Graduated, Now What?

College Loans are Motivating!

2011-11-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is a complicated subject of course, but having listened to experts, read various articles and sites, and experienced first hand how families are dealing with the cost of college, I'd like to address 3 issues, and how they impact decisions families need to make. I'm going to start with a few interesting statistics, just so you know what we're dealing with:

One third of students graduate from a 4-year college with NO student loans. Two thirds of students graduate from a 4-year college with an average of $25K in student loans (from non-profit, public colleges).
The average student debt burden from private colleges can be lower than from public institutions.
9% of the 2010 college graduates are unemployed vs. 20% unemployment among non college graduates.

So, is it a good idea or a bad idea to have college debt?

As you know, when we're not guiding high school students through the college planning process, we're teaching young adults how to search for the right career and job. After 9 years working with this demographic, I'm convinced that a manageable student loan burden can be a Motivator, not a hindrance.

Let me explain how to calculate what is "manageable" and explain why it can be a Motivator.

Research the average starting salary for someone in the career you intend to pursue.

If you have no career direction while you are in high school, (which is the case for about 50% of my clients), base your calculation on $40K. This is an average starting salary in the U.S. The article below tells you which professions are 'bumping up' starting salaries next year: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/10/29/report-starting-salaries-to-increase-in-2012

Now calculate your monthly take home pay, based on a $40K salary. (This is your $40K salary less deductions such as healthcare premium, local, state and federal taxes, unemployment insurance - approximately 25% of your salary). Your net salary should be somewhere in the vicinity of $30K. If you divide that by 12 months, your monthly net salary will be $2K.
Finally, calculate the monthly payments due on a 10-year federal loan of $25K. This site will help you make that calculation: http://www.collegeanswer.com/financing/lt_financial_planning/ltfp_monthrep.jsp

For example, a $20K loan, at 6% interest, over 10 years, will give you a $220.00 payment per month. That's 8.8% of your total net salary. That sounds manageable to me, so long as you work within a budget, and work hard in your job.

I hear some of you crying, "but doesn't a loan burden limit my career options and force me to pursue a career that I don't want?" Well, yes and no. In an economy like this, it's important to get your foot in the door of an organization. It's important to get experience, learn new skills, work hard, and become indispensable. Then you can begin to manage your career.

A resume filled with value and experience will give you the freedom to make career choices. And besides, if you don't know what you want to do when you get out of college, who's to say you won't like the job that's posted, even if it doesn't sound great? I never thought I would like working in a cubicle when I graduated, but the job turned out to be amazing, offering me travel opportunities, great earning potential, and knowledge that really propelled me into a successful career.

So, how can a student loan burden be a Motivator?

In my 9 years as an independent career coach, I can tell you that the young adults who walk into my office with a little financial pressure, work much harder to find a job! Those who are expected to pay a few of their own bills, contribute to the household food budget (if they are living at home), and take a part-time job if necessary to meet their financial responsibilities, are much more Motivated. Will they tell you that they like it this way? Some will, some won't. But all of them are keen to learn new ways of finding a job. They are much more likely to proactively take networking meetings, take short, job-related certification courses (in project management for example), brush up on their 2nd language and volunteer, to get their foot in the door.

Motivation is a key factor when searching for a job, so now take a step back and ask yourself the question, "Can a manageable loan burden be a good thing?"

By: Jo Leonard, Chief College & Career Coach

Next up...College Costs - Part 2: The Pros and Cons of Public and Private Colleges.

The High School Counselor & The College Process

2011-08-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

by Ed Rebele

Master College Advisor

It is senior year, and although you may not have had much need to speak with your school counselor up to this point things are about to change. For the next three to four months, you will undoubtedly meet with your counselor several times during the college application season. It is worth your while to establish this relationship very early on in the school year. Remember, this is the person that will make sure that transcripts and in some cases letters of recommendation get to the schools to which you have applied. To facilitate this process I suggest the following:

Meet with your counselor early in September. Take the initiative to set up the appointment and be sure to bring your final list of schools as well as an updated resume.
Review your transcript carefully and make sure that your credits, GPA, and final grades are accurate to the best of your knowledge. If your school lists your activities, be sure to check this as well.
Be aware of how your school will be sending your transcript either electronically or via mail. Also, you need to know the process that is used by your school’s guidance office for requesting a transcript.
Keep your counselor apprised of any recent summer enrichment programs that you attended especially if there was a leadership component to them.
Let your counselor know if you will be applying to any schools under the Early Decision and/or Early Action application options. Deadlines are crucial here, so it is very important that he or she be aware of your intent. Be sure to let teachers who will be writing letters of recommendation for you know this as well.
Counselors should also be aware of who will be submitting letters of recommendation for you. Oftentimes these individuals will speak to each other on your behalf in order to present the most comprehensive academic picture of you from the school’s perspective.
Be sure that your counselor has any necessary forms that they may need to forward along with your transcript. Secondary school reports and teacher evaluation forms are among the most common. The Common Application has both of these forms and more that can be downloaded on their website.
If college admissions representatives will be visiting your school, be sure to find out when this will be especially for those schools that you will be applying to. Speaking with admissions counselors will help to demonstrate your continued interest in their school and programs.

Deciding on a Final College List

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

By Ed Rebele
Master College Advisor

As we approach the summer months, the task that now takes center stage in the college process is finalizing your college selections. With images of several campuses swirling in your head, this can seem like a great undertaking, but with a little organization and a good deal of research you will have this next step completed in no time at all.

Be sure to keep in mind the following items as you begin this step!

Continue with your campus visits keeping careful notes after each trip, about what you liked, which programs appealed to you, and how the food tasted - remember, you’ll be eating it for 4 years!
If you are unable to visit a campus, remember to contact the school’s alumni office and ask for the contact information of a recent graduate, preferably in your intended major. This is often a resource not many students access, but which can provide valuable information that cannot be obtained from a visit or school website.
If you are unable to visit a campus, remember to dig into sites like www.unigo.com, and www.collegeprowler.com. They are peer-reviewed sites - no marketing folks allowed. It’s all straight from the student’s mouth.
Keep in mind that you want to have schools that fall into each of three categories: Reach, Target, and Safety. How many of each will depend upon the total number of schools to which you want to apply. We recommend between 6 - 8. More is not always better, and can get expensive! Save some money by having a realistic Smart List, that will give you plenty of options come May of next year.
As long as we are talking about numbers, remember that choosing a large number of schools to apply to will also mean writing several essays. Budgeting your time will be crucial during the application process.
Get the opinion of others! Having another set of eyes to look at all the information that you have gathered regarding a school offers a wonderful new perspective. Go ahead and ask your parents, siblings, and even grandma or grandpa. They just might bring your attention to something that you may have missed.

Hire Gen Y

2011-06-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

by Kasey March
Head Career Starter

The NY Times ran a series of articles this week on "The Search for a Summer Job." Find those six articles here.

Here is a quick summary:

Young adults (ages 16 to 21) are having a difficult time finding summer work this year. If you are a young adult looking for a summer job or you're a parent with a kid still in bed, this isn't really news. Young adults face a variety of challenges when looking for summer work.

Competition
A poor economy
A bad reputation

Local businesses are less likely to hire teens than they have been in years past. For teens a summer job is an important opportunity to improve their soft skills. For employers these younger employees bring tech savy and fresh ideas into the office. But the two are having trouble connecting.

Employers say they aren't looking to hire teens this because they are:

Unskilled
Unfocused
Unprepared to do the job
Unreliable
Unprofessional

That seems harsh doesn't it? Sadly, it's true. Teens are showing up late, inappropriately dressed, with a poor attitude and using their cell phones at work.

In Bucks County we're doing something about it. It's a new program, called Hire Gen Y.

Hire Gen Y is a summer program to give local young adults the jobs they need, and our local businesses the valuable talent they want. It is an 8-week summer hiring program, that offers tremendous benefits for local businesses and Gen Y job seekers. The program includes:

“The Value of Gen Y,” a 2-hour seminar taught by professionals at Jo Leonard, LLC., “Partners in College & Career Navigation.” Local business representatives will learn how to find and extract real business value from Gen Y individuals. For example, they have:

Incredibly advanced social networking skills
Exceptional technology abilities, from productivity apps to marketing software
A love of learning and being of value
A natural altruistic focus in their community
A desire to be motivated

In addition business owners will be asked to check a list of interests and personal and professional skills that would be of most use to them during the summer, creating a database of summer positions open locally.

“Work Ready Boot Camp,” a 2 hour seminar taught by professionals at Jo Leonard, LLC., “Partners in College & Career Navigation.” Local Gen Y individuals (high school and
college students). For example, they will learn how:

To give value to local businesses
To enhance their soft skills
To ramp up their professional etiquette
To better understand various industries and careers
Add to their resumes
Build relationships with professionals in the community
Leave an outstanding impression for future opportunities

In addition local Gen Y individuals will be asked to check a list of interests and personal and professional skills that they feel would add value to potential employers creating a pool of qualified candidates for employment.

Finally, candidates from each group will be matched by Jo Leonard LLC. staff for interviewing.

For more information, please contact Info@JoLeonard.com, or call (215) 297-5545. Refer to Hire Gen Y Summer Program.

Common Sense

2011-06-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Are there jobs for liberal arts grads?

Read between the lines folks...we're graduating too many unfocused, liberal arts, resume-light college grads. What to do?

Let's review a common sense fact:

If you graduate with a humanities degree, without an outstanding resume, you're going to have a harder time finding a job than your room-mate with the engineering degree and 3 internships!

Seems obvious, right?

Right!

But which is a more important factor when trying to land that first job post graduation, a specific, professional degree, or a slew of internships?

My stance on this has stayed the same for years:

If you're going to be an engineer, then you need a degree in engineering.
If you're going to be a teacher, you need an education degree.
If you're going to be a chef, you need a culinary arts degree. And so on...

BUT, if you chose a degree in the humanities, because you love English or History, then you're going to have to graduate with a pretty outstanding resume, at least 2 internships, and lots of practical, professional skills, like Project Management for example, in order to appeal to a potential employer.

Tips on how to land a job with a degree in the humanities:

There is no short-cut, easy path, and there is no "taking time off" to think about it.
Start building your resume, right here, right now, by getting a job, paid or unpaid, I don't care.
Target volunteer positions that will give you "relevant" skills and experiences; I mean skills that are relevant to the jobs and industries you are ultimately seeking.
Get off the computer and join an association that interests you. Volunteer at their chapter meetings and start getting to know professionals who are like-minded.
Be interesting! Nothing worse than getting the interview and then sounding like every other candidate. If you don't have a life, start one. Go to meetup.com and join a club.
Add a practical certification to your educational resume: Take a look here on the ever useful Wikipedia, for a good overview of Professional Certifications and figure out which one might be right for now. They're not a replacement for a graduate degree, but could be a good interim step to make you more employable and help you stand out! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification

Summer Campus Visits – To Do or Not To Do?

2011-05-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

By Ed Rebele
Master College Advisor

It is that time of year when we think of trips to the beach and long summer excursions, but let us not forget the importance of continuing our college research process. I often hear the question, “What is the benefit of visiting a college campus in the summer? There will not be any students there.”

While there are fewer students are on campus it is still an opportunity for you to gather important decision making information from the college and get that “gut feeling” from being on the campus.

Don’t worry. College campuses are not abandoned and lifeless in the summer months. Many campuses offer summer classes or host summer campus for college bound high school students. Here are a few suggestions for you to follow to make the most of your summer visits!!

Plan your campus visit as you would during the regular school year. Contact the admissions office and arrange for a tour. See if you will be able to speak with a member of the admissions staff as well as the faculty.
Plan to be on campus during one of their summer sessions (when classes are held). This will be your best opportunity to interact with students. Take note of the classes being offered by visiting the campus registrar.
Explore the surrounding area. See what shops, restaurants, and coffeehouses are available. Find out about local transportation.
Have thoughtful questions to ask. Because it is a slow time of year tour guides will have more time to spend with you. It can be very insightful to ask a student on campus what he or she would change about their experience at the school. This information can point to areas within the college that may need improvement.
Eat the grub! Sample the food in the student center, and talk with students who may be sitting by themselves. Who knows? They may be bored and would welcome some friendly conversation.
Visit athletic facilities and student club offices if you know these will be of particular interest to you.
Contact career services and alumni offices to obtain information on graduate school placement, internship opportunities, and corporate affiliations as well as the ability to speak with recent alumni.
And last but not least! Take very good notes after each visit!

Where To Go? Where To Go? – Making That Final College Selection

2011-04-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

By Ed Rebele

Just when you thought the pressure was off….it seems that it is back on again.

Take a deep breath and put your mind at ease….Everything will be okay.

By now you have been inundated with several letters of acceptance (insert happy face here) and the next big decision that you have to make is, "which school do I attend? So many offers are on the table and they are all beginning to blur together."

Listed below are a few helpful suggestions to help make sense of this process and make your decision a little easier.

Above all else, be honest with yourself. "Have my interests changed since my applications were submitted?" Senior year can be a time of personal growth and maturity and with that can bring a change of heart."
Do the schools that I considered to be at the top of my list still match my current goals?" Remember, there is no shame in making a last minute re-evaluation.
Those pesky Campus Visit Forms! Where are they? That’s right. It is time to dust them off and take another look at some of the details you put down all those months ago. By doing this you will really remind yourself of the strengths and weaknesses of each school. Does this school truly meet all or most of your criteria?
For some, the financial aid package will play a crucial role in the decision of which school to attend. Look at each school’s financial aid award to see who is giving you the better offer. Does the award letter contain mostly grants (free money) or does it have a substantial loan offering (money that you have to pay back)? Call your top schools to see if there are any additional scholarships that you could apply for. The world of financial aid can be a huge investment of time, but the payoff can be enormous.
Finally, gut reactions/impressions can never be given enough attention. They are usually very telling to a student. If you are unsure about a school, then take a second visit to help put any doubts/concerns to rest.

Remember, this needs to be a good fit for YOU. Happy decision making!!!

Tired of Living at Home?

2011-04-01T09:50:00.001-07:00

Everything You Wanted To Know About Senior Mid-Year Reports

2011-03-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

By Ed Rebele

At this time of year some of the colleges that you applied to are ready to review your mid-year report. A mid-year report allows schools to check on how you are doing academically in your senior year of high school.

Don’t let an early case of senioritis take hold of you. Colleges can use this recent academic information to make crucial admissions decisions. Already received your acceptance letters? Remember that colleges always reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission based upon a poor senior year performance.

Your mid-year report should reflect a continued strong effort in a challenging curriculum. Below I have listed a few helpful hints for you to consider where mid-year reports are concerned.

Check to see if the schools to which you have applied are requesting a mid-year report. Remember, not all schools will want one.
The Common Application has their own mid-year report form which your guidance counselor will need to complete along with sending out your mid-year report. This is available on the Common Application website.
Check with your guidance counselor to see if there is a formal process in your guidance office for requesting a mid-year report.
Mid-year reports can be sent electronically or via mail. Check to see how your high school guidance office will send out this information as well as how the college wishes to receive it.
If the college that you applied to is not a Common Application school, check to see if they have an institutional mid-year report form which you will need to give to your guidance counselor.

Five Questions to Start the College Application Process

2011-02-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

By Kasey March - Head Career Starter
The college application process can seem overwhelming.

To be honest it's not brain surgery, it's a juggling act.

You've got a lot of things on your mind, such as standardized tests, academic requirements, financial aid, majors, minors, concentration... but don't freak out!

It's almost Spring. Here are the top 5 questions you should be asking yourself at this point in the year to help get you started:

The big questions:

Why exactly do I want to go to college?
What specifically do I expect this college to do for me?
How much do I want to spend on college?
How hard am I prepared to work on my SAT's and grades to get into my first choice school?
Is there time in my schedule to do some college visits? (If not, something's gotta go!)

Reality Check

Your guidance counselor may be great - she is super accessible, already knows you personally, and has time to be a great resource to you - or she may be unavailable. She's juggling a thousand students. You've never been to her office except to choose classes so she doesn't know you, and she doesn't have enough office hours to discuss your questions. You have the most at stake when it comes to your college choices. Make sure you stay on top of opportunities and deadlines and find resources to help you when you need it.

Be Outstanding - Write thank you notes!

2011-01-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

By Kasey March - Head Career Starter

Did "Write timely thank you notes" make it onto your New Year's resolution list?

If not, it’s time to re-evaluate.

A thank you note is an expression of appreciation for a thoughtful act, expression or gift. If you aren’t writing at least one a month you're probably forgetting to thank someone.

Who should be receiving thank you notes?

The hostess, after a party. Yes, any party. A lot of effort went into it. They'll love the thought.
A friend or family member who sent a gift by mail.
A college or job interviewer.
Friends and family who send gifts or cards to you during a hospital stay.
A host or hostess who entertained you for one or more nights (unless it's a close relative or friend who is doing the hosting).
Guidance counselors, tutors, and teachers who helped with your college applications.
References, who helped you secure a good job.
Someone who did you a favor at short notice, like taking care of your pet, or picking you up from the airport.

Final tips:

Make sure you personalize your thank you notes.
Formal stationary isn’t necessary in many cases but you should take time to choose cards that reflect your personality.
Hand write your thank you notes - rather then send an email.
Do not send a text message to replace a note. They're not even close to the same!
Thank you notes should be written within a week of receipt of the gift or gesture.
Mention the specific gesture or item you received.

College Road Trip!

2011-01-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

By Ed Rebele
Master College Advisor

Yes, I know that it is only January and the snow just seems to keep coming, but throw on some layers and pretend that it’s spring break!

College Open Houses are just around the corner. Most schools will begin offering these informative sessions as soon as next month, so now’s the time to start planning your road trips. If a school that you are interested in does not offer an Open House, be brave and schedule a visit yourself, by picking up the phone (yes, picking up the phone!) If you’re chicken, you can also schedule these right on the college’s website, but we’re a fan of Personal Communication Practice here at Jo Leonard, LLC. It’s a skill that will last you a lifetime.

Listed below are a few helpful tips on how you can maximize the benefits from your campus tour.

Schedule visits at a few schools that are within close proximity to one another.
Before you go, thoroughly research the college website and go prepared with questions. They LOVE questions, so fire away.
See if you can meet with a member of the faculty who teaches in your current major of interest. This can be done by, yes, you got it, “picking up the phone.”
Be sure to venture off on your own when you get there, and visit the older (not on the tour), dorms and academic buildings. You might be living in them or attending classes here and you need to be sure that you like what you see.
Visit the career services office. This is an often overlooked stop in the tour. How many students are placed into jobs when they graduate? You want to be sure that the college does an even better job finding you a job than they do convincing you to attend!
Eat the food!! Sample some of the cuisine in the student center. You will be eating it for the next four years.
Talk to the students that you see. Ask them what they like and what they might change about the school. The answers might surprise you!
See if you can find out and possibly be introduced to the admissions counselor that will be reviewing your application. The more you can maintain consistent contact with this person the better.
Be sure to complete any campus visit evaluation forms that are offered to you. Some schools now even have these online.
Take notes!!! It will be difficult to remember six months down the road what you liked and didn’t like about your visit if you don’t.
Finally…..Send a note of thanks to the key admissions/faculty people that you met during your visit. It is a nice gesture, and it shows a genuine interest in their school and appreciation of their time.

Don't be a Statistic

2010-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

Jo Leonard
Chief Career Consultant

Are you one of the December graduates who is now frantically looking for a job?

Have you fallen victim to the recession and lost your job?

Our unemployment rate hovers around 9%, but….

We believe that there is no excuse for “dangling” around being unproductive, bored, frustrated, angry and depressed.

Here’s one tip that’s worth following:

Get a job. No excuses. No barriers. No complaining.

Your resume will thank you. There’s nothing worse than a looming gap on your resume, so avoid it.

Just because you don't have a full-time, paid job doesn't mean you can’t be working, feeling productive and building your network, and besides; do you really want to be sitting at your computer sending resumes into the Big Black Cyberspace Hole?

So, in the words of Nike, Just Do It!

- Volunteer for a non-profit. Go www.VolunteerMatch.org, type in your zip code, or area of interest and voila!

- Why, you ask? (Looking gloomy and rolling your eyes.)

1. Staying in the workforce, even the unpaid workforce, will:

§ Keep you smiling and energized

§ Help you meet new, interesting and committed people

§ Improve your skills, whatever they may be

§ Give you a chance to network and build new relationships

§ Offer you opportunities to excel, be amazing, accomplish great things, work on difficult and challenging projects

§ GIVE YOU NEW CONTENT FOR YOUR RESUME

P.S. Here’s the favorite excuse we hear when we make the above recommendation: “Why would I give away my time for free when I could be spending time looking for a full-time paid position?”

The thing is my friends, “we’re in a recession, and employers are able to be very, very picky. They’re taking longer to make decisions and are able to wait for the perfect person to come along. While they’re making those decisions, you can either sit at home, sending resumes into the “black hole” called Monster.com., crossing your fingers and hoping to get a hit, or you can get out there, into the real world for a few hours a week and make an impact. We guarantee that your job search won’t suffer. In fact we guarantee that it will be greatly enhanced!

The Dreaded Thanksgiving Questions

2010-11-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Jo Leonard
Chief Career Consultant

"So, what are you going to do with that degree of yours?" Asks Auntie Jean with a truly interested look on her face.

"Oh Jeez" you think. "What am I supposed to say to that?"

Uncle Bill on the other hand just inquired, "How's the job search coming along? Having any luck?"

"Nothing much going on." You respond weakly. "I've had a few interviews, but nothing very exciting."

If these kinds of questions sound familiar, or you're dreading going to the family for Turkey Day because you're bound to get one or two similar questions, try some of these answers. You'll be amazed at what happens to their faces...

With a big smile on your face: "Oh it's going really, really well. I'm in the research phase of my career search, and so far I've decided that I want to focus on either x, y, or z (insert your occupation interests here, and don't limit to just one - find three). My next step is to set up informational interviews with people in these fields and start networking."
With arms flaying around enthusiastically: "I'm now a Senior Volunteer Manager at X Organization. It's been a fantastic experience because I've met so many people and I've done a really good job. I've also built some amazing relationships and everyone seems so eager to help me find a full-time position, but for now I'm really happy."
With a serious look: "You know, I've discovered that you can't find a job online and so I've identified 10 companies that I'm looking to network into. I think you know someone at one or two of them. Maybe we can sit down after the turkey and chat about it?"

I can pretty much guarantee that any relative will be "blown away" by any of these answers and that you'll feel quite confident and happy with that.

Now, the most important question: Are you able to offer them those answers truthfully? If you can't, it's time to re-visit your job search strategy. Here are some basic tips:

Whenever you're out in public - even with the family the answer to the question is, "I'm fantastic, great. Things are going really well. No one wants to talk to a kvetchy, grump, especially one who's looking for a job. Everyone's got their own problems. Be the life of the party!
Have an answer to the basic questions. Struggling to introduce yourself clearly and answer these basic questions leaves you sounding ineffective, confused and disorganized, and no-one wants to hire an ineffective, confused and disorganized 22 year old!
Hold your head up high and smile.
Have a firm handshake.
Research your occupation ideas thoroughly and be able to articulate why you are interested in them. Be convincing when you're out there in public. You never know who you're going to run into and "Perception is Reality." This means that people will judge you immediately.

Finding a direction and a job takes work, but is not impossible, even in this job market. I repeat, it's not impossible. There are jobs out there, but you have to work for them.

Financing Your Education

2010-10-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

By Kasey March
Head Career Starter

If you are applying for financial aid (or if you are applying for merit aid at many schools) there are several forms to fill out. You are going to need to get Mom and Dad involved for this step.

Your parents will have to submit their taxes in conjunction with the forms, and there will be financial questions that you probably don't know the answers to. If Mom and Dad are stumped as well a financial advisor may help. Don't procrastinate. Not meeting financial aid application deadlines may make it harder for you to get aid as a sophomore, junior, or senior.

Our recommendation is to always apply. The worst that can happen is they will say "no."

Here are some tips on applying for financial aid:

Obtain, complete, and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid). It is available online or from your guidance counselor and enables you to request government funding for college in the form of grants or loans.
Obtain and complete the CCS Profile, another form many individual schools use to assess your family's financial standing. Find the form here.
Obtain and complete the financial aid forms for each school on your application list to request funds directly from the university. This is also how you apply for work-study.

The Importance of Clarity

2010-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

by Kasey March
Head Career Starter

It is impossible to overestimate the value of clear communication. I have learned that being coherent and definite when expressing my ideas and feelings is an invaluable skill in both my personal and professional life. This is a lesson I have learned early in my career.

Through precise communication you can express your needs, wants, and intentions to others. You will also project a sense of capability, reliability, and trustworthiness because others will not find your promises ambiguous or suffer disappointments as a result of your inconsistent or insufficient responses.

As a career starter it is sometimes difficult to clearly article ones goals, desires, and intentions. I recently accepted a part time position doing office management and was not clear about my expectations when accepting the position. I understood the job would remain part time, but my employer felt I had committed to more. Below are some common barriers to clear communication.

The fear of disappointing others. As a career starter you may feel increased pressure to prove yourself capable and reliable. Often this is due to the mistaken belief that saying “No” to one project makes it appear that you are incapable of completing all projects. As a result, it is difficult to say no to others who make requests of your time and resources. You may also inherently prefer to avoid discord or conflict and say “yes” when you really want to say “no”! Rather than directly reject a request you may find yourself trying to take on more projects then you are capable of completing, or agreeing to do a portion of a project you have no time to take on at all.

Avoid saying “yes” to everything. Be honest with yourself and with others regarding your limitations. For example, if a supervisor asks you to take on an additional project when you are already fully burdened with work politely state, “I think this is a fantastic project, but unfortunately I do not have the room in my schedule to take on this project at this time. Is there anyone else on the team that I could maybe work with to get it done?” (Finding a compromise or alternative solution is a great way of showing your creativity and willingness to be proactive.

Lack of confidence in one's ideas. Some career starters may find themselves verbally agreeing when their feelings are contrary. If a supervisor makes a suggestion and you have a better one, don’t be afraid to throw it out there. Pose it as a question. For example, “Would it be ok to use the x database to do the research? I find it much easier to navigate” Have confidence in your intellect. Respectfully verbalizing prospective barriers to a task is a valuable skill that will increase the productivity of projects you are assigned. By collaborating with co-workers and your supervisor you will become a valuable contributor to any team.

Ambiguous goals. When taking on a new position it is difficult to negotiate a job offer if you have unclear goals. Give yourself time to really consider why you are applying for a position before going to an interview and have a clear understanding of what you expect from the job. It is easiest to articulate your abilities and needs to an employer when you have first clarified them for yourself.

College Application Timeline

2010-09-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

by Ed Rebele
Master College Adviser

Hello Seniors!

Yes we know that they've already given you homework, but here's a Timeline to help keep you on track:

September

Request letters of recommendation from at least two academic teachers. Make sure they like you, admire you and will say nice things. Smile when you ask and say “Thank you very much for helping me.”
Pay careful attention to application deadlines particularly if you are applying Early Decision or Early Action.
Keep up your grades – you may get a Conditional Offer based on first semester Senior Year grades.
Meet with your Guidance Counselor/College Advisor to discuss application plans and review high school transcript.
Continue to visit college campuses and meet with Admissions Counselors.
Request and review all application materials (paper or online) including the Common Application if applicable.
Register NOW for the Common App. Get a Username and Password.
Finish Common App essay by September 30th.
Request that SAT/ACT scores be sent to all of the schools to which you are applying.
Continue SAT/ACT testing if necessary.
Identify transcript request process at your school.

Negotiating 101

2010-08-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Kasey March
Head Career Starter

Strong negotiation skills are great tools that you will use in your personal and professional life. Think of the many places where you may need to negotiate: a garage sale, a car dealership, the office, at home with your parents.

Some issues are easier to negotiate than others. When you have a great deal at stake or when you are upset, the task of negotiation can be intimidating or difficult. So, before you negotiate a raise with your boss, a more lenient schedule with your parents, or the price of a car at the dealership review these 7 points.

Don’t go into the negotiation with a negative attitude, ready to fight. A negotiation is a discussion where you and another party are trying to reach an agreement. Negotiation is most effective when both parties want to find a solution to a problem.
Do your research and prepare for objections: If you are going to argue with your parents that you deserve a later curfew, anticipate their reservations. Don’t just tell them you want to stay out later, show them a timeline and schedule for your evenings, illustrating that you will have time to finish your homework, eat, get enough sleep and still be on time for school. Putting it in writing and presenting it to them is great practice for the real world and will probably win them over! Anticipate their objections and come up with valid answers, before you start the negotiation.
Try to understand the person with whom you are negotiating. Are they emotional? Quiet and logical? It’s important to know. If they are emotional, be empathetic, so you show that you are relating to their emotions. But, stick with logic and preparation whenever you can. (See #2)
Don’t rush. If you feel very strongly about the subject you are negotiating don’t rush to begin your conversation. It is normal to become emotional, but it is important to maintain control of your emotions. Don’t begin a negotiation while you are angry.
Don’t enter negotiations with someone who intimidates you. Negotiations should be a win-win proposition, not a matter of one person controlling another. (See #2)
Take risks. Negotiating can be fun, like a game. Take calculated risks. Calculated risks are those that involve preparation. (See #3)
Walk away if you cannot reach a deal you like. In some situations you will not be able to reach a deal that works for everyone. If this is the case, walk away from the deal. Always say “thank you for your time, but I’m afraid I have to walk away from this negotiation, and then SMILE!” Never burn bridges with rudeness; You never know when you will run into them again.

Career Direction: Figuring it all Out

2010-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

By Jo Leonard
Chief Career Consultant

All my 20-something clients walk into the office saying, "I just want to figure it all out."
"Wow, that's a big goal", I say to them. "I'm 42 and I'm only just figuring it all out. Why not take some of the pressure off - (and ask your parents to take some off too), and just take a few deep breaths!"

When you've finished the deep breathing, start with the following exercise:

Ask yourself, "What do I want in my life?" Here are a few ideas to get you going:

A job
A job doing something specific
An apartment in town
A vacation every 6 months
A circle of foreign friends
A house when I'm 30
A wife, or a husband or kids when I'm 32
A villa in France
A fancy car
A large expense account
A dog
A cat
A horse
Annual tickets to the US Open
Season tickets to the Phillies
Full cable
IPhone
Full independence from my parents by 27
Parental support until I'm 25
A master's degree
My face in the newspaper
My name on a book jacket
Fame

Start making a list, and then take a look at it closely.

This list will change many, many times as you move through life, but for now, be comfortable with your What do I Want List. Post it on the wall, and edit it as often as you like. Use it as a self-awareness tool. It will help you to define your values and your priorities.

Then do the 2nd exercise. Find a job, and start working! No excuses, no delays. I'm serious. I just hired 3 interns, two right out of college, one heading to college. The beautiful thing about it is that they are working! They are earning some money and learning what they like to do and what they don't like to do. That's as good as it gets for some 20-somethings, and it's not bad at all!

Life is about making mistakes, trying new things, having adventures, finding out who you are, and eliminating ideas as you go along. Then, and only then, will you be well on your way to having your 'Aha' moment - finding your passion - determining the role you were born to play - Figuring It Out!

The Blog Begins!

2010-06-22T11:11:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Jo Leonard LLC, Partners in College and Career Navigation. We're very excited to offer this new blog to college bound and career starters looking for useful information and tasks to move forward in the college application process and land the job of your dreams.

Please submit a comment suggesting topics or asking questions you would like addressed here.