Tips for Student Success

Get on a schedule – Make a routine for yourself to help balance homework, friends, family and whatever else you have. Plus, organizing your days will keep you on top of homework assignments and exams.

Be open to constructive criticism – Sometimes its good to get an outsider’s perspective on your work. You don’t always have to agree with the feedback but at least process it and decide whether you agree it is something you need work on.

Take on challenges – Success does not come with out challenges. Put extra effort into your assignments, think deeper when reading for class, engage in lectures and take more time on your next paper to elaborate.

Ask questions – Get a deeper, clearer understanding by asking questions if you have them. It can only benefit your learning!

Have goals – Set a goal for you to stay focused on. Remind yourself daily of your goal to continue moving forward and to stay motivated!

Pros' of a Career-Focused Education

There are many things to consider when choosing a higher-ed school or program. Here are some of the benefits of a career-focused education:

Goal-Oriented – Career schools' offer programs designed to compliment specific interests and skill sets. At Career Quest our class sizes are small enough to allow for interaction and easy communication between the instructor and students. During and after the end of your program we can even help you with your resume and preparing for interviews.

Saves Time – Career programs typically have more start dates thoughout the year than traditional colleges and universities and most programs can be completed in less than 2 years.

Specific Skills – Career programs teach you job-specific skills that will be utilized every day in your career.

Things To Do Before You Graduate

If you’re approaching the end of your program, there are a few things to think about before you move on to life’s next chapter. Here’s 4 must-do’s before you graduate:

Get letters of recommendation – While you’re still a memorable face to your teachers, get a letter of recommendation so you will be prepared to start applying for jobs right after graduation. Although all of our instructors at Career Quest will continue to help you with your job search after graduation, we think its best to ask for recommendations while you’re still having regular interaction.

Get connected on LinkedIn – If you are not on LinkedIn yet, get signed up today. LinkedIn keeps you connected with professors, past employers or other professionals you may lose contact with when moving on to the career world. It’s important to stay in touch with these contacts for future references or possible job opportunities.

Clean-up and update your online image – It’s time to make sure you present yourself as a professional; this means both in person and online. With today’s competitive job market, every detail counts to set you apart from other job applicants. Many employers check social networking websites to screen candidates. Make sure your online image reflects the image you want your future employer to see.

Practice your interview skills – Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but a little practice goes a long way. Draft a list of questions a potential employer might ask in an interview and begin preparing answers to them. This will help to gather your thoughts and prepare you for any tricky questions that could catch you off-guard in an interview. Don’t memorize your answers too much though; you still want to be personable!

Why It’s Never “Just A Job”

It’s important to never approach any position as “just a job.” Even the smallest job could be stepping stone to something else.

Besides increasing your skill set, jobs are a fantastic way to build a network. Though your current job might not be in your desired career field, that doesn’t mean you can’t begin assembling contacts.

The people that you meet at work could help connect you to your dream position. Having a large network of people that believe in your abilities will make it a lot easier to take the first steps toward your future career.

Every supervisor that you impress could lead to a strong letter of recommendation. Having a reference list full of past employers that praise your skills will be valuable when you start your career search.



More at Monster Thinking.

Take Ownership of Your Career Path

Are you where you want to be? Here are 3 tips for taking control of your career path.


1. Have a destination in mind.

Know what type of work you want to be doing in a few years and where you’d like to be in five more years. Your goals will guide you along your decision making process as you take ownership of your career path.


2. Network with others along the way.
Now that you have a general idea of which direction you would like to go, it is time to meet some fellow travelers that are headed down that same path. It’s not just how much you know, it’s who you know. Go to conferences, industry events, or lectures. Shake hands and come back again. And again. You’ll slowly develop a group of professional contacts that you can start to grow closer with.


3. Provide value to your network.

Proper networking has a key word in it: work. Being a strong member of your own network requires work. It requires reaching out and follow up! The best networkers are those that meet people, learn about them, and let the other person talk. Then the networker helps that person in the network connect to another or simply provides some guidance on an issue. Just like you shouldn’t wait until you are laid off to update your resume, you shouldn’t build your network the moment you need it.

Be More Productive

Whether in your job or school, it’s important to get things done! Follow these simple steps to increase your personal productivity and job performance.

Get Certified, It's Worth It!

Do you want to advance in a healthcare career? Dental assistants, nurses aides, medical assistants, patient care technicians, pharmacy technicians and others all can benefit from earning certifications.

Here are four great reasons to get certified:

Study Tips for All Students

Are you heading to class this fall? Here are some study tips to keep you on track.

Jumpstart Your Career Change

Tips for jumpstarting a career change:

Choosing A Career Path - Video

Benefits of Job Shadowing

Guest post by Danielle Cook, Career Services Administrative Assistant

Job shadowing can be one of the most beneficial experiences for a recent grad or anyone looking to change professions. It will give an inside look at companies and help you find a career you are passionate about. Here are some quality reason why job shadowing is always a good idea:

Do you have any questions?

Guest post by: Danielle Cook, Career Services - Lansing Campus

In an interview, the answer to this question should always be yes. Given that it’s almost always the last question your interviewer will ask, we want to help you make sure you’re ready with an educated answer. Here are three possible questions to keep in the back of your mind:

What to Say When You're Following up

Frequently asked questions when it comes to following up after applying for a job include:

How long should I wait to follow-up? Should I call, write or email? How frequently can I follow-up?


An important question people forget to ask is "What should I say when I follow-up?

How to Invest in Yourself!

Michigan’s economy is rebounding and now is a great time to invest in your future. For job seekers looking to boost their resumes, there are many options. For people who have found themselves stuck in a dead-end job or simply have been waiting for the right time to continue their education, now is the time.

On-The-Spot Job Interviews

Anytime you are applying for a job in person, or even online you should be prepared to be interviewed immediately. If you're applying in person, the hiring manager could interview you right then and there. If you applying online, the hiring manager could call you within minutes.  Keep reading for tips on how to always be prepared.

CQ Student Success Stories - Healthcare/Medical

Guest Post by Andrew Belanger – Career Services Coordinator

Andrea Bollinger enrolled in Career Quest Learning Centers Medical Assistant train-in program in October of 2010. Andrea was looking to build on her two years of direct patient care experience and grow as a healthcare professional. When asked what she liked most about Career Quest, Andrea recommended, “The staff. Everyone is SO helpful and encouraging. I had some of the best instructors that helped me through the program. If it weren’t for them, I probably would have given up when ‘life’ got in the way of my learning. But they were there to encourage me to keep trying.”

Andrea completed her externship at Michigan State University’s Family Medicine Clinic and graduated from her program in September of 2011. Through hard work and networking Andrea interviewed and accepted a position as a Medical Assistant with Sparrow Medical Group – North that same month. “I love it here. I want to work at my current job for as long as they allow me!”

Andrea credits the following three items in part for her success. “Interview skills, Resume building, and CONFIDENCE! Knowing that I knew what I knew, and that I was good at it, thanks to the instructors at CQ!”

“Career Services helped me make the finishing touches to my resume, making it more professional, which grabbed the attention of my current employer.”

Andrea’s advice for current students is to, “Soak up as much "hands on" knowledge as you can. It's different when you’re actually performing the tasks that you have learned about. Don't be afraid to ask for help, everyone understands that you are still learning!” Andrea loves working in the medical field and at Sparrow, she is hoping to attend Nursing School down the road.

About the Author

Andrew Belanger, GCDF is a Career Services Coordinator at CQLC’s Lansing Campus and is Managing Editor of “The Quest” CQLC’s Career Services Monthly Newsletter. He has several years of experience working in Career and Workforce Development and is certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Adult Learning and Education (HALE) from Michigan State University. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbelangergcdf

3 Job Qualifications You Need in 2012

Job outlooks in several fields are now improving. Possessing these qualifications will help you start your new career in 2012.
 

Tips to Being an Organized Student

By Danielle Cook – Administrative Assistant at Career Quest Learning Centers






Going back to school can be scary and challenging, with trying to balance school, work and family. Here are a few tips to help you stay organized and be the most successful student possible.

1. Buy a planner– Planners range from $5- $10 at any store and can be used to write down all appointments, test dates and any other important data. This allows you to see your schedule on a day-to-day basis and plan accordingly.

2. Create an organized workspace or binder system– By using folders and labels you will know exactly where things are. For instance one folder for completed homework and a separate folder for things to do.

3. Plan ahead– Using your planner allow you to look ahead and not over book yourself. Leave room for travel, extra study time and time to relax.


4. Be flexible- you have to be able to adapt to these changes and not have it tear down your entire schedule. When the unexpected happens, such as getting sick or having car troubles, rearrange your schedule accordingly to stay on track.

Career Quest Success Stories - Christopher Carrigan, IT

Guest Post by Andrew Belanger,  Career Services Coordinator at CQLC Lansing Campus

 

Christopher Carrigan

We love sharing our student's success stories, keep reading to hear about Christopher's IT Career Success Story.

 

2012 Hot Career Fields

Trends show that the health care and technology industries are growing.This is good news for jobs. Keep reading for tips on how to get started in a hot new career this year.

1.   Enroll in a career-focused program. Specialized knowledge equals security in almost any field. Specific career training will make you more appealing to employers.

2.   Talk the Talk. Stay on top of industry trends. Take note of the latest buzzwords andacronyms that may be bounced around during interviews. Books, professional magazines and journals, and online chats are all great resources for this type of information.

3.   Look for opportunities for real-life experience. Externships, Internships and volunteering are all great ways to gain experience while your still in school or working other jobs.