How To Stay Motivated

Everyone can fall into a mental rut from time to time, especially in during the winter months. Here are some tips on how to stay on task and accomplish your goals!

Stay positive – have an optimistic mindset and surround yourself with others who keep you on-task.

Have a goal – write down a goal and plan steps to how you will achieve that goal. Track your progress so you can see your hard work paying off!

Reward yourself – when you reach a big goal, treat yourself to something you enjoy! Be careful not to make rewards a habit though, otherwise it will hurt your self-motivation.

Focus – in order to accomplish anything, you need to get rid of distractions. Focus on your tasks to get them done faster. This will help motivate you to move on to the next goal!

New Year’s Resolutions

As 2012 is coming to a close, it’s time to begin thinking of your New Year’s Resolution. Whether you have many plans for 2013 or none at all, here are some ideas to think about.

Take things one-step at a time – Goals are much easier to accomplish if you take your time and do not rush them. You don’t have to

Think realistically – Pick resolutions that are long-term and something you can work at all year. Be careful not to set yourself up for failure by choosing a goal that is not manageable.

Remind yourself why you made this resolution – Write down your resolution and the reasons why you chose this goal. Put this somewhere you will see it often so you are reminded why it’s important.

Tips for Time Management

Reduce your stress and improve your work with these easy time management tips.

Get organized – Lay out all your tasks that need to be done. Count all your To-Dos and don’t forget about the small assignments!

Prioritize – Organize your tasks from most important to least urgent. Get a head start on big projects and papers to reduce stress closer to the deadline.

Be efficient – Make sure your study time is spent studying. Eliminate distractions by turning off your phone and going to a quiet area to focus.

Have a goal – Keep a goal in mind to stay motivated and on task.

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.

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.

How to Start Off on the Right Foot at a New Job

Follow these tips to impress your new co-workers and boss.

Choosing A Career Path - Video

Career Fairs: Tips for Success!

By Andrew Belanger - Career Services Coordinator (Lansing Campus)




I recently had the opportunity to attend several career fairs for business and community development. At the Greater Lansing Journey to Job Career Fair on April 26th, I participated as an employer representative, collecting resumes and speaking with potential candidates. Below are several things that stood out among job seekers that I spoke with: