Find a Career

Preparing For an Interview

A snail mail, e-mail or voice mail has arrived offering you a chance to interview for a job. Excited, you tell your family and friends, though you’re scared stiff. Just the idea of interviewing makes you nervous.

Before you go, learn from the pros: your favorite sitcom or soap-opera star, sports hero or game-show host. Actors and actresses spend hours reading and rehearsing their parts. The end result is usually picture perfection.

Rehearsals build confidence and reduce the chance of stage fright rendering a star tongue-tied or worse. Why should you use their techniques when preparing for an interview? Because these days, getting a job or internship takes more than weaving through books, Internet resources and magazines for tips on dressing for success, preparing a killer resume and the most-frequently asked interview questions. Sometimes, the clincher can be in one of the best-kept secrets of interviewing: the dress rehearsal.

This best-kept secret to preparing for an interview can unlock employment doors for almost anyone. It will work wonders if you are shy, a first-time job holder, or if you have a lisp (as I once did) or other speech challenge that makes you reluctant to speak. Interviewing skills will stick with you through your adult life. Learn them now in high school, use them while looking for a part-time job in college, then brush up on your technique as you interview for your first career move.

Practice makes interviews perfect. I began rehearsing for interviews more than 15 years ago while seeking my first career-related position. Preparing for an interview by using some of my college journalism-class techniques was perfect. It worked; I landed the job. Since then, I have successfully accepted 90 percent of the jobs I have wanted.

Here are some steps preparing for an interview.

Job Interview Tips

1. Study your script. First, develop a resume. Even if you’ve never worked, put together a resume detailing your volunteer activities including church or other religious activities, Boy or Girl Scouts, even your volunteer tutoring. Next, walk through your resume noting the key points of former positions and how they relate to the job for which you will be interviewing. Never lie on a resume; that will only backfire in the end.

2. Dress the part. A play’s dress rehearsal is performed in full garb. This helps in seeing how the clothes will feel as they move about a stage. The morning of your meeting is often too late to handle emergency sewing or clothing switches. Chances are that changes will cause stress that could hinder your interview performance. Girls: change your low-cut top for a simple sweater or basic blouse. Wear a neat skirt or attractive pair of pants; switch from your large hoop earrings to something smaller. Guys: wear a tie if appropriate. Choose dark pants over baggy jeans, and switch your old athletic shoes for a basic dress shoe.

3. Develop a list of possible interview questions and your responses. Perhaps the most intimidating part of an interview is worrying about the questions you will be asked. Jump this hurdle by preparing a list of questions that may be asked, and your responses to them. Perhaps the job you’re seeking requires a skill that either you don’t have (such as specific word-processing skills) or do not perform well. The question might be “What is your skill level on XYZ software?”

Instead of sweating this one, try answering like this: “I have an aptitude for software packages. I believe I would be able to learn XYZ very quickly.” If you love surfing the Internet, but don’t know a clue about word processing, be brave enough to say so. An employer may be willing to invest time in helping you learn these skills.

4. Develop a list of questions you want to ask. Be prepared to ask questions, such as the hours you will work and the company’s expectations. If you’re interviewing for a job in which you’ll be replacing someone else, ask why that person resigned.

5. Practice until it’s perfect. Grab your resume and sample questions, and do a mock interview. First, rehearse walking through your resume, defining your responsibilities and reviewing your answers.

Second, find a mirror and practice in front of it. Practice smiling and making eye contact as you answer questions about yourself, previous employment and school activities. Rehearse pausing; if you talk fast, get tongue-tied when nervous, stutter or have other lingual challenges, pausing is a must. Practicing pausing will force you to slow down and speak more clearly.

Then, find a mock interviewer. Recruit a family member to play both a congenial interviewer who puts you at ease and a interviewer who is pressed for time and appears difficult to please. Practicing interviewing with both extremes will make you better prepared to handle either interviewer — and anyone in between.

6. Work the audience. Your interview will be a tragedy if you don’t remember the basics: arrive on time, shake hands, use eye contact, smile, sit properly, watch your language (drop the slang), ask questions and send a follow-up response. During the actual interview, you may determine that you really want the position. Let the interviewer know that. Then, exit stage right.

Even if you’re hired on the spot, remember to send a “thank you” letter to everyone you met. Chances are that while awaiting a call back, you will wonder whether all your practice was worth it. If it increased your confidence, diminished your stage fright and made you a better-prepared applicant, than it was worth the effort. Even if you didn’t get the job, at least you’ll be ready for your next performance.

Job Interview Tips: Questions & Answers

Practice these tough interviewing questions, and follow our advice for answers.

Q: What do you consider a job like this to entail?

A: “From my experience, such a job entails...” Fill in the blank using words from the advertisement you answered or from your own understanding.

Q: For what salary are you looking?

A: “Based on my experience, qualifications and the requirements of this position, I am seeking a salary in the range of ...” If you give your interviewer a salary range, make sure it is feasible and contains your actual expectations. As a student, you may only be offered minimum wage. But remember, the skills from this job can help you for many years. If you’re asked this question now or in the future, put your answer in terms of the job’s requirements, current pay scale throughout the industry, your current pay or the advertised salary.

Tip: Don’t bring up salary in the first interview.

Q: Why do you want to leave your current position?

A: “I am looking to increase my knowledge of XYZ.” Or: “I’m looking for a position with greater responsibility.” Try not to answer based on money or in terms of personality conflicts with your current boss.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: Answer this in terms of the position or career requirements, not your hobbies. And cover some of the following points: communication and people skills, computer skills, time or project management, team spirit and flexibility.

Q: What are your weaknesses?

A: Answer this as positively as possible.

Q: Where do you plan to be in the next three, five or 10 years?

A: “In the next two years, I plan to have completed college and be in a position of greater responsibility as a meeting planner, perhaps even as a supervisor.” This answer is great if you’re interning at a company and would like to work there after you graduate from high school or college. Always answer this question in terms of personal growth and development consistent with the position for which you are applying.

Preparing for an interview can be stressful.  Following these job interview tips will help to to be more relaxed and confident.  

Writing Fiction

He was going to be a scientist. A paleontologist, in fact. Sure he loved to write, especially science fiction, but everyone said you can’t support a family as a science fiction writer.

Besides, Robert J. Sawyer wanted to be a paleontologist since he could say the word. He’d been writing fiction his whole life, but that interest would wane over time, no doubt. But he also knew that he’d regret it if he didn’t try writing fiction as a career.

Writing scripts for auto-safety films might not get him the Pulitzer, but it would let him write and let him make a living. It’s evident Sawyer made the right decision as he modestly mentions his six-figure salary and that it’s more difficult to get work as a paleontologist than as a writer in Canada.

Science Fiction Writer

Sawyer is a science fiction writer, a career choice that often serves as the punchline in jokes. But he would rather read an Arthur C. Clarke book than watch a Star Trek marathon (although he fell in love with science fiction with the original Star Trek series).

After graduating high school with one short story already published in a university’s literary magazine, Sawyer went to Ryerson University in Toronto to study the radio and television arts. He knew it would be difficult to find work writing, but he assumed that his skills combined with his major would assure a future of employment.

He found his plans thwarted this time by a recession and hiring freeze in 1982 – just when he was graduating. So his writing went from a daydream to his life’s work. He worked as a freelance print journalist for a computer newsletter. He found the freedom of freelancing pleasant.

Many years and 14 novels later, Sawyer still works writing fiction from his La-Z-Boy recliner with a keyboard resting in his lap and rock specimens, reproductions of ancient skulls and shelves of awards around him. His bosses are temporary, as he has a different contract for every book he’s to write, although he’s been with the same publisher, happily, since 1996.

Typical day of a science fiction writer

Sawyer starts his days reading his e-mail messages, responding to fans and those with questions about his books. Then he reads. A lot. “It’s the best way to learn about your craft,” he says. Sawyer spends the rest of his day writing fiction or revising on his own schedule.

He works 40 hours a week, but since he can choose his own hours, he usually starts in the afternoon and works through the evening. The negative sides of this seemingly ideal situation? “You have to have discipline,” Sawyer warns. “Even without a boss there, you have to get your work done.” Sawyer adds that a freelance science fiction writer must be comfortable with solitude. “There’s no hanging around the water cooler.” Additionally, financial security can be scarce even for successful writers like Sawyer, because there is a long time between paychecks.

And although writers often work alone, their final products are very public. “If you write a novel, you have to sit still for whatever reviews you get…and every now and then, one comes along that’s really nasty,” he says. “You just have to take it.”

The perks of the job more than make up for the hassles in Sawyer’s opinion. Like traveling at other people’s expense. (He’s been to Spain, Japan and the Yukon Territory in this past year.) Flexible hours are a great perk, too. After all, he got to see the afternoon premiere of the Harry Potter without fear of missing work.

Is writing fiction for you?

Sawyer has received more than 100 rejections for his short stories, which is not unusual; but he has never had a novel rejected, which is. Sawyer predicts a decline in the field as fewer people read books, opting for movies, television, radios and computers instead. He has been forced to cater to a mainstream audience, but he has no regrets.

He’s learned that more creativity is necessary for a science fiction writer to succeed than they might expect, because of having to tone down science fiction elements to please critics. “Too many aliens can alienate,” he jokes. Sawyer says students looking to be writers shouldn’t be discouraged, though he’d recommend they study something other than writing at university—not to have a back-up plan, but rather to have a starting point.

The way John Grisham knows law and the way Michael Crichton knows medicine are perfect examples of how backgrounds other areas prove useful in writing. Sawyer himself has returned to his paleontology interests with his novels Far-Seer, Fossil Hunter, Foreigner and End of an Era, all of which are dinosaur-based stories. He says that researching science, philosophy and ethics is part of the thrill of his job.

Sawyer intends to keep writing as long as possible, noting another benefit to a career in writing: no mandatory retirement age. “They’ll have to pull my keyboard from my hands as they lower me into the grave,” he jokes. Or maybe only half-jokes.

Visit Surf Sawyer’s own extensive Web site at sfwriter.com. For more information on science fiction writing, visit The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's Web site at sfwa.org.

To discover and explore other careers, join Next Step U

Cyber Crime Law Enforcement

The guy thought he could get away with it, buying software or downloading it from the Internet and then selling it to other people as if he owned it himself. This guy sold about a million dollars worth of pirated software online. Then, he sold some to undercover police officers. Oops. The police caught the criminal, then Susheel “Sush” Gupta and the Canadian Department of Justice came on the scene.

It reads like a Nancy Drew novel: crime spanning international borders, government police working together around the world and using technology to track criminals down to their desks.

This is the career of Gupta, who is a federal prosecutor specializing in computer crime for the Canadian Department of Justice. Previously, criminals of computer-based crimes were fined for their activities. But Gupta, 28, and a colleague helped to raise the bar on sentencing for computer crimes. That software pirate who sold to undercover cops got jail time instead of just a fine.

Typical Cyber Crime Law Enforcement Day

Before tracking electronic evidence, Gupta studied history at the University of Waterloo. He earned a law degree from the University of Ottawa and developed his cyber crime law expertise while interning at the Justice Department. He is now based at the Department of Justice in Ottawa working as a cyber crime specialist.

A day at the Department involves answering calls from police officers looking for advice, “attending a lot of boring meetings” and helping to develop cyber crime  law and materials to educate police and lawyers about the cyber world’s legal issues. Currently, he is also collaborating with the FBI’s white-collar crime centre to develop training materials. Gupta’s job will not be finished anytime soon. Cars have computers in them, palm pilots do and cell phones do, too. “It’s really exciting,” Gupta says. “A lot of this stuff is new, and there’s not a lot of people who have ever dealt with these situations.”

With the relative newness of the Internet, cyber crime law is still being discovered and explored. Because there are few techie-trained prosecutors, Gupta spends much of his time training other prosecutors, police and private-sector people in the ways of cyber criminals.

Gupta’s investigation history includes hunting for hackers, securing search warrants for electronic equipment, digging for electronic evidence and stopping cyber stalkers. He is also helping Canada and other countries develop new laws, and adapt existing ones, to cyberspace. Laws such as whose rules apply to crimes committed online.

Consider this: You spot a stylin’ shirt from an online store based in Miami Beach, Fla., while surfing from your home in Blackstock. You enter your credit card number and begin dreaming of where you’ll wear your new red suede number. Three weeks later and still no shirt, you call the company and learn that it was all a scam. The site had no shirts to be sold, just credit card numbers to pilfer. Whose laws apply in this crime? Will the Canadian police get involved, or will officials in the States be on the case? What about the laws of the city in which the crime was committed? Internet crime pays no attention to international boundaries. That’s where Gupta’s team enters. They decide how to prosecute cyber crime law as it applies to violations committed online, which jurisdiction’s laws should be used and how to gather electronic evidence.

“In the cyber world, it’s much easier to commit a crime in multiple jurisdictions at the same time,” Gupta says. “I send an e-mail to you that’s threatening, it travels from one province to another and one state to the next before it gets to you.” That can make collecting evidence difficult. “We don’t have the right to go to a different country to collect evidence,” he explains. “We have to ask them to find it and give it to us.”

Within a year, Gupta hopes new legal provisions concerning computer crime will be put in place. Even in the high-tech crime world, basic investigation skills are still a hot commodity. “A fraud is still a fraud, whether it’s done in person or over the phone or at a used-car dealership or over the Internet,” he says. “But the impact it could have is new.”

Some people, Gupta says, believe officers constantly police the Internet, watching from afar the activity of the Web. Not true, Gupta says. His job begins only after police bring charges against someone. A computer crime has to be committed and brought to the Justice Department before Gupta can get to work.

When a cyber crime law case does come his way, Gupta helps officers trace criminal activity from the Web site to the very desk from which the crime was committed. “Every time we get on the Internet, we can leave digital footprints where we’ve been,” Gupta says. “Traditionally when officers are doing interviews with people, they’re gathering hard evidence. Now they can look for those digital footprints.”

Many criminals don’t understand that these footprints exist, Gupta says. But that’s how the Internet is built—with logs here and there to keep track of who has been where and when. But like all electronic technology, you hit the “delete” key and the information can be lost forever. Most of the Internet-based crime Gupta sees is fraud—60 to 70 percent of cases, he says. That includes auction sites where people pay for an item they never receive, or situations such as that suede-shirt scam.

How does that work? When we’re on the Internet, our computers leave behind digital footprints—calling cards of the places we’ve been. Software tools and hardware allow federal prosecutors to access e-mails after they’ve been deleted, Web sites and chat rooms after they’ve been visited. “Delete doesn’t always mean delete,” Gupta says. That’s because when you delete an e-mail or file, you’re not really deleting anything. Instead, your telling the computer that it’s OK to store something else in the other file’s place. How long that deleted file stays in the computer’s memory depends on how often the server gets erased.

Digital footprints can help law enforcers gather evidence. “Anything they may have done may be, if they get to it quick enough, retrievable,” Gupta says in the case of computer-using criminals. “When you visit a Web site, your computer has an IP address,” he explains. “It tracks the computer addresses of all who looked at the Web sites. You can track visitors, where they’re looking from, etc. We’re able to do the same thing in law enforcement.”

The stats

Hours: Averages 10-hour days, five days a week

Education: Undergraduate degree, 3-year law degree

Special considerations: Be prepared to travel!

Salary: average $50,000 (junior lawyers???)

To discover more about cyber crime laws, computer crime and other careers, visit NextStepU

Trade School Jobs

Have you ever wondered if there are any options after high school other than college and working? Contrary to popular belief, there actually are a wide variety of programs and professional training tracks that you can choose from. Trade schools, for example, are a great option for those lucky graduates who happen to know exactly what jobs they want to do. We asked Ashley Parker, media relations manager for the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), to fill us in on exactly what is a trade school and what trade school jobs might be available.

Ashley, exactly what is a trade school?

Also known as a technical school, a trade or vocational school offers students educational opportunities in specific career fields. A trade school equips students with job-specific technical skills, core academic skills in order to function in the workplace and in routine daily activities, and employability skills (such as critical thinking and responsibility) that are essential in any career area.

There are 16 “career clusters,” or groupings of trade school jobs options, available for students to pursue. These include: agriculture, food and natural resources, architecture and construction, arts/AV technology & communications, business management and administration, education & training, finance, government and public administration, health science, hospitality and tourism, human services, information technology, law, public safety, corrections and security, manufacturing, marketing, STEM, transportation/distribution and logistics.

Where are these programs offered?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares both youth and adults for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities. These careers may require varying levels of education — including industry-recognized credentials, postsecondary certificates and two-and four-year degrees. CTE is offered in middle schools, high schools, area career and technical centers, community and technical colleges, and other postsecondary institutions.

What is the ultimate learning objective for students who attend these programs?

The ultimate objective is to obtain the skills and competencies needed in a particular career field as well as core academic skills and employability. The degree or credentials available for students vary based on the type of program and the requirements of the trade school jobs in that field.

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of attending trade schools?

Unlike a typical four-year university where students don’t have to declare a major program until sophomore or junior year, students at vocational or trade schools usually select a program to enroll into right away. So, for a student who is not yet sure what jobs they want to pursue, this may be a challenging decision to make. For example, if a student enrolls in a paralegal program and then decides in a year to switch to health sciences, it is unlikely that much of their previous coursework will transfer over to the new program.

What do most students generally do after graduating from a trade school program?

This varies widely! Experts are projecting 47 million trade school jobs opening in the decade ending in 2018. About 1/3 of those jobs will require an associate’s degree or certificate, and nearly all will require real-world skills that can be mastered through CTE. The majority of trade school graduates go on to obtain jobs in a career that corresponds to their program of study.

What is a trade school better suited for as opposed to a 4-year program?

There are numerous advantages for students. A trade school offers degrees and credentials that take a shorter period of time; some consisting of a few weeks, while some take up to two years. A student spends less time in school and is able to enter the workforce more quickly. CTE schools are also less costly than their 4-year counterparts. Students are exposed to and able to interact with their career field in meaningful ways through internships, hands-on learning in the classroom or apprenticeships, where students in 4-year schools are often unable to pursue internships until sophomore or junior year.

Another benefit is that many trade schools have articulation agreements with the local 4-year university, so a student can continue to pursue higher education in a particular field by linking an associate’s degree or credential earned at trade school with a bachelor’s program.

Where should high school students go to find out more about  trade school jobs and programs they are interested in?

High school students considering a trade school should look for schools with strong ties to the local industry and business community. Search through advisory councils, internship/apprenticeship opportunities and faculty. Focus on the numerous programs offered in career fields that are in-demand or projected to grow, and programs that offer rigorous academics. Ask to speak to program faculty, tour facilities and inquire about job placement prospects for graduates.

Parker offers some words of encouragement for the graduating classes to come: “The most important thing is for a student to make the best choice for his/her career goals.”

For more information about career and technical education, visit the ACTE website at www.acteonline.org. We hope you will consider trade schools as a great alternative — both competitive and applicable, not only for your career, but also as you begin to enter the world as an independent, successful adult.

Sarah Girouard recently received her master’s in education from Nazareth College (www.naz.edu) and plans to teach high school English.

Building a Resume Tips

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again — colleges like to see their applicants do more than just excel in school. They like to see involvement in extracurriculars, participation in the community, an active volunteering streak, or maybe even a combination of all three! It can get exhausting to try to get all of the bases covered, but it can also be fun. Building a resume begins with creating experiences worth writing about.

Try these five steps to building a resume that works for you;

Choose activities that will look good and be fun for you. This may sound like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised to hear how many students put themselves through extracurricular horrors in the name of building a resume. Don’t do it! If you hate writing, don’t participate in the student newspaper. If you can’t tolerate sports, don’t volunteer to be a team booster. Remember, if you loathe your extracurriculars, you won’t enjoy them and — even worse for resumé-building purposes — your participation in them will be miserable and any leadership positions will pass you by.

Don’t be afraid to try new or unconventional things. Just because you haven’t tried something doesn’t mean you won’t like it. If you’re having a hard time thinking of groups you’d like to join, go with something you’ve never done before. Or, try something that might not immediately seem like the perfect fit for your personality or skills. Go to a few meetings, participate in a few events and see if it clicks. If it does, you’ve found a new hobby! If it doesn’t, you’ve learned what you don’t want to do and can try your luck with another group. Don’t worry; you’ll eventually find something and it’ll be truly enjoyable because you took the time to really find out what motivates and interests you.

Don’t overdo it. While some students struggle to find a few extracurriculars that interest them, you might find yourself on the other side of the coin: having way too many extracurriculars on your plate. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself involved in the student newspaper, yearbook, choir, drama, chess club, math club, team booster…and that’s just on Tuesdays! While keeping yourself busy is a good thing, it’s never a good idea to be so busy that you can’t devote enough time to each of your activities or to your schoolwork. Colleges would rather see extended, consistent commitment to a few groups than superficial participation in many.

Be consistent. Once you’ve found the groups you want to get involved in, be consistent in your participation. Attend meetings, volunteer for events, ask for greater responsibilities and lead committees. Not only will this keep you abreast of what is happening in the group, it will also help in building a rapport with the rest of its members, which will, in turn, make it easier for you to secure leadership positions down the line.

Aim to lead. This should be the eventual goal of your participation in any student group, at least as far as resumé-building goes. While colleges like to see consistent participation in your groups, they like to see evidence of leadership even more. Once you’ve been in a group for a year or more, start thinking about which positions you’d like to campaign for and obtain during your junior and senior years. Don’t just be a part of a group — help keep it going in the right direction!

Building a good resume is easier and more effective if you choose activities that catch and hold your interest.

Veterinarian Career

Most people see veterinarians as the doctors who take care of our cats, dogs, rabbits or birds. But what many don’t know is that veterinary medicine is a multidimensional and broad medical field. We asked Dr. Bennie Osburn, interim executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and former dean of UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine (www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu), to fill us in on what he feels a rewarding and fascinating veterinarian career is all about.

Veterinary Medicine

What exactly does veterinary medicine mean?

“It is considered the most diverse and comprehensive of all health professions,” says Dr. Osburn. “Veterinary medicine covers the health and welfare of all domesticated and wildlife species, whether those animals live on land or in water.”

But veterinarian medicine isn’t just for animals. Dr. Osburn explains that we are closely linked to our furry friends. “A veterinarian career extends to agriculture, food production and environmental systems that affect the health of both animals and people.” Veterinarians even play a role in controlling diseases that could jump from animals to people by overseeing the safety of the food that we eat.

So what exactly does it take to become a veterinarian?

The first step is deciding which specific part of veterinary medicine you are most interested in. “The majority of veterinarians work in companion animal practice (with family pets)” explains Dr. Osburn, “followed by large animal practice (farms, ranches, etc.). Others work for federal and state regulatory agencies, and some focus on veterinary research.” This broad range in specialization options stems from the field’s firm study of scientific and medical background. Having that foundation allows those going into a veterinary career to spread across varying responsibilities.

Dr. Osburn advises students considering this field to invest in science and math within higher education. “Almost all colleges of veterinary medicine will require similar prerequisites, but aspiring students should be aware of the specific requirements of their program.” He suggests visiting individual CVM websites or even the AAVMC website (www.aavmc.org) for more details.

Common prerequisite classes include:    

-Math (for quantitative studies, business, and formulation of physiological and chemical information)

-Chemistry (especially biochemistry for understanding the basis of physiological and pharmacological interactions)

-Biology and general sciences (for understanding animal and plant characteristics and interactions)

-Physics (for understanding applications of technology for imagining, diagnostics, and structure/function relationships)

These prerequisite classes can be taken at the high school level, but typically, it takes about three to four years beyond high school to complete a thorough study in these courses. Dr. Osburn specifies that “all US veterinary college programs leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM or VMD) are four-year programs at this time.” There are also advanced studies available beyond the college level, which could lead to a master’s or doctoral (PhD) degree for those interested in in-depth, discipline-based degrees under the broad umbrella of veterinary medicine.

Whichever specific aspect of veterinary medicine you choose, the motivating passion for caring for and improving the lives of animals and people alike is what makes a veterinarian career truly rewarding and valuable.

How to Get a Job and Keep it

Five weeks into my first part time-job, I got the call nobody wants to receive. My boss got right to the point, “I have to let you go, it’s not working out. You’re a good kid, but….”

I’d been fired. Epic fail!

At the time, I had no clue how to keep a job and be a good employee. The truth is, many teenagers haven’t been taught what to expect in the working world. Here are some tips for success in your first part-time job!

Know why and where you want to work

Is this your first part-time job? Are you looking for a part-time job to help pay for college expenses, or transportation? You may need to work a certain number of hours every week. If you are just looking for extra spending money, you may be able to work a few hours per week. In other words, know what you plan to earn money for before you decide where to apply! Many teens choose to work in restaurants, retail, theatres or simple office jobs. In fact, these are the most common areas where teens will work.

How to get a job with future benefits

However, you can benefit from finding work relevant to your future career interests. If you know what majors or field you are interested in, look for jobs related to that area. Thinking about becoming a teacher? Consider working in a day care, babysitting or tutoring to earn extra cash and get the experience of working with younger children. Medical oriented students might look into possible jobs at a hospital or medical office. Check for age requirement and specific areas of employment for young people. Perhaps you love to work with animals and dream of being a zoologist or veterinarian. Check your local pet store, shelter, zoo or vet’s office for employment opportunities. Let potential employers know your interests and life goals and they may be more willing to give you a try!

Be wise when choosing jobs

Make sure your skills match the employer’s expectations. If the job is in a fast-paced environment like a restaurant, make sure you are a suitable fit. Do you want to work on your feet, or do you want to sit in an office? Think about what you enjoy in life. Start with those jobs first. Don’t be afraid to try something new if it dovetails with your passion.

Making a first impression: interview tips

Jacob, general manager of a Mexican fast food restaurant, has owned and managed several restaurants over the past 35 years. “Future performance is based on past behavior,” he states. “You are always being evaluated long before you put in an application. If you come in for an application and then ask for a pen to fill out your paperwork, or my phone to check your contact numbers, that shows me you are not prepared for this job.” It pays to come in ready and equipped to make a good impression.

You may not need a suit and tie or dress when applying for a restaurant or retail job, but your clothes do need to be neat and appropriately professional. Leave the baggy pants or wrinkled T-shirts at home, even if that is what everyone else is wearing. You are asking an employer to put their trust in you. Present yourself as someone capable of being part of their team.

“Try to convince the person you interview with that you will benefit the company,” David Clarke, owner of Buon Giorno coffee house in Grapevine, Texas, suggests. “I need to know you are not just collecting a paycheck. Don’t ask about money first. I know you want to get paid, but I want to know how much you are willing to give. I will cut off an interview when asked that question.”

Being a great employee: How to Keep a Job

Knowing how to get a job is great, but learning how to keep a job may be just as important. Teen workers are an indispensable part of America’s workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 80 percent of teens will hold a job before leaving high school. Understanding how to get that important job and keep it is essential to meeting your life goals.

Clarke is extremely picky about whom he hires. He’s only had to fire two or three employees during the five years his coffee house business has been opened. “It’s not just about earning money,” he says. A prospective employee’s main reason for working here needs to be showing love, respect and service to your co-workers, the business establishment and especially your

community.”

Employers look for people who are hardworking, dependable, responsible and honest. Yet, they also want workers who care about their establishment and want to see it be successful. Such employees are there on time, ready to work and help make that business thrive. These workers get the better raises and promoted to higher positions. There are also a few other things to keep in mind when taking on a job.

“I’d like them to be aware of their approach to the working world,” Jacob says. “Some young people may just want gas or spending money, but it’s a livelihood to most of the other workers. This is not a game. It’s a serious activity. I want them to take that to heart.”

Whatever the job you are seeking, be sure to keep a professional attitude and take it seriously. Of course you want the paycheck, but the lessons learned and life skills obtained when working in the community are indispensable. Clarke adds, “They need to know they are not just doing me a favor, but themselves a favor by taking pride in the work they do here.”

You are important

Many establishments depend on teen workers. Yes, it often begins with minimum wage, but if you work hard, the raises will come and so do promotions.

Those who join the workforce early are more prepared to attend college and able to take on the heavy workload. They also are ahead of their peers who wait until after graduation to start finding jobs. Colleges, as well as future employers, look for those who are hard workers and take on responsibility well. Are you ready for the challenge?

How to Find the Right Career

Q: Should I choose a career because of job outlook—even if I think I’ll hate the work?

A: What’s hot and what’s not predictions of supply and demand, outlook, or descriptions of futuristic careers are not reliable, nor realistic. But, inter-networking and interpersonal networking will provide data needed to set career field and job function goals.

Remember…

• If you can describe a job, you might someday get that job.

• If you’ve met someone with a job you would like, you can someday get that job.

• The more people you meet in career fields of interest, the more likely you will succeed in those fields.

These three statements provide realistic and time-tested approaches to how to find the right career (what career to choose) and goal articulation. Today, learning about career fields, jobs and educational requirements, is a point and click away.

If you’re wondering how to find the right career for you, Enter any career related phrase, including those you hear about in “top fields” and “future careers” articles, into Google, Yahoo, Bing or Ask. As you read downward look inward and think about values, interests and personality traits—not about outlook. Soon, you will be able to state: “The more I read about [insert three fields], the more I want to meet someone in these fields?”

Soon after inter-networking, conduct interpersonal networking. This involves e-mail communiqués, reviews of profiles on career websites, as well as in person or phone interactions.

Networking via “information conversations” is how you learn about career and educational biographies. The last question you should always ask is: “Can you suggest two or three persons I can talk to about their backgrounds?”

Once you have role models, you can follow in their metaphorical footsteps and the path becomes so much clearer. While you should envision weeks, months and years ahead, don’t try to control the future. Take steps that involve continued cyber sleuthing, networking for information and inquiry to potential internship sites or formal application for hire.

Introspection and information yield goal clarification! Soon, you will know what career to choose!

Through books, articles and counseling, Burt Nadler, a career services professional, inspires high school students, college students and others to clarify, articulate and, step by step, to attain career, academic and personal goals.

Women in Science

Nerd. Geek. Smarty pants. You’ve heard them all. And you have powered through, holding strong to the knowledge that girls can do anything. So what is next? If the research is correct, a science, technology, engineering or mathematics career is waiting for you!

In 2012, the Girl Scouts of America revealed research that shows women are nearly half (48 percent) of the United State’s workforce, but they are underrepresented in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Interestingly, employers are vying for women graduating from STEM programs and, overall, women in STEM careers are better compensated than in other fields. So why aren’t more girls heading into this field?

STEM Careers

Much of the discussion surrounding women in STEM careers centers on concerns that girls in grade school are discouraged from making science and math a priority. However, it seems that groups like the American Association of University Women, the Society of Women Engineers and even President Obama’s Council on Women and Girls are trying to change that thinking. What should you know? Read on for the basics.  

Where to start

Colleges across the country have programs designed to assist women into STEM careers. Many four year schools offer everything from summer camps to workshops to assist you with an understanding of the course requirements you will need to pursue a career in one of the STEM fields.

For example, Karen A. Full, director of undergraduate admissions at Kettering University (kettering.edu) says, “Kettering University offers a two-week experience for high school juniors called LITE (Lives Improved Through Engineering) that teaches girls how engineers apply science, math and technology to finding solutions to human problems.” Also take advantage of career fairs at school, inquire about job shadowing with your guidance counselor and try to explore many different fields before you choose a college major.

Types of STEM careers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012) confirms that STEM fields are expected to add 2.7 million new jobs by 2018. Don’t think you will be stuck in a lab with test tubes all day if you choose a STEM career (unless, of course, you want to be in a lab). Think about collaborating with others and working as a team to invent the next hydrogen powered car or iPhone app. If you like art, consider the field of animation, illustrating or cartooning. Full also shared that “attending a cooperative education university can help students find the right field as well.” Students can apply what they are learning in school to real-life settings in the professional world and use that knowledge determine if a particular discipline is the right fit for them.

The right fit for women in science

Finding the right career path is difficult, but assistance from a mentor can be helpful. Carole Vogt, associate principal engineer — packaging, has had a few mentors in her decade-long career at Kraft Foods. Presently, “my mentor is also my boss who helps me maneuver through the business side of things,” Vogt shared. “His assistance has helped me gain confidence in my problem solving and technical skills, and his advice allows me to fine-tune different aspects of my position, such as presentations and clear, concise directions.”  

The bottom line

There is more opportunity than ever for young women in science to pursue and succeed in a STEM career. Start by identifying which jobs and skills appeal to you and then actively pursue mentors to guide you toward your goals and interests. With a dedication of time and effort, as well as assistance from a guidance counselor and a college admissions professional, you’ll find yourself headed for success!

Kelli O’Connor is a freelance writer in Rochester, N.Y.

Occupational Therapy Programs

Think about the activities you do every day: taking a shower, surfing the internet, driving to a friend’s house. Imagine you couldn’t do them by yourself.

Occupational therapists work with people who have these challenges and help them live on their own. Some of their patients have disabilities or were injured in accidents.

Therapists figure out how to treat patients so they can go about everyday life independently. That could mean teaching someone how to use a walker after having hip replacement surgery or helping a teacher plan lessons for a student with autism.

Occupational therapy is a diverse field. Practitioners work in patients’ homes, offices, schools and hospitals. It’s a rewarding profession for those who enjoy helping people.

“You would not believe how disheartening it is for someone to not be able to wash their own hair because they just had a stroke,” says Jamie Morris, who has a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Loma Linda University (www.llu.edu).

A master’s degree is required to be an occupational therapist, but you can work as an occupational therapy assistant if you have an associate’s degree.

Occupational Therapy Career: A job with variety

“We have such a broad scope of practice that there’s something for everyone,” says Karen Jacobs, a clinical professor in the occupational therapy department at Boston University (www.bu.edu). Practitioners can work full-time or part-time and build flexible schedules.

Occupational therapists work with babies, the elderly and everybody in between.

Jacobs, who has studied how students use computers, says she might teach a child how to set up his laptop. She also gives advice to parents, like pointing them to a software program that prompts kids to take breaks to stretch while using the computer.

As the population of the United States ages, experts predict an increased demand for occupational therapists who work with older adults. Jeremy Furniss of Ergo Solutions, a company that specializes in rehabilitation of people who are at least 65, says he can’t find enough qualified occupational therapists to hire.

Typical day in an occupational Therapy career

Therapists with Ergo Solutions, which is based in Washington, D.C., work with patients who have been released from hospitals, but need help living independently. They might not be able to cook or get dressed without assistance.

Therapists there have seven or eight patients each day. Treatments are designed for individual patients based on their limitations and goals. “Some of the treatments could be in the kitchen cooking,” says Furniss, the company’s vice president of operations. “Some of them could be in the swimming pool. Some of them could be on horseback.”

Furniss says therapists at his company spend about 80 percent of their time working one-on-one with patients.

A promising career

An occupational therapy career may be a good option if you want to work in health care, but don’t want to be a doctor. About 109,000 occupational therapists worked in the U.S. in 2010, and about 145,000 are expected to be needed in 2020.

Therapists need to be good listeners and able to connect with people because they have to motivate patients to accomplish difficult tasks. Creativity also helps.

“I think it’s one of the most creative fields within health care and within medicine because each therapy is individualized for each patient,” Furniss says. Many get into the field after seeing an occupational therapist help a friend or relative. That was the case for Morris, who volunteered at a foster home for infants with health problems when she was in high school. One of those babies was born with several illegal drugs in her body and suffered a brain injury after being shaken by her birth mother.

Morris’ family eventually adopted that infant and an occupational therapist helped the little girl learn to crawl and talk. “We got to watch firsthand what therapy can do,” Morris says. She studied psychology at Regis University (www.regis.edu) before earning her master’s degree in an occupational therapy program.

Jacobs says graduate students in occupational therapy programs have bachelor’s degrees in a wide range of majors, from social work to marketing. Master’s degree programs include a combination of classes and fieldwork experiences in which students work with real patients.

Occupational therapy is an attractive field for students looking for a career that allows for a balanced life, Jacobs says. “Every day, you get to wake up and go to work and feel really good about yourself,” she says. “You’re impacting a person’s life.”

Rebecca VanderMeulen has a degree in journalism from American University

(www.american.edu).

Education required:
Master's degree in occupational therapy

Licenses: Required in each state

Median salary: $72,320

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics