10A October 25, 2013 SUN THISWEEK - Lakeville
E
DUCATIONAL XCELLENCE
Spotlight on Education “Imagine Your Future�
Helping college students choose the right major Picking a college major is a big step for young students. Though many adults eventually find themselves working in fields that have little to do with their college majors, many more spend their entire careers in the same field they chose to major in way back in their college days. Choosing a major is a decision that ultimately rests on the shoulders of the students who must consider a host of factors before committing to a specific field of study. But parents can still help their children, whether those kids are already enrolled in college or collegebound, as they make such an important decision that
could very well affect the rest of their lives. • Encourage patience. Today’s college students and college-bound youngsters are living in a world that’s significantly different than the one their parents or even older siblings might have encountered. Global and domestic unemployment rates remain high, and technology is changing the way many industries conduct business. But students trying to pick a major should avoid picking one too quickly. Just because a certain field is experiencing job growth does not mean that field is ideal for all students. Encourage kids to be patient when choosing a major so they can find the
Today’s college students may lean on their parents for advice as they attempt to choose a college major that will help them improve their job prospects after college. (Photo submitted) field that’s right for them, • Suggest a double major. and not just the major they Many of today’s students feel will produce the best job are fully aware of the diffiprospects. cult job market and the cost of a college education. As a result, such students want to choose a major they feel will put them in the best position to land a well-paying job after college. That’s a smart strategy, but it’s also one that overlooks the joy of studying a subject you are passionate about. Parents can simultaneously encourage kids to be smart about their job prospects and pursue their passions by suggesting a double major. For exam-
ple, if your child has a love of art but understands the difficulty in earning a living as an artist, suggest a double major in art and graphic design. This way he or she has more career options upon graduation but still has the chance to pursue a subject he or she is passionate about while in school. • Encourage students to apply for internships. An internship is another great way parents can help kids as they decide on a college major. Internships are rarely easy to get, but some firms hire interns who are still in high school. Parents should encourage kids to pursue internships as early as possible. Internships can provide young students with some real-world experience and give them an accurate glimpse into what their professional lives might be like if they choose a particular field of study. Some kids might be encouraged by an internship, while others might realize a given field is not really for them. Either way, the internship can help narrow down the field of prospective majors for young students.
• Let kids know a major isn’t the same thing as a career. The pressure to choose the right major can be overwhelming for some young students. But parents should let kids know that a major is not the same thing as a career, and many graduates end up working in fields that had little or nothing to do with their majors. For instance, just because a student earns a degree in finance does not mean he or she will end up working on Wall Street. While parents should emphasize the importance of choosing the right major when speaking to their children, they should also let kids know that nothing is ever set in stone. That can help take some of the pressure off students as they make such an important decision. Today’s college students have more to consider when choosing a college major than many of their predecessors. But parents can still take steps to help kids choose the right major without succumbing to the stress that comes with making such a significant decision.
Five things you should never say in a job interview
6XSHULRU8 FRP
Are you having trouble landing a job and you’re not sure why? The right skills and an impressive resume may get you an interview, but getting hired is another story. Experts say it’s all about presenting your character, personality, abilities and values in a positive, relatable light that is attractive to employers. “There’s no such thing as the perfect response to any question in a job interview,â€? says Andrea Kay, career columnist and consultant, and author of the new book, “This is How to Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want.â€? “But what you talk about in the interview could cost you the job offer if you aren’t careful. These are the top five things Kay says you should never talk about or say in a job interview: • Don’t talk about things you can’t back up. Before you state your claim to a quality that sets you apart, think it through. Just saying you’re a great team player or terrific problem solver doesn’t make it so, even if it’s true. Discuss where, how, and exactly what you did that made you so effective. Be ready to cite one or two examples of how you’ve done what you say you can do. • Never say, “I have good people skills.â€? The words
If your search for employment has been frustrating, consider your interviewing technique. A few tweaks to your approach could mean a fantastic job offer. (Photo submitted) are so overused they mean nothing. Consider what it is you do that makes you effective when dealing with others. Are you good at working through difficult issues with co-workers? Do you have a knack for writing and talking to customers in a way that explains things? Tell interviewers about that instead. • Never say, “I just want to learn.â€? Employers aren’t in business to teach, but rather to deliver a service or product. An interview is an opportunity to show an employer how you can apply what you know to the business. So rather than focus solely on your eagerness to learn, tell an interviewer how you will use the skills you have begun to develop to solve problems.
• Avoid too much personal information that has nothing to do with your qualifications. Don’t talk about why you need the job (even if you do have a hard-luck story about sick children or a spouse whose been laid off). Don’t talk about politics, religion or sexual preferences. When a person can’t leave personal issues at home, it makes an employer wonder: does he lack the necessary maturity and good judgment? Is her personal life such a wreck that she may not be dependable? • Don’t talk about irrelevant things that pop into your head. To be less impulsive, literally practice interviewing. Slow down, count to five, and give yourself a chance to consider how your comment will sound.
->z†° /w‰ƒ>¨ P>Y^ÂƒĂ VĂ•Ă€Ă€ÂˆVĂ•Â?Փ `iĂƒÂˆ}˜i` ĂƒÂŤiVˆwV>Â?Â?Ăž vÂœĂ€ LÂœĂžĂƒ v>VˆÂ?ÂˆĂŒ>ĂŒiĂƒ VÂ?>ĂƒĂƒĂ€ÂœÂœÂ“ ÂŤiĂ€vÂœĂ€Â“>˜Vi° ->ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒ /…œ“>Ăƒ V>`i“Þ i`Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ i“…>ĂƒÂˆĂ˘iĂƒ Ă€i>`ˆ˜} >˜` ĂœĂ€ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂ˜} ĂƒÂŽÂˆÂ?Â?Ăƒ] ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€>VĂŒÂˆĂ›i ÂŤĂ€ÂœÂ?iVĂŒĂƒ] ĂƒÂŤÂˆĂ€ÂˆĂŒĂ•>Â?ÂˆĂŒĂž >˜` Â?i>`iĂ€ĂƒÂ…ÂˆÂŤÂ° -ˆ˜Vi ÂŁnnx] V>`i“Þ ĂŒi>VÂ…iĂ€Ăƒ Â…>Ă›i ÂŤĂ€iÂŤ>Ă€i` ĂžÂœĂ•Â˜} “i˜ vÂœĂ€ VÂœÂ?Â?i}i] V>Ă€iiĂ€ >˜` Â?ˆvi°
˜ -/ i`Ă•V>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ ÂˆĂƒ >vvÂœĂ€`>LÂ?it 6ÂˆĂƒÂˆĂŒ >`iĂŒĂƒÂ°VÂœÂ“Ă‰ ĂƒĂƒÂˆĂƒĂŒ>˜Vi ĂˆxÂŁÂ‡Ăˆn·£xÂŁĂˆ
6ÂˆĂƒÂˆĂŒ Ă•Ăƒ >ĂŒ ÂœĂ•Ă€ "ÂŤi˜ ÂœĂ•Ăƒi p *Ă€Âœ}Ă€>“ Li}ÂˆÂ˜Ăƒ >ĂŒ ÂŁ\ää °“° -Ă•Â˜`>Ăž] ÂœĂ›i“LiĂ€ ĂŽ] Óä£Î