CareerOneStop “Favorite” 2018: Scholarship Finder

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Parents, Students, Uncategorized
CareerOneStop Favorites

CareerOneStop FavoritesBased on our end-of-year review, CareerOneStop’s Scholarship Finder has proven to be a user favorite, and it’s popular for good reason. You can search the scholarship list of more than 8,000 active scholarship opportunities in several ways: 1) browse the full list of all scholarships in our collection, arranged in order of the application deadline so you’ll see those with the closest deadline first, 2) search by a keyword, such as your intended major, a scholarship sponsor, or your future career, or 3) use filters to see only awards for certain locations, award type, demographics, or other criteria.

Scholarship Finder information is thoroughly vetted to ensure the listings are worth your time to search; scholarship providers contact us to be included, and must apply and qualify to be added to our database. Several hundred new scholarships are added each year, and those no longer viable are deleted. Enhancements this year have made results more accurate, based on the search terms you enter and filters you select. None of the awards in the Scholarship Finder requires applicants to pay a fee to apply.

While students may realize that scholarships are essentially “free money”, they often don’t realize how much opportunity is available, and how many different types of organizations provide them. Many scholarships offer a relatively easy application process – as simple as entering your data on a website. A number include a brief essay. Some invite you to take a creative route like making a short video. It’s often much easier to apply than many students believe.

Scholarship searching can be frustrating and those “right-fit” scholarships can prove elusive to find, especially if you don’t qualify under a distinct category, but there are lots of scholarships open to all applicants. The majority of newly –added scholarships are open to everyone. If you’re struggling to find scholarships that apply to you, check out the “prize” category under the “Award Type” filters, as many have no specific eligibility criteria. And if a scholarship that interests you shows last year’s due date, check the organization’s website anyway, as often the due date remains the same year to year.

Past Scholarship Finder users have provided input to CareerOneStop to improve certain features, and several of their ideas have been implemented. Users can e-mail in questions, comments, or requests for search assistance using info@careeronestop.org

So while you’re busy completing your college applications, and working to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply for financial aid, don’t let scholarship applications fall off the radar. There’s a good chance the time you invest will pay off.

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Internships 101

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized

By Evan Supple

This week CareerOneStop staff are visiting with career professionals at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals Youth Symposium in Chicago, so we’ve decided to devote this week’s blog to discussing internships: a major early step in many young people’s careers—and one that can be confusing and troubling to many people looking to start their career.

While many of the jobs available to students and first time workers are great places to pick up skills and learn the ins and outs of the workplace, working a paper route or scooping ice cream in the summer doesn’t necessarily give young workers a clear next step forward.

Internships are typically short- to medium-term opportunities to work in a professional setting, develop your skills and make connections in an industry. Internships are a way for students, first-time workers, and other job seekers  get their foot in the door without many of the skills that entry-level permanent positions require.

How do you find an internship?

Internships are often targeted specifically to students so if you’re a student in high school, college, or graduate school then your first stop might be your school’s career center or a career counselor. Many schools offer class credit for internships and will help handle much of the legwork of finding and organizing your internship so that you can fit it into a schedule alongside classes and extracurricular activities.

If you aren’t a student then you can find internships posted on job sites like Indeed.com, but you might have better luck by researching employers directly to see if they have an internship program and explore program details. Many employer websites have information on the internships they offer, and if they don’t you may be able to find contact information you can use to inquire directly about the possibility of doing an internship with them.

If you know what field you’re interested in, then using a tool like CareerOneStop’s Business Finder to find contact information for businesses to target is a great first step towards finding an internship.

Should you take an unpaid internship?

While internships are many young people’s first step into careers, it’s important to note that many internships do not pay, or only pay very limited wages. If you’re a young person considering an internship you should weigh carefully how much time you can afford to devote to an internship that doesn’t pay. You might be able to get creative and  work an internship around a paid-job schedule—so you can earn both money and experience.

Internships can be challenging, often requiring you to split time between many different tasks but they also offer a unique work-based learning opportunity that gives interns a chance to explore an organization (and a field) from the inside in a way that classroom education just cannot replicate.

Visit GetMyFuture.org to learn more about internships and other ways to get work experience.

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Putting a music degree to work

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students
drummer

By Nick Kiekenapp

Whether you are studying music in an academic setting, pursuing a career in the music industry, or educating the next Mozart, you have likely been asked questions like:

I didn’t know you could study music in college. What are you going to do with your degree in music?

Or, if you have already graduated with a music degree, you often hear:

So what’s you real job?

These questions often do not have simple answers, as many professional musicians earn their income via several drummersources. Post-secondary degrees in Music Performance, Music Education, Music Theory, Music Business, Liturgical Music and Recording Technology are some popular pathways to prepare for a career in music. The technical abilities musicians develop through these different areas of study can lead down a variety of career paths.

What careers do music degrees lead to?

Graduates with music degrees often apply their musical abilities and creative skills in fields such as:

What transferable skills do music graduates have?

Many music graduates pursue careers outside of the music—either as a “day job” in tandem with a music career, or as a different pathway altogether. And while those careers may seem to have nothing to do with music, the fact is that musicians develop a range of transferable skills throughout their intense study of music.

With regard to employability outside of music careers (i.e. a “real job” or “day job”), music graduates have developed soft skills which are valuable in any workplace. Here are some of the soft skills developed through studying music:

  • Participate as a team member
  • Active listening
  • Determined and Persistent
  • Quick Learner
  • Think Critically
  • Meet Goals
  • Follow Directions
  • Attention to Detail
  • On Time
  • Improvise
  • Synthesize Vast Amounts of Complex Information
  • Communicate Well
  • Self-Motivated
  • Flexible
  • Creative Problem Solving

What other skills should I develop for a successful career in music?

Professional musicians often develop strong entrepreneurial skills to maintain a successful career. Whether choosing a full-time music career or keeping a day job for more stability, there are many essential skills required for a successful music career. These skills include:

Want to learn more? Explore other careers with CareerOneStop’s Occupation Profile.

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Career and Technical Education: Careers in marketing

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Students, Uncategorized
Female marketing professional writing on whiteboard

U.S. Department of Education-sponsored programs in Career and Technical Education prepare students for a wide variety of occupations, including business careers. In support of their efforts, this week we’re profiling the growing field of market research analysts and marketing specialists.

Female marketing professional writing on whiteboardWhat do Super Bowl commercials, food packaging, and book jackets all have in common? None of them would be possible without market research analysts and specialists.

Marketers use a variety of methods to learn what customers’ preferences, needs and buying habits are, and how satisfied they are with products and services they consume. Through the careful design of surveys, opinion polls, and questionnaires, marketers help determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign to appeal to consumers.  They might focus on a local market, or have a regional, national or even international scope for their work.

Marketing professionals monitor and forecast sales trends, measure the effectiveness of marketing programs, and report on the results. They gather data on competitors, customer demographics, consumer habits and preferences, and analyze the factors that affect product or service demand. Their clients may range from superstores, to nonprofits, to television networks.

Marketing professionals spend a great deal of time at their desks, communicating via email and phone or in meetings. Combining strong analysis and communication strengths, key skills for marketers include critical thinking, reading comprehension, effective writing, active listening, and complex problem solving.

They also use photo imaging and statistical software to help convert complex data into understandable tables, graphs, and written reports. In terms of personal qualities, marketers are often results-oriented and enjoy working independently.

Positions for market analysts and marketing specialists are growing nationwide much faster than average. Typical salaries range from $34,000 for entry level workers and smaller organizations to $123,000 for more experienced workers, and larger companies.

Most positions require a bachelor’s degree in market research, and master’s degrees are not uncommon for people in the field.

It can be an exciting profession with the potential for having a great deal of influence; marketing specialists and analysts assess and ultimately determine the success of our favorite TV shows, packaged food, and other products as they continue to adapt with our feedback.

Students who participate in Career and Technical Education marketing programs can expect to gain competencies in areas such as these:

  • Interpersonal communications and leadership skills
  • Marketing techniques
  • Sales
  • Promotion
  • Distribution
  • Pricing
  • Marketing information management
  • Economics
  • Business ethics
  • Public speaking

Check out a detailed Occupation Profile of Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists on CareerOneStop and watch a video of people in the field.

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How to build a professional network

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students, Uncategorized
Woman on computer

Woman on computerNetworking is about developing relationships that could be helpful to you in your job search and your career.

You’ve no doubt heard the truism that most job openings are filled by networking, and may feel frustrated and left out. But building a professional network is achievable for almost everyone, by following these steps to identify your network and develop it.

Who is in your network already?

Most people start to build their professional network beginning with those closest to them, and moving outward to circles of people they may have less connection with. To start your network, write up a list of the following:

  • Family, neighbors, friends, and members of community groups you belong to, like sports teams, people you get together with for activities, religious congregation, or others.
  • Current or former classmates, teachers, professors, and other school personnel you have a relationship with.
  • Contacts from past jobs, such as former supervisors, coworkers, and managers.

You will find that people differ on their comfort level with sharing contacts, but keep in mind that your network could also include connections with all of your network’s contacts.

Move outward from your inner circle

The next level of your professional network moves outside the ring of people you’ve had direct contact with.  These are people you share something in common with—a common contact, a professional association membership, an educational institution—but you haven’t necessarily ever met them.

  • Professional association members. Joining a business or professional association is one of the best ways to learn about trends and unadvertised jobs. Many members are eager to help job seekers and often know employers with open positions. Some offer professional events, and many offer trade meetings and conferences. You can attend these or even volunteer at them to meet members, learn about the industry or profession, and gain contact information.
  • Online networking websites such as LinkedIn, and networking sites set up by people in the field. These can connect you with potential jobs, colleagues, and business opportunities.
  • College career services or alumni offices. If you attended college, contact your college alumni and career services offices. Alumni may be willing to do informational interviews with graduates of their institution. Career services may have online job boards or other resources to help you.

Generate targeted connections with people in your field

The third level of building your professional network may be intimidating, but it offers great potential to learn about your field and generate job opportunities.

  • Consider volunteering for an organization or event to build skills in your field and make connections.
  • Research journals and publications about your field and write to authors of articles and blogs that interest you.
  • Attend job fairs and other networking events in your field and bring business cards, resumes, and a clear message about your qualifications and where you want to head.
  • Find information about nearly 12 million organizations in the U.S. on CareerOneStop’s Business Finder. Many entries include a key contact person, phone number and address, so you can reach out to them directly.

How to use these contacts

An important first step is to organize information about your contacts in a way that is meaningful to you. Then track your ongoing communication with them. Some people use a spreadsheet, e-mail system, notebook, or reminder file. Reflecting on your priorities at the time you start networking, you might want to reach out to your network to:

  • Research your industry and companies that interest you or influence the industry.
  • Request informational interviews with people who work in your field or company of interest to learn “boots on the ground” information you can’t get from other research
  • Request connections to contacts in specific organizations you want to work for or to ask about job openings.
  • Recognize that your social media accounts provide companies / contacts information about you, in addition to opportunities to learn about them
  • Build relationships with professional contacts for mutual support / connections throughout your career.

Learn more about networking on CareerOneStop.

 

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Good vets job news for Veterans Day

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
veterans day logo

Veterans make excellent job candidates: military experience has provided them with education, training, values, leadership skills, and teamwork experience that prepare them to thrive in civilian jobs.

veterans day logoThat success is illustrated by the latest unemployment numbers: the job outlook for veterans continues to improve, with the veterans unemployment rate reaching record low levels. In October 2018, the rate was just 2.9 percent. That’s lower than the rate for non-veterans (3.5 percent) and down significantly from the end of 2017, when it was 3.7, and the end of 2016, when it was 4.3 percent.

Other bright news from the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) in 2018:

  • VETS helped more than 267,000 veterans find jobs.
  • More than 156,000 transitioning service members participated in a DOL VETS Employment Workshop.
  • Veteran homelessness decreased by more than 5.4 percent in one year, and nearly 11,000 homeless veterans found jobs through VETS services.

If you are or know a veteran or transitioning service member, visit CareerOneStop’s Veteran and Military Transition Center for career, education and employment resources.  You’ll find:

  • Career exploration information including the Veterans Job Finder that matches military skills and experience to civilian careers and job postings.
  • Education and training resources including information on veterans’ education benefits and CareerOneStop’s Local Training Finder to locate schools and programs in any U.S. location.
  • Job search tips, tools, and information including the Job Finder to search for openings, and the Salary Finder to research average salaries for any occupation.
  • Information about benefits and assistance available to veterans, as well as a State Resource Finder to locate programs in any U.S. state.
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Find an apprenticeship!

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Career changers, Job seekers, Uncategorized

Apprenticeship.govNearly 9 out of 10 apprentices are employed after completing their apprenticeship. Average starting salary: $60k+ per year. DOL.Gov/Apprenticeship is a new one-stop source for “all things apprenticeship.” Launched in August by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the site features an Apprenticeship Finder that makes it easier for job seekers to find apprenticeship opportunities, often in high-skilled, high-paying careers.

The new Apprenticeship Finder tool allows you to search for apprenticeships by city, state, and occupation. Results include apprenticeship sponsor name and location, description of responsibilities, applicant requirements, and contact information.

You can apply for apprenticeships directly by following links from the postings in your results. The Apprenticeship Finder displays thousands of apprenticeship opportunities that are updated daily.

Apprenticeship.gov also helps employers promote apprenticeships across new or nontraditional industries where apprenticeships may be less common, such as healthcare or IT. Employers will find information and steps to start an apprenticeship program in their own organization. Additional resources are planned for coming months.

DOL collaborated with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies and DirectEmployers to create the Apprenticeship Finder using the National Labor Exchange (NLx), a jointly-sponsored resource that collects and distributes national job content.

Career seekers can access the no-cost website at https://www.apprenticeship.gov, and apprenticeship sponsors are encouraged to add their job listings to the NLx at no cost so they can be included in the Apprenticeship Finder tool. Employers can get started at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/why-apprenticeship#step1.

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5 not-so-true job search myths

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Job seekers

Job searching is hard work. It can be complicated, it can feel mysterious—and it can sometimes seem like you’re the only person out there who doesn’t know the secrets to success.

In truth, there are no secrets to a successful job search. That’s because, just like no two job seekers are the same, neither are any two companies, or any two hiring managers. So what works in one case won’t necessarily work to land a different position.

And while there are no secrets to success, there are plenty of so-called “rules” about the job search process. In fact, most of these are myths—there might be elements of truth to them, but they should not be taken as hard-fast rules.

So what are some of these myths—and are they holding you back from success? Take a look at this list of five not-so-true job search myths.

Myth: Hiring slows down over the winter holidays.

Reality: It’s true that a lot of business slows down between mid-November and mid-January. But that doesn’t mean that hiring grinds to halt. Many companies may decide not to begin a hiring process during those slower months, but others might have good reason—a critical staff member leaves, for instance—to need to fill positions at that time of year. And, there may be fewer job seekers during the holiday period, so in fact you might stand a better chance of being considered for a position than during busier hiring times.

Myth: You should apply to as many positions as possible.

Reality: Job searching can sometimes be a game of numbers: each position you apply for increases your chances that you’ll get an offer. But it’s nearly impossible to land an offer when you’ve submitted only a generic resume to a position that you’re not even sure is a great fit for you. Taking the time to research a company and an opportunity, and then targeting your resume and cover letter to reflect the ways you are a good fit is always time well spent. So if you need to choose between a) sending out one, three or even a dozen more cold resumes, or b) networking, researching, or targeting your materials—your best bet is nearly always to concentrate your search energies.

Myth: You’ll never get a job applying online.

Reality: While this may seem to contradict the above myth, it’s not true that companies never hire candidates who submit applications online. You may have heard that networking—talking to people you know about your job search—is the only way to land a job, but that’s just not true. It’s one common path to success, but sometimes you will be a great candidate for a position that isn’t related to anyone in your network—and you should absolutely apply for that positions as well.

Myth: It will be obvious to the hiring manager that you’re the perfect fit for your dream job.

Reality: Sometimes you come across a job posting that speaks to you—in fact it may seem like it was created with just you in mind. You might think, Great—all I’ve got to do here is send in my resume and they’ll be jumping at the chance to hire me. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Hiring managers might be weeding through hundreds of resumes, and for whatever reason, your perfect-match credentials may not stick out to them. Or, a person in HR might be unfamiliar with the details of a position, and they might miss the obvious when screening resumes. The bottom line is that you should always connect the dots on your resume and in your cover letter: detail exactly why your skills and experience make you the candidate they are looking for.

Myth: All you can do is send in your application/resume/cover letter and leave it to chance.

Reality: It’s true that the job search process can seem so mysterious that you may as well rely on fate to land your job. But as frustrating as the realities of job searching can be, there is almost always something you can do to improve your chances of getting your resume read, landing an interview, or getting an offer. Here’s a short checklist –you may not do each one of these for each position you apply for, but you should at least consider them at each step.

Have you:

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Fill out your FAFSA

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Parents, Students, Uncategorized
FAFSA workbook

FAFSA workbookFAFSA! It sounds like it could be a lively Latin dance, but the FAFSA is actually your best route to getting financial aid for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid—commonly known as the FAFSA — is required to determine which federal grants, work-study, and loan programs a student is eligible for, and is used by colleges for their own financial aid programs. Prospective and current college students, or often their parents, fill out the FAFSA form each year to apply for aid for the following academic year.

How federal aid determination works

Your college or school determines whether you have financial need for aid by establishing your cost of attendance for the year (including tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other costs), then subtracting your expected family contribution—which takes into account your family’s income, assets, family size, and number of family members in college.

There are several different types of financial aid. Federal programs that award student aid based on need include the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, loans, and work study. While grants are essentially “free money”, loans must be repaid. Work study qualifies you for a paid on-campus job, though you may still need to apply to the school for a particular position.

State governments also offer financial aid with particular eligibility criteria, often reserving grants for state residents who study at in-state institutions. Learn about your state’s programs by contacting your relevant state agency.

Scholarships – another aid option

Students can also apply for scholarships, which are considered gifts that do not need to be repaid. They are offered by colleges for their own students, by companies, communities, professional organizations, nonprofits, and more. While schools typically use the FAFSA to determine scholarship amounts for students, other scholarships have their own application forms and process. You can research scholarships you might be eligible for on CareerOneStop’s free Scholarship Finder.

Who is eligible to apply for federal aid?

There are some different rules for students with special circumstances along with greater detail on requirements explained on the federal student aid website, but for most students, you must meet these eligibility requirements:

  • demonstrate financial need
  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
  • have a valid Social Security number
  • be registered with Selective Service, if you’re a male between ages 18 and 25
  • be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
  • maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
  • not be in default on a federal student loan
  • have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent

How hard is it to complete the FAFSA?

In the past, the FAFSA was only available on paper, and had a reputation for being very long, tedious, and difficult to interpret. No more! It’s entirely online, provides hints and definitions of terms, and may allow you to import your tax form directly—saving lots of data entry time. You can even take a practice run at the FAFSA by reviewing the worksheet that takes you through every question.

You can also start the application and save your work if you need to track down a document, or find other answers. To complete the 2019-20 FAFSA form, you’ll need your 2017 tax and income information, financial assets, and social security number and if you are still a dependent, you’ll need your parents’ information too.

Each college you apply to may have its own deadline for filing the FAFSA, but there are also state deadlines to meet.

So if you’re applying to college and hope to qualify for financial aid, there’s no reason to hesitate. Gather your documents, turn on some music, and fill out your FAFSA!

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Happy holiday job searching

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Job seekers

There are two big indicators that it’s going to be a bright holiday for those seeking seasonal jobs: the unemployment rate is lower than it’s been in decades, and consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.

Together, that means that businesses can expect huge holiday sales—and huge headaches trying to recruit enough holiday workers. Employers in retail, warehousing, services, and transportation are already scrambling to find workers. Many that have relied on word of mouth or job board ads are hosting seasonal work job fairs this year. Many are also offering higher pay, bonuses, benefits, and full-time or permanent schedules to attract temporary employees.

All of which means that if you’ve got time to spare, and a desire to make money or take on something new, this year is a great time to take on seasonal employment

How to find a seasonal job

So how to you go about finding one of these seasonal jobs? You can try one or any of the approaches below:

Hiring fairs. Many big and small companies are holding one- or multi-day hiring fairs in locations across the country.  Some employers promise to hire on the spot, and others may ask you fill out an application while you’re there. Find events near you by searching online for “holiday hiring fair near me”.

Company websites. If you know the company or employer you want to work for, visit the Employment or Careers section of their website. You can find out if they’re holding a job fair, accepting applications online, or offering another method for applying for season work.

Online search. With competition so fierce this year, even businesses that are holding hiring fairs or accepting applications directly from their website are often also advertising online. You can start at CareerOneStop’s Job Finder: type “seasonal” and your ZIP code or city and state to find opportunities near you. If you know what type of work you’re looking for, you can add that to your keywords—for instance, type “seasonal cashier” or “seasonal driver” and focus  your results. From there, follow the instructions to apply for jobs you’re interested in.

Best of luck on your holiday job search!

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