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Career Exploration & Student Employment Blog Indiana University Bloomington

Working Wednesday: Renee Palmerone

Posted on by slheile

Name: Renee Palmerone

Year + Major: Junior + Major: Speech and Hearing Science, Minor: Gerontology

Part-time Job + Company: IUB Women Rising Ambassador for the IU Career Development Center

What do you like about your job? I’m excited to share tools and resources (more specifically our FREE events with Smart Start Salary Negotiation Workshop Programs) that will help educate women in Bloomington about how to advocate for higher wages in order to close the gender pay gap.

What transferable skills are you gaining? Team work, Leadership, Personal motivation, Organization, Time management, Written communication, Verbal communication, Research and analytical skills, Project management, Critical thinking, Problem solving, Professionalism

Why do you suggest other students get part-time jobs while at school? I believe it’s important to use your free time to gain professional (or just any kind of workplace experience available) while also developing a foundation of skills in different areas that will directly benefit your future careers.

What else are you involved with on-campus? IU Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club

Post-graduation Plans: I will hopefully have to opportunity to pursue a degree in Audiology!

Director’s Cut: Thanksgiving Advice Giving

Posted on by nbragin

donahue-pat_main

Advice Giving

By: Pat Donahue, Executive Director for Career Development

 

As a parent of two daughters at IU, I am very excited to see them for Thanksgiving. Because we live in Bloomington, I see them quite often, usually when they are borrowing the washing machine for laundry, borrowing the car to go out with their friends, or borrowing money from my wallet.

But Thanksgiving is different. Students, especially those who are exploratory and unsure of their career plans, dread the Thanksgiving meal because they are going to face that question that all college students throughout history have faced: “What are you going to do after you graduate?”

This question is usually delivered by an uncle who had one too many while deep frying the turkey that morning. Or any relative who had to sleep on an air mattress the night before. Either way, THE QUESTION is out there, so how do you discuss it with your daughter or son?

Discussing career plans can sometimes be difficult to navigate, so strive to keep the lines of communication open and plan for what you want to say.

If your student is still exploring as a freshman, that’s okay. Ask them what academic or career planning steps they have taken to resolve their indecision. Suggest meeting with their career coach, taking a career exploration course, or actively exploring career options by researching career information online or through job shadowing. The holidays are a great time for students to meet future colleagues by conducting informational interviews with professionals in the careers they are considering. Some of the best networking suggestions start at the Thanksgiving table.

If your student has decided on what career they want to pursue, suggest they meet with their career coach to develop a job or internship search strategy. Their career coach can help them write a professional resume and cover letter, teach them how and where to apply for positions, and conduct mock interviews with them so they will be prepared for the real deal. A career coach can also help with negotiating skills and researching starting salary and benefits. If they are considering graduate school, a career coach can help them with the application process.

Some of the most common online resources include:

University Division Explore Tool

https://ud.indiana.edu/getting-started/explore-programs.php

IU Career Guides

http://cdc.indiana.edu/possibilities/index.html

CDC Major Guides

https://cdc.indiana.edu/majors/index.html

Career Development Center Resource Library

http://cdc.indiana.edu/help/library.html

O*NET (Occupational Information Network)

http://www.onetonline.org/

Occupational Outlook Handbook

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Usually, the more information students have, the more informed their decision making will be. But sometimes, students can feel inundated with information, and talking to their families and career coach can help them sift through the information to find the gold nuggets they need.

Timing when advice will be best received is not easy to calculate, but I hope if career planning pops up like a turkey thermometer at your Thanksgiving, you will feel better prepared to help your daughter or son.

As Harry Truman said, “I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”

Government: 9 Federal Job Search Tips That’ll Help You Land That Government Job

Posted on by nbragin

Landing a federal job can be an overwhelming—and often frustrating—process. But there’s no place to make a difference for our country quite like the government, which touches all aspects of our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat to homeland security to helping the homeless.

As the nation’s largest employer with about two million civilian workers, the government is seeking to fill thousands of positions at any given time, and these federal jobs match almost every set of skills and interest. In the last fiscal year, the government hired nearly 92,000 full-time permanent employees, and these jobs were located in all 50 states and overseas, not just in Washington, DC.

If you’re not clear on the type of job you want or don’t know how to navigate the system, it can be easy to get lost in a maze of agency websites and swallowed by the number of open federal job announcements. On the flipside, if you understand the process and know what you’re looking for, you can focus your efforts on specific careers based on federal employee salary search or different agencies, and increase your chances of success.

Here are nine tips to improve your odds of landing a federal job:

1. Bookmark the Best Federal Job Search Websites

First things first, go to USAJOBS.gov. Almost all federal job openings are listed there, along with the details about duties, minimum qualifications, basic benefits, and application instructions. Peruse agency and professional field pages on the site to find positions in your area of interest and to learn the level of experience required, the salary range, and the location.

Remember, while USAJOBS.gov is full of information, you’ll still want to check individual agency websites for more information on the work and missions of federal organizations.

2. Choose Positions You’re Qualified For

The qualifications listed in the job announcement provide important insights into the background, training, and experience the agency seeks. While it may be worth applying for a job you’re not entirely qualified for in other industries, in the federal government you must meet all of the qualifications and eligibility requirements.

3. Remember That Some Veterans Get a Preference

If you’ve been in the military, you have the option of a veterans’ preference. This does not guarantee that you’ll get the job, but it gives those who have served a distinct advantage over similarly qualified non-veterans. To qualify, a veteran must have documentation of a general or honorable discharge from active duty service. Nearly one-third of the federal government’s new hires in fiscal 2014 were veterans.

However, it’s worth noting that not all active duty service qualify for veterans’ preference.

4. Apply Immediately Following Your Return From Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA

One of the best kept secrets in the federal recruiting and hiring process is that returned Peace Corps volunteers as well as AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers have a special preference. Agencies can interview and select qualified former volunteers on the spot without ever posting the position on USAJOBS.gov or engaging in other steps that are part of the normal and often slow and competitive hiring process. This preference is available for the year following your successful completion of service.

5. Dot All of the “Is” and Cross All The “Ts”

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. (No exceptions!) It’s critical that you completely fill out the online job application and questionnaires and supply transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing samples, and a resume per the job requirements.

Most importantly, submit your application on time. Agencies will absolutely not accept late applications .

6. Prepare a Multi-Page Resume

Summarizing your work history in a one-page document is the way to go for a typical job application, but a federal resume should be more detailed and run two to five pages. It should follow a similar style to a traditional resume, but it needs to go into more depth. You must elaborate on the duties of your former jobs, your accomplishments, and the relevant skills that you bring to the table, including experiences you have had outside the workplace. (More on that here .) Also be prepared to provide salary history and references.

7. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

Rather than submit the same resume for every federal position, craft new ones to match your experiences to the specific requirements outlined in separate job announcements. Most importantly, sprinkle keywords and phrases used in the job description into your resume to emphasize that you meet the criteria.

Hint: The same use of keywords should be also included when answering online application questions. And by all means, don’t be modest! You need to give the agency representative a reason to pull your resume out of that huge pile and make you one of the top candidates.

8. Be Patient, But Persistent

The federal hiring process can be slow and full of hurdles. In short, applying for a federal job and getting an answer takes time. Some agencies are better than others, and a number have special hiring flexibilities for critical positions that allow them to go outside the normal process and make quicker decisions. But in truth, applying for a federal job requires patience and persistence, and you may be competing against hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants.

You can track the status of your application by logging into your USAJOBS.gov account or from within the agency system that you used to submit the application. If there is radio silence for several weeks after the job submission period has closed, email the contact person listed on the job announcement. Following up by phone is okay, too. You may not always get a response, but it’s worth trying to determine the state of play.

9. Bring Your “A” Interview Game

If you’re called in for an interview, you’re on a short list of those being seriously considered. However, you still may be among a dozen folks who are vying for one slot. Interviews are the time to sell yourself and set yourself apart.

And discussing your specific qualifications is only one piece of the puzzle. It can’t be stressed enough: Hiring managers want to see that you’re committed to the agency’s mission. You should prepare a short speech explaining why you would be a perfect choice based on your specific skills and experiences.

Originally posted on the muse

Business: How to Break Into Sales & Business Development

Posted on by nbragin

Ever wondered how to get started working in PR, entertainment, finance, or another profession? Over the next two weeks, we’re putting together a guide to breaking into these cool fields and more, brought to you by those who know it best. Check in all week for an inside look at how to launch your dream career!

If you’re sharp, dynamic, and love talking to people, sales or business development could be a great fit for you. You’ll get to work in a job where every day involves helping different customers or working with different products, and where the results of your efforts are very tangible, in both quotas and commissions.

But to successfully break into sales or business development, you have to be able to sell yourself as the best person for the job. To help you out, we’ve talked to five professionals in the field to get their thoughts on what it takes to impress.

Cynthia Schames, Director of Business Development

Company: Performance Horizon Group

Years of Professional Experience: 15+

Brief Description of Job: My role is focused on the creation and development of direct relationships with global brand advertisers, large digital agencies, and major publishing portals. I sell enterprise software-as-a-service to C-level and VP-level contacts.

Why did you choose sales and business development?

I originally wanted to work in marketing, and the first job I got out of college was in a marketing support firm. As it turned out, marketing support really meant pre-sales. I had always said that I didn’t want to be in sales, but once I got into it and saw that sales is really about solving problems for your customers, I fell in love.

The things I love most about sales are forming relationships that provide value to the customer, solving real business issues they are facing, and learning to ask the right questions. Being curious is pretty much the best qualifying skill you can have if you want to be a successful sales or business development professional.

What was your first job in sales, and how did you land it?

My first sales-related job was actually as the inside sales rep supporting an outside salesperson. My job was to qualify prospects and set appointments over the phone with high-level executives in Fortune 1000 companies. It was an incredible foundation in sales, because it taught me professional presentation skills, persuasion, and how to navigate complex corporate structures.

This was my first job out of college, and it was a fairly straightforward process; I have a BA in Communications, and was able to leverage both my education and my experience in public speaking and performance to land the job. If you’re in this situation, don’t forget to highlight your extracurriculars. Even if it’s kind of nerdy, things like Debate Club can prepare you well for a job in sales.

What is different about the hiring process in sales than in other fields?

It’s been my experience that getting a job is less about networking and more about being findable and pointing to real, quantifiable results on your resume and online profiles.

The hiring process is unique as well, because the first rule of sales is that people buy from people they like. Interviewers know this, so it’s important to be likable and make a connection with your interviewers and recruiters. I’ve seen less-qualified candidates get a job simply because they were the kind of person that the sales director wanted to work with.

One key thing to remember is that every sales organization is different. You’ll want to remain teachable, flexible, and open-minded. What works in one industry or company may not work at all in the next role, so always look for ways to learn and grow as a salesperson and professional.

Shawn Keeler, Director of Business Development

Company: Smart Ink

Years of Professional Experience: 5+

Brief Description of Job: At Smart Ink, I focus primarily on new client acquisition. I investigate potential clients, speculate as to their needs, and develop a strategy to satisfy those needs. I also aid in the management of our production schedule, supplier network, and existing client demands.

What did you want to do growing up?

I was always urged to be a lawyer. I think that’s because I never stopped talking and I had an answer for everything. As I became older and actually thought about it, one thing was clear—I knew I wanted to be around and interact with people every day.

I studied broadcast journalism at Arizona State with a focus on media management. My plan was to enter the media industry through one of the three traditional channels—TV, radio, or print—and work my way up the sales ladder.

What was your first job in this field, and how did you land it?

I was an Account Executive for a local news and talk radio station. I leveraged a family connection and the skills I gained from my degree to land an internship during my last semester at Arizona State. I worked very hard for five months, and then asked my boss if I could apply for a full time Account Executive position once I graduated. He agreed to give me an interview and I came prepared.

For the interview, I created an operation manual for myself, the “SK-5000.” I confidently led the first half of the interview, talking through the high points of investing in this “creative sales machine.” At times he laughed, but most importantly, I had his full attention. When I finished my presentation he conducted the remainder of the interview and it went very well. I began the company’s two-month training program the following week. While I no longer work in radio, it was that start in sales that brought me where I am today.

What advice would you have for someone breaking into sales?

Be bold. Careers in sales and marketing are challenging, but not without reward. I have always prioritized the importance of cultivating genuine relationships. Fortunately, the available platforms for communication and sharing make this much easier. Take advantage of that. One of the greatest byproducts of the digital age is access and the availability of information.

As far as customer satisfaction goes, be honest and always manage expectations. Our business environment is changing and it’s exciting. Don’t be afraid to take chances and don’t be afraid to take credit.

Read more at the muse

Science: 11 of the Fastest Growing Green Jobs

Posted on by nbragin

Green jobs benefit both the economy and the environment, and include everything from alternative fuels to tasty foods.

  1. Urban Growers – A chef picks “farm fresh” produce from an unusual source—a rooftop apple orchard planted among the high-rises of downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. The Fairmont Waterfront hotel project showcases two large sectors of the growing green-jobs movement: food production and green building.Green roof gardens can deliver locally sourced foods that help protect the environment by minimizing the use of pesticides, fossil fuels, and other resources to grow and transport food to market from larger commercial farms. Green roofs can also improve the urban environment by insulating buildings against energy loss, managing storm water, improving air quality, and providing places of recreation.
  2. Water Quality Technicians – Seeking creative solutions to a water quality control problem, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began pouring some three million polyethylene balls into the Ivanhoe Reservoir in the summer of 2008.The reservoir water had concentrations of naturally occurring bromide and bacteria-killing chlorine additives, and when that combination is exposed to UV rays bromate is produced—an unwanted carcinogen in 58 million gallons (220 million liters) of water used by some 600,000 Angelenos.Engineers flooded the surface with the same type of balls that airports use to keep birds from flocking to wetlands beside runways, where they create a hazard to aviation. This solution isn’t typical, because open-air reservoirs containing chlorine are increasingly rare. But water quality problems abound and their control is an increasingly important green job around the world.
  3. Clean Car Engineers – Engineers work on an electric car prototype in a California factory. Manufacturing accounts for the bulk of U.S. green jobs—more than 462,000 of the nation’s 3.1 million total according to the U.S Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report.Transportation is another key green jobs category as a retooling auto industry is asked to remake the nation’s fleet with vehicles that consume less fossil fuel and produce less pollution.Transportation currently burns about two-thirds of America’s oil and produces about one-third of its greenhouse gas emissions. Electric cars, like this one, are an exciting alternative but can only be as green as the ultimate source of their power. The renewable-energy sector is working to replace dirty fuels like coal with cleaner alternatives such as wind and solar.
  4. Recyclers – These bales of compacted paper will soon be recycled at a plant in Bordeaux, France.The United States recycles more paper than all other materials combined—excluding steel. In 2011 two-thirds of all the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered, rather than dumped into landfills, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. And more than one-third of the raw material used at U.S. paper mills is recovered paper, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This process creates green jobs—and makes a big impact on the environment. EPA statistics show that recycling a single ton of paper saves enough energy to power an American home for half a year, saves 7,000 gallons (26,500 liters) of water, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by a metric ton of carbon equivalent.
  5. Natural Scientists – A diver measures ocean water acidity on the Great Barrier Reef, off Australia’s One Tree Island, to help chart the evidence of Earth’s changing climate and observe its impact on ecosystems.As the world’s nations try to move towards sustainable lifestyles and greener economies, it’s essential that trained professionals monitor and analyze our impacts on the world around us and the natural resources on which we all ultimately depend for both wealth and health.
  6. Green Builders – Adam Howland of Long Way Home uses green building techniques to help residents of Guatemala’s San Juan Comalapa municipality. Long Way Home is helping to construct a school from ecologically friendly materials, such as earth, and discarded refuse, such as tires and plastic bottles.The result is a safe, sturdy building and a new value for rubbish that is otherwise chucked into rivers or burned for lack of better disposal methods. The self-sustaining school will also green the environment for years to come by educating the area’s youth about sustainable lifestyles and training them for work in the green economy.
  7. Solar Cell Technicians – An engineer tests solar cells in a Spanish laboratory, wearing protective clothing and eyewear that testifies to the power that can be harvested from the sun’s rays.According to the European Commission, production of solar cells and photovoltaic systems has doubled every two years during the past decade, though costs must continue to decrease, and efficiency increase, before PV can become a primary electric supply source.Led by Germany, which has some 40,000 solar workers, Europe produces about 30 percent of the world’s photovoltaic power. Japan and the United States are the other major users, though off-the-grid applications are surging in the developing world, where they provide crucial power to those in poor and rural locations.
  8. Green Design Professionals – The Living Roof does a lot more than keep the rain out of the California Academy of Sciences building. It’s home to 1.7 million plants, each one of nine native species, from poppies to strawberries, specially suited to thrive in the unique climate of Golden Gate Park.The 19,000-square-foot (1,765-square-meter) roof even boasts seven hillocks to mimic San Francisco’s topography and skylights that open and close throughout the day to illuminate the building within.The roof doesn’t trap heat like a traditional asphalt application, so the building’s interior averages some 10°F (5.6°C) cooler than it would be under a standard roof. That means big energy savings. Green design professionals from architects and landscapers to urban planners are part of a growing effort to green the spaces where we live and work.
  9. Wave Energy Producers – The ocean is awash in perpetual motion, and devices like this Pelamis P2 wave energy generator can capture it to produce power. In November 2011, this 590-foot-long (180-meter-long), 1,300-ton rig on Hoy, in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, became the first commercial-scale marine device to produce grid energy from offshore. It’s 750-kilowatt rating generates enough power per year to meet the average electric needs of 500 homes.The P2 is composed of five tube sections linked by joints that flex in two directions. Waves bend the partially submerged tubes at these joints, which house hydraulic cylinders to resist the motion and pump fluid into pressurized accumulators to generate electricity, which is then sent ashore using an undersea cable.Though the potential of wave power is enormous, the industry is small today. Supporters hope that projects like this one portend future growth in the renewable energy sector.
  10. Wind Energy Workers – A worker is dwarfed by an assemblage of wind turbine blades, warehoused and ready for shipment from the Siemens facility in Aalborg, Denmark. Proponents of wind power believe that the industry can become a giant part of global electricity production—perhaps producing as much as one-third of the world’s total by 2050—and replace fossil-fuel industry jobs with greener equivalents.U.S. Energy Information Administration stats for 2010 show that wind power has grown dramatically in recent years, from 28 to 60 percent annually, and now accounts for 2.3 percent of the nation’s total electric power generation. The European Wind Energy Association reports that 6.3 percent of the EU’s electricity was generated by wind in 2011.
  11. Biofuels Jobs – Like a seedling promising future growth, a downtown Phoenix biofuel project produces sunflowers to test renewable energy technologies on a two-acre vacant lot.The Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation and Phoenix Union Bioscience High School tackled the project with financial funding from Intel, enabling the high school to produce biodiesel from locally sourced sunflower oil.The Energy Independence and Security Act (2007) mandates that renewable fuel must increase from 9 billion gallons (34 billion liters) of U.S. motor fuel in 2008 to 36 billion gallons (136 billion liters) by 2022. The policy makes rapid growth in biofuel jobs quite likely, including the construction and operation of ethanol and other biofuel plants, production of feedstock, and creation of delivery infrastructure.

Communication & Culture: 12 Reasons Everyone Should Learn Another Language

Posted on by nbragin

“I’d love to speak another language, but…”

Over the years, I’ve heard more reasons not to learn a language than I ever would have imagined. I even used to make excuses for myself, before I learned my first new language, Spanish.

I’ve yet to hear (or come up with) a single good reason for not learning a language.

That’s right. Nada.

What about good reasons to start learning a new language? I know hundreds, and hear new ones every day! Every language learner I’ve met so far has their own personal reason for wanting to speak another language.

Why learn another language?

Here are a few of the best I’ve come across. Speaking a second language will…

1.Open Up a World of Job Opportunities

Learning a second language opens up a ton of career opportunities. I’m not just talking about freelancing or working location-independently either, though these are excellent ideas which I’ve personally used. There are lots of other ways that speaking two or more languages can improve your employment prospects.

The world is changing fast. More companies than ever are doing business in several – often dozens of – countries around the world, but they can’t do it without hiring globally-minded people who can speak at least one foreign language. Ever wanted to be like those people you see in the airport travelling to foreign countries “on business” all the time? That can be you.

Even in small, local companies, chances are that the ability to speak a second language will set you apart from other applicants.

2. Give Your Brain a Boost

Speaking a second language each day really can keep the doctor away! Study after studyhas demonstrated the cognitive benefits of learning another language, no matter how old you are. Memory improvement, longer attention span, and a reduced risk of age-related cognitive decline, are just a few of the known positive effects of speaking two or more languages.

3. Establish Deep Connections and Cross-Cultural Friendships

I’d bet that at least once in your life, you’ve felt a pang of regret during an encounter with someone from a different culture, when you realised how the experience could be enriched by knowing that person’s language.

Has this ever happened to you? You visit a food stall at a local market while on holiday (or even in your own city), where the employees are chatting away together in their native language. You order something, in English, interrupting their fun conversation.

Another local comes by while you’re waiting, orders some food in the local language, and starts talking cheerfully with the cook about…something. A minute later, the cook stops talking and hands you your plate with a simple “Thank you, bye!”

You just missed out on an authentic cultural experience because you couldn’t join in .

Or what about this? You have a friend from another country who you enjoy hanging out with, but you only speak to each other in English. You feel a connection with that person, and think they’re a great friend. And then they mention one day about this other group of friends, who speak their native language, that they meet up with all the time. But you’ve never been invited, because you wouldn’t understand what anyone is saying.

Ok, so you can’t learn every language in the world and have an intimate knowledge of every single culture out there. But if there’s even one culture that you’d like to understand better, or even one person in your life you’d like to know better, then one of the best ways you can start is by learning to speak their language.

4. Get an Outsider’s Perspective about Your Own Culture

Trying to understand your own culture exclusively from within it is like trying to understand what a bus is like if you’ve only ever ridden inside it. You can’t see the bus’s wheels, the exterior colour, or the engine that drives it.

Want the bigger picture? You need to get off that bus and examine it from the outside.

I strongly believe that language and culture are intimately linked. Learn another language and you’ll have insight into another culture. You’ll get to “ride on a different bus” and not only see what it’s like inside and even get comfy in there, but get a clear view of your own for the first time.

Too many people go their entire lives never questioning the universal “truths” they take for granted in their own culture. But step outside this narrow scope, and it’s like stepping out of the Matrix; once your eyes are truly opened to that new perspective, you can never go back.

5. Become More Interesting and Meet More Interesting People

If your first language is English, the second most common language in the world, and yet you’ve made the effort to learn another language rather than expecting the world to accommodate your monolingualism, then you’re a rare breed indeed. This makes you interesting. People will approach you. They’ll want to talk to you. They’ll want to know what motivated you to “bother” learning another language.

Believe me, if you’re a native English speaker who speaks two or more languages, you’ll have many more lively, engaging conversations about a variety of topics than you ever would have had otherwise.

Sure, you could spend your life getting by in English everywhere you go, but that’s boring. Be fun! Be interesting! Be multilingual!

6. Stay Smart in Touristed Areas

There’s always a danger of obvious tourists being targets, or getting hassled by touts, which can ruin your experience of a place where people are actually warm and genuine. The “obvious tourist” tends to be whoever is speaking English, or some other distant tongue.

But everything changes when you use the local language.

I had heard countless stories of how a visit to the Pyramids of Giza is nothing but a frustrating chain of shooing away one tout after another, but by dressing/acting like a local and replying in (my albeit broken) Arabic the entire time, I actually didn’t feel hassled by a single person all the way there. It was actually an experience I’ll never forget!

In over a dozen years travelling the world, I’ve managed to stay sane and stay safe by attempting to blend in as best as I can, as well as responding confidently enough in the local language that potential scammers will believe you’ve been there a while, and they’ll think twice before trying to pull a fast one on you.

7. Become a Better Learner

Every time I learn a new language, I find it easier than the one before. The reasoning is simple: with every new language I study, I figure out ways to learn more efficiently. In other words, I develop language hacks.

Because of my extensive experience with this sort of trial and error, I’ve already identified many common hindrances that I can help you avoid right from the get-go, as well as language hacks that can help you learn faster.

As you spend time learning your first foreign language, you’ll identify your own inefficiencies and eliminate them. You’ll start gaining momentum in your chosen language and learn more and more quickly. Then you’ll be able to hit the ground running with the next language. You’ll be on your way to polyglotism before you know it.

8. Conquer Your Fear of “Looking Stupid”

If a foreigner walked up to you to ask for help with something like directions, and they struggled to find the right English words, and made many mistakes but were obviously trying hard, would you feel like laughing at their effort? I doubt it. You’d more likely be impressed with their courage to walk up to a stranger and speak a language imperfectly. That’s a person who has conquered their fear of making mistakes in front of others, and has managed to communicate with you and gotten help with what they need.

Can’t imagine having that sort of courage yourself? Well, if you decide to learn a language, and you start by speaking from day 1, then you’ll get over your fear very quickly. Not only will you be able to communicate effectively (note that I didn’t say “perfectly”) in a new language, but your confidence will get a huge boost, and you’ll never be held back from trying any new skill. Ever wanted to try dancing? Creative writing? Public speaking? How great would it be to shed your inhibitions and just go for it!

9. Bring Out Your Inner Mr Spock

This may sound surprising, but studies have shown that when you make a decision in your second language, you’re more likely to think logically and avoid basing your decision on emotion. In other words, you’ll become more like Star Trek’s Mr Spock.

There’s no way around it. Humans are emotional creatures. Everyone is guilty of making decisions too hastily and too emotionally. But if you learn to speak another language, you’ll learn to think in that language. And when you think about your decisions in a foreign language, that emotional bias tends to go away and you end up choosing the more logical outcome.

Live long, and prosper!

10. Enjoy Works of Art in their Original Language

Bollywood films, manga, telenovelas, Swah rap – the world is full of non-English works of creative art. Don’t you wish you could appreciate some of them in their original language rather than relying on badly-translated subtitles or English dubs, which lose much of the charm that made the original product popular to begin with?

You may find translations, but you’d be surprised what is lost in translation.

If you’re a fan of any type of foreign media – or you’d like to be, but aren’t interested in experiencing it in English because of all nuances lost in translation – then this is an excellent reason to start learning that new language. You’ll already have a very clear goal in mind, so you’ll know what type of vocabulary will be most useful to learn, and you can use those materials as a study aid as you progress in your new language.

11. No More Paying the Sticker Price

Tired of overpaying for gifts and souvenirs at markets when you go on holiday? It’s common knowledge that at many of these places, there are two prices: one for locals and one for tourists.

Even if you bring your best haggling game to the table, if you try to haggle exclusively in English instead of the local language, you might not get very close to that coveted “local price”. But if you make the effort to learn the local language, then you’ll start the game off with a better hand, and end up saving quite a bit more money than you would have otherwise. And the best part is that you’ll also be participating in an authentic cultural experience in the country you’re visiting.

12. Discover You Can Do It!

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve heard pretty much every excuse that people give for failing to learn a second language. Too old, not enough time, wrong genes. None of them hold water.

Whatever doubts you have, you really can learn another language. You could even hold your first conversation just seven days from now.

So What are You Waiting For?

Everyone has their own unique reasons for wanting to learn another language. But while the reasons may be different, they can all be put into action in the same way: by committing to stop making excuses, and to start speaking the language you’ve always wanted to learn.

Once you’ve held your very first conversation in a foreign language, trust me: you’ll never look back.

Originally posted on Fluent in 3 Months

Health & Human Services: Med School Rankings: Fact or Fiction

Posted on by nbragin

If you’re planning to apply to medical school, you have quite a few options, so you’ll need to dedicate some time to determining which school is your best fit. Fortunately, organizations like U.S. News & World Report rank everything from real estate to educational programs. You might find what this site has to say about your schools of interest quite interesting, but check your facts before you get too far in.

 

Fact: Rank is based on more than a vote.

The methodology of the ranking system is extensively detailed and is based on numerous indicators. The site explains:

The medical school research model is based on twelve indicators and the primary care model is based on seven indicators.

Four of the data indicators are used in both the research and primary care ranking models. They are the student selectivity admissions statistics (MCAT, GPA and acceptance rate) and faculty-student ratio. The medical school research model factors in research activity; the medical school primary care model adds a measure of the proportion of M.D. graduates entering primary care specialties.

Here‘s a more in-depth look at the process.

Fiction: School #1 is the most selective.

It’s true that the medical schools at the top are the most competitive — but the rank doesn’t correlate to the likelihood of being accepted. For instance, in the 2019 rankings that were calculated this year, Harvard is the top medical research school. Meanwhile, the most difficult school to enroll in is Stanford University, which ranks as third in that category. If you’re nervous about applying to one of the top ranked schools, check with your advisor to help you make the decision. It may turn out that your dream school isn’t as out of reach as you perceive it to be.

Fact: Full access doesn’t come free.

You may be fine with basic information about a program or you may want to know more details. If you’re the latter, you’ll have to pay for unlimited access to list details. U.S. News provides:

  • Rank
  • Application deadline and fees
  • Tuition
  • Faculty to student ratio
  • Amount of faculty

If you purchase Medical School Compass Access, you’ll also get:

  • Average MCAT scores
  • Residency popularity information
  • Admissions policies
  • Contact information

If you end up receiving multiple acceptance letters from medical schools, it’s beneficial to do any extra research you can to determine which program is right for you.

Fiction: If it’s not on the list, it doesn’t exist.

Some schools don’t care to be ranked. According the U.S. News 2019 report, 177 accredited schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine were requested to fill out a survey. Only 124 institutions responded, which means about 30 percent of the programs didn’t take part in the official ranking. Before you start reconsidering schools on your list, you may need to begin your own research.

Rankings are a great way to help you decide which schools are a great match and to learn about schools you never considered before. Just be sure not to rely on only the rankings to make your final decision. Take the time to dive in and learn as much as you can from peers, professors and advisors to determine your best-fit program.

Originally posted on Explore Heath Careers

Information Technology & Data: 5 Lessons From Women in Tech That You’ll Use Your Entire Career

Posted on by nbragin

These days, it seems like there is always a new “it” gadget or app creating buzz. Whether it’s something that turns your house into a smart home, or an app with real-time rapid fire questions (HQ, anyone?), there is constantly something new coming out of the tech industry.

So, if you want to be in tech, you’d better love the intensity and pace of it all, says Michelle Wingard, co-founder of Dynamo, an IT consulting and recruiting firm, noting that we’re living in the midst of a transformation of the technology landscape. These changes don’t just lead to the challenge of keeping up—they also lead to a wealth of opportunity.

Jen Low, career developer at Hackbright Academy, an engineering school for women, agrees. She points out that curious, adaptable people are likely to do well in tech. “It’s hard to get bored with so much to learn and different areas to pursue within the industry,” she says.

While there’s plenty of opportunity, the reality remains that building a career in technology has proven more difficult for women than it has for men. Just one quarter of all computing roles are filled by women, and less than 10 percent of that number are women of color. Not only do women hold less tech jobs, but they also don’t stay in tech for as long as men do.

So, we spoke with five women in tech to get their advice on how to build a lifelong career in their field.

When Sheila Oh, now director of Seattle University’s Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program and community leader of AnitaB.org’s Seattle Chapter, started her tech career, she says she wasn’t surprised to be the only woman in the room and didn’t give it much thought.

But as she moved forward in her career, her sense of isolation grew until she finally realized that there must be other women feeling just as isolated as she was and also not getting the support they needed. Rather than leaving the field, she decided to give and seek help by getting involved in Systers, an online forum for women in tech, which later lead to her volunteering and mentoring with AnitaB.org.

“Understanding that I wasn’t alone was so powerful for me,” she says, noting that isolation can often lead to imposter syndrome and is part of what causes some women to leave the field.

“Having a community, even just someone else to talk to who’s in a similar experience, helps you support one another.” Not only can you connect with and inspire others, Sheila says, but you can even use this as a venue to trade diversity and inclusion solutions from one another’s companies.

Nearly everyone harbors biases of some sort, and this has proven true when it comes to women in technology.

“It’s almost empowering just to accept that there will be bias,” says Sheila. “Women may be seen as less technical, even if their experience matches their male counterparts.” To combat this in interviews, she says it’s most effective to speak directly about the job description and how you fit it.

“Focus on what you bring to the table and on what you do know rather than focusing on where you may need to further develop,” Sheila suggests, noting that bias can affect everything from interviews to promotions to the projects people are staffed on.

Lisette Cruz, program manager for Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Power Advisors and Data Center Infrastructure, admits that because her field is male-dominated, women may feel that it’s risky to share their ideas for fear of being ridiculed when they speak up. But she fought through this fear when she saw opportunities to improve the user interface of one of HPE’s software tools.

“I had moments of doubt. I felt like I couldn’t deliver and that my ideas were not innovative enough,” she recalls. “But I told myself I was hired for this position for a reason. When I presented the changes to my team and our stakeholders, they loved it.”

Michelle agrees. “Be proactive when looking for opportunities to help move the organization forward and grow. When you observe opportunities to contribute to the greater good of the people you serve and the organization, take it,” she urges. “There’s no shortage of opportunities or hard problems that need solving. Stepping up and taking action demonstrate accountability, with the added bonus of building new skills and keeping yourself relevant in the process.”

Special projects are a great starting point, but why stop there, asks Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can: Code, a membership-based community that provides opportunities for moms with the similar goals to connect.

“Pulling up a chair to sit at the table is great advice if you want to be a part of someone else’s legacy. I want to encourage women to build their own table,” she says. “My advice is to create your own!”

“I highly recommend identifying a mentor and reaching out to them for direction,” says Erica. “If this isn’t something you’re comfortable doing within your own company, you should hire a career coach.”

Jen explains how Hackbright alumnae find active mentors within their network. Some, she says, even land future engineering roles by leveraging their greater alumnae community. She suggests using the filtered search on LinkedIn to identify a few individuals with a role, company, or career path that interests you. Then reach out to them via a LinkedIn message or email for an informational interview.

“The purpose is to get to know each other and start developing a professional relationship—not to ask for a job,” Jen advises, noting that, depending on how your relationship develops, one of these mentors still may end up referring you or keeping you in mind for job opportunities down the road.

“Find female mentors who can support you and share their own experience navigating the tech industry as a woman. Mentors are especially important in tech, where women empowering other women can really make the difference in staying in the tech industry.”

Jen Low

Finding mentors can be more challenging for women in technology, says Sheila. So, she suggests viewing the relationship as both give and take. Feedback and introductions don’t have to go only one way, she says. Consider how you can help your mentors just as much as they help you.

“Finally, try for multiple mentors,” Sheila counsels. “You’ll get value from different people in different ways. Mentors can be above your level, of course, but also peers or even those junior to you.”

“Many women I’ve worked with question if negotiating and asking for more will lead to the employer rescinding the offer,” Jen says. “But I have not seen any of the women I’ve worked with get their offer rescinded from negotiating. Most employers expect you to negotiate!” At Hackbright, she coaches students to prepare for negotiations not only by researching the average market salary for the title, company, and city, but also by writing and practicing responses out loud. “This is especially important for women,” she says, “as more women than men accept a job offer without negotiating.”

Sheila, who has experienced the sting of making significantly less than a male employee junior to her, points out that practicing negotiation can happen more often than just in the salary conversation. “It’s about being heard and getting a seat at the table,” she says. When trying to negotiate anything, whether it be a promotion or getting an opportunity to lead the next big project, start with why it’s in the other person’s interest to say yes. “Get more practice asking and find things that are mutually beneficial,” Sheila says.

Give!

All five of the women we spoke with share this sentiment: Women who are about to start or have already begun their career in technology can have a positive impact on what the future environment will look like for women in their field.

“There is strength in numbers and the numbers representing women in tech are not currently in our favor—yet. Every unique challenge brings an opportunity to do something about it. Being a woman in tech is a badge of honor. Wear it proud, loud and continue to do the hard work to help lead the way for others.” Even if you’re uncomfortable inciting change at your own company, there are plenty of ways to make a difference.

Michelle Wingard

Sheila suggests volunteering and mentoring, teaching tech skills to kids, and even inviting men to events for women in technology to build their understanding and help them gain perspective.

“Technology is a great field for women because it gives us power,” Erica adds. “Knowledge is power, and when you know how the world works, you’re better able to not only contribute but also innovate.”

Originally posted on the muse