Careers & Education 2023

Education Education & & CAREERS CAREERS

August 10, 2023

R E E R S CAREERS

Five Insights to Help You Find Your Dream Job

With one in four U.S. adults currently job seeking, it’s a competitive market, but experts say that finding your dream job is within reach if you use smart strategies.

“A well-executed job search that combines powerful search tools and the right mindset will connect you with companies that value their employees and set them up to thrive,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer of CareerBuilder. As you get your job search under way, consider these five tips and insights from CareerBuilder:

1. Define your dream job: Research shows that the goals and desires of job seekers vary by industry. However, whether you’re an administrative assistant, a retail worker or a software developer, it’s important to define what matters to you in a job, as doing so will help you narrow your search. This means nailing down details like your salary requirements, while also considering intangible factors, such as whether the work will allow you to make an impact and whether the company’s values and culture align with yours.

2. Build a better resume: A resume is

often the first point of connection between you and your next job, yet knowing its importance can make it feel daunting to create. To make a great impression with a minimal amount of effort, check out online tools like CareerBuilder’s “Create Resume” feature. The platform allows you to create multiple variations of your

resume that call out specific areas of expertise as they may relate to particular roles. The site has already outlined the most important fields for you to fill in, making it easy to authentically highlight a mix of hard and soft skills that will get you noticed by top employers.

3. Streamline your search: Work smart, not hard. Rather than apply for jobs individually, turn to a job search platform that will make your profile and resume available to thousands of employers. In the case of CareerBuilder, you don’t actually need to register for an account to search through its millions of job listings. Search for jobs using filters like degree requirement, keywords, industry and mileage radius, then apply for positions directly on the site. A salary search function, along with career advice and tips, make it an invaluable one-stop site for job seekers.

4. Prepare for interviews: Preparing answers to common interview questions and even practicing with a spouse or friend beforehand can help you feel competent and confident when the real interview rolls around. For behavioral ques-

tions, CareerBuilder recommends using the STAR method, in which you describe the Situation, Task, Action and Result to explain how you would act in specific work situations.

5. Check the terms: A dream job is only a dream job if the terms of employment suit you. Before signing a contract, check such details as compensation, start date, the company’s leave policy, professional development opportunities, perks and benefits, as well as items that could impact you in the future, like non-disclosure agreements. If you plan to negotiate, decide whether you’ll take the job if the employer doesn’t modify the contract. Stay courteous and professional throughout the process.

For additional career advice, or to register and search for jobs, visit careerbuilder.com/jobs.

Landing a dream job can be a labor intensive process. However, leaning on new tools and tech to do some of the groundwork for you can help ensure you start your new position with purpose and energy.

Photo Courtesy of amanalang

CAREERS CA R E E R S CAREERS Education Education

Tips for staying organized as school starts

The start of a new school year carries with it so much potential, particularly when students -- and their parents -- stay organized. Amid the back-to-school chaos, use these tips and gear recommendations to help keep everyone on track, whether they are at school, at home or onthe-go:

Color-coded notebooks and binders, along with labeled dividers, can help you keep your coursework straight and your note-taking organized. Take your colorcoding a step further by extending the concept to the tools you write with. Pilot Pen’s G2 gel pen is a go-to for busy students and parents with its smooth, longlasting gel ink that’s able to keep up with busy schedules. Science has shown that writing a to-do list with an appealing color can lead to greater productivity. Inspired by color trends and color psychology, the G2 Harmony Collection colors were developed to promote balance, relaxation and hope, helping students get more done, stay positive and achieve their highest potential this school year. G2 is available in four point sizes and over 35 colors, so it’s ideal for note-taking, writing down big ideas, goal-setting and more.

With the back-to-school season comes a flurry of planning and scheduling -from after-school activities to field trips. Parents and kids alike can stay on top of all the last-minute changes with a desk calendar and an erasable pen. Pilot’s FriXion line of erasable pens and markers write smooth and erase clean, so you can edit plans as often as they change. It’s much easier to remember tasks and events when you’ve recorded the details in a central location, so start a habit of entering all activities into your calendar as soon as they’re planned.

Use organizational tools anywhere school supplies are stored, such as lockers, backpacks and home study areas. Simple shelving and magnetic door organizers can maximize storage potential in any locker, whereas a backpack with multiple pockets allows you to arrange items by subject.

Parents and kids should keep clutter to a minimum in home workspaces with filing systems and supply trays. This will help prevent important papers and other items from going missing and improve productivity.

- StatePoint

SOMA school district holding job fair looking for teachers, nurse, librarian

MAPLEWOOD — The Maplewood South Orange School District’s Department of Human Resources will be hosting a “Drop-In Job Fair” later this month to recruit candidates for a variety of positions throughout the district.

The event is being billed as “drop-in” to emphasize how easy it will be for applicants to meet with key decision-makers searching for the right candidates to fill teaching and other positions in the District, according to a press release from the district, which said that no appointments are necessary and registration for the event is encouraged but not required.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Montrose Early Childhood Center, 356 Clark St. South Orange.

“The School District of South Orange and Maplewood offers qualified educators a wonderful place to make a difference in young people’s lives and a dynamic, collaborative workplace to professionally develop,” said Ronald Taylor, superintendent of schools. “We are looking forward

to welcoming job seekers who want to learn more about the opportunities that can only be found in our schools.”

The district is seeking to fill the following:

High School Vacancies: Business Education Teacher; Math Teacher; Physical Education/Health Teacher; Physics Teacher; Special Education Teacher-Math; and Special Education Teacher-Science.

Middle School Vacancies: P/T Music Teacher; Social Studies Teacher; and Special Education Teacher.

Elementary School Vacancies: Intervention Teacher-Math; Elementary School Teacher; Physical Education Teacher; Preschool Teacher; and Special Education Teacher.;

The District Vacancies: Library Media Specialist; School Nurse; and Social Worker.

Leave Replacement Vacancies: Art Teacher; Language Arts Teacher; Math Teacher; Occupational Therapist and Special Education Teacher.

CAREERS CA R E E R S CAREERS Education Education

ABOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY

Our CTE programs include:

• Advanced Manufacturing-Welding

• Animal Science

• Automotive Technology

• Business Organization & Management

• Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Masonry

• Construction Trades Technology

• Cosmetology/Barbering

• Culinary Arts & Farm to Table

Digital Filmmaking & Television Production

EMT, Certified Nursing Assistant & Medical Assisting

Engineering & Robotics

Fashion Design

Graphic Design & Commercial Arts

Law & Public Safety

Music Production Technology

Web/Game Design

CAREERS CA R E E R S CAREERS Education Education

Four Tech-Friendly Ways to Ace the School Year

American families are expected to spend record-high amounts this back-to-school season. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), families with children in elementary, middle and high school will spend $890 on average for school items, while those with collegeaged students are looking at more than $1,360 in shopping expenses.

Whether your kids are off to kindergarten or college, here’s how you can shop smarter and prepare for the school year:

1. Upgrade Your Devices. Electronics and tech are a top priority for families this school season. The NRF says Americans are expected to spend a collective $15 billion on electronics for back to school and $23 billion for back to college. The good news is that you may be able to score deals this back-to-school season to help save on smartphones, wearables and more. T-Mobile is offering a free REVVL 6 Pro 5G, OnePlus Nord N30 5G or Samsung Galaxy A14 5G when adding a voice line for each device on a qualifying plan via 24 monthly bill credits plus tax. Plus, if T-Mobile customers prefer to gear up with a wearable, they can score the wireless company’s exclusive SyncUP KIDS Watch for free when adding a qualifying watch line via 24 monthly bill credits plus tax. To learn more about T-Mobile’s back-toschool deals, head to t-mobile.com/offers/back-toschool-deals.

2. Keep Track of School Items. It’s the time of year

when backpacks, lunchboxes and musical instruments tend to go missing. Ensure your child or college student never loses their items again by placing a T-Mobile SyncUP TRACKER in items of importance. It’s a simple, easy

way to help you keep track of belongings.

3. Stay Connected for Study Time. For families or college students looking for an affordable option to stay connected at home, T-Mobile has them covered with 5G Internet for only $30 per month with a Go5G Plus or Magenta MAX plan and AutoPay. For those unsure about making the switch, the wireless company offers a worry-free Test Drive of its 5G Internet for 15 days. And, T-Mobile 5G Internet comes with a Price Lock Guarantee, so you can rest easy knowing your monthly rate won’t increase (exclusions like taxes and fees apply). Learn more by visiting https://www.tmobile.com/homeinternet.

4. Prioritize a Sleep Routine. A recent “Lancet Journal” study found that children need at least nine hours of sleep each night to support healthy neurocognitive development. Set your kids up for success by creating a school bedtime and wake-up routine a couple weeks before school begins to help ease into the new academic year. Apps like Moshi use sounds, sleep stories and even meditations to encourage better sleep for kids, and Calm can be used for college students and parents to ease stress.

Get ready to rock the school year with some savvy planning, deal-hunting adventures and a dose of healthy habits that create an epic year ahead for you and your family.

Photo Courtesy of monkeybusinessimages

The time to upgrade your electronics is before the school year starts.

Find out how Kean Cougars climb higher

Founded in 1855, Kean University has a rich history of excellence in higher education.

As New Jersey’s urban research institution, Kean provides an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that prepares students from all backgrounds to think critically and succeed. Recognized by U.S. News and World Report for its diversity, innovation and commitment to helping all students succeed, Kean offers a place for everyone to Climb Higher.

Kean offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate options to choose from and offers flexibility in your education journey, whether on our main campus in Union, at our Toms River, Lincroft and Manahawkin locations, as the only public American university to operate a campus in China, or worldwide through Kean Online. At Kean, we believe in a more practical approach to education that pairs world-class instruction in our classrooms and labs across the globe with real-world professional experience that leads to career success. Kean is proud to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and has been recognized

as a leader for transfer and military veteran students.

Kean’s Human Rights Institute holds an annual conference and offers a broad range of programs to raise awareness of human rights worldwide and inspire action among students, teachers and the general public. With five theatres on campus, Kean Stage and the award-winning Premiere Stages contribute to the intellectual life of the community with programs, plays and concerts that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of New Jersey. Five galleries on the main campus conduct an eclectic exhibition program that often integrates visual arts with academic programs. Kean’s more than 130 academic, professional interest and philanthropic student groups add to the vibrant campus life. The University fields 14 Division III men’s and women’s athletic programs and has eight sports facilities, including Harwood Arena and Kean Alumni Stadium. The Kean faculty is recognized for teaching distinction, scholarship and service.

Find out how Cougars Climb Higher by visiting Kean.edu

Photo Courtesy of amanalang