College & Careers

COLLEGE & CAREERS

INSIDE

• Guidelines to help you land that perfect job • Many reasons to get involved with extracurricular activities in high school • College fair set for Oct. 26

A supplement of Suburban Newspapers Inc.

Sept. 17, 2014

Important guidelines for landing that perfect job Every spring, graduating students tend to be out in droves trying to find jobs that will enhance their careers.

But before beginning the resume and interviewing process, there are certain do’s and don’ts that students should be aware of so they will be competitive in today’s job market.

“Beyond the usual resume and interview, it is also important to note that having a social media presence is mandatory,” said Stephanie Hausladen, director of career services for Heald College-Fresno. “Recruiters will do their homework before they invite you in for an interview — 98 percent of recruiters are using social recruiting according to a recent survey from Bullhorn.”

Hausladen said to keep these tips in mind:

plishments on a resume can demonstrate your work ethic and ability to achieve results but avoid exaggeration, irrelevancies and ancient history. Accomplishments are more important to describe than duties.

Resume don’ts • Don’t have misspellings or typos; proofread carefully.

• Don’t put a career objective statement at the beginning.

• Don’t use personal pronouns or include personal interests or hobbies.

• Don’t lie.

• Don’t have an inappropriate email address. What may have been cute in college may not be accepted in a professional setting.

BRANDPOINT

Social networking do’s • Recruiters using social media to check out potential employees breaks down to the following: LinkedIn (97 percent), Facebook (51 percent), Twitter (49 percent), Google+ (19.1 percent), and Pinterest (3.6 percent), so make sure your bio, your skill sets and your interests are current and accurate and be sure to have a professional photograph taken and used for these sites.

• Google your name before being interviewed so you know what is out there. Your interviewer will check all social media outlets before talking to you.

• Set those privacy settings. If you don’t, the world will know what you did over the weekend and it could jeopardize your

chances of getting the interview or even the job.

Social networking don’ts • Don’t tweet anything inappropriate, someone is always looking.

• Don’t post compromising pictures, jokes or personal stories on the Internet. Recruiters and potential employers are checking.

Beyond social media, an integral process of job hunting involves having a proper resume, below are some resume do’s and don’ts to remember.

Be part of something exceptional.

Interview do’s

Resume do’s Focus: Make your resume reader friendly and use bullet points for specifics.

Appearance: Do not use the title resume.

Put name, address, one phone number, an email address, education and experience.

In describing your former employment, list your title/position, the name of the employer, the city and state (no street address) and dates of employment. In describing your education spell out the name of the degree (Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts), the name of the college, the city and state where it is located and your major and minor. Do not justify margins or use smaller than 10.5 font.

Keywords: To get noticed, your resume needs to contain keywords that directly target the jobs you want. Your resume keywords should include specific job requirements, including your skills, software and technology competencies, relevant credentials and previous employers. There are various websites that list keywords.

Transferable skills: Transferable skills are the skills you’ve gathered through various jobs, volunteer work, sports or other life experiences that can be used in your next job or new career.

Accomplishments: A solid list of accom-

• Wear appropriate, conservative clothing.

• Arrive at least 10 minutes before the interview to give yourself time to freshen up.

• Treat others in the office with respect.

They may be asked how you treated them.

• Have a firm handshake.

• Make eye contact with the interviewer at all times.

• Write the interviewer a thank you note.

Interview don’ts • Don’t make excuses for past decisions or make negative comments about former employers.

• Don’t bring up salary or appear desperate for employment.

• Don’t treat the interview casually like you are shopping around for a job.

• Don’t chew gum or suck on candy (including breath mints).

• Don’t play with your cellphone while waiting for your interview to start.

• Don’t interrupt the interviewer.

By following these guidelines, prospective employees will have a better chance to compete in the job market.

— Brandpoint

Nebraska students can win scholarships Trades/transfer First time/second opportunity Part time/full time

Nebraska students dreaming of the future can win a scholarship from First National Bank by drawing a picture of what they envision becoming when they grow up.

Nebraska students from first grade to eighth grade can enter the contest by

submitting a drawing before the end of September.

Twelve winners will receive $1,000 scholarships in a NEST 529 College Savings Plan account.

The Nebraska Art Teachers Association will judge the contest entries, which must be created with pencil,

crayons, paint, watercolor or a paper collage.

More details about the contest rules and the college savings plans are available on the state treasurer’s website: http://treasurer.org/cs/.

— The Associated Press

ABOUT THIS SECTION College & Careers is published by Suburban Newspapers Inc. For advertising information, contact Paul Swanson at paul.swanson@owh.com. • Retail advertising manager: Dan Matuella • Special projects coordinator: Paul Swanson • Special sections coordinator: Marie Douglas • Special sections editor: Shelley Larsen • Section editor and designer: Tom Knox • Copy editor: Melinda Keenan • Cover image: Metro Creative Connections/World-Herald illustration

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Getting involved can pave the way to college Getting involved in extracurricular activities in high school is an important part of preparing for college.

When considering your application, a college looks at more than your grades — they want to know who you are when you’re not in class.

Extracurricular involvement can also increase your chances of earning scholarships.

Extracurricular activities include volunteer and paid work, community service, clubs, sports, music and church involvement.

Choose activities that utilize your strengths or help you develop new skills.

Your activities may even help you decide on a college major and career path.

Find an activity you can stick with, and take an active role to develop leadership skills.

Colleges will notice your commitment and contribution to your school or community.

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Here’s how to get started: • Ask your classmates what activities they enjoy.

• Talk to your school counselor about school-based activities.

• Contact local service organizations such as your church or the United Way. • Visit your city’s website for a list of volunteer activities.

If there isn’t an organized activity that suits you, create one.

Talk to the appropriate person at your school or church, and ask for their help in forming a group.

In the process, you will demonstrate leadership and organizational skills, and get to meet others who share your interests.

To keep a written record of all of your activities, including your paid jobs, use the Activities Resume at EducationQuest.org/activities-resume.

This tool will help you build a resume for college admissions and scholarship applications.

— EducationQuest Foundation

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Why you should get involved Here are some reasons why you should join clubs at school or volunteer in your community: • You’ll explore potential career interests. Think you might want to work in the medical profession? Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. Interested in politics? Try running for student council. You get the idea…

• You’ll have a better chance of earning scholarships. Many are based on extracurricular activities and community service, so keep track of the places and dates you participated.

• You’ll make new friends. And they’ll likely be friends who share your interests.

• You’ll become more organized. Let’s face it, the busier you are, the more organized you have to be. But don’t overdo it. Be selective and choose activities that strongly appeal to you.

• It gives you an “out.” If friends suggest activities that could get you into trouble, your busy schedule provides the perfect excuse.

• You’ll work with adults who can help shape your life.

Whether it’s a coach, yearbook advisor or youth group leader, you’ll work with strong adult mentors who can help keep your life on track.

•It’s fun! Talk to any student who’s involved in extracurricular activities; they’ll surely tell you about all the things they enjoy about being involved.

Use the Activities Resume at EducationQuest.org to track your activities throughout high school – then the information is readily available to include on scholarship and college admission applications or with a request for a letter of recommendation.

— EducationQuest Foundation

metro creative connection

Omaha Area College Fair set for Oct. 26 College-bound students and their families can visit with representatives from nearly 160 colleges across the country during the Omaha Area College Fair, Oct. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Sapp Fieldhouse on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. Admission is free.

Students and parents are encouraged to use the shuttle buses provided by UNO. Buses will continuously run from the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) parking lot at 67th and Pacific Streets to the Fieldhouse. Parking is also available on campus, except where marked reserved.

The College Fair, sponsored by

EducationQuest Foundation and the Nebraska Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers, will also feature financial aid presentations.

Follow these tips to help you make the most of your College Fair visit: • Before you attend, visit NebraskaCollegeFairs.org to register for a barcode that you should print and take to the college fair. College reps will scan the barcode to retrieve your demographic information so you won’t have to complete information cards.

• Determine which colleges you want to visit (a list is available in

the College Fair article at EducationQuest.org). Arrive early so you have time to visit your top colleges.

• Prepare a list of questions to ask the college representatives.

Ask about deadlines for admission, scholarship and financial aid applications.

• Attend a financial aid program at the College Fair to learn about types of aid and how to apply.

A College Fair will also be held Oct. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. For details, see Upcoming Events at EducationQuest.org.

— EducationQuest Foundation

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Learn how to help college students take control of their health College may provide the first opportunity for many young adults to make important health decisions for themselves.

In its Healthy Campus 2020 objectives, the American College Health Association’s Healthy Campus Coalition highlights a number of important topics for improving the health of college students, including vaccine-preventable diseases, nutrition and physical activity, substance abuse, mental health and sexually transmitted diseases.

“College is an excellent opportunity for young adults to begin to take ownership of their health, especially as we know this population can experience an increase in mental health concerns,” said Dr. Vaughn Rickert, psychologist and professor of pediatrics and the Donald P. Orr chair in adolescent medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children. “Helping teens be proactive about managing their health during this time can help establish positive health habits in addressing any concern as soon as it’s recognized.”

Once teens start college, their eating, exercising and general health habits may change.

One way to help maintain good health is for teens and young adults to get vaccinated. Vaccines to help prevent against HPV, flu and tetanus are recommended for college students and young adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some states may require students entering college to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as meningitis.

It is important that teens discuss these recommended vaccines with their doctor during their annual checkup.

In addition, there are other steps students can take, such as eating right and exercising on a regular basis, that may help them maintain good health.

According to the CDC, healthy nutrition starts with eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and balancing high calorie foods with healthier ones.

Establishing an exercise routine can also help build and maintain healthy bones and muscles while reducing the risk of obesity, and developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“During college, teens may begin to make new friends and celebrate new accomplishments,” Rickert said. “It is possible that alcohol will be present during these celebrations and social gatherings. Teens need to understand the importance of making responsible choices.”

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, according to the CDC. Underage drinking increases the risk of physical assault, school problems and abuse of other drugs.

College can also be overwhelming and stressful.

Depression, anxiety and eating disor-

ders are common mental health issues on college campuses.

Many campuses run a suicide prevention hotline, which can be the first step in seeking support.

Students can also visit the campus health center or a nearby clinic.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are another important issue many young adults can face during college.

Nearly half of the 20 million new STDs diagnosed each year are among young people aged 15 to 24 years.

Latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmission of some STDs when used consistently and correctly.

College students can discuss these important health topics with their doctor during their annual checkup.

The best place to go for health services is a regular health care provider, according to the CDC. However, if a college student does not have one, they may be able to visit the on-campus clinic for a checkup.

Parents may also consider scheduling their teen’s annual checkup while their teen is home from college for a holiday or semester break.

Myteenshealth.com offers tips and resources to help ensure parents are prepared to help their teens stay healthy during college, including a checklist for their teen’s annual wellness visit.

— Brandpoint

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