Is Education Up to Speed with Job Requirements?

As a little girl, I had so many aspirations from being a nurse, to a doctor and had even explored the idea of being a singer…HA (don’t believe that)! Fast forward some years to my high school graduation and I just knew that I would become a teacher.  I was so excited!  As a teenager I worked in lots of daycares and loved working with children…I knew this was the path for me.  Okay….fast forward about two more years to my first day of student teaching and observation.  Let’s just say at 8:00 am the next day, I was a Psychology major!

My student teaching day taught me that it was nothing that my professors could have taught me in the classroom that could have prepared me for what I experienced that day.  Fast forwarding a few more years, and bachelors degree, masters degree and some job experience, I have been really thinking lately….Is education really up to speed with today’s job requirements?  Are our future graduates getting what they need to be successful in their jobs/careers after graduation?

I will preface this with the fact that I am so much more about real life experiences and what I see rather than what so-called “experts” with surveys, test, etc. have to say (sue me), but for the sake of argument, lets look at some statistics.

• Of the 700,000 jobs added to the economy between January and March of this year, Andrew Sum, an economist at Northeastern University, reports that at least 80 percent of these jobs are for part-time work. And of these part-time workers, Sum says that college graduates under 30 have weathered a disproportionate share of the burden.  Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/15/jobs-graduates-work-full-time_n_849874.html
• Specifically, of the more than two million college graduates under the age of 25, 700,000 have a job that doesn’t require a degree — whether working in retail, bartending, or waiting tables. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/15/jobs-graduates-work-full-time_n_849874.html
• Early economic indicators show positive signs for the class of 2011 as its seniors prepare to enter the workforce, according to several studies by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Retrieved from
  http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/03/09/brighter-job-outlook-for-class-of-2011
• An analysis by The New York Times of Labor Department data about college graduates aged 25 to 34 found that the number of these workers employed in food service, restaurants and bars had risen 17 percent in 2009 from 2008, though the sample size was small. There were similar or bigger employment increases at gas stations and fuel dealers, food and alcohol stores, and taxi and limousine services.  Retrieved from
  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/business/economy/19grads.html

Reading all of that really gave me a headache, but it is quite relevant.  Are we wasting time and money if we are not getting the skills we need to be successful?  I say ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  Getting a degree, in my opinion, is not to automatically set you up with a job right after graduation.  Instead, it gives us the skills we need to be prepared to work after graduation.  The reality for our graduates is that in this day and age, a bachelors degree is just as good as a certificate.  More and more companies are almost requiring a Masters or more for potential employees to even be considered for an interview.    Making sure that you meet the job requirements for your desired position is YOUR (student/graduate) responsibility and regardless of outcome, you should always be ready to use those skills you acquired.

But does your hard work ensuring you meet the job requirements always pay off?

The effort you put into making sure you meet the requirements will show in the output you receive via interviews, internships and job opportunities you are offered, when your work is done (for which it never is done).  Having said that, it does not always guarantee that you will get the job you want or get the job at all.

So why even bother?

Even when the answer is NO, you should always put your best foot forward.  You don’t know who is watching you or what may be the reason behind why you didn’t receive the job you applied for.  Could it be they have you in mind for something else?  You never know, but you ALWAYS want to be prepared.

Next week I will give you some tips on how to use your college experience to prepare you for your career experience.

Until then, go forth and conquer!!

Google Alerts for Higher Education

We all know that Google is the mecca for finding any and everything you could possibly want to find on the internet.  From cars, the most relevant news store or even information on yourself, Google is the first place people will look to find the information they want or need. As we all know, the early bird ALWAYS gets the worm in any situation, even in higher education.

Today, I am going to share one of those tips on how to use Google to get you the information you want and/or need using a simple business practice from thriving companies across the world called Google Alerts.  If you are a business owner, marketing major or just surf the internet all day, you may already know about Google Alerts.  The platform offers you the opportunity to set up email alerts to specific or broad topics based on your self-produced queries.  Below are some ways that you can use Google Alerts in higher education:

Students:  Want to find out the top ranking schools?  Want to see what people are saying about your first choice pick? Let Google Alerts bring that information to you! Type in the school of your choice as your keyword and start getting the information you want/need today!

Higher Ed. Faculty/Staff/Administrators:  If you are a higher education professional that truly cares about the success of your programs, Google Alerts can help you.  As professionals that care about our students success, we should always be in the know of what we are doing right, wrong and how we can improve.

Job Seekers:  If you are looking for a job or need a career change, be the first to apply by setting alerts to the job you are seeking.  Enter a search term or keyword and get your own personalized job agent right to your email.  Early bird gets the worm!

Now that you have some tips on great ways to use it, here are some quick instructions on how to set it up:

1.)    Search query: Type in your keyword or search term

2.)    Result type: Select the one most relevant to you

3.)    How Often: Determine how often you would like to receive your alerts

4.)    How many: Determine if you want ALL results or BEST results

5.)    Deliver to: Add the email address that you check frequently

6.)    Click

7.)    Click Manage your alerts to manage all of the alerts you setup.

It is just that simple!  A few clicks and you are on your way to start getting the information you want, when and how you want it.

Don’t wait until it is too late…start NOW to get started on your own success!

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Online Education….What is the “stigma” really about?

Let’s talk about online education.  What prompted this discussion for me is the many of conversations I have had with friends, family and associates over the past couple of months and the extreme negativity that has be spewing from them about online education.  So I pose this question:

Education: How do you define it?  What is your standard?

As technology is advancing and the evolution of the traditional 9-5 jobs to now work-from-home careers, the waters can get a little “murky” depending on who you ask.   In the age of Iphones, Androids and Blackberry, where you can literally get everything done with the click of one button, it truly shocks me that there is such a negative “stigma” as it concerns online education.  The desire to even want to better one’s self by continuing their education is a plus in my book, but to downplay someone’s efforts and degree(s) because they chose to go a less “traditional” route is absurd, in my opinion.

Let’s be real for a quick second….who sits in a classroom anymore?  In this day and age, “non-traditional” is the NEW traditional in every sense of the word. Even students that have moved away from home and staying in the dorms at their campus are enrolling in majority of online classes.   In a day and age where you can literally have someone pay you for services via the swipe of their debit card to your cell phone, how can anyone negatively discourage people not to pursue furthering their education online?  I’m sure traditionalist would say “how can you really learn anything when you can’t even put a face to the name of the professor that is teaching you?”  Well my dear traditionalist, LIFE doesn’t lend itself to “putting a face” on every lesson you have learned.  There are some people out there who can’t even put a face to themselves because they haven’t discovered who THEY are yet.  All of that to say that for anything worth having, it is worth investing some time and effort to make sure that this is the path you want to take for your life.  Do I think there is some merit to the negative stigma?  Yes.  I do.  And there are some clear numbers (negative) that can back it up (See this article by Kennebec Journal {Augusta, Maine}
: http://www.allbusiness.com/labor-employment/human-resources-personnel/15157705-1.html)  among many others. But for ALL negative numbers, there are positives as well.  There are some schools that really got it right in giving student a quality education and are doing what is necessary to make sure students are not wasting their time and money.

Now having said that, do I think the days of “traditional” classroom education is a thing of the past?  Absolutely NOT!  Why?  Because even though about 90% of colleges/institutions have implemented some type of online program and are in full support of the ever-moving/changing technology and education, employers are not fully on board yet.  A Vault.com study reports that 77 percent of hiring managers say that an online degree received through an established university such as Duke or Stanford is more acceptable than a degree earned through an Internet only university like Capella or Jones International (http://www.back2college.com/onlinedegrees.htm).  And while both schools hold the same regional accreditation and close to the same academic standards, one is viewed much higher than the other simply because of the “stigma” of one being an online school/program.

My take on it is to help yourself by KNOWING FOR YOURSELF!  A person should NEVER depend on ANYONE to tell you what is right.  Part of your responsibility as a student is KNOWING the commitment you are making and ensuring that all your T’s are crossed and I’s dotted before putting your blood, sweat and tears into a degree that will only yield nothing in the end.  If you are considering online education, here are some tips to consider:

Accreditation:

Accreditation is very important, but often times, people forget about this very major detail.  What is accreditation and why is it important?  Accreditation is defined as officially recognized as meeting the essential requirements, as of academic excellence.  “The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations of regional or national scope, develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency’s evaluation and that meet an agency’s criteria are then “accredited” by that agency.”

For more information on accreditation in the United States, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.   In most cases, when you get out in the job search, employers are going to be looking for someone that has graduated from a regionally accredited college or university.  It is essential that you keep these guidelines in mind when selected your college.  A few questions you should ask yourself: 

Cost

Let’s just face it.  It is expensive to go to school.  That is a reality that we have to face, but TRUST when I tell you, in most cases, the end result definitely outweighs the front end cost.  Colleges and universities are making education more accessible to everyone through mean of financial aid, scholarships and other forms of revenue for schooling.  While I know student loans are not anyone’s first option….it is an option that should be considered when none other is available.  Just make sure that you are fully aware of the cost and financial responsibility that goes along with it.

Expectations

The biggest misconception about online education is that because it is online, it is easy.  NOT TRUE!  As an experienced online student, I can honestly say that I had some better and easier experiences IN the classroom, but I don’t regret either experience at all.  It introduced me to a new way of learning and has opened doors for opportunities to grow in my career.  Because most online schools target students that are full-time working adults with families, time management is key in making sure that you are successful in your program.  I think all online students, particularly those with other responsibilities, should pace themselves and really project and schedule their time wisely.

Communication

Communication is self-explanatory, but I will elaborate on what I mean by this.  In order to be successful in your online program, you are going to have to be well versed in knowing how to communicate with your teachers, advisors and administrators.  In most cases, online students are nowhere near the school that they are enrolled in, so it is important that you establish that rapport with all necessary faculty and staff from the start.  Not doing so, can leave a lot of room for miscommunication and failure in the end.

All in all, education is important part of life.  In the society we live in now, a Master’s degree is a high school diploma.    Because I am an extreme advocate for higher education, I will encourage anyone to make the decision that bests fits your lifestyle, but DO make the decision to go to school and further your education.

My Introduction…Higher Ed. is my PASSION!

Well HELLO WORLD!!  Welcome to my blog…Higher Ed. With Ty Jones!!  I decided to start this blog because I thought it could be used as a resource to help others about a subject that I have come to love over the past nine years of my life.  Furthering one’s education is a wondeful opportunity that I feel that EVERYONE…YES EVERYONE should have the opportunity to engage in.  While I am a firm believer that traditional schooling is not for everyone, I do whole-heartedly believe that EVERYONE should have aspirations and goals of furthering their education, whether in trade-school, community college or professional taining. I also believe that the opportunity should be made available to all that seek it.

I thought I would use my first post as one to introduce myself and share my story of how I came to be passionate about higher education.  My goal for this blog as a whole is to share articles, discuss trends in higher education and share tips that I have come to learn over time in my years of experience.

I LOVE HIGHER ED……

My love for higher education came unexpectedly while working as a student assistant in the Financial aid office.  I was in between my sophmore year, going into my junior year and was hired as a student assistant.  I had just changed my major from education to psychology (student teaching made the difference in Ty now being a Psychology major!)  I FELL IN LOVE!  It was summer time and we were gearing up for the new academic year.  The office was OVERFLOWING with parents and students that had questions about financial aid.  What I thought was going to be such an overwhelming experience turned out to be the start of a new career path for me.  I enjoyed being able to use my experience, having gone through this process already, to help others.  I had even gone one step further by helping one parent with being able to get some discounted books from me for their child and made a little money for myself too!   I really could not put into words how I felt that day, but I do know that was the day I fell in love with higher ed!!

TO BE OR NOT TO BE???

Even with my new found love for higher education, graduation was DONE and I needed a job.  I was less concerned about what type of job I had, just that I had to have a job.  I was hired as customer service representative for my first full-time job after graduation and BOY… it was probably the WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!! My reason for taking the job was more along the lines of “I can still help people…even if it is not education related.” Boy was I EVER wrong! After 2-3 months of being there, I knew I had to go.  It was at that weak moment in my life, the scenes from my day in the financial aid office played in my mind. It brought such a BIG smile to my face, so when I got home that day, I started applying to all of the local colleges and universities.  After about a week or so, I got an interview from a university!  BOY was I ecstatic!!!  But that feeling was short lived.  I TOTALLY BOMBED my first interview.  I was crushed and slightly depressed!!!  Time passed and I was still working part-time at a local restaurant.  I got off  and decided to get something eat.  I was engaging in conversation with some of the patrons at the bar, talking about my experience with “Life after graduation.”  One of the patrons in particular was really engaged in this conversation with me.  He seemed very interested in my passion for higher ed and had a lot to say about it himself.  Well…after about 45 minutes of talking, he left and told me to have a good night and to keep trying…don’t give up.    Well that night, I decided I would give it a try again and applied for another position at the same institution.  About a week later, I was called for another interview.  This time I made sure I was prepared.  There were about a panel of 3-4 people in the interview and although I was a bit nervous, the interview was almost FLAWLESS.  It was in God’s hands now.  I went on to work at the part-time gig and was beaming from ear-to-ear.  By chance, the same man that I was talking to about my endeavors had showed up that night.  I could not WAIT to get over there to the bar to tell him about my experience.  It was time for me to get off and I rushed over to the bar.  I started talking to the man and told him about my day.  I told him all about what I would do, if I got the position and how I would go into it with high energy and ready to get to work.  He seemed very excited for me and wished me good luck with everything!!  Well on that Friday, I was called and offered the position. I starting SCREAMING!!  Everybody looked at me as if I were crazy!!  I couldn’t believe it.  Fast-forwarding to my first day of work….and who is standing before me in my brand new office….THE MAN FROM THE BAR!!  I immediately came to tears….I asked “You did this??  You did this for me??”  He answered…”No…YOU did this…I just provided you the opportunity to do it.”  I could not control my tears…AT ALL!!  It was that day that I realized that you just never know who you will run into, so ALWAYS be on your best behavior.  I’m am forever grateful to this man and Dr. David Spinner…if you are out there…you will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart for giving me my first opportunity to prove myself in the higher education field.

WHERE I AM NOW AND HOW I CAN HELP….

Since that first day, my career path in higher education has been soaring! Advancement opportinities have been so vast and I have climbed this ladder in a rapid pace.  I have worked in all types of institutions and have been able to work in just about all facets of higher education.  Each has given me a wealth of knowledge that I want to share with others.  I will be the first to admit that I am still learning and will continue in an effort to continue to be skilled in my craft.  But I want to continue to help other the same way I was helped.

I hope that this blog will be helpful to someone as they prepare to go to further their education or inspires someone to follow in the same career path.  Hope you enjoy!!

Ty Jones

What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.~Alfred Mercier