Health Care Bill Lets Graduates Stay on Parents' Plans

Health care bill brings good news for college graduates, at least for now

For graduating seniors without immediate plans for employment or further education, the scramble for health insurance is over. The sweeping health care reform bill, which was passed by Congress on March 21 and signed by President Obama on March 23, requires insurance companies to allow children to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until they turn 26, as long as their place of employment does not offer coverage.

Though elements of health insurance reform have different implementation dates that stretch until 2018 — the requirement that insurance companies accept customers with preexisting conditions goes into effect in 2014, for example — regulations requiring that insurance plans treat children up to 26 as eligible dependents goes into effect in September, six months after the bill’s signing.

For many seniors, this is a welcome change. Most students interviewed for this article said they are currently covered by their families’ insurance plans.

Meredith Bock ’10 said she plans to take advantage of the change after completing a one-year fellowship with Project 55, which connects graduating seniors and recent graduates with fellowships in the nonprofit sector, at the University of California, San Francisco Breast Care Center.

Bock will have health insurance from Project 55 but said she plans to stay on her mother’s insurance plan when she attends medical school after the fellowship.

Bock added that she thinks the changes might have the biggest impact on “the people who are going straight into the workforce, who might not be making very high pay at first.”

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

Poll: Does the recent health care bill really help college students/grads?

There's been a lot of talk about the recent health care reform bill that was passed. Health care will undergo a major overhaul as the reform bill was signed into law after the House voted 219-212 last week.

But what do you think? Will it really help college students/grads?
Vote and comment on this everybody!

Interviews - 10 Do's and Don'ts

A job interview is a daunting task, but one that can be conquered!

A job interview is not something many look forward to. Many job seekers are thrown off by some interview questions, they might make a mistake with their body language, or they just cannot portray themselves as a strong job candidates. This video will teach you the 10 Do's and Don'ts of job interviews which includes body language correction, how to give good answers during the interview, and how to show that you are the ideal candidate for the job.



Done watching the video? Why not subscribe to our free newsletter to get more resources?

Don't see the video? Then click here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ucmfPOBV8

Resumes: 5 Great Tips to Organize Your "Education" Section

Reprinted with permission from http://theessayexpert.com/

The first thing to know about your Education section is that it probably goes FIRST on your resume (after your header of course). Why? Because it’s what you’ve done most recently, so it is most relevant to your potential employer. (There may be limited exceptions to this rule for recent graduates who have an extensive and relevant work history. If you think you are one of those people, ask an expert for advice.)

The following are five useful tricks for organizing your Education section – so you pack in lots of information without taking up half the space on your resume:


1. What should the basic format be?

a. List your educational institutions in reverse chronological order, just as you do with your employment history.

b. The most important part of each school section is the name of the school you attended. Put it in bold and/or Small Caps, followed by the city and state. Use the same format you use for your employers.

Graduate Resume Writing Services | Get a resume that gets you hired…Learn more
(get 5% off by using the coupon "newgrad5off")

c. Next put the degree you received. If you are anticipating a degree, write “Candidate for B.A,” “B.S. expected,” or “M.A. anticipated.” Fill in the appropriate degree of course.


2. Do I need a separate line for my GPA and for each of my honors?

If you need to save space, there is no need to put your GPA and honors all on separate lines. You can combine these onto one line, and you can even put them on the same line as your major. How you combine things will depend on how much room you have on other lines. Here are some possibilities:

a. BA in Political Science, cum laude, 2006 (GPA: 3.41)

b. Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, concentration in Psychology, May 2005

Major GPA: 3.73; Cumulative GPA: 3.68

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page

Your LinkedIn *Status Bar* - Tips for Job Seekers

Reprinted with permission from http://theessayexpert.com/

There are numerous ways to use your LinkedIn status bar effectively, but what if you’re looking for a job? What’s the best way to handle your status updates?

If you are a job seeker and want recruiters to find you on LinkedIn, you might fall into one of two categories:

1. You are currently employed. (In this situation, you might not want your employer to know that you’re looking for a job.)

2. You are currently unemployed. (In this situation, you do not want to sound desperate as you let the world know you are out of work and looking.)

If you are currently employed?

Never fear! Use your LinkedIn profile to make yourself stand out. Luckily for you, recruiters do not just browse the profiles of the unemployed. They have a time-honored tradition of finding not-completely-happily-employed people and enticing them to move elsewhere!

The good news for you? Your task is simple. Just write a great profile. Keep your status bar updated with interesting business news that will catch potential clients’ attention or make your boss know you’re doing a great job where you are. You will by default catch recruiters’ attention as they search through LinkedIn! The boss never has to know.

If you are currently unemployed?

Keep your language positive and engaging. Important note: You do NOT have to say anything in your status bar about looking for work! If you just attended a conference, or if you are studying the latest trends in your field, tell us that! Example:

… is ravenously reading up on Health Care reform debate and stimulus package issues.

This job seeker shows anyone who’s looking that she is keeping up to date on current issues in her field. She makes herself marketable that way.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page

8 Stupid Interview Mistakes New Grads Make

Common sense interview mistakes? Not for new grads!

   Share    
This post was written by Julie O'Malley, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com.


College graduates make many mistakes during job interviews due to lack of experience, but some things just stick out. Here are 8 common "stupid" interivew mistakes that college grads make during job interviews. Take some notes and learn!

1. Acting bored or cocky (69%)
This sounds familiar. We had someone interviewing at Pongo recently who seemed pretty good, but two or three people used the word "cocky" to describe the person's attitude. (Our managers, like those at many companies, solicit opinions from everybody who comes in contact with a job candidate, not just those in the interview room – hint, hint.) If you're a new grad, it's important to realize that you may have been the coolest kid on campus a few months ago, but today you’re an unproven beginner. A positive, respectful attitude is one way to set yourself apart. Confident = good. Cocky = bad.

2. Not dressing appropriately (65%)
Your interview attire, like your attitude, says a lot about whether you're serious about proving yourself, or just think you're entitled to the job because you're you. Your clothing should be clean, pressed, and modest. As they say in middle school, no visible boxers, bellies, or boobs.

3. Coming to the interview with no knowledge of the company (59%)
There's no excuse for not researching an organization that's considering hiring you. They have a web site; use it to learn what they do, who they are, what they specialize in. Google the executives' names (after all, they'll be Googling you; see #8, below).

4. Not turning off cell phones or electronic devices (57%)
Frankly, I'm surprised this isn’t No. 1. If you accidentally leave your phone on and it rings during the job interview, don't get flustered and start babbling, "OMG, I can't believe I did that!" Offer a brief, sincere apology, turn off the phone (without checking who it is), then carry on professionally as if nothing happened.

5. Not asking good questions during the interview (50%)
If you don't ask anything, you must not be interested. That's what the hiring manager will assume. This is a place where you supposedly want to spend most of your waking hours for the next couple years or more. You must want to know something. Besides, there are certain questions you should always ask.

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

7 Ways to Stay Motivated During Your Job Search

Motivation is key for job seekers

Recruiters and employers have an uncanny ability to sniff out job seekers lacking motivation. If a job seeker cannot stay motivated during the job seeking process, believe me, a recruiter is going to know about it.

It is important to practice ways to stay motivated and focused during job searching. If a job seeker becomes despondent and lacks positivity when looking for a job, this impression will be communicated in your job application. Remember that even the most self assured job seeker has to continuously push themselves to stay motivated when job hunting. No matter how lengthy or quick it takes you to find a terrific job, every job seeker needs to stay motivated and inspired during this time. Imagine, after you have applied to several job vacancies and still have not heard anything, you are bound to become a little despondent. If you are about to embark on a job search or career change journey remember these simple tips to stay encouraged when looking for a new job.

Top Tips to Stay Motivated When Looking for New Job.

Schedule a Job Search Time Table.
The hardest part of the job search process is staying motivated in your current job. Many job seekers loose drive and focus once they have decided to look for a job. There is no guarantee on the length of time it will take to find a new job. In the mean time you will need to maintain you current roles and responsibilities with the company you are currently employed by. In order to do so Jobs.co.za recommends that you prepare a strict time schedule to stick to. By assigning a specific time in which to run your job searches will encourage a positive job search attitude. Not only will you have allocated time according to your time management schedule to job hunt, but you will also remain focused in your current role.

Set a Time Limit to Your Job Search Sessions.
Stay motivated during your job search by assigning a set time limit in which to process your job searches. It is one thing to leave no stone unturned when looking for a new job, but don't exhaust all of your resources in one sitting. Set a time limit in which to run job searches during for example an hour or two hours a day to run searches. It is not in quantity of job searches where you will find your dream job, but rather through quality job searches. Stay motivated and avoid job search burn out by running quality job searches during a focused time period.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page

More college grads needed, report says

DAYTON — The rate at which Americans complete college degrees falls far short of the nation’s needs and potential.

Currently, 36 percent of Ohio adults ages 25-34 hold an associate or bachelor’s degree, according to figures released Tuesday, March 2, by Complete College America.

According to labor market projections, by 2020, more than 60 percent of jobs will require a college education.

“States need to work harder and faster to educate enough college graduates in order for the country to be able to sustain the vitality that is necessary for local communities, and the economy that results from individuals with college degrees,” said Jamie Merisotis, president and chief executive of the Lumina Foundation for Education.

Lumina is one of five national education foundations announced Tuesday, March 2, to provide $12 million in multiyear support to Complete College America, a nonprofit organization that works with states to increase the number of young adults with college degrees.

The Gates, Ford and Kellogg Foundations and Carnegie Corporation also will provide support.

Ohio is one of 17 states that will form the Complete College America Alliance. The states will set annual degree goals, develop and implement action plans, and publicly report data on their progress.

The alliance will allow Ohio to compare numbers and share experiences and solutions with other states, said Rob Evans, spokesman for the Board of Regents.

States will not receive additional funding as part of the initiative, said Stan Jones, president of Complete College America.

“We’ve all made significant investments in state policy change, and investments in the last year or two in particular in increasing college completion,” Merisotis said regarding the foundations. “This helps to provide some focus for that through Complete College America.”

Was this article useful to you? If so, subscribe to the free New Grad Life Newsletter to get more great articles!


Source:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/more-college-grads-needed-report-says-576861.html

Reporter:
Dave Larsen has covered higher education for the Dayton Daily News since July 2008. He started at DDN in 1990 and previously has served as film critic and pop music critic. Dave graduated from the Boston University College of Communication. He lives near Tipp City with his family and is president of the Southwest Ohio "Kon-Tiki" chapter of the Fraternal Order of Moai.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danzen/ / CC BY 2.0

Resume Promiscuity and Its Hazards

Resume quality, not quantity!

A surprising number of job seekers think the key to getting hired is submitting a resume to as many job openings as possible. They may have no real qualifications for the job, and don't really know anything about the employer, but they apply anyway. And if there are multiple openings at one company? They apply to all of them! Quantity, not quality, baby!

This is what I like to call resume promiscuity, and like that other kind of promiscuity, it's pretty ineffective if your goal is a meaningful, long-term gig.

In fact, sending copies of your generic resume to 100 places is far less likely to get you an interview than sending 5 or 10 targeted resumes to employers you really want to work for (with job openings you're actually qualified to fill).

Professional Resume Writing Services | Get a resume that gets you hired…Learn more
(get 5% off by using the coupon "newgrad5off")

But that means you have to invest some time and effort before you apply. If you take these five steps (which, fortunately, most of your competition won't), you'll greatly increase your chance of getting called for an interview:

1. When you find an opening on a job board, do not just hit the APPLY button and send the resume you uploaded six months ago. Save the posting. Print it out.

2. Make note of the parts of the job description that caught your eye, and the ones that align well with your experience or education. Also, highlight the key requirements and any submission instructions. Those are the things you'll emphasize in your resume and cover letter.

3. Visit the employer's web site. Get a feel for what they do, how they communicate, what values they put forth, and what's been happening in their industry.

4. Look at the About Us page on their site. It may give you insights into the management team and the size and structure of the business.

| 1 | 2 | Next Page

Top 100 Social Sites for Job Seekers

Whether you’re out of a job, a college student just starting out in the real world, or an old pro looking to make the switch to a new field, finding a great job opening in an economy where unemployment is skyrocketing is a tough task indeed. While finding a job may not always be easy, you can help pave the way to success by using some of the great job hunt tools and forums the web offers for those on the hunt for employment. Here you’ll find a list of 100 sites that let you connect with companies who are hiring, others in your field, and potential clients to help get your job search off the ground and your career back on track.

General

These sites cover a lot of ground when it comes to networking and finding a job, so they’re a great place to start.

1. Jobster: Sign up through this site to create a free career profile, allowing you to search for jobs and for employers to find you.
2. JobFox: JobFox is a bit like a dating site, but for jobs, not singles. Create a profile and it will match you up with the job listings you’re best suited for.
3. Monster: As one of the largest job sites on the web, Monster is a great place to start seeing what kind of work is out there.
4. CareerBuilder: Sign up with this site to create and share your resume, search for jobs, and get help and tips with your search.
5. Ning: With Ning, you can search for social networks that meet your interests or if you don’t find one, create your own.
6. FD Career: With this site you’ll create a profile, learn about companies, find helpful articles and join a lively community of professionals.
7. SimplyHired: This site lets you search for jobs from all over the web, then quickly and easily send your stored information to listings that you find interesting.
8. Beyond.com: Find loads of niche career communities on this site, as well as a powerful job search tool.
9. BrightCircles: Stay in touch with your coworkers and business connections using this social network.

10. Koda: Use this site to contact employers you’re interested in working with, look through listings and meet others looking for work.
11. Jobirn: This insider referral network helps give you a leg up in the job search by hooking you up with someone who can actually put in a good word for you and get you job interviews.
12. indeed: Search for jobs worldwide on this site and use it to share and store your work information.
13. Climber.com: If you’re already doing well at work, check out this website that will put you in touch with recruiters and companies looking to hire.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Next Page

4 Career Lessons from American Olympians

Lindsey Vonn: Don’t Stop When it Starts to Hurt

Lindsey Vonn is the first American woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic downhill skiing.

A contender in Torino in 2006, Vonn suffered a terrible crash that sent her to the hospital. She left with pain arching through her legs and back but still competed in five events. She didn’t win any medals in Torino, but the experience prepared her for Vancouver. Suffering a serious shin injury only weeks before the 2010 games, Vonn worked through the pain and roared down the mountain fast enough to win her the gold.

In your own career, you’re bound to encounter some icy patches. Sometimes you’ll be uncomfortable, your career will be inconvenient, you’ll be tired, you’ll be sick, you’ll be sick and tired. But like Vonn, sometimes you have to ignore the pain and put up with the hardship in order to achieve your ultimate career goals. Quitting is easy; fighting through discomfort is a lot harder. But usually, it’s worth it. Just ask Lindsey…

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next Page

Facebook Job Hunting in 3 Steps

College grads are using Facebook day in and day out - but what they don't realize is that their favorite site can be turned into their favorite job search site as well. It seems natural for a college grad looking for an entry level job to use social media for job hunting, but many aren't doing it. The good news is job hunting on Facebook isn't as complicated as you might think. Take a look at these 3 simple steps for a facebook job search. If you have any ideas of your own please do leave a comment.

1) Design a Job Search Friendly Facebook Profile

When building your personal profile, strategically add and organize content with your job search in mind. You can include your resume or networking profile in the “notes” and “information” sections. You can add separate tabs for Slideshare and YouTube to showcase your professional media. You can connect Twitter to your status updates and refer to your expertise in your tweets. If you write a business related blog, you can share your posts with your Facebook friends via an RSS feed.

You also want to strategically exclude content from your profile, if you plan to use Facebook as a job search tool Remove any inappropriate photos and ensure that none of the public profile content is racy or inappropriate - this is even more important for college students.

After you create your job search friendly profile, go to the Privacy Settings area on Facebook and choose preferences that allow you to share the appropriate information with the public, and share the remaining information with just your Facebook friends.

Social network recruiters who leverage social media tools to search for (source) candidates to fill open positions actively use Facebook, so you want to be found. (A recent survey from Jobvite.com, stated that Facebook use among employers grew from 36 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2009.)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page