If you’re interested in teaching dance and have chosen this as your career path, then you’ll need to be prepared for the obstacles that lie ahead. As I said in my previous post, “Gaining Experience: The First Step to Landing Your Dream Job,” working in a creative career field can be exceptionally difficult when you’re starting right out of high school. You’ll find that you need experience before you can even think about applying for many positions that interest you. It won’t matter to employers that you’re the best at what you do – what matters is that you’ve spent time working for someone else to prove that you can use the skills you say you have.

When you first leave high school, you’ll probably have very little, if any, experience in the world of professional dance. Whether you’re self-taught and trained or have attended dance lessons to foster you skills, you still probably haven’t had any experience working in the field of dance. If you’re looking to put your skills to use as a dance instructor, you’ll need to “pay your dues” before you’ll be hired for a paying position.

There are countless opportunities for volunteer instructors that might be open to dancers without instruction experience, and these range in types and levels of dance. The higher the level being taught, the more experience you will probably need. Teaching dance to children, for example, is probably the easiest way for you to break into the dance instructor business, as teaching children requires knowing only the basic skills that you will be teaching and the ability to demonstrate these basic skills effectively. However, “effectively” might mean different things to different employers.

Often times, being able to teach children “effectively” means that you’ve had experience with children in some capacity and know how to communicate on their wavelength. So if you’re thinking that teaching children might be a good way for you to get into teaching dance, do yourself a favor and start getting some experience working with children on any level now. You can do this in any number of ways, but the most common might be to become a camp counselor at a day camp, teach an arts and crafts program, become an assistant coach for a sport or dance team, tutor or oversee a youth study group, help out with an after-school program, or any other volunteer opportunity that involves working with children. I’ve listed some options below that you might consider trying out to get ahead on building that “experience” section on your résumé.

1.     Sign up to be a volunteer with Educational Alliance

This organization is always looking for volunteers to work events that it hosts all year round. If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities that are easy to plan for in advance and that you can decide to join in on at the last minute, this could be a great starting point. There is a list of upcoming events, and dates and times are displayed to make it easy for you to see what you’ll be available to help with. You can also sign up to be a volunteer, and you will be emailed with opportunities. Most of the events require working with children, so this could help you on your road to experience.

2.     Find listings for volunteer positions at VolunteerMatch

You can search for positions that relate to whatever type of volunteer work you’d like to be doing and in what location. You can search for “dance” to find dance positions, or “children” to find huge lists of positions related to your search terms. Again, some of the dance positions may require you to have previous experience, so you might want to consider looking for volunteer opportunities relating to children if you’re not having any luck with the dance listings.

3.     Volunteer through NYC Service

Much like VolunteerMatch, this website allows you to search for volunteer positions using keywords, but you can also add your skills, interests, and the age range of people you’re volunteering to help. If you’re looking for dance opportunities, your best bet is to type “dance” into the keyword box.

4.     Volunteer to work events and programs at All for Good

Search for positions in any location using keywords. Events with specific dates and times will appear, and you can sign up to help for any of them that are a good fit for you. There are also ongoing programs related to dance that are constantly in need of volunteers. The site allows organizations to post volunteer advertisements, so the list of opportunities is updated and replenished frequently.

5.     Work with children through Change for Kids

This organization works explicitly with children, so if you’re trying to gain experience with children first before breaking into dance, this could be a great medium for you to find opportunities. You’ll find a list of events with dates, times, and the role that you can expect to play at the events.

6.     Find local volunteer opportunities at idealist.org

The website operates much like the other sites listed, as it allows you to search using keywords and specific locations. You’ll need to narrow down your location by selecting “local results only” in the “location” box on the left-hand side of the page.

7.     Sign up to volunteer with New York Cares

To volunteer with this organization, you will be required to sign up for an online account and attend an orientation event before you can begin volunteering. However, in the meantime, the website lists several opportunities that are not connected with New York Cares that involve working with young students in Harlem, including helping with after-school activities, tutoring or helping students with homework after school and in class, and helping younger students transition into high school.

-Hope Swedeen

What are some other ways that you can gain experience in teaching dance?

If you’re worried about not being able to make money doing something that you love, you’re not alone. There are students who love to write web coding, paint, dance, play music or utilize countless other creative abilities, but it might not be clear how you can best begin your work within one of these professional fields. Creative industries can be especially difficult to break into, and it can be discouraging at first to look at the potentially limited job opportunities available to you right after graduating from high school. However, if you commit to creating more opportunities for yourself, you can put yourself in the position to one day be paid for doing what you love.

Obtaining any position comes down to the need for experience. If you’re not attending college, it’s still entirely possible, if not more so, to get this experience. When you finish high school, you’ll be debt-free and will probably have very few or no bills to pay, and you’ll therefore be in a much better position than a college graduate with student loans to take on lower-paying or even volunteer positions. If your dream job does require experience, then the best way to reach your goal is to spend time working and building your skills. If you wait to pursue your ideal career because you aren’t qualified right out of high school and get a paying job instead, you run the risk of never being able to spend enough time building a solid experience base to showcase when applying for positions in whatever creative field interests you.

Even if you do need an immediate source of income, you should try your hardest to devote time to both a paying job and positions that offer experience in the field that interests you. There are countless organizations that are looking for individuals willing to “donate” their services and talents, and although you won’t be paid, there will be a much larger payoff in the future once you’re qualified for the positions that you really want. Non-profit organizations or organizations that ask for volunteers are great places to begin building experience and bolstering you résumé for the paying positions you’ll be able to apply for in the near future.

If you’re discouraged by the prospect of not making money doing something that you are passionate about, don’t let yourself feel down. Explore your options. You can look for paying positions related to what you want to ultimately do, but it may be more fruitful to look for volunteer positions instead. The short-term payoff might be less than you’re hoping for, but the long-term gains will exceed your expectations. If you can value gaining experience over earning money, you can better prepare yourself to pursue your dream job much sooner than if you get right into a paying job that offers you no relevant experience. By investing your time into gaining experience, you’ll be investing in yourself and your future rather than short-term financial gains.

Check out our blog posts soon to follow that will offer advice for working toward specific creative careers!

-Hope Swedeen

What’s your dream job? How are you planning to work toward achieving it?

Responsibilities of UPS package handlers, drivers, and mechanics:

UPS has several types of positions that do not require a college education, including Package Handlers, drivers and mechanics. As a driver, you would drive a commercial or deliver truck to pick up and transport packages and positively interact with customers while making deliveries that require signatures. Drivers must also undergo extensive training to understand how every aspect of the UPS system works from collecting signatures to keeping track of packages.

As a package handler, you would be responsible for unloading tractor trailers and loading delivery trucks, and as a mechanic, you would be expected to maintain and repair tractor trailers and delivery trucks.

How much would you earn?

A UPS worker’s income is variable based on location and how long an employee has been with the company, but UPS pays about $10 per hour to package handlers and related positions, and a driver can make between $15 and $30 per hour depending on location and experience within the company.

Requirements of package handlers, drivers, and mechanics:

No college education is required, but UPS often hire from within the company, meaning you will most likely need to get a job as a package handler and work your way up to becoming a mechanic or driver. For both a package handler and a driver position, you will be required to take a drug and physical test to prove that you are drug-free and physically able to lift 70 lbs. regularly.

If you’re pursuing a job as a driver, you may need a special commercial drivers’ license, and you will be required to pass a Department of Transportation exam and be able to drive a manual transmission vehicle, according to the UPS Driver job description.

Mechanics must be at least 18 years old, and it is preferable that they have experience working with fleet and diesel engines. They must also have their own set of tools, pass a drug test and be able to speak and write English well. Look for more information about UPS jobs and their descriptions here.

Opportunities for growth:

There are training programs available for employees interested in advancing their careers, including training for corporate positions or specific skill sets that can help you grow in and outside of the company. UPS spent $565 million on training programs last year to train its employees and support its “promote-from-within culture.”

Work conditions:

All package handlers start out as part-time employees, who usually work 3-5 hours per day Monday through Friday. While some package handlers work from about 3-8 a.m., most begin their day at 4 or 5 a.m. As a driver, you would work about 8-10 hour days per day every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4 or 6 p.m. During the holidays, most employees, especially including package handlers and drivers, work overtime, but UPS tries to limit overtime by hiring seasonal workers.

Benefits:

UPS offers benefits to its full- and part-time employees, and although these health insurance plans vary, benefits offered can include:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Program, Life Insurance, Business Travel Accident Insurance, Healthcare Spending Accounts and more. For a complete list, see the UPS benefits page.

UPS offers an Education Assistance Program, which provides employees with up to $25,000, or $5,250 per year, to pay for college tuition. Full- and part-time employees are eligible to participate at any of the available locations in which a UPS partner school is located, including in Springfield Gardens, NY. Employees can begin using their tuition aid as soon as they begin working for UPS. In 2014, UPS provided about 14,000 students with $16 million in tuition aid, and the company has invested more than $200 million in the assistance program since 1999.


Keep an eye out for next week's article, which will include more alternative career options that don't necessarily require more than a high school education. 

-Hope Swedeen

What are some things that interest you about this career path? Are there aspects of this career that you’d like to learn more about? 

If you're like most students, the moment you leave school marks the beginning of your free time. It's your time to relax and forget about school until tomorrow, and nothing can stand between you and your daily reward for making it through the day. Except, maybe, school work. 
After spending hours doing nothing else, school work is probably the last thing that you want to think about, but if you want to be as successful as you can, your work won't end with last period. You'll need to make time for homework for sure, and when that's said and done, there's usually a quiz or test to study for.

It's easy to put off studying and just do your homework (or not do your homework). However, if you create a study system that works for you, you just might find that it's not as time-consuming as you might have thought, and your grades might become achievements rather than just numbers or letters on a paper. 
Here are ten tips to get you started on your studying path: 

1.     Focus on one task at a time

If you’re worrying about your math homework while studying for a science test, you’re never going to be able to fully concentrate on science. Try putting away all of your school work that you’re not working on in the moment.

You should also try to do your work or study without trying to multitask by listening to music, watching TV, etc. Studies have shown that multitasking, as we imagine it, is actually impossible. Instead of being able to focus on multiple things at once as you might believe, we are actually only able to quickly switch back and forth between multiple tasks, thereby drastically decreasing the amount of time you focus on each task.

2.     Create a schedule

Set aside specific times to study and do homework. For harder classes or classes that require more work, set aside more time. When you create your study and homework schedule, though, make sure that you also include plenty of time to relax or else you’ll burn out and start putting aside school responsibilities, social experiences, or both.

3.     Find a routine place to study

When you’re studying in the same place consistently, your ability to concentrate will improve, as there will be nothing new or novel about the space to distract you. Memorization of information is likely to be better as well. I’ve found that when trying to remember a certain phrase that a teacher uses, I can remember it better when I also remember how she said it or what she was doing at the time. In the same way, if you’re trying to memorize a vocabulary word while looking at, or doing, something in particular, you might be able to remember that moment during your test. The more specifically you can remember that moment, the more you’ll remember the vocab word.

4.     Reward yourself

If you accomplish a difficult task or finish studying a section of information that was particularly time-consuming, give yourself a break and do something that you enjoy or may have put off to do your work. This way, you’ll be more likely to put just as much effort into studying next time knowing that there can be a payoff (other than good grades).

5.     Study slow and steady

There’s no doubt that cramming for a test can work in a pinch, but it’s unlikely that you’ll retain any of that information beyond the time of the test, and you probably won’t remember everything that you need to for the test anyway. Instead of cramming, try studying a little bit at a time. Break notes or readings down into sections or chapters and go over one section a few times before moving onto the next. When you feel like you’re reading and not comprehending, or you’re thinking about other things, stop. Take a break and try again in a few minutes when you’re able to focus again.

6.     Study alone

It’s tempting to study with friends, and you might think that your friends will help motivate you to concentrate. This might be true for some, but, often times, your friends will just provide another distraction regardless of whether they’re making any sound. It’s difficult to stay focused when you have proof that you could be doing something else sitting right in front of you.

7.     Narrow your focus

If you try to remember every tiny detail that you’ve written down or that you see in a textbook, you’ll never remember what you’ll actually need to know. Try to identify the crucial information so that you don’t spend time studying for a test you aren’t taking. This might be the larger concepts of a chapter, usually found in the form of subheadings of a textbook, and the pertinent information related to them. It could even be vocab words or just topics that the teacher went over in class. Ask your teacher to make a study guide or give you some information about what type of information might be on the test. If you don’t have any luck there, start asking your classmates what they think is the most important information.

8.     Test yourself

Once you finish reading over your study materials, make sure that you remember what you’ve read. Try testing yourself, looking at concepts or questions to study and trying to remember their answers without looking. You should do this multiple times for each section or chapter that you’ve broken your notes, book, or other materials into.

9.     Study frequently

If you have weekly or biweekly quizzes for a class, it’s a must to study consistently, but if you only have one or two big tests all year for a class, it’s even more imperative that you don’t wait until the last minute to get ready. If you do, all of the material from the entire year or semester will be waiting for you to try to tackle, and you probably won’t be able to hack it. To avoid facing a wall of information that you can’t possibly learn in a day, or even a week, make sure that you study every few days to get a refresher on older topics.

10.  Skip grammatical correctness

When you’re writing your notes to study later, don’t worry about transcribing information word for word or getting every bit of punctuation where it should be. Paraphrasing, or writing notes in your own words, will help you retain information better than if you’re studying textbook definitions and answers, and using short-hand will work even better. Think of your notes as bullet points rather than sentences, and you’ll be much better off when it comes time to memorize.

-Hope Swedeen

What techniques do you use to stay focused while studying?

You may want to consider using bluetooth headphones to for help in concentration as well as to block out the noise. For help in deciding which ones to choose refer to reviews for quality headphones.

When your youth get home from school, it’s difficult to draw conversation out of them. Often times, if they answer your questions at all, they give monosyllabic, yes or no answers. It seems that most parents are curious about what their youth are doing at school, but they don’t know how to draw out the answers that they’re looking for. Usually, this means that the ever-irksome “what did you do (or learn) at school today?” will crop up whenever there’s a doubt of how to begin the ritualistic after-school Q and A.

If you’re struggling to find questions to ask your youth or you’re tired of asking the same things constantly, maybe it’s time to try asking something new or asking old questions in a new way.

When you’re deciding what you want to ask your youth, be sure to always ask open-ended questions rather than questions with “yes” or “no” answers. This way, you can keep the conversation going without coming to a stand-still after every answer. For example, if you ask, “Did you enjoy school today?” Your youth is almost certain to say “yes,” “no,” “it was fine,” or something similar to any of these three. Youth aren’t typically prone to giving more information than they’re asked for, so try asking more specific questions to get more specific answers. Here are some questions you might consider asking the next time you’re racking your brain for a conversation-starter that won’t double as a conversation-ender:

1.      What were your favorite parts of school today? Least favorite?

2.      What made you laugh today?

3.      Tell me something weird that happened or that someone said or did.

4.      When were you bored today?

5.      What was something good that happened today?

6.      What was your favorite subject today? Least favorite?

7.      What was the hardest thing you did today?

8.      Did anyone get in trouble today?

9.      What are you looking forward to doing tomorrow?

10.   Did you get better at anything today?

11.   What would you change about your school?

12.   What was your easiest class today? Hardest class?

13.   If you had to go to only one class, what would it be? Why?

14.   If you could skip a class, what would it be? Why?

15.   If you could do today over again, what would you do differently?

-Hope Swedeen

What are some questions that you ask your youth when they get home from school? Which questions are they more likely to answer?

It’s become common-place for students and professionals to have and frequently use LinkedIn accounts. LinkedIn has become the mainstream form of professional communication and network-building, and it’s only gaining more traction as it grows and progresses. It’s now become almost a requirement for people to create and constantly update and check LinkedIn accounts, and that means that it’s probably something that will be necessary (or already is necessary) for you to embrace too. Below is a list of reasons why LinkedIn can be invaluable to you as well as some tips to help you create or improve your own profile.

Benefits of using LinkedIn

1.  Large network of professionals at your disposal

Having a large network of professionals to connect with will be beneficial when applying for new jobs. You can contact anyone at any time and build professional relationships that can carry you from one job to the next. Connections can also tip you off when they know of job openings or even offer recommendations to employers on your behalf. Make sure, though, that you send a personalized, rather than generic, connection request, as most people will not know why you want to connect with them if you do not. Once you’ve connected, you can send out emails to say that you’re looking for a job, ask questions, get advice, or request informational interviews to learn more about a company and maybe get one foot in the door.

2.  Groups offer connections among professionals of specific careers

Industry groups offer a wealth of information in addition to a more niche community of connections. If there is a certain career path that you’re interested in pursuing or that you would like to progress in, groups specific to that line of work allow you to contact other members of that profession for advice, information, professional contacts, and news within their own workplace regarding position openings, company or field practices, and more. You’ll not only have a great outlet for finding news, but you’ll also have the opportunity to comment on and discuss postings by other professionals to show off a little of what you can offer companies.

3.  Readily-available résumé

LinkedIn allows you to document everything that you’ve ever done in one place for anyone to see, so your profile is essentially an online, comprehensive résumé that you can look back on at any time. If you need to alter your paper résumé for a new job application, you can easily look through your profile and see what’s worth adding for a particular job. It also allows prospective employers to see everything that you can’t fit on your résumé but may have wanted to include, as your résumé grows with your work experience.

4.  Space to showcase examples of your work

When you send in a copy of a resume to companies, often times that’s all that they ask for and all that you can physically send. Unless they’re taking digital applications via email or some other medium that allows you to send work samples, there’s a chance that they may never get to see your actual work if it’s not something that can be printed and mailed. LinkedIn allows you to upload your work to showcase and market it to employers in a way that is easily accessible.

5.  Ability to search for jobs

LinkedIn’s advanced search tool can be excessively helpful when you’re looking for a job near you or in any area that you choose. It also allows you to search for jobs within the field of work that you’re interested in pursuing at companies of various sizes depending on your preference. If you’ve just graduated and are therefore relatively inexperienced, you might consider using the student jobs portal, which helps you locate entry-level jobs.

6.  Endorsements of your skills

You can list as many skills as you’d like on your profile, and it is also possible for other LinkedIn users to endorse those skills, or to express to anyone who views your profile that they believe in your skills listed. The more endorsements you can get, the better, as these are proof for employers that you’re not the only one who believes in your skills.

7.  Get introduced through a 2nd-degree connection

It can be awkward to reach out to someone who doesn’t know you and has no idea why you’re interested in connecting with them, but LinkedIn makes it possible for you to ask a shared connection to “introduce” you to another member. This way, you can make contacts through someone whom you and the desired contact both know and who can vouch for your professional interest.

Tips for building a strong LinkedIn profile:

1.  Customize your URL

Initially, your profile URL will include numbers and letters at the end that signify nothing but your existence among many other LinkedIn users. By personalizing your URL, you will have an easier-to-remember, more professional-looking link to send employers and potential connections that’s easy for them to remember and also shows that you’ve put effort into crafting your profile for their benefit.

2.  Have a strong headline

Your headline should tell anyone looking at your profile who you are and what type of job you’re looking for. If you already have a job, then it may be a good idea to write your position here.

3.  Add a background and thumbnail photo

Keeping in mind that these should be professional photos, try adding something that corresponds to the company that you currently work for, a cause that you strongly believe in or work to promote, or anything that is professionally important to you as your background image. It can be anything you want, but it has to be professional. As for your thumbnail image, or your profile image, choose something professional-looking that will allow people to find you easily.

4.  Constantly update work samples and profile information

It’s crucial that your information be up-to-date if a prospective employer views your profile. If you have recent achievements or positions that you neglect to add, you’re displaying only part of your overall experience, and you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage because you may amass less employer interest than those who have all of their experience clearly stated and updated for easy viewing.

5.  Rearrange and customize sections

On LinkedIn, less is not more. This is your chance to tell people everything that you’ve ever done without the constraints of one piece of paper. It’s an opportunity for you to list everything you’ve accomplished, and you should fill out as many sections as you can: education, volunteer work, honors and awards, projects, languages spoken, skills, experience, organizations, recommendations, and so many more. Your profile will start out very basic with the same format as every other user’s. However, it’s possible, and encouraged, for you to create a relatively unique profile crafted to your own needs. There are several options of sections that can appear on your profile that you may not know about. If you’re a recent graduate, it’s extremely important to complete the student profile section of your profile. You’ve been in school for a while, and that means that you have to show that you’ve been working toward getting a job while you’ve been doing school work.

-Hope Swedeen

What can high school students with no work experience add to their LinkedIn? How can you market yourself and your experiences in school?

When applying for a job, the first step is typically to send in a résumé and cover letter, and employers have certain criteria that they use to evaluate candidates based solely on their résumés. One of these criteria is that prospective employees demonstrate an understanding of good grammar, and when slimming down a pool of candidates, it’s easy to separate those who use proper grammar from those who do not. As was mentioned in a previous post, “5 Tips on How to Build a Strong Résumé,” a résumé is the first impression an employer will have of an applicant, and, while it may not seem fair, many employers, regardless of the relationship of grammar to your applied-for position, will be more inclined to choose a candidate whose résumé has fewer grammatical errors.

Grammar Matters…

Kyle Wiens, the CEO of the online, global repair manual, iFixit, is one such employer who places grammar at the top of the list of must-have qualities in employees. In an article he wrote to validate the importance of grammar in the work place, he says, “Good grammar is credibility, especially on the internet. In blog posts, on Facebook statuses, in e-mails, and on company websites, your words are all you have. They are a projection of you in your physical absence. And, for better or worse, people judge you if you can’t tell the difference between their, there, and they’re.”

Because of this view, Wiens requires that each potential employee, regardless of his or her prospective department in the company, take a grammar test before being hired. He also states in his article, “If it takes someone more than 20 years to notice how to properly use ‘it’s,’ then that’s not a learning curve I’m comfortable with.” As this CEO points out, good grammar can be indicative of other beneficial attributes of job candidates. It shows that you have the ability to learn something that may be difficult for you. Everyone has a learning curve, and it’s important that employers have faith in yours. However, it does not necessarily follow that poor grammar indicates the lack of necessary or desired skill sets. For some, writing grammatically-correct sentences is simply challenging. It’s accepted in many lines of work that some people aren’t great at math, and it’s often a non-issue for those people; those who suffer through grammar lessons, however, typically aren’t extended the same amount of understanding.

… But it Might Not Matter to Everyone

A New York Times writer, John McWhorter, argues against Wiens’ idea that proper grammar is a necessary attribute in employees of all job descriptions. Though he recognizes the importance of good grammar when it is necessary to do a specific job well, he says in an article, “After we pat ourselves on the back for upholding grammar standards, how many of us can really justify barring someone from a decent job because he or she isn’t always clear on the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re?’”

If you’re on the fence about whether you should pay more attention to grammar, below are some examples of how grammar can help you succeed in the work place no matter what type of work you do:

Maintains Clarity

We aren’t always successful at saying what we’re trying to convey. When reading an email, note, or memo, it’s easy to get caught up on a sentence that isn’t structured properly or that has misused or misplaced words or punctuation. To be sure that the people we’re trying to reach understand what we’re saying, it’s necessary to pay attention to how we say it. If what we write is confusing and difficult to understand, then, often times, the people reading what we have to say will feel as if they’re translating text.

Saves Time

Proper grammar can help ensure messages are delivered and received promptly. Good grammar helps to lessen confusion when an employee decides to file a complaint, send a message to colleague, or voice his or her opinion in a presentation or meeting. Delivering a grammatically-correct message can also reduce time wasted on translation and follow-up, potentially leading to higher productivity.

However, the ability to send a brief, concise message can now be just as valuable as sending one that follows strict grammar rules. As long as a message is clear, the ability to quickly convey meaning using shorthand has become important in the workplace, especially as communication mediums such as Twitter become commonplace forms of professional communication.

Shows a sense of responsibility

Employees who are entrusted with the task of representing a company through any form of the written word are assumed to have a higher level of responsibility and therefore must be what you might call grammatically responsible. A company’s image is crucial to its operations, relationships, and success, and whoever is responsible for taking care of that image must be able to meet the standards required by other organizations in addition to his or her own employer.

Maintains professionalism

Those who utilize proper grammar may be more likely to succeed in the workplace, as the way that they communicate reflects a high level of professionalism that clients, employers and colleagues will notice. Demonstrating strong communication skills could be one of the main factors that leads to a promotion in title or pay in the future.

Attention to detail

Those who pay attention to the details of grammar are expected to pay close attention to and care about details of assigned tasks. While the misuse of grammar does not necessarily indicate that a person does not pay close attention to detail in other instances, using proper grammar is proof that a person is detail-oriented.

Grammar doesn’t always have the final say in whether you land a job or are passed over. It depends entirely on the views of each employer, and it’s up to you to decide whether or not you pay extensive heed to grammar. Though it’s nowhere near the only thing that matters when applying for jobs, it may be safest to take the time to improve or touch up grammar skills, as you can never be sure whether you’re applying at a company that cares about your use of apostrophes and commas or not.

Whether you decide to pay closer attention to grammar or not, I would recommend that everyone know how to correctly use the following, as they are some of the most frequently-made grammatical errors:

It’s = Contraction of “it is” / Its = Possessive

Example: “It’s raining today.” / “The company sold its product.”

Their = Possessive pronoun / There = A place or pronoun / They’re = Contraction of “they are”

Example: “Their phones had no service.” / “There is a coffee shop over there.” / “They’re professional.”

Your = Possessive pronoun / You’re = Contraction of “you are”

Example: “Your car broke down.” / “You’re working on your grammar.”

-Hope Swedeen

What do you think about the use of proper grammar in the workplace? Is it necessary for people in all fields of work to have good grammar?

As students prepare for this coming school year, many of you have probably begun to think about what kind of grades you hope to earn this year in your classes, and you’re trying to visualize getting to the end of the year with great marks. However, just thinking about getting good grades isn’t enough. It’s going to take preparation, dedication, and hard work to reach your academic ambitions.

The school year can seem dauntingly long when you think of everything that you hope to achieve and equally as short when you think of how much time and effort it will take to succeed in pursuing those achievements. Setting goals for yourself to break down responsibilities, and tracking your progress in reaching these goals, can be a huge help as you try to balance everything.

If you’re someone who finds it difficult to find time to do work or study, perhaps more specific goals are best, as they’ll get you thinking about when exactly you need to complete tasks. Even if you do have good time-management skills, writing specific tasks down is probably still a good idea so that you don’t forget to do anything. I would recommend always creating some goals for yourself before starting your school year, and I have listed a few suggestions that you might consider using to draft your own set of goals below:

Set SMART Goals

SMART goals are created using a specific set of criteria, which form the acronym SMART. They are characteristically: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

These goal-building criteria can help you to create goals that are especially helpful to you, as a student. Although a goal doesn’t need to include each aspect, each can be useful in their own right, and it’s ultimately up to you to determine which type of goal best suits your habits. As the criteria suggest, SMART goals should:

Include specific tasks to be accomplished.

Have a measurable objective and outcome to verify the completion of your goals.

Be realistically attainable so that you don’t set out to accomplish the impossible.

Be relevant to your needs in each specific area of your student life.

Be time-based so that you know how much time you have before they must be completed.

When utilizing the SMART model, it is important to keep in mind that some goals will be easier to keep track of than others, and the model doesn’t necessarily make a difference on that front. While short-term goals are fairly simple to track (for example, “I will study for quizzes and tests at least two days in advance”), long-term goals (such as, “I will earn a B in Math”) are more difficult to monitor.

Track your progress in completing long-term goals:

1. Review the tasks you’ve completed to be sure you have time to reach your overall goal

2. Revise goals, if necessary, depending on progress and external factors and circumstances

3. Remind yourself why you’ve set your goals and what achieving them would mean for you

4. Celebrate your daily achievements and milestones

When setting goals for your school year, always keep your individual strengths and challenges in mind. If you know that you have a certain skill, see if you can use it to make completing your goal(s) any easier, and if you know that completing a particular goal will be challenging for you, use any resources available to you that might help. It’s important to keep in mind that there are always people available to help you to complete your goals, whether they be parents, teachers, tutors, friends, or otherwise, but you must first set your goals and attempt to achieve them to the best of your ability.

-Hope Swedeen

How do you think students should monitor their progress in completing goals? What should students do if they get off track?

Christopher Flores is the Manager of Inside Sales at Namely, a platform designed to help companies manage all HR tasks. Mr. Flores strives to achieve success in his career, and he has faced the challenge of finding pursuits that are rewarding to him both financially and personally. He has previously spoken at a 4T’s event, helping to motivate students who are facing similar obstacles to those that he was able to overcome as a student himself. Mr. Flores continues to recognize the importance of education and its capacity to provide students with tools that are necessary if they are to achieve their goals and follow their passions.
Below is an interview with Mr. Flores regarding his experiences in his education and his professional life.

1. Can you provide a brief overview of your career – positions, companies, etc.? What motivated you to pursue this career path? 

I've always had a fascination for money growing up. It's interesting how much we revolve around it, how happy it makes us, and also how scary it is when we don't have it. I was drawn to the idea for owning my own business because I'm competitive and I could make a lot of money. In college, I became a Financial Advisor for a company called Northwestern Mutual. This was a great learning experience, where I set my own schedule, learned sales, and became my own boss. After graduation, I looked for another challenge and became an Account Executive for a company on Wall Street called Frost & Sullivan. Unfortunately there was something missing. Although I was making money and being competitive, I was not passionate about the product I had to sell. Now I'm at Namely, an HR, Payroll, and Benefits company. After my first day on the job, I fell in love with the product and the culture. I knew that was half the battle, and the money would come later. Now my career path has been set in motion, and it's up to me to stay competitive and be successful.

2. Can you provide a brief overview of your education and how it did, or did not, prepare you for your career?  

I graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School and did my four years at Boston College right after. I owe a lot to Cardinal Hayes for providing me with the tools needed to start a career. Whether it be how to dress, how to be professional, how to speak to others, how to write, it's amazing how all the little things we learned in school come back to our lives every day. I'm happy I went away to college because I learned about being on your own and the need to leverage friends and teachers to be successful. I learned it's tough to get good grades on your own, and a support system like your family or a mentor is necessary.

3. Could you describe your connection to 4T’s?

The President and Founder, Kayode, reached out to me on LinkedIn. We're both alumni of Cardinal Hayes HS, so it was a matter of time that our paths would cross. I was able to speak at one of the events to current students. It was a rewarding experience because I was able to answer questions I had when I was a student. 

4. Why should someone consider learning more about 4T’s? What else can a student do on their own to benefit their education?

4T's is an organization that is down to earth and really wants to help students. I wish I knew about it in high school because it's an avenue where students can learn from those who already went through what they're doing. Students can ask questions and pick someone else's brain outside the classroom, which is motivating. 

A student can also join an extracurricular activity like a sport or club to benefit their education. I think it's important to stay as busy as possible and figure out what you want to do in the long term.

5. In your own words, why is receiving an education important?

Receiving an education is important because it's a stepping stone to start a career. There are tons of opportunities out there in the job marketplace, however, the bare minimum to qualify for the majority is a Bachelor's degree from a 4 year college. An education will also allow you to have meaningful conversations with others, meet new people, and open your mind to new ideas.

6. What advice would you give to yourself in high school?

Stay competitive, keep shooting to be number one in all you do, and trust in yourself and your friends and family. Also, go online, find Kayode, and attend one of the 4T's events. You won't regret it.

-Samantha Phillips and Hope Swedeen


Please share your reactions to this professional's experiences.

ORGANIZATION

1. Try to fit everything on one page. Although this isn’t a requirement at every company, it is oftentimes the standard, and you don’t want to be ruled out of the running before anyone even takes a look at the content of your résumé. This may mean cutting positions or adjusting the margins.

2. Use consistent formatting. Your font choices and sizes should be the same or match appropriately between sections. Spacing should be the same throughout as well. If you are writing a cover letter or attaching a reference list, make sure the headers on these are the same as on your résumé.  

3. Divide into sections. You should separate your accomplishments into sensible groups, such as Education, Relevant Experience, Honors, Skills, etc. Make sure to include headings that are easily distinguishable and have white space in between them. Even if it means cutting back on content, white space is important to have so that the reader is not overwhelmed by text.

CONTENT

1. Use bullet points to summarize. Bullet points are a great way to organize your content. They’re easy on the eye and are more concise than full sentences. When describing your professional accomplishments, start the bullet point off with a strong, descriptive verb. For current positions, use present tense. For past positions, use past tense. Preferably limit the length of each bulleted point to one line of text.  

Ex. -Generated monetary support for the university using fundraising information and techniques

2. Tailor content to job description. You should adapt your résumé to the job to which you’re applying. Include past jobs that are comparable to the new position and honors that are relevant in the potential industry. Your skills might be relevant in most cases, but if a specific skill is mentioned in the job description, you should make sure to list it on your résumé (as long as you possess it). Gearing your résumé to specific jobs will demonstrate how suited you are for the position, and it will also show the reader that you spent time thoroughly reading the job description.

Your résumé is an essential part of the application process because it is oftentimes the first impression you give an employer. Follow these tips to get on the right track to building a strong résumé. Then, if you have the chance, have your résumé reviewed by someone who has been successful in your field.

-Samantha Phillips

What advice have you been given about résumés?