  There is nothing more selfless than spending your free time for the benefit of others.  Volunteer experience will also demonstrate to prospective employers your willingness to work hard and gain valuable insight.  The best part?  These opportunities exist within the scope of any industry or profession.

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If you are working towards a construction management degree, spend your summer building homes somewhere away from home – get applicable career experience and invaluable memories all at the same time!  The non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity builds homes all over the world.  Get involved – and spend your summer building on the tropical shores of Madagascar or providing shelter in Portugal.

Interested in becoming a veterinarian?  Spend some time at an animal shelter in your area, or provide foster care for adorable, adoptable pets!  If you are currently enrolled or interested in an education degree, research counselor positions at children’s day camps.  Contribute to a generation of childhood memories while creating bullet points for your resume!  In between your final semester and your senior tourism & hospitality internship? Give a few hours a week to a soup kitchen in a city near you.  For healthcare experience, contact retirement, nursing or hospice facilities – bingo anyone?!

No matter what the industry, or the time commitment, being able to say that you were willing to spend your own time getting your feet wet in the industry while providing a service to others is a huge selling point for future employers. It shows a great deal about what kind of staff team member you will be and how determined you are to succeed in your chosen field. Basically, with a little ingenuity, you have the opportunity to make your summer work for you!

For more information about finding volunteer opportunities by location and area of interest, visit VolunteerMatch.

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No Comments by Emily on June 25, 2010
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Make Your Summer Resume Worthy: Internships

InternSummer may be a time of beaches and sunburns for some, but those cleverenough to understand the competitiveness of today’s job market wouldn’t dream of letting such valuable time go to waste.  An internship is an excellent way to add valuable experience to your resume and give you a first hand, up-front look at the career that you’re planning for. Employers also view internships as a definite plus when looking at the resume of a perspective employee as it shows a dedication and passion for their chosen career path.

Unless you are interning for specific class credits, internships are paid positions according to US labor laws.  These summer positions will more often than not pay only minimum wage, unless they require a volunteer commitment which means no wage. However, the reasoning behind these positions is to gather the all important practical skills needed as well as to make your resume stand above all others who may be vying for the job that you have your eye on. Your dedication and willingness to jump in for reasons other than immediate financial gain will say a lot about what type of employee you will be.

It is also possible that an unpaid or low paid internship could turn into a paid position at the completion of your commitment as they are an excellent way for employers to gauge the work ethic of their next hire.  In today’s competitive job market anything that sets you apart from the masses is a welcome leg up so consider spending your summer doing more than just working on your tan – because it will be well worth your while in the long run.

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2 Comments by Emily on June 18, 2010
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Career Capture: Graphic Design & Multimedia

Put Your Artistic Talent to Work

Have you ever wondered what it takes to create the flashy images found in magazines, or on CD covers, books, logos and even interactive Web sites? Graphic designers are the professionals behind this work, and the talent behind several other forms of media messages. They work in many settings, including advertising agencies and corporate operations, and are also involved in the television, film, publishing and computer industries.

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Attending Graphic Design School

Becoming a successful graphic designer takes more than a passion for art. You’ll need the proper training that a graphic design school can offer. This profession requires traditional art abilities, like developing images on paper, and more high-tech skills that will be applied using a computer. Most often, earning an entry-level or advanced position as a graphic designer requires that individuals have a bachelor’s degree, but associate’s degrees are also available at some schools.

While attending graphic design school, students will study a variety of occupation-specific courses such as principles of design, computerized design, commercial graphics production and printing techniques. A well-rounded education is important, however, and students may also be expected to learn psychology, art history, sociology and cultural studies. Marketing and business skills are also helpful for graphic designers.

In addition to the knowledge graphic designers will gain in school, supplementary personal qualities will help a person be successful in this field. The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) describes designers as “lookers” who study the world and constantly consider it in terms of color and texture. They also think outside the box and search for ways to present ideas in a unique manner. “Making things is second nature for designers,” AIGA continues, and they are curious people, always asking questions about the world and how to communicate more effectively with others.

Professional Life

After becoming a graphic designer, individuals need to continue to keep their skills fresh. Staying abreast of current ideas and consumer tastes is important, as is maintaining familiarity with new computer software packages. Newcomers to the field generally must spend one to three years working before they will be able to move to a more advanced position. Designers may choose to become teachers in their occupation, or even open firms of their own. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, competition for graphic design jobs is considerable, but need for qualified designers is growing at a pace similar to other occupations.

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No Comments by Emily on June 9, 2010
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Career Capture: Game Design & Development

You throw your Xbox controller across the room and silently curse Halo.  If only you could write the games, design the cinematic movies that play, and play video games every single day.  Well gamer, you are in luck.  For years the video game industry seemed to be a secret society but with the onset of gaming schools and game design colleges you no longer have to dream about designing the next generation console blockbuster.  Now you can purse that dream through accredited gaming schools and game design colleges.

There’s more to gaming colleges than hours of Mt. Dew fueled Halo sessions.  There are classes that teach and guide and encourage your creative gaming spirit.  Classes include Color Theory, 3-D Modeling and Animation, and Cinematography.  These are the weapons that you will weld as you hammer your way toward game design greatness.  Your dream can become a reality.  Gaming schools and game design colleges can make your dream job a real career.

What kind of career?  More than just Tommy the Pinball Wizard.  You can be the game engineer, the director of cinematography or music coordinator for the next epic trilogy.  Game design colleges allow you to visualize and realize your true goals and passion in the gaming world.  Maybe you don’t go into gaming immediately.  You can apply that degree to graphic design or software project coordinator.  Gaming isn’t just for kids anymore.  Now it’s a way of life—quite literally.

The ITT Technical Institute offers a bachelor’s in Digital Entertainment and Game Design.  The Westwood College of Technology provides a bachelor’s in Game Art and Design and Game Software Development.  DeVry University provides a bachelor’s degree in Game and Simulation programming.  These are only some of the schools that offers degrees which will further your personal and professional goals.

Gaming schools and game design colleges are available and many of them offer their entire course of study via the internet so you can enroll and graduate from any location.  Stop waiting—start planning that trilogy that will let you take over the gaming world.

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No Comments by Emily on June 3, 2010
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Career Capture: Construction Management

Have you ever had the notion to design or assist in building a magnificent tower, a whimsical mansion or a 7000 foot bridge? If this has been your dream, obtaining a construction management degree should be your first step in reaching your goal. There are hundreds of construction and trade schools in the United States as well as internationally, that will assist you in attaining your degree or a trade in this popular and fast paced multi-billion dollar industry.

Degrees in the construction field can be obtained from schools such as community colleges, career colleges or universities. Some examples of the trade programs offered are masonry, trowel and bricklaying as well as plumbing and pipefitting. Most of these courses are now offered online. This can be great for the remote student that cannot make the commute to and from the facilities that offer these classes. You can complete most of these courses within a 2 year window. Being your own boss is just one of the perks when working in the construction business. Approximately 61% of personnel are self employed in this multi-billion dollar industry. If you hold a degree in construction management, your opportunities are endless. Certification is the best route to take. Although you do not have to hold a certificate, it is recommended for the higher paying positions.

Construction projects can range from building schools and hospitals to designing bridges and sky scrapers. Being able to stay within the budget, supervising and over seeing each stage of construction in this fast paced environment, are the skill sets a manager should possess. Complete teams consisting of tradesmen who specialize in their fields are often sought after to complete the bigger projects such as office buildings, universities and government buildings.
Combining experience with a degree can be very profitable for the individual who strives for perfection. Construction managers are in high demand throughout the world as our population continues to expand. Beginning a project and seeing the completion is the most gratifying element of this career. If you have ever dreamt of having a structure built under your supervision and your design, this is the occupation for you.

construction

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No Comments by Crystal on May 27, 2010
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Career Capture: Computer Networking

A key to success in any career field is having enthusiasm for the demands of the job. A computer networking degree is an ideal pursuit for a person who enjoys technical detail while able to see their work as part of a larger picture.

Conduct a quick search on line about this topic and a range of study plans will be returned. A straightforward Bachelor of Science degree program in Computer Networking will require a full course load for four years. The class requirements will generally fall into the categories of general core studies, foundational classes, advanced major requirements, optional minor requirements, and general electives. The subject matter will cover Networking Technologies and Basics, Systems Architecture, Networking Infrastructure, Fundamentals of Computer Science, Data and Control Structures, Advanced Programming and Algorithms, and perhaps a course in Discrete Mathematics. Moving into the advanced requirements of the major, the studies should address Ethics, Systems Analysis and Design, an introduction to E-Security, Operating Systems, how to manage Enterprise Networks, Routing, Switching, and Telecommunications, and the tiered design of computer infrastructures. Local Area Networks, Wide Area Networks, Java Object Oriented Programming, and System Analysis and Design will likely be incorporated into the curriculum as well. Taking these classes will be similar to entering a candy store for the student who is passionate about computer networking.

Upon completion of a full-fledged Bachelor of Science degree program, the graduate is ready to apply learned skills in the design, implementation, maintenance, and management of a large spectrum of computer networking systems. He or she will provide essential daily support for those using software on the network, and the success and reliability of internet, intranet, and extranet connections will depend on his proficiency. Whether the project is a LAN, WAN, mobile, or enterprise network, security concerns are always in the forefront of operations. The professional with a computer networking degree will be expected to address these concerns, including control of directory services.

A four year degree in computer networking opens up a world of possibilities, as opposed to the support positions offered to those with certificates or experience only. With a well rounded education that includes liberal arts courses, the student is better prepared to interact with people on a day to day basis, making thought-out decisions that impact the work environment. Computer networking is projected to grow over 27% within the next eight years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. A graduate of a computer networking four year degree program can confidently apply for a position in network administration, network design, network security, computer programming, computer systems analysis, database administration, or computer science.

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No Comments by Crystal on May 18, 2010
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Finding a College Roommate

So you’re ready to earn that degree now, right? Even if it’s an online degree, you’re still going to be living the life of a student and trying to keep costs manageable. Whether you’re attending an on-site school, or an online college, you’re still going to have to live somewhere and it is possible to save money without having to live in a dive. Enter the college roommate. Splitting your accommodation costs in half can mean the difference between being able to successfully finish your degree or living off of instant noodles in misery.

 

There is an endless stream of roommate resources available online and some are of course better than others. A few of the more popular sites are;
RoommateNation.com
Roommates.com
Roommate Express
Roommate Locator

 

Just because you have the resources you need, don’t think your work is done. You are looking to potentially share your personal space with a stranger so you’ll need to do a little homework to choose which site is going to work best for you. Try them out; see what questions they ask in order to make up your profile. Does it give you sufficient room to clearly state what you are looking for? The more information that they require to complete your profile means that you are far more likely to find a compatible roommate while you are getting your degree. The main things to keep in mind when looking for a roommate are;

 

-Use common sense when meeting anyone in person and if possible, speak to other clients from the site to see what their experience was like.

-Make sure that your new roommate’s lifestyle is compatible to yours.

-Whether you’re looking to fill a vacancy in your place or looking for a room elsewhere, be sure that you are very clear about your expectations. Shared chores, bills or household responsibilities need to be clearly laid out and mutually agreed upon.

 

A roommate can be a great experience if you put some effort into finding the right one for you.

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No Comments by Crystal on December 17, 2009
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Dorm Decor on a Budget

Let’s face the facts, college isn’t cheap. Granted, attending an online school or online college can take some of the bite out of the cost, but even an online degree can set you back more than a few of the old green bucks. No fear though future professionals, your dorm room can still look swanky, even on a student budget. Less money just means that you need to be more creative. Don’t panic if you’re not a crafty sort of person because here are a couple of room changing ideas using nothing more than bed sheets and pillow cases. No sewing skill required!

Dorm decor
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The quickest way to brighten, freshen, or change a room is color. Painting the walls a fun shade seems obvious but if you’re living in a dorm, chances are that painting walls is off limits. There are other ways to infuse color into your room though, and all relatively cheap and easy. Instead of spending fifty or more dollars on a brightly printed duvet cover, check out the store’s selection of sheets. Most often you can buy flat sheets by themselves rather than as part of a set and if you get it one size larger than you need you have just created an inexpensive bedspread. Sheets also tend to come in a wider selection of patterns, colors, and styles than actual duvet covers, and at a fraction of the cost. Add a couple of bright pillow cases and you’ve already given your room a whole new vibe.

Dorm-Decor
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Pillow cases can also be used to create bright cushions for your couch or chairs. Just fold the excess material inside, and as they are also most often sold as separates, you can mix and match the colors and patterns. Bed sheets can also make excellent window coverings without that tacky “towel pinned to the wall” look. If your window doesn’t have a curtain rod, you will need to buy and install one. They are very inexpensive, easy to install and can be picked up at any hardware or department store. Bed sheets of course only come in predetermined sizes whereas windows do not. Take the wide hem (the one that would be at the head of the bed) and cut just enough of the stitches along the side of the hemmed part to fit the curtain rod through. If they are too long for the window, simply let them drop as it will give your windows the appearance of being larger than they are. Getting two smaller sheets to cover a window is a far better idea than a single large one as you will have a part in the middle like regular drapes that you can open or pin back. They will have the neatly hemmed and finished look of drapes but again, at only a couple of bucks each!

Color is an excellent way to jazz up a plain room, and at only the cost of a couple of bed sheets, why wouldn’t you?

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No Comments by Crystal on December 10, 2009
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