KCC Job Fair

How to Rock the Job & Internship Fair

What students should do before, during, and after a job & internship fair

 

The KBCC Job & Internship Fair is Thursday, October 5^th

Time: 11am-2pm

Location:  U-219/220

 

If you are going to a Job & Internship Fair, your first interaction matters.  Before going to the fair, look for information about employers first to see what they are about and whether working for them is something you are interested in.  A list of employers for the KBCC fair is available at the Career Development Center (C102).

You will have to dress professionally to meet employers.  Make sure you are well presented. Come at least 15 minutes early, if possible, to line up and get ahead of the competition.  Introduce yourself with your name, major and a quick summary of professional skills and/or experience. 

Have many copies of your resume with you. Some employers might ask for your cover letter too.  You can request their email to send the letter to them.  Make sure your resume and cover letter is proof read by a Career Advisor.

 

Send a thank you email after the fair to help employers remember you. 

 

--Rukiyat Jinadu

What is Marketing?

Ho San Poon
SD 11
Prof K. Daniel

Marketing refers to a society in which individuals or groups create and interacts with others to meet the needs and desires of a society and management process. In many cases, companies can not seek real-time transactions so they will build customer relationships with long-term suppliers. Companies want to show to customers is excellent service capabilities, and now customers are mostly large and global. They can provide different parts of the product or service provider, and can quickly solve the problem around. Market opportunity refers to the existence of the market has not yet satisfied or not yet fully meet the explicit or implicit demand, and market opportunity analysis is through marketing theory, analysis of the market which has not yet satisfied or not yet fully meet the dominant or hidden Sexual needs, so that enterprises can according to their actual situation, to find the best combination of internal and external, so as to organize and configure the resources to effectively provide the corresponding products or services to achieve the purpose of the enterprise marketing process.

The Benefits Of Internship

       Internships are a great way for gaining experience and knowledge. It can possibly lead you to working there full time (that's if they like you and you do what you're supposed to do). Putting on your resume that you used to intern somewhere is really a good thing because it shows although it wasn't a paying job, you had responsibilities that allowed you to gain experience from a working environment.



What are the outcomes from an internship:

• Internships are meant to see if the field you have chosen is really what you want to do after high school or college 
• You get an early start in getting your experience. Once you get that experience from an internship, you're set for any other job that you choose because realistically, your internship is really a job but you just don't get any pay for the work that you do. 
• Internships are also a place where it tests out your comfort zones and see how you react to certain situations that crosses your way. It will also show you if this is the field you plan on doing in the future. 
• Internships are a very good place for networking and meeting new people along your journey. The people you meet are also the people that can get you to where you want to be at in the future. 

By: Wanda Berry 

Interview Skills

Interviews can really be nerve wrecking. You just never know what to expect. There could be an interview where it is a one on one or a surprised group interview (which really happened to me). It's annoying. But for you to get through this interview, you would need some tips to really do well or outshine the rest. 

So let's get on with the tips shall we:

• Practice good nonverbal communication 

          While in an interview, make sure you make eye contact and show them that they have your undivided attention. Never wonder off and look at something else like the walls or the floor. While you speak, look them in the eyes to show them you really want this job and that you're serious about getting this job. Always listen because you never want to repeat anything they just said unless it's a question to clarify what was said.

• Dress to impress 

           Always dress like you want the job. Always wear your best outfit. I would say a good outfit for an interview is a nice top ( not too revealing), nice slacks or black jeans, and for the shoes wear flats or if you're a guy, wear loafers and also wear a nice tie to complete the outfit (if you're a guy). What not to wear is a shirt that's has a stain on it, too revealing, and/or tee shirt, light color jeans or baggy jeans, and if you're going to wear sneakers, make sure the sneakers don't look like sneakers.

• Use appropriate language  

          When talking to the interviewer, never talk to them as if their your friend. For example, when in an interview, I know sometimes you can get a little comfortable, but never use slang because that shows you're not serious about this position.

• Don't be cocky:

          There's a fine line between being confident and being downright cocky. It's never good to be cocky because that's showing the interviewer that you're too good for the job and that's going to make them feel that you don't need the job.

• Last but not least, ask questions:

          It's always good to ask questions to just get a better because its a better understanding for you and it gives the interviewer better reason to show off their store.

By Wanda Berry

           

Be in the Present

When you're sitting in class or you're at work, what are you thinking? I can tell you that I'm usually either thinking, "What should I eat for lunch?" or "What show should I watch when I get home today?"



We're always thinking about what to do next or about something that's happened already. It's hard for many of us to really be present in the moment and we don't even realize it. When you're thinking, "Wow, I'm really happy my boyfriend texted me this morning" while you're folding shirts at your job at H&M, you're not truly present. You are in the past.



When you're in the past or the future, you're missing out on what's happening right in front of you. If you're at work, the consequence of being in your thoughts or "zoning out" may be missing important instructions from your manager.

There are ways you can stay present in the moment and avoid wandering off mentally. That is through meditation and mindfulness. 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the state of being conscious or aware of something.

Here are some mindfulness exercises you can practice to stay present:

• Name five things you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel
• Set an alarm at a specific time to remind yourself to be present
• Look for an object to ground you, such as a bird in the sky. View it as a reminder to be present
• Yoga is a practice in which you must be mindful of your movements

Meditation

Meditation is training the mind to be in a relaxed state. It is a form of mindfulness. 

There are many benefits of meditation:

• Brings us into the present moment
• Relaxes us
• Relieves stress
• Helps us refocus

There are also different ways to meditate:

• With eyes opened or closed, inhale for 5 seconds and exhale for 7 seconds. This is called square breathing.
• Listen to music 
• Take walks
• Aromatherapy; smelling something that is pleasing to the senses such as lavender, which is known to soothe anxiety

If you need any more tips on staying present or relieving stress, visit the Wellness Center at D-102! 

-Amanda Blando

How to Avoid Job & Internship Scams

Have you ever just taken any job or internship opportunity you received without second thought? You might be wondering, "What is there to think about? If you want to make money or gain work experience, you just apply, go to the interview, and take the job."



It sounds simple enough, right? But many don't realize the consequences of jumping on every opportunity they come across. I'm going to give you a couple of things to be mindful about the next time you go job hunting or go looking for internships.

1. Make sure the jobs & internships you take don't seem suspicious.

• Avoid jobs and internships that schedule interviews past business hours. Most offices are closed by 5pm every day and closed on the weekends. If you found a job opening and got an interview at 6am on a Saturday, don't go! It's a scam.
• Watch out for jobs that send you checks before you work. You get paid after you work and if you cash that check, your bank account will close.
• Don't go with listings that sound too good to be true. It's unlikely you'll get paid $10,000 a week by doing a simple task, don't fall for it. 

2. Be weary of Craigslist. 

While there are a lot of sketchy ads on Craigslist and the job listings aren't always promising. You can use these alternatives:

• Go to the Career Development Center at C-102. Ask for job and internship opportunities that have been approved by school and deemed safe for students to apply for. 
• Go on trustworthy websites. Examples are Indeed, Glassdoor, WayUp, and Internships.com

3. Do background checks.

Many jobs & internships are startups that many haven't heard of, while some companies are fake. To avoid walking into a dangerous situation, you can follow these tips: 

• Google the location. If the company address leads to something other than the business (such as an abandoned building), that's when you know it's a scam. 
• Do research on the company. Check whether there's  information on the company, such as reviews, company social media, or pages on their founding members. 
• Check with the Career Center at school. They can verify whether a job or internship is trustworthy. 

-Amanda Blando

How to Practice for an Interview

Need to brush up on your interview skills? Just follow these tips and practice them:

1. Practice in the mirror. When you're at home, pretend you're in an interview and maintain eye contact with yourself in the mirror.

2. Schedule a mock interview at C-102. You will be evaluated on your interviewing skills, etiquette, and presentation. The interview will be tailored to the position you are applying to and will be like an actual interview when you walk in. You can also set up mock interviews with friends. 

3. Learn about interview questions. Get familiar with commonly asked questions and your responses to them. 

Some examples of commonly asked questions interviews are: 

• Tell me about yourself
• What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
• Why do you feel you'll be successful in this position?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. 

A good place to look for most commonly asked interview questions is from The Interview Guys at 

https://theinterviewguys.com/top-10-job-interview-questions/

This website provides various, detailed tips for interviewing according to the position you are applying for.


You can also watch their video tutorials to prepare for interviews at: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/The2InterviewGuys

4. Ask other people. People who you know well will tell you their opinion on your strengths and weaknesses. Other people can also give you insight jobs from their experience.

5. Develop a "personal pitch." Know what you are going to say about your educational background, work skills, desired position, and why you are interested the job position. Preparation and prior research on the company may be necessary to develop this. 

If you need more help with your interview skills, go to the Career Center at C-102 and you'll get tips on what to improve. Remember, practice makes perfect! 

-Amanda Blando

Determining Your Levels of Competency on Your Resume

When it comes to your job experiences and skills, you have different levels of competencies. You may have more experience with customer service but have little understanding about working with a cash register, and that's okay. When you are creating your resume, you're tailoring it to your skills by highlighting your skills and your competency in certain areas.

With your qualifications and skills, there are three levels of competency:

• Competent
• More competent
• Very competent

1. Competent

Competent means you have average knowledge in a specific area. You don't have to be an expert, you just have to know the basics of how something works. You may be relatively new to this area and have more to learn. Phrases you can use to describe you are competent in an area are:

• Basic knowledge of...
• Familiarity with..
• Understanding of...
• Experience in...

Example: Familiarity with (POS) Point of Sales terminals

2. More Competent

More Competent means you have more than average knowledge in a specific area. You are not yet an expert, but you have gained more experience and knowledge since you began working in that area. Phrases you can use to describe you are more competent in an area are: 

• Solid understanding of...
• Proficient in...
• In-depth knowledge of....
• Three years experience in...

Example: Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Research

3. Very Competent

Very Competent means you excel in a specific area of work and have had a lot of experience. You have a strong skill set and have a lot of knowledge in a certain area. 

• Highly skilled in...
• Successful experience in...
• Extensive background in....
• Effective in...

Example: Extensive background in working independently and in a team-based environment. 

Hopefully this has helped you gain a better understanding of your skills on your resume!


This was meant to help you highlight your strengths and identify your weaknesses in the work area.



If you need any feedback on your resume, go to the Career Development Center at C-102!



-Amanda Blando

Tips for a Successful Job Interview

Research- The very first thing to do before you even start practicing for the interview is to research the company you’re going to interview with. The employer expects you to talk about the following: how did you hear about this opening, why you want to work here, and what do you know about the company. That’s just the beginning, so you want to make sure you make a great impression on the employer.  This can be achieved by knowing about the company. You can go the company’s website and read the section “About Us”, the Facebook page, or Twitter profile.  These are the things that will give you an idea of what the company is actually about and what they’re expecting from you.

 

Practice-  It’s one of the most crucial things that must be done in order to ace an interview. You will never get a job if you don’t rehearse for an interview. No matter how smart you are, you always have to prep.  One of the best ways to prepare your responses is creating a list of job requirements and matching them to your experience. This way you’ll be able to highlight your experience as well as provide evidence.

In addition, be prepared to answer questions that are not job related because an interviewer might use this strategy to analyze your confidence. So you definitely should prepare your responses for things like the following: What is one of my weaknesses and how am I working on it?  What do I do in a difficult situation? Do I let things go even if there is a need for change, or do I take initiatives to fix something?  How am I capable of doing that?

 

Get Ready Ahead of Time- You should never wait for the last minute to have your interview  outfit ready. You should lay out a professional outfit as soon as possible so you won’t be as worried the day before the interview. You must proofread your resume ahead of time because that way you’ll be able to fix the errors, as well as add your most recent experiences. You definitely need to bring multiple copies of your resume, a pen, and a notepad to the interview.

 

 Punctuality- Arriving a few minutes early to the interview is the key. You never know if the traffic is packed, if there’s an accident on your way or if the building for the interview room is very far away.  You definitely should allow yourself a little extra time to get to the destination, and that way won’t be facing any hassle. You can freshen up prior to the interview, and give yourself a little review. That way you can also kill the nervousness. Arrive early at the location and be ready.  At the end, thank the interviewer and make sure you have everything you need to leave a positive impression on the interviewer for the purpose of getting the job.  

 

                                                                                                                   ~Zeenib Younis

 

Resources

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-ace-a-job-interview-2058574

https://www.thebalance.com/top-interview-tips-2058577

Internships - Make the Most of Them

Around 75% of college students are working in an internship. This means three out of your four friends have an internship.  What about the last one? Oh, he or she might already have a full time job. How can you make yourself stand out from such a massive amount of students or increase your opportunity to get a full time job through an internship?

            First of all, take the internship as seriously as possible. Your attitude decides what you can get from the internship. Some internships are low-paid or unpaid, so, some people will not pay enough attention to it or even play around.  If you’re like that, I highly recommend you leave the internships for other, more dedicated people.  An internship can provide young workers the opportunity to build skills for their resumes or meet people who are working in their preferred industry, regardless of whether its paid.  If you take the internship seriously and decide to learn from it, I believe you can earn much in the future.   See it as a long-term investment. There is a famous rule: “1.01^365 = 37.78, 0.99^365 = 0.025”, which means if we work a little more in the internship every day, we can get huge return back, and if we work a little less every day, we will lose tremendously in the future.

            Secondly, try to do everything on time. Show up on time in the morning, arrive for meetings before they begin, and complete tasks by their deadlines. Ryan, an executive in  municipal government, says “Always be on time. Summer internships are for a short, defined period of time, so give it 100%. Be willing to get to the office early.”  Being on time seems insignificant. But, if you can be strictly regimented with it, there will be no problem for you to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Being an intern is not always about the hard or great stuff you can accomplish, but how well you can keep accomplishing the insignificant stuff that you are assigned.

            Thirdly, ask questions.  Embrace questions when you are learning. Often, your colleagues will be willing to help you solve it, so don’t be hesitant to ask. If you have a meeting with your superior, you should think of thoughtful questions in advance, which can demonstrate you have prepared for the meeting and respect his or her time.   If you have a meeting with senior colleagues, you should spend time on looking for some questions they miss.  Don’t just accept things at face value; asking a question is not only  good feedback for the company, but also an effective improvement of yourself.

            Last but not least, build up professional relationships.  We have discussed above, an internship provides you an opportunity to meet people who work in the same or similar field. The career network is invisible wealth. It not only represents your ability, but also can open your eyes. Internship usually don’t last long, so make good use of time to create your circle.

            The internship could be less meaningful, if you just do what you expect. However, it could be valuable, if you can go above and beyond. The more effort you make, the more return you can get back.

                                                                                                                     ~Jaden Jiang

Source: https://hbr.org/2016/07/6-ways-to-make-the-most-of-your-internship

                        

Get Involved!

Looking to get involved in your community?  Here are a list of volunteer/service opportunities that you can participate in the NYC area:

826NYC

Description: After-school tutors volunteer once a week to provide homework help and lead workshops on kid-friendly topics like writing scary stories.

Location: 372 Fifth Ave between 5th and 6th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Phone No: (718) 499 - 9884

Website: 826nyc.org

 

Ali Forney Center

Description: Teach at-risk LGBT youth résumé building and other essential skills during the center’s employment-placement program. 

Location: 224 West 35th St, 15th Floor

Phone No: (212) 222 - 3427

Website: aliforneycenter.org

New York Needs YouDescription: Mentor Coaches collaborate one-on-one with students on projects like résumé-writing and interviewing, while Career Coaches serve on workshop panels, fill in for Mentor Coaches or give informational interviews. Have more than 15 years of professional experience in your field? Apply to be a Life Coach - they pitch in for a single session or on a periodic basis, sharing their advanced knowledge with larger groups. Location: 589 Eighth Ave between 38th and 39th Street Phone No: (212) 571 - 0202Website: newyorkneedsyou.org

Bushwick School for Music

Description: Each Sunday, volunteers and tweens and teens looking to rawk - take over Bushwick DIY fave Silent Barn for rehearsal sessions. The six-week course ends with a big show and even a recording session in a pro studio.

Location: 603 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn New York

Website: bushwickschoolformusic.org

Women in Need

Description: WiN encompasses 10 shelters in the five boroughs, providing housing to mothers as well as about 2,600 children each night. Domestic violence counseling and drug and alcohol treatment programs are also available.

Phone No: (212) 695 - 4758

Website: winnyc.org

Bowery Mission

Description: Founded in 1879 on the original Skid Row, this venerable organization aims to transform the lives of homeless people caught in the cycle of poverty. In addition to providing the immediate needs of food, shelter and clothing, the Mission also offers recovery programs and a free medical clinic.

Phone No: 227 Bowery between Rivington and Stanton Street

Phone No: (212) 674 - 3456

Website: bowery.org

Build It Green! NYCDescription: Nonprofit program BIG!NYC takes basic recycling to new lengths, reducing city waste by selling low-cost, salvaged and surplus building material like scaffolding, tiling, panels and shutters, which would otherwise get dumped in a landfill. Keeping New York’s carbon footprint to a minimum is no easy task, but BIG!NYC holds volunteer days at which you can pitch in at one of the organization’s warehouses in Astoria and Gowanus. Tasks include breaking down materials, painting, sorting, inventory tagging, basic warehouse organization and some light retail duties. As an added perk, the group has been known to reward hard work with a pizza lunch or complimentary goody bag. Queens location: 3-17 26th Ave between 3rd and 4th Street, Astoria, Queens Phone No: (718) 777 - 0132 Brooklyn location: 69 9th St at Gowanus Canal, Gowanus, Brooklyn Phone No: (718) 725 - 8925Website: bignyc.org

 

Animal Haven

Description: Volunteers assist with a number of daily tasks, including feeding, handling and bathing the animals.

Location: 251 Centre St between Broome and Grand Street

Phone No: (212) 274 - 8511

Website: animalhavenshelter.org

NYU Langone Medical CenterDescription: The East Side institution regularly employs 1,000 volunteers to fill an array of positions, including acting as liaisons to patient visitors in the emergency department or post-anesthesia care unit. If you’re especially good with kids, you can also play with youngsters as a pediatric-patient recreation helper. Location: 400 E 34th St at First Ave Phone: (212) 263 - 6100Website: med.nyu.edu

Medicare Rights CenterDescription: Help seniors and people with disabilities obtain access to Medicare. Manning the national help line, which requires a four-day training stint and basic computer skills. Though people of all backgrounds are welcome to staff the phones, bilingual Spanish-English speakers are especially in demand. Other opportunities include assisting with administrative work, information technology, graphic design or marketing and communications materials at the office. Shifts are a minimum two to four hours per week, but the time slots are only on weekdays. Phone No: (800) 333 - 4114 Website: medicarerights.org

Identifying Scam Jobs

Identifying Scam Jobs

--Zeenib Younis

• The advertisement is written very poorly

When you find uncertainty in the job’s description, such as very vague job duties, sentences that don’t make sense or inconsistencies, you can bet that it's a job scam.

• Receiving emails from a non-business address

An official hiring manager will have the company’s name as the end of his/her email address. However, if a potential employer contacts you from emails such as Aol Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo, right away you should believe that it's a scam job. They cannot use their personal email to reach out to you—only the business one.

• Company contacts you at odd hours

Remember, work emails can only be sent and answered during the normal business hours. Therefore, getting an email 2’o clock in the morning is another sign of a scam job.

• You are receiving emails from an Employer, Job Recruiter, or Job Board

Be careful of employers who find your resume on Monster, Careerbuilder or their company's website, especially if they think you’re the “best candidate” without speaking with you.

• No experience needed

While some entry-level jobs exist in retail, customer service, or day camps,

the vast majority of jobs require some type of experience. Even if you graduated from high school or college, you often still have to provide some sort of experience, such as a previous job or an internship.

 

 

• Salary is too high

Jobs that do not require experience or education do not start off with a high salary.  If you find a very high salary job and your qualification is not even equivalent to an associate's degree, that’s totally bogus. You should never believe in such offers.

•  Getting a job right away

No one can be hired right away, especially online. Even if you have higher degrees, there’s a whole process that could take a while until you’re officially hired. Also try to avoid an online or instant message interview, because that’s another way you can be scammed. 

• Sharing personal financial info

Never provide your personal information such as social security, bank account, or routing number. Keep in mind that the employer can give you fake reasons why they need to view your personal info—for example to run a credit check or to deposit initials funds into your account.  However, there is no reason for a potential employer to ask such personal financial info about you.

JOB FAIR TODAY!!!

SEE YOU THERE!!!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING FOR INTERVIEWS

There is a saying that says “practice makes perfect.” I believe with anything that you want perfected, whether it be a singing performance, a skit role, or playing in a band, practicing is a key component to perfection. Interviewing is also a skill that can be perfected with practice over time. Interviewing does not come natural for everyone, but very few people practice so that they are prepared before the interview is conducted.

Preparation before an interview is important because it can help to reduce stress and anxiety and you can now begin to boost your confidence. By having confidence, you will perform better in an actual interview.  These are the following things that you can do to prepare. First start with writing down a list of commonly asked questions. Secondly, prepare to answer the questions, especially the questions that are considered uncommon, such as “If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?”

To identify areas where you can improve, you have to get an outside opinion.  Mock interviews are a good way for someone that does a lot of interviewing to assess your performance. The interviewer should select the questions so you do not know what to expect.  This will force you to improvise as you would in a real interview. The interviewer can then assess the impression you give.  The feedback you receive will be invaluable to your interview performance and your job search.

The Job Fair is Only 1 Week Away!!!

Are you ready?!!

Visit us in C-102 to prep for the job fair and for a list of companies!

Communicating Effectively with Your Professor

What are some effective ways to communicate with your professor?  Why does this matter?  These are questions we’ll address in this post.  

 

Why is effective communication with your professor important?

 

Your professor has the power to give you a grade, yes.  Most importantly, though, you can maximize your learning experience beyond grades by staying in step with instructors regarding their expectations and understanding all you can about the course.  This all starts with communication.

 

Just Ask

If you’re confused about what an assignment calls for, or you’re not sure about the grading system, attendance policy or anything else on the syllabus, ask your professor.  Be pro-active and make sure you understand what’s expected in the course early on.  

 

Do you need additional time for an assignment, have to take an extra absence, or know you’ll be late because of a work obligation?  Approach your professor, by email or in person, with the request.  Realize that they do not always have to agree to your request.  However, giving them as much notice as possible, providing valid reasons and keeping requests to a minimum may make them more willing to agree.  

 

Notify your professor of urgent matters or emergencies.  Even if you are unable to tell them in advance, notify your instructor as soon as possible about any missed classes or missed assignments and fill them in on some of the relevant circumstances.  

 

Email like a pro.  Impressions made in email count, too.  An email is more likely to be taken seriously if it is written professionally and politely,  including attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Make sure you proofread before sending.  

 

Help them put a face to the name.  Instructors may have dozens of students across multiple courses.  It may take them weeks to identify whose name they’re calling for attendance or when they hand back assignments.  Stand out by asking questions during class.  If you’re shy about speaking up, try approaching them before or after class.  They’ll be more likely to remember you if you talk, rather than sitting back.  

 

Attend office hours.  If possible, save the more complex questions and topics for the professor’s designated office hours.  This is your chance to bring up any questions or confusion you have about the subject, the readings or assignments.  Office hours generally give instructors and students more time to address matters that require more in depth conversation than things that can be noted before or after class.  

Remember, as a college student, you’re building your knowledge toward your future, including your future career.  Your professor can be a source of experience, knowledge, encouragement and even a part of your network.  If you do well in the class and have a good relationship with that professor, they might become a recommender for schools, scholarships and internships down the line.  Communicating with respect and professionalism with your professor can help you go further in school and in life.  

                                                                                                                                   ~ Yee Ho

Finding Your Place in The Job Market

While spending the first 1-2 years in college, drowning in academic assignments, many students tend to avoid thinking about life after college, (yet, it is approaching). We spend resources and dedicate time to evaluate our own interests, values and skills in pursuit of our career aspirations. However, at times understanding the jobs’ market and the potential future growth in a specific career is just as important when choosing and beginning a career.

The job market in 2017 is better than it has been in years. Unemployment rates are slowly dropping and employers are having hard time finding qualified candidates given the shortage in the job seekers market. This reality provides recent college graduates (potential employees) with an advantage. In comparison to previous years there is less competition on every job offered.

Like most career development preparation assignments, the market research begins with your own evaluation. Once you evaluated your interests and have a career path in mind you can begin planning to find a job match for your aspirations. Apart from your interest it may be beneficial to consider more practical, market related factors that are likely to have a significant impact on your career. They include the level of competition in the field of choice (how many jobs are open per college graduate), the future market growth, the compensation levels and more.

By examining the markets, you may construct powerful conclusions regarding your career of choice.  
Essential aspects for consideration:
1. Location after college – your city, state and overall job market location may have a dramatic impact on the level of competition you are expected to face right out of college. For instance, there are 4 available positions for every unemployed resident of Salt Lake City, UT, whereas in New York City the statistics show only one available position per unemployed. Given these numbers an individual is up to four times more likely to get a job in Salt Lake City, UT rather than in New York.  For the full statistics: https://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/unemployment

2.  Growing Fields – Some fields are expected to experience far greater growth rates in the next 5-10 years as opposed to others. Fields with high growth rates tend to provide college graduates with better chance at getting a job right out of college. The increase in demand for such employees is also likely to cause an increase in the compensation in the long run. Thus, it may be beneficial to plan your career ahead based on market growth. Fields such as IT, Medicine and Engineering are expected to experience the highest growth rates. A full list may be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

3. How Narrow or Wide is your field of interest? – How flexible is your degree of choice. Many degrees do not correlate with one specific occupation (Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Finance) but rather cater to larger fields. A Liberal Arts student can go into the business filed, education or even law. Degrees in nursing and accounting however, are very specific in nature and lead to a specific occupation.

4. How fast can you progress? Starting fresh out of college you would probably get an entry-level job. Nevertheless, it is important to evaluate how fast you can move up the ranks to secure a senior position. Research should also be done to determine what steps you would have to take achieve that progress, it may be in the form of an academic degree, years of experience or licenses.

5. Compensation – look up the average salary paid for an employee working in the field of your interest to determine whether such salary level satisfies your compensation aspirations.

First Job? Time to Manage Your Budget

Getting your first job offer is exciting, it comes with a sense of accomplishment realizing that your hard work at school has finally paid off. Yet, according to the (2016) national statistics the average college student graduates from college with a $37,172 in debt while the average entry level salary is $48,707. These numbers emphasize the necessity of a well-planned budget to account for monthly expenses, debt payments and savings. A good budget serves as a powerful tool to provide an insight as to where your money is invested and setting up large future purchasing plans. Given the breakdown of your spending it may also be easier to see where you may cut expenses to achieve your savings goals.

Creating a Monthly Budget – Income vs. Expenses

1. Come up with a calculation for all sources of income: this item includes your salary, students’ scholarships as well as financial support from your parents.
2. Make a detailed list of your expenses: the list should provide a breakdown of all expenditures on a monthly basis. A complete list is made out of your essential items such as housing, food, commute and utilities as well as those items you may consider cutting in case of a need. The more detailed this list is the easier it is to track and make the necessary changes.
3. Your Cash Flow: The difference between your total income and total expenses serves as an estimate for your cash flow. Using this estimate you may make projections and plan saving accounts for the upcoming year. It is a good idea to go back to your budget every month, make adjustments and make sure you are sticking to the planned budget.
4. Keep Track: Create a monthly excel sheet to document all your projections

When planning your budget it is important to understand the true after tax value of your salary as well as the tax deductible benefits such as the 401K accounts. The after tax monthly salary value of the national average salary ($48,707) in New York City is: $3000. Every dollar spent towards your 401K account will not be taxed and may be very useful for your future.

Tips for Healthy Budget Management

• Automatic Savings – It is highly recommended to allocate 10-15% of your monthly paycheck to a saving account.
• Safe & Liquid Investments
  • Guaranteed Certified Investments – rather than letting your savings sit in your account you may choose to invest in GCI which are slow-growing but very safe and are guaranteed to provide a return for your investment.
  • High Interest Saving Accounts – These accounts do not have any debit card associated with them. However, they are fairly accessible as it takes only few days to transfer money back to the checking account.
  • RRSP – If you are planning on investing towards purchasing your first home you may consider utilizing a Registered Retirement Savings Plan which will allow you to take a tax free loan of up to $25,000 towards a down payment.
• Build Your Credit – having a credit card can be a useful tool for building your credit by paying your balance regularly and on time. In addition, many credit cards provide users with rewords and points you may use for personal spending.

Sticking to your budget requires efforts and dedication but in the long run it pays off as you plan ahead for the future.