A Look at College Majors

Picking a college major is one of the hardest decisions a student makes. Often there is enormous pressure to make the right selection. I remember when I was a student and the deadline for declaring a major rolled round. I watched while all around me students agonized over the decision: What if I choose the wrong major? Should I double major? Should I declare a concentration (or a minor)? All of these options weighed heavy on their minds. I fell at the other end of this spectrum. Choosing a college major was relatively easy for me: I enjoyed history, I liked the classes and the professors so I decided I would be a history major.

Neither extreme is good. One should not fear picking the “wrong” major because, for all intents and purposes, there’s no such thing. On the other hand, is it the wisest decision to blindly declare your academic study of choice without considering possible careers and life after college? I think not.

For the upcoming months, I will take a look at different college majors. We will look at the types of skills generally gained by pursued a specific major, and the types of careers graduates typically enter.  Next month’s post will look at a very popular major: Business Administration.

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

Accreditation: What Is It and Why It Matters

If you’ve seen an advertisement for a school with a distance learning program, you’ve probably heard or seen them proudly say they’re accredited. But what does accreditation mean? Is it important? Why does it matter?

This post will explore this important issue. For our purposes, I am referring only to college and university accreditation.

What is accreditation: According to the US Department of Education, “the goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality.” Accreditation gives students a way of knowing that the school is reputable and that a degree earned there will be accepted by the wider community.

Types of accreditation: There are two main types of accreditation: regional and national. There are six regional accrediting bodies, that are responsible for accrediting schools in their regions (visit http://www.chea.org/Directories/regional.asp for a listing of the accrediting bodies and the states they cover). Regional accreditation is the most accepted form of accreditation. It is the way to ensure that the school you attend and the degree you earn there will be recognized, and that the credits will be transferrable if necessary.  For example, the accreditating body for Virginia and other southeastern states is The Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS). If you attend a college in Virginia that is SACS accredited, you can be assured that the degree will be recognized and that other SACS accredited schools will accept your transfer credits.

National accreditation, as the name suggests, is open to any college or university in the United States (and sometimes schools abroad). Three of the major national accrediting agencies are: the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The main thing to know about nationally accredited schools is that traditional, regionally accredited schools may not accept the credits from these schools or acknowledge a degree earned at it. 

When a college proclaims that it is "fully accredited," that is just the beginning of the story. You need to dig a little deeper and find out whether the accreditation is regional or national, and if the accrediting body is recognized by the US Department of Education.

Now that you know what accreditation is, what do you do next? How do you find out about a college's accreditation and what do you do with that information? These questions will be explored in my next post.

Do you have questions? Leave a comment. Let's get the discussion started.

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

Why It Pays to Continue Your Education Past High School

It used to be that a high school diploma was all you needed to find a good job and make a living. In the world of today that is no longer the case. Even in a tough economy (especially in a tough economy), it pays to go back to school. Here are a few reasons why:

More Money: Studies show that the more education a person has the more likely he/she is to earn more money. A 2005 National Center for Education Statistics study found that people who did not graduate from high school earned an average of $21,333. People with some college earned an average of $30,566, and someone with a bachelor’s degree or higher made an average of $40,733. For most people, more education leads to more money.

More Opportunities: More and more employers are requiring job seekers hold a college degree. From the US Census information we know that the number of people 25 years and older who are college graduates is growing. That means if you do not have a degree you’re competing with more and more people who do. When companies have a large number of quality job applications, they can afford to reject anyone without a degree. For most people, more education means more job opportunities.

Lower Unemployment: Unemployment rates are usually lower for people who hold a degree. In 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the unemployment rate for adults 25 and older with a high school diploma was 4.5%. For those with some college the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%. People with a bachelor’s degree had the lowest employment rates at 2.4%. For most people, more education means more job security.

Lifelong Benefits: Studies have shown that having a college degree helps many areas of your life. A 1998 report showed that people with a bachelor’s degree saved more money, made better buying decisions, and had more hobbies. Even their children had a better quality of life. Also, a 2005 College Board report found that people who graduated from college were more likely to enjoy good health and have lower rates of heart disease and obesity.

Investment In Yourself: Jobs come and go, but knowledge stays forever. Once you earn a degree, no one can ever take that away from you. No matter what degree you pursue, education pays.

 

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

Becoming the Adaptable, Flexible You.

In my last post, I made the case that adaptability and flexibility are the keys in a tough job market and global economy. The question then becomes "How does one gain these skills", or "Can these skills even be learned?" First, an emphatic yes to the question of whether these skills can be learned. Even if you've never thought of yourself as "the creative type" or thought much about your thinking (critical or otherwise), you can definitely strengthen these muscles.

As to how to gain these skills here are some suggestions:

• Do puzzles that make you think critically (Sudoku, crosswords, analytical problem solving)
• Try to solve logic puzzles (if you do a web search you'll come up with a few. I recently picked up a book at Barnes & Noble full of problems that force you to think "outside the box")
• Think of an issue, determine the side that appeals to you, and then defend the other position (this one is particularly fun with friends)
• When presented with an issue or problem ask "Why" about 3-4 times, forcing yourself to think through deeper and deeper levels (ex: Country X was recently attacked by Country B. Why? Because B hates X. Why? Because many years ago Country X invaded Country B. Why? and so forth. Don't be satisfied with the first, simple answer).
• Read about emerging technologies (use some time surfing the web to learn about the newest technologies that are being used. Try to stay abreast of the technologies that could impact you or your workplace. This may also be a place where you can discover something that will benefit you or your workplace).
• Be curious.
• Take advantage of workshops, special interest classes, and professional development opportunities that are outside of your normal line of work (remember we're trying to be adaptable and flexible, so if possible take advantage of opportunities that aren't directly related to your current work, but that can provide you with useful, transferable skills.)
• Utilize your local community college (community colleges have historically been on the forefront of workforce training and development. Seek them out for classes that can help you gain skills that will make you more adaptable, flexible (and therefore more hireable) in these tough economic times.

These are but a few suggestions. The real key in these trying times is make yourself as marketable as possible. The more skill sets you possess, the more you're able to situate yourself to weather the economic storm.
What did you think of my suggestions? Do you have others? Let's get the discussion started!

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

In a Tough Job Market Adaptability and Flexibility are Key

Today, it was announced that the National Bureau of Economic Research has determined that the US economy is officially in a recession. That news is actually not news at all to millions of Americans. In recent months, southern Virginia has faced a fresh wave of plant closings and lay-offs. In these tough economic times, discouragement and fear loom large.It may seem like you're at the mercy of uncontrollable forces. This, however, is not the case. The two best assets you can possess to help you weather the storm are adaptability and flexibility.

The model of an employee staying with a single company until retirement is outdated. The reality is that most people will have 7-10 different careers in their lifetime. Globalization and technology has leveled the playing field not just for people in your region or state, but for the world. You are no longer just competing against John from City A; you're now competing with John from City A, Kenneth from State B, and Helen from Country X. Now, more than ever, it's important that you have the skills and knowledge that will allow you to adapt to new situations quickly. You also have to be flexible enough to take what made you successful yesterday and put it aside. Most people think of the need for computer skills--and certainly if you do not have them you definitely need them. But there's also the need to think creatively and critically, and to be open to new ideas and methods. 

Ok, I need to be flexible, you may be saying. "But how do I get that? Where do you learn to be adaptable?" The answer to that, my friends, will come in my next post. 

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

Starting a New Job

In the past few posts we’ve discussed resumes and interview techniques. Now that you’ve jumped through those hurdles and landed the position, what happens next? Starting a new job brings about a variety of emotions: there’s excitement at the new opportunity, perhaps relief at having the job search over, and fear of the unknown. With a new job you’re facing several new situations at once. Not only do you have to learn a new position, but you also have to learn about the organizational culture and expected organizational behavior. Each business has its own set of social norms, or accepted and expected behavior. To complicate matters, the culture of any business is unwritten and must be learned from listening and observing others. All of this can make for a nerve-wracking experience.

One of the first things you’ll want to understand upon starting a new job is the organizational chart. Companies should have a written outline of how people and positions fit within the organization. This will show you who reports to whom and allow you to see what the chain of command is. The organizational chart gives you a visual aid of where you fit within the organization.

Within your first days you’ll want to watch for unwritten rules and social norms. Is it expected that you will bring your lunch and eat in the cafeteria? Does the organization practice "casual Fridays" and if so how is casual defined. If you have questions about something ask. Remember, you’re new and you’re not expected to know all of the answers. It’s a good idea to spend some time talking to your supervisor or trainer about the organizational culture and asking questions about "standard operating procedures." And as time goes on, you will pick up on other organiza-tional expectations.

Last, but not least, remember that as much as you’re observing you are being observed. Your co-workers are observing you to see how you will fit into the organization. Remember, first impressions matter. Even though the official interview is over, the trial period is very much in effect. So put your best foot forward and approach each day as a continuation of the interview process.

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed

How to Prepare for an Interview II

Part one covered questions you may be asked in an interview, and now part two will give you some questions you should ask your potential employer at an interview. So often we forget that as the company is interviewing us, we’re also interviewing them. Just as the company wants to know if you will be a good fit for them, you need to know if they will be a good fit for you. Below are some questions you may want to pose at the end of the interview when the inter-viewer asks, "Now, do you have any questions for us?"

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities of the position?
• What are your company’s strengths and weaknesses compared to your competition?
• Can you describe the ideal employee?
• What kind of work can I expect to be doing during the first year?
• Could you describe your company’s management style?
• Have people in this position had opportunities to advance within the organization?
• What is your company’s position on providing professional development opportunities
  for employees to keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
• Does the company plan to expand in the coming year?
• What will be the greatest challenge of this job?
• What are some examples of achievements of others who have held this position?
• What are the traits and skills of employees who have been successful within this organization? Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here?
• What happened to the last person who held this position?
• What can you tell me about the individual to whom I would report?
  (Sources Used: http://www.vt.edu/; http://www.monster.com/; http://www.pohly.com/

Hope Harris-Gayles, M.Ed