Fun Without the Funds

1. I will say it again, experience is more valuable than a job that pays minimum wage. Doing something that you love and is relevant to your intended field of interest is appealing to your future employers. Thinking of the future is so important during these times when there is still time to gain experience. Time is valuable, and if you have the time to take an unpaid internship before you graduate, it would be a great opportunity for you to gain that credibility that is harder to gain once you are out of school and there aren’t as many chances to take unpaid internships. Because loan bills will be sent to us as soon as our diplomas are handed to us. But we don’t have to talk about that yet…
   

   Photo by lululemon athletica

2. While a paid internship would be great because it does pay, think of how good it will feel to do something that you enjoy and want to take time out of your schedule to do while not getting paid. There is something that is selfless and fulfilling about volunteering, and that is what unpaid interns are doing, while getting rewards in return that are more valuable to your future. Because while there may be no current benefits, there will definitely be future benefits.
3. Gain skills that are relevant to what you love doing. There are tons of opportunities through universities and the areas around them that offer internships to college students that specifically target students of particular majors. There may be an opportunity for biology majors to do lab work, or an editorial job for English majors. The possibilities are honestly endless, and finding out where these opportunities are comes through networking. Talk to your professors and advisers. They know people who want a student like you to be their intern.
4. Learn how to work in a professional setting, without the pressure of being fired because you are being paid. Depending on who you are working for, unpaid internships don’t carry the weight and pressure of being a paid intern. If anything, the employers will be thankful that you are volunteering your time to work for them. Think of flexible hours, easy-going
   

   Photo by NewsPhoto!

   coworkers, and enjoying going to work. Work should be fun, and this could be a way of learning to love the work without the money.

There has some controversy about unpaid interns in the past few months, like in this article in the NYTimes. But I think that there is still a lot of positive things that we can take from them, even though there is no pay. You can make the call, based on your financial need and your desire for experience. But it’s something to definitely consider, while we have the time during these college years to do something that is beneficial to others and our futures.

Yes please!

It’s important to look nice when asking and turning in an application. These are the employer’s first impressions of you as a hirable employee, so it is important to give them a glimpse into who you are through these first impressions. Men: Wear something decent like khakis and a nice polo or button up shirt, with nice loafers or dress shoes. No suit required. And make sure to trim up that beard, boys… Women: Wear appropriate and business-like clothing such as slacks or a skirt that is at least long enough to hit the knees. Pair this with a blouse and some nice flats or pumps. Men and Women: Stick to dressing in neutral colors—blacks, whites, blues, browns—that  aren’t overwhelming, trim finger nails to an appropriate and professional length and comb hair back and out of your face, so that it is tangle free.

No thank you.

The last thing you would want while asking and turning in an application is for the secretary, employee or manager to think you are unprofessional. It’s definitely better to be safe than sorry with your attire when applying for a job. Men: Avoid jeans, t-shirts and cut off shirts. It would show the employer you are unorganized and unprofessional. Women: Avoid stilettos, tank tops and halter tops. Men and Women: Avoid bright colors and crazy patterns, as well as strong cologne or perfume. When it comes to footwear, avoid athletic shoes or any kind of sandal. You should probably avoid mustard stains as well…

With a professional look and a positive attitude, you should have no problem getting that interview.

But overall, there are just a lot more activities cramped into a smaller amount of time. That is the college life, and we are supposed to deal with it somehow. There are some practical things students can do to balance a life of school, work, sleep and play. So why didn’t they tell us these things before we started this kind of life? Because they say we are supposed to learn on our own.  They are right in doing this. But now I will tell you some things that have been helpful to me on this journey thus far.

Juggling Work, School and Life

1. Addressing procrastination: If I would have realized it was okay to say ‘no’ to friends, then I would have said it a lot earlier and a lot more. But one of the issues (partially) is that there is always a trip to Bubble Tea or another episode of Lost being watched. It’s so easy to make the decision to put off homework until 11 pm. And then when the time comes to do work there is a lack of motivation and an overwhelming presence of drowsiness. For me, the drowsiness usually trumps the little motivation that is there and I submit to defeat once more. The moral of the story is, just say ‘no’ when you know you should go do what needs to be done.
2. Having a flexible job is extremely helpful when you are a student. During the weeks when classes are heavier, it is reassuring to be able to reschedule work around big exams and study sessions. The flexibility may rest upon the duties of the job, your employer, and other factors. If working for your school, chances are they are going to be more flexible when it comes to your hours and your schedule around high-stress weeks. Even the fact that you are a student should be proof to your employer that you are a student first, but your job is still important to you. All in all, try to find a job with flexible hours in case school gets too heavy.
3. At the beginning of each quarter or semester, create a schedule for classes, work, important events and deadlines. Having this information down in print will be a relief when deadlines are approaching and stress levels start rising. Having a schedule and sticking to it is the goal. If this goal is attained, you have succeeded in self-discipline and organization skills. Juggling classes and work is no easy task, but it is definitely doable.
4. Pencil yourself in. Intentionally take time out of your week for yourself. This time should be spent doing whatever it is that you love, or whatever will keep the big picture in mind. Whether it is going for a run, playing a good game of chess or laying in the grass and looking at the clouds, make that time for yourself during the hustle and bustle of the week that requires more work than play.
5. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Doing this will help you get into a groove for your schedule, regardless of what you have planned for the day.

Best of luck to you on balancing the different aspects of your life. Knowing what your priorities are is key. Do this and you will not have to worry about missing deadlines because another area of your life is too overwhelming.

Cover letters should clearly display a person’s strengths and anything else they would like to stress to employers. When you develop a good cover letter, keep it forever. For convenience’s sake, you will be able to change this letter based off the needs of the position you are applying for. This will save time, and will display all of the gifts you have to offer. Here are a few tips to make sure your cover letter is hiring status—introducing and confirming the employer’s good thoughts about you.

1. Write the correct type of cover letter.

   There are two types of cover letters: A letter of application and a letter of inquiry. A letter of application is used when applying for a specific position that has been advertised. In this kind of letter, be sure to state the source of the position (i.e. Monster Jobs). A letter of inquiry is written when the applicant has no previous knowledge of the employer and is inquiring about information on what positions are available for employment.

2. Don’t be general.

   Address the cover letter to the employee who is making the hiring decision (using the appropriate Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr. titles). If it doesn’t say who this person is in the ad, call the company and ask them what their name is, how to spell it and what their position is. If you aren’t able to locate this person, address it to “Hiring Manager.”

3. Get to the point.

   Employers have hundreds of cover letters to read through, so do them a favor and be concise. Saying something that will catch their attention with all of your abilities, strengths and skills in a small space is challenging—but redraft, reedit, revise—and it will land you a job.

4. Be you.

   Use vocabulary that gets your personality across; do not try to impress the reader by using words that you can’t define. Read over the letter aloud to make sure it flows. And while still displaying personality, triple check grammar and spelling errors. Allow a couple different people to read through and make any necessary edits.

5. Show what you know.

   Adding into the cover letter what you already know about the company and the position will increase your chances of being hired. This will show the employer that you know something about them, the industry, and it will reiterate the fact that you chose them and want to work for them.

6. Ask for an interview.

   You want the interview? Ask for it. This is something that a lot of applicants shy away from. But don’t beat around the bush! Tell them that you are looking forward to meeting them for an interview, with a phone number they can reach you at. This confidence will, again, show the employer that you want the job.

7. Add a P.S.

   This last statement is impossible to ignore. By putting an additional comment at the bottom you are forcing the hiring employer’s eyes to the closing words. This can be an additional reiteration of thanks to them, or  your phone number letting them know they can call you as soon as possible for the interview.

The cover letter is an employer’s introduction to your life and all you can offer to their company. While this can be overwhelming, knowing your personality will be judged based on grammar and content, let the pressure motivate you to follow these suggestions and write a killer cover letter!

I think that most of us could agree, as college students, that we are not in college so that we can earn a job in retail sales. Nothing against the industry—it’s huge and there are a ton of great opportunities with great employee benefits—but it is highly probable that students in college are earning a degree to go towards something else. But I want to point out too that there are some great things about folding clothes and working in a fast-paced environment, that will make students more hirable (and also that retail isn’t just folding clothes). First of all, not every one is cut out for a job in retail. I say this because it is not a walk-in-the-park like high school students make it out to be.

Since it does require hard work, it is a job worth considerably taking this summer. And why would we want a job that requires hard work? Because it is helpful to our resume and our future career.

Retail realities

• According to Wikipedia:

Retailing consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a very fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser.

• Working in retail requires: Hard work (sometimes for little pay), good customer service, problem solving skills
• Retail is the second largest industry in the U.S. Therefore, it’s a huge driving force in the country’s economy and there are a lot of opportunities to receive jobs in the industry.

Rewards of the industry

• Retailers usually offer employee discounts, which are helpful if it is a store that holds a lot of practical items.
• Depending on your status as an employee, whether you are part-time or full-time, retailers offer employee benefits such as vacation time and health insurance
• If it’s a seasonal job, there is no obligation to coming back and you can be up front that you will move on to other opportunities, be them school or a career of your interest.
• The hours are very flexible to change around school schedules (or spontaneous road trips during the summer). Though work is never something that should be blown off, retail is great because it gives employees the opportunity to have a flexible schedule.

*Photo of sign by: sylvar Photo of cash register by: House of Sims

It is usually the final question during an interview. Past experience and employment and the skills gained from those jobs are important. But if you want someone to hire you, you have got to let them know what distinguishes you from the rest and why you will be great in that particular job setting. And answering this question requires that you know yourself. What are you passionate about, and why will you work hard for this job? There are plenty of questions to consider before going into the interview. And here are some ways to go about answering this one.

Three angles to consider

There are three different angles that you should consider when answering this question: the interviewer, yourself, and the position.

1. The interviewer. By answering this question you are giving your opinion and validating the opinion of the person interviewing you, letting them know in summary why you should get the job. The more detail you give to the interviewer, the stronger your answer will be.
2. Yourself. This is one of the last opportunities you have to show them your personality and capabilities. Give direct examples of why you are most eligible for the job, and be positive in showing your interest in the position.
3. The company and the position. Explain how your past job experience has prepared you for this position and this company. Compare the job description with your abilities, showing the interviewer you are highly eligible for this position.

Some Dos and Don’ts

• Do tell them specifically why your past experience has enabled you to do this job
• Do not say simply, “because I need the money.”
• Do not give them a simple answer such as “because I am a hard worker.” Anyone can say this—but how are you set apart?
• Do make a list of your most admirable traits as a worker before you go into the interview—this list will motivate you to give an in depth answer that will satisfy the interviewer

The question doesn’t have to be infamous. It can actually just be an exciting challenge that gives you an opportunity to show why you are even MORE eligible for the job. By giving a clear and thought out answer you won’t have to worry about missing this job opportunity.

There is always the option of hand washing and hanging to dry. Which really is not as bad as it sounds. It can’t be worse than an overflowing dirty clothes hamper, weeks overdue of a wash. But this is what happens when our pockets are dry of quarters. There is always the option of begging, too. But here are some more practical options for getting some short-term work and some quick cash.

• Be first in line to sell your books at the end of the semester—that way they sell for more!
• Sell some clothes at a second-hand store
• Offer to babysit for a friend on a Friday or Saturday night, so they can have a break and you can make some quick cash
• File your taxes and get back any income taxes that have been taken out of past paychecks
• Have someone pay you to file their taxes
• Take part in an on-campus research study that pays people to participate
• Offer to do someone’s chores, in return for a small stipend
• Take back cans and bottles
• Are you crafty? Do you know how to crack an egg and mix? Make things and sell them for cheap
• Sell stuff on Craigslist—it’s the easiest way to make known your uselessness for something and then get rid of it, while putting some cash (or quarters) into your pocket
• Wash cars, mow lawns, weed out yards for families in your neighborhood
• Donate plasma
• Participate in online surveys, answering simple questions, to make quick money through Amazon Mechanical Turk

Most of these suggestions probably will not be able to pay for your tuition. But most of them will get you at least one clean load of laundry. Which is what really matters, right?

*Photo by Ingorrr

Do you despise retail? Monotonous office work? Being mocked by chicken McNuggets at your friendly neighborhood McDonalds? I have good news! A job that is in high demand is being a nanny. Nannies get paid well, they have the joy and pleasure of taking care of someone else’s children, and they learn some life lessons along the way. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tough job. But from the little experience I have with taking care of children, and the stories I have heard from friends who are nannies, it is a job that is more than worth the time, money and hard work. And men, know that this job is not limited to women.

Some prerequisites for the job:

• Being able to withstand long hours with hyper children
• Minimal knowledge of using an oven, microwave and stove to cook
• A foundation of trust with the parents, therefore showing them that you are responsible
• Having the ability to be a disciplinarian when necessary
• CPR training, or willingness to become trained
• Previous nanny experience

The experience needed is heavily dependent on your employer’s desires.

Something that is not necessary (but definitely helpful) is being able to connect with children, not only as an authority but as a friend. This can be accomplished by speaking in a tone you would toward peers rather than children, by speaking to them at their height rather than above them as an authority (but knowing when to be the authority), and assigning them tasks so they feel important and trusted. But let us focus on getting the job first.

Nanny resources

There are a ton of nanny networking websites that allow you to set up profiles and submit applications to agencies and resources available for parents in need of a nanny. Here are a few of the top nanny websites:

• www.nanny.com
• www.nannies4hire.com
• www.sittercity.com
• www.care.com

This is a great job for anyone looking for a full or part-time job during the school year or for this summer. Becoming a nanny is a good opportunity for anyone willing to earn a decent wage and gain some experience that may come in handy in the future with your own children. Remember that there are tons of families in need of someone they can trust with a responsible adult. So if you are up for the challenge, then roll up your sleeves and become a nanny.

1. Understand all perspectives of dorm life by living in the dorms, taking a leadership role in the dorms, then living off campus with people by renting a house. The different relational and financial perspectives gained will bring experience and give credibility.
2. Work multiple jobs during your college years to gain experience in various fields.
3. Intern somewhere that applies to your working field of interest.
4. Form relationships with professors and your school’s faculty. Not only will it give you experience in communicating with a different generation but it will enable you to establish connections and gain insight with intelligent professors and doctors who are there to help you.
5. Join multiple clubs for fun. Being involved in a wide array of activities will extend your interests, and strike up conversation. Bonus: Learn something.
6. Join a club early on that you are serious about, that parallels with your academic interests, and work your way into a leadership or club council position.
7. Know where you live. See the sights and get an understanding for the different ways in which your college home works so that you can seek out more opportunities for internships, relationships or pure adventure.
8. Establish hobbies and be consistent with them. Perseverance in one activity is invaluable, and shows employers you are capable of sticking with a particular activity for a long period of time.
9. Keep a journal to document your progress throughout school, so that you can come out being aware of the ways you grew and how much you learned, beyond just academics. Notifying employers of the growth attained through certain experiences is a definite plus.
10. Employers want well rounded individuals; take a wide array of classes that not only peak your interest, but help you understand how the world works.
11. Apply for scholarships. The more you apply for, the more you will likely win. Winning scholarships is a good resume builder, because employers will see that you are qualified in the eyes of others also.
12. Keep up with the print media and read the daily news. Not only does reading the newspaper give your life context, but it’s valuable to know what is going on during a daily basis.
13. Find out what you think for yourself. If we ask questions and examine all aspects of life, we will be more educated through the processes used in finding our answers and also more prepared to be employed long term.
14. Read blogs! Find out what opinions there are on different issues and see where you fit in to all of it. Being aware is very valuable in an employee, and will help you do your job on a higher level than you would while being unaware of current events.
15. Study abroad.
16. Take a year off. Spend the year building up your experience.
17. Take workshops at your college. Any workshop. Last week I attended a presentation on “Careers in Liberal Arts” which gave me some insight on different liberal arts majors and the occupations that students go on to take. Any presentation or workshop that could be beneficial (which are most) should be taken advantage of!
18. Run a marathon. It’s something besides academics and extracurricular activities that challenges you. (And it’s impressive!)
19. Fail at something. And then learn a lesson through your failure, coming out of it with a great story to tell. Walter Brunell once said, “Failure is the tuition you pay for success.”
20. Volunteer! Volunteer opportunities can be found in many places, and all the better if you can find something that that you can contribute to with the expertise of your major.
21. Become an expert in what you’re interested in. Read books, follow blogs and stay up to date with the news in your field of interest.
22. Use social media to get your name known, and to communicate with others who are doing what you want to do eventually. This can give you opportunities to form relationships early in your career.
23. Take advantage of freelance opportunities from connections who would like to help you, and who need something done that you are capable of doing. And it wouldn’t hurt to make business cards.
24. Make an excellent resume. Use online resources or career center resources at your school.
25. Create a blog to mediate all of your networking and to post questions and issues of your area of interest, starting as early as possible and getting yourself established in your studies when employers search you on Google.
26. Practice people skills. During an interview, personality is a definite factor in the hiring process.
27. Take advantage of free advice (free is relative). Attending college hands these opportunities out freely (again relative).
28. Use your time wisely .
29. Do important things, like study and manage time well, but don’t forget to be a college student and socialize. Learn from experience, not just textbooks.
30. Learn how to socialize in large groups and one-on-one.
31. Meet with your professors if they are willing to meet with students outside of class, use this as an opportunity to be mentored and given advice in academics and life.
32. Don’t settle for the first major that sounds interesting and probably has a high employment rate. Study what you are good at and study what you love.
33. Have fun.
34. Be organized with your accomplishments.
35. Manage a budget so that you aren’t hindered from partaking in beneficial activities because you’ve spent money mindlessly.
36. Be able to tell someone about yourself and how you have grown individually through your time in college and list specific experiences that have helped shape you.
37. Don’t sweat the small stuff. As long as you focus on the bigger picture of graduation and beyond, you will have a larger perspective that employers will appreciate.

Deb: Um, hello. Would you like to look like this?
[holds out a photo]
Napoleon Dynamite: [Napoleon takes the photo and looks at it] This is a girl.
Deb: [Deb continues nervously] Because for a limited time only, Glamour Shots by Deb are 75% off.
Napoleon Dynamite: I already get my hair cut at the Cuttin’ Corral.
Deb: Well, maybe you’d be interested in some home-woven handicrafts?
[Scene continues after Rex Kwon Do TV ad Kip's watching]
Deb: … And here we have some boondoggle key chains. A must-have for this season’s fashion.
Napoleon Dynamite: I already made like infinity of those at scout camp.                                   Deb: I’m trying to earn money for college.

Though making home-woven handicrafts would be quite fun, you don’t have to earn money for college the way Deb chose to. There are other options.

1. Join an on campus group that offers free room & board. A great option for anyone with great leadership abilities who wants to be involved. For example, a Residential Advisor. Look into the benefits of positions on campus that are related to residential life and food services.
2. Attend your campus wide Job Fair: Bring a resume, dress well, and pay for college by working it off through an on or off campus job .
3. The Summer Melt is an opportunity few know about. It’s the time right before fall term when students resign their spots in a university, thus resigning their scholarship money. Writing a letter to your financial aid office asking for more money doesn’t hurt, and usually helps.
4. Write a killer scholarship essay, and use it for multiple scholarship entries. Kill multiple birds with just one sweet stone.
5. Join a free scholarship search service such as Fast web, College Board’s Scholarship Search or Sallie Mae and let them find scholarships for you to apply for.
6. Using Advanced Placement credits towards college means super cheap college credit.
7. Have the government cancel all or part of your educational loans by qualifying for loan forgiveness. To qualify for loan forgiveness you must match the criteria specified by the forgiveness program which can include community service, joining the armed services, and teaching or practicing medicine in certain types of communities.
8. Seek out jobs that pay your college tuition. Three national companies that assist employees towards their education are UPS, FedEx and Home Depot.
9. If you’ve got a knack for writing, or just have things to say that would be useful in any way to others, create a blog and make money through advertisement placed on your website.
10. Host an event (more likely if you are living in a house) and organize a house show with the musicians on campus, or host a Scrabble tournament with incentives. The suggested donation for attending should be posted as anywhere from $1 to $1,000,000.

Save Save Save

1. Accelerate your degree by getting yourself into an accelerated degree program, which cram a semester’s worth of content into a shorter amount of time. In an accelerated degree program, tuition is about half the price of a traditional degree program, while encompassing a greater intensity of work.
2. Bulk up on transfer credits! During the summer, enroll in classes at a community college that will transfer to your university and save you a whole lot of money.
3. Consider transferring into your preferred university after two years, if it is more expensive, while going somewhere else at first. Doing this will allow you to still gain the benefits of your chosen university while also taking away a diploma from the college of preference.
4. Create a budget to calculate the money you spend on coffee, late night fast food runs and other things that are unnecessary. Being able to track your money will help you save and spend responsibly.
5. Keep coupons of local grocery stores and follow weekly sales, avoiding expensive grocers.