Recruitment Employment Agencies

What do doctors, lawyers and architects have in common? For one, they are among teens’ hottest career choices. They also require a significant understanding of math at work every day. Despite this, many teens are not motivated to take advanced math classes to help them prepare for success in these future careers.

A telephone survey of 1,000 12- to 17-year-olds commissioned by Texas Instruments revealed that four out of five teenagers believe math is important for achieving their goals of being doctors, scientists, executives and lawyers, but only half are planning to take advanced math classes beyond their schools’ minimum requirements.

The survey showed 80 percent of teens want to pursue careers in medicine, sports, science, education, business, military, law or architecture-many of which require advanced college degrees with significant focus on mathematics and science.

“Parents need to understand how important it is that they encourage their children to take higher-level courses of math while in high school,” says David Mammano, founder and publisher of Next Step Magazine, which provides career advice to more than 860,000 teens. “The disconnect between teens’ career aspirations and their plans to take minimal math classes could lead to students not being prepared for college-level classes or landing the job they want in the future.”

“No matter what career teens choose, a strong math education is critical because it builds analytical and reasoning skills. Students need to take challenging math courses every year in high school,” Mammano said.

He advises parents to work with their teenagers starting in middle school to plan out their course schedules. Parents can seek out resources to help teens understand the value of math and plan for their careers, such as MomsForMath.org, NextStepMagazine.com or Career Voyages.gov.

More tips from Mammano include:

Make Math Fun. Tie math into the things that already interest teens-their hobbies, TV or movies. A great place to start is Texas Instruments’ “We All Use Math Every Day™” program that teaches math lessons based on plots featured in the hit CBS TV show “NUMB3RS.” The free classroom activities are available at www. cbs.comnumb3rs.

Provide Encouragement. Challenge teens to take harder upper-level math courses even though they may not make straight A’s. Parents can make a difference simply by applauding teens for the effort it takes to participate in those classes. Reinforcing everyday use of math at home, while shopping, budgeting, baking or gardening can also help increase students’ interest in math.

Get Involved. Get teens involved in school or community programs such as science fairs or math team competitions that stimulate them intellectually and hone their analytical skills.

Identify Career Role Models. Find local professionals and inquire about mentorship opportunities that match teens’ career interests. Teenagers can “shadow” an executive on the job to see what kind of knowledge is needed for that field.

Set The Example. They may not want you to know it, but teens look to their parents as role models. Let your teens see that you are interested in math and show them how you use it each day-at home and in your own career. Acknowledge that your teen’s proficiency in math may exceed yours and that is a good thing. Also be aware that they are learning more math in different ways and this often involves the use of technology or teaching tools that might be unfamiliar to you. Talk with your teen’s teachers to better understand these new advancements in math teaching. They’d likely welcome the interest.

A technology degree is a course of study that readies you for a career that involves information. This sort of degree can be very flexible, as it can prepare you to enter a number of fields, including design, healthcare, business, computing, engineering, or telecommunications. Unlike a Bachelor of Science degree, which also prepares you to enter these fields in many cases, a technology background often gives you hands-on experience and practical skills as well as an intellectual understanding of your field.

To make this educational option even more flexible, there is more than one technology degree to choose from. An associate’s degree of certification, for example, can allow you to enter an information technology career in less than two years, in many cases. A bachelor’s degree in system design, communications technology, or web development, to name just a few can give you a great career as a manager, engineer, or designer. An MBA or technology degree combined with a business focus can allow you take on plum management jobs. A doctorate in technology can allow you to pursue an academic teaching career or can prepare you for an upper-level position that involves creating systems.

The popularity of technology degree options is not just popular today because these degrees are so flexible. For a number of years, tech jobs have seemed like a sure bet. Students flocked to take degrees in technology subjects because tech jobs were waiting for graduates and degrees allowed students to take on a number of well-paying and fulfilling careers.

Even today, some students assume that a technology degree is a sure way to get a good career or at least a good job after graduation. While technology degrees remain as flexible and as valuable as ever, though, it is no longer true that they absolutely guarantee a job. Tech jobs are slightly less abundant now and many students pursuing the same career options have created a competitive job marketplace.

Nevertheless, engineers, managers and other professionals with these degrees are still in demand, and will likely always be. Anyone with a true interest in technology courses will still have many options open to them. At the same time, though, the different environment means that students will want to take a slightly different route in order to ensure a good job after completing their schooling.

Students wishing to pursue a technology course of study should, first of all, select a course of study they truly enjoy. This creates a greater chance of career success and ensures that any subsequent career is fulfilling. There is simply no point in preparing for a tech job if that is not what you want. Students will also want to select their degree program carefully.  Programs of study that offer practical study and experience as well as challenging instruction are more likely than more basic studies to prepare students for a tough job market. Students may want to take a course of study that prepares them for all working environments. For example, students interested in management may want to hone business and computer skills to make themselves attractive to employers.

Networking with professionals already in the field and starting the job hunt early can mean that graduates with a technology degree may find a wonderful job waiting for them after graduation day. Most schools have career centers that can help with career planning, and local professional associations are a great place to meet professionals. Today’s students cannot afford to assume that a degree alone will guarantee a job. The best employment opportunities will go to those graduates who think ahead and plan for a successful career.

Who doesn’t love the idea of travel? Who doesn’t dream about a job that could take them anywhere in the world? If you’re interested in teaching English as a second language, you’ve chosen one of the most popular careers for those with a true sense of adventure.

As with most careers, there are certain personalities that succeed at this job, and certain personalities that don’t. A close look at native speaking English teachers overseas would likely result in seeing some common traits which all successful teachers seem to have. If you’re not sure whether or not you could be successful at this job, check out the following list.

• Are you an independent worker? This not only applies to the classroom setting- it also applies to getting yourself over to your new country. Unless you fall in with a very helpful employer along the way, you will be negotiating travel plans and lining up job interviews entirely by yourself. Chances are good you’ll land in the country with nothing but your luggage (if you’re lucky). You must be self-reliant enough to figure out your own lodgings, food, and transportation- at least at the beginning.

• Do you have a love for other cultures? You’ll have to be very tolerant and very open to change in order to teach English in another country. Keep in mind you won’t just be visiting- you will be a working citizen of that country for the entire term of your contract. If you’re absolutely attached to your SUV or you can’t handle eating things you don’t recognize, you’re not going to adapt very well. If, on the other hand, you’re the type of person who loves to travel and can’t wait to immerse yourself in a world that’s entirely different from your own, then you’re in the perfect mindset for success.

• Are you a pre-planner? If you drive your friends crazy by having to over-plan everything, congratulations- you’re the right personality type for teaching English as a second language. The number one problem people experience in this job path is ending up in a position that doesn’t make them happy. You must be prepared to literally do hours of research about your school and your chosen position. Things aren’t always as they seem at first blush, and if you don’t take the time to dig deeper and plan for what’s coming, you could find yourself in a very unlucky situation. Nobody likes to hate his job- particularly when it’s thousands of miles away from home.

• Are you prepared to make a few big leaps? It might sound contradictory, but even with all the pre-planning, there will come a moment when you have to trust fate and just go for it. We’re not saying to do anything rash. Please, check out your future position, fly to the country and interview in person if you feel it’s necessary, and keep thousands of to-do lists. But when the moment actually comes to get on the plane, you’ll have to have a certain amount of bravery. Those who can’t handle jumping into the somewhat-unknown a few times aren’t going to be able to handle this job.

If after all of this you’re still determined to teach English as a second language, then you know what to do. Start researching and working your connections as soon as possible. And start preparing your family and friends for the fact that you’re going to be gone. Write your landlord; find someone to take your pet cat. You’re on the way!

Who doesn’t love the idea of travel? Who doesn’t dream about a job that could take them anywhere in the world? If you’re interested in teaching English as a second language, you’ve chosen one of the most popular careers for those with a true sense of adventure.

As with most careers, there are certain personalities that succeed at this job, and certain personalities that don’t. A close look at native speaking English teachers overseas would likely result in seeing some common traits which all successful teachers seem to have. If you’re not sure whether or not you could be successful at this job, check out the following list.

• Are you an independent worker? This not only applies to the classroom setting- it also applies to getting yourself over to your new country. Unless you fall in with a very helpful employer along the way, you will be negotiating travel plans and lining up job interviews entirely by yourself. Chances are good you’ll land in the country with nothing but your luggage (if you’re lucky). You must be self-reliant enough to figure out your own lodgings, food, and transportation- at least at the beginning.

• Do you have a love for other cultures? You’ll have to be very tolerant and very open to change in order to teach English in another country. Keep in mind you won’t just be visiting- you will be a working citizen of that country for the entire term of your contract. If you’re absolutely attached to your SUV or you can’t handle eating things you don’t recognize, you’re not going to adapt very well. If, on the other hand, you’re the type of person who loves to travel and can’t wait to immerse yourself in a world that’s entirely different from your own, then you’re in the perfect mindset for success.

• Are you a pre-planner? If you drive your friends crazy by having to over-plan everything, congratulations- you’re the right personality type for teaching English as a second language. The number one problem people experience in this job path is ending up in a position that doesn’t make them happy. You must be prepared to literally do hours of research about your school and your chosen position. Things aren’t always as they seem at first blush, and if you don’t take the time to dig deeper and plan for what’s coming, you could find yourself in a very unlucky situation. Nobody likes to hate his job- particularly when it’s thousands of miles away from home.

• Are you prepared to make a few big leaps? It might sound contradictory, but even with all the pre-planning, there will come a moment when you have to trust fate and just go for it. We’re not saying to do anything rash. Please, check out your future position, fly to the country and interview in person if you feel it’s necessary, and keep thousands of to-do lists. But when the moment actually comes to get on the plane, you’ll have to have a certain amount of bravery. Those who can’t handle jumping into the somewhat-unknown a few times aren’t going to be able to handle this job.

If after all of this you’re still determined to teach English as a second language, then you know what to do. Start researching and working your connections as soon as possible. And start preparing your family and friends for the fact that you’re going to be gone. Write your landlord; find someone to take your pet cat. You’re on the way!

All over the world, English is the accepted language for many forms of international communication. From business transactions to air traffic control, English has taken over as the language of choice. Choosing to teach English abroad puts you into a fast-moving, high-demand job that can take you almost anywhere.

If you have a sense of adventure and love the idea of a job that takes you to another country, you should seriously consider this career path. It’s sure to be a unique and enriching experience.

If you Want to Teach English…

If you’re considering this as a future career, chances are you already know that you’ll be away from home for a while. Most schools will hire you on a contract, which will be at least a year long. Keep in mind that your students will need their teacher to be there for the entire term!

If you’re teaching at a private school, or if you’re hired by a corporation to teach business English to their executives, your contract may differ. Nonetheless, to make the entire trip lucrative you should plan on staying awhile. After all, it took you a lot of work to get there in the first place.

What to Expect

Your salary will largely depend on what country you decide to travel to. Obviously, some locales offer higher salaries than others, but that shouldn’t always be the determining factor for where you teach. For instance, Mexico, a country notorious for low salaries offers a rich culture, low living expenses and students dedicated to learning. On the other hand, Japan, a country known for its higher salaries has a cost of living higher than most. Remember, you won’t always get rich doing this job, but you will almost always walk away rich in experiences!

The good news is, many schools and universities can and will supply you with free housing during the term of your employment. This can eliminate one of the biggest hassles about teaching abroad, which is finding an affordable place to live. Particularly if you’re in a large metro area, rent can kill you (and kill your teacher’s salary, too). If you get offered a job with free housing included, snap it up. The best part is that the housing they give you will likely be within walking range of where you teach. It’s a good bargain.

Finding a Job

Giving general advice on finding a job teaching English is difficult. The reason for that is because your efforts are going to vary widely by country. In some areas, you’ll need to be hired months in advance; other countries might need to meet you before they’ll even consider hiring you.

Our best advice here is to prepare to do some legwork. Talk to your college (and any other college in the area) regarding sister school programs and other resources they may have to get you overseas. Don’t forget about the various job boards that list available teaching positions by country—this is perhaps the best way of finding a job because each listing will provide the exact requirements of that particular employer. If you’re certified in TOEFL or ESL, you’ll find the road is paved a lot smoother for you.

Do keep in mind, regardless of where you’re looking for a job, that you do have some choice in the matter. Don’t assume that the first school that offers you a position is the one you should take. Qualified and enthusiastic teachers are in demand, so you should be as choosey about the position you take as they are about the teacher they hire!

Choosing to teach English abroad is a big decision. If you’re sure it’s the right choice for you, the sooner you start preparing the better off you will be. Competition can be stiff, but finding the right job and the right country for your future employment will make it all worthwhile. Trust us, it will be the experience of a lifetime.

All over the world, English is the accepted language for many forms of international communication. From business transactions to air traffic control, English has taken over as the language of choice. Choosing to teach English abroad puts you into a fast-moving, high-demand job that can take you almost anywhere.

If you have a sense of adventure and love the idea of a job that takes you to another country, you should seriously consider this career path. It’s sure to be a unique and enriching experience.

If you Want to Teach English…

If you’re considering this as a future career, chances are you already know that you’ll be away from home for awhile. Most schools will hire you on a contract, which will be at least a year long. Keep in mind that your students will need their teacher to be there for the entire term!

If you’re teaching at a private school, or if you’re hired by a corporation to teach business English to their executives, your contract may differ. Nonetheless, to make the entire trip lucrative you should plan on staying awhile. After all, it took you a lot of work to get there in the first place.

What to Expect

Your salary will largely depend on what country you decide to travel to. Obviously, some locales offer higher salaries than others, but that shouldn’t always be the determining factor for where you teach. For instance, Mexico—a country notorious for low salaries—offers a rich culture, low living expenses and students dedicated to learning. On the other hand, Japan—a country known for its higher salaries—has a cost of living higher than most. Remember, you won’t always get rich doing this job, but you will almost always walk away rich in experiences!

The good news is, many schools and universities can and will supply you with free housing during the term of your employment. This can eliminate one of the biggest hassles about teaching abroad, which is finding an affordable place to live. Particularly if you’re in a large metro area, rent can kill you (and kill your teacher’s salary, too). If you get offered a job with free housing included, snap it up. The best part is that the housing they give you will likely be within walking range of where you teach. It’s a good bargain.

Finding a Job

Giving general advice on finding a job teaching English is difficult. The reason for that is because your efforts are going to vary widely by country. In some areas, you’ll need to be hired months in advance; other countries might need to meet you before they’ll even consider hiring you.

Our best advice here is to prepare to do some legwork. Talk to your college (and any other college in the area) regarding sister school programs and other resources they may have to get you overseas. Don’t forget about the various job boards that list available teaching positions by country—this is perhaps the best way of finding a job because each listing will provide the exact requirements of that particular employer. If you’re certified in TOEFL or ESL, you’ll find the road is paved a lot smoother for you.

Do keep in mind, regardless of where you’re looking for a job, that you do have some choice in the matter. Don’t assume that the first school that offers you a position is the one you should take. Qualified and enthusiastic teachers are in demand, so you should be as choosey about the position you take as they are about the teacher they hire!

Choosing to teach English abroad is a big decision. If you’re sure it’s the right choice for you, the sooner you start preparing the better off you will be. Competition can be stiff, but finding the right job- and the right country- for your future employment will make it all worthwhile. Trust us- it will be the experience of a lifetime.

As a result of technological advancement and globalization, more and more people are relocating and finding jobs overseas. In fact, there are niche agencies that exist to help plan the whole process, ensuring a smooth transition. Still, even with expert help, expatriates are often faced with many difficult issues when trying to find a job in a new country. The primary opposition simply comes from the fact that you are an expatriate.

In order to overcome the cultural divide and achieve your goal of finding a great job in your new home, be a quick learner. Learn how to interpret cultural gestures and facial expressions, and learn the lingo. Failure to do so can make your job market activity experience a frustrating venture, creating invisible employment barriers that you may not even be aware of. The good news is that simply being cognizant about how to overcome employment barriers will put you on the course to successfully achieving your job goal. So, as a start, be quick to embrace and emulate your new country’s job market and workplace code of conduct.

Second, work to establish contacts who can direct you to others who are likely to be helpful. Actively build a network of people who can direct you to the quickest and best way of achieving your job goal. Networking is the key, so reach out to your friends and any contacts you may already have. An ideal networking contact is an established individual who has successfully overcome the challenges of being an expatriate. You definitely don’t want to take lessons from someone who is having difficulties making the transition! Better still, look for a role model who has emigrated from the same country as yourself so that he or she can provide specific and applicable advice for making this same transition. Take the time to learn what he or she did, and then do likewise.

Finally, conduct a self-analysis to help determine how best to redefine your past skills, experience and qualifications in language that is appropriate to your new country’s job market. The last thing you want to do is use jargon or terms that are inappropriate and cannot be understood, as this will only serve to discredit and disadvantage you in the employer’s eyes. So, as a primary guideline in looking for a good job in a new country, always follow the rules set forth by that country’s job market. Your most important market research is to learn about your industry and its requirements so that you can self-evaluate and make the necessary appropriate adjustments to compete at the required competency level.

Above all, never make assumptions in any of your job market activities. Base everything you do on facts revealed by research. To start the process off in the right way, make sure you take the time to self-evaluate how well prepared you are to skillfully handle your job market activities. To help jumpstart the process, take this FREE Job Market Performance Assessment.

Are you looking at changing career? Are you looking for work? Have you been invited to a job interview? Are you looking for advice about interview techniques? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this article may well be of help to you. I am going to give advice and information about how to be successful when attending a job interview.

In my opinion preparation is the key to most things in life and it certainly is for people who want to gain employment.

When I was in my early twenties, I decided to leave the company where I had worked since leaving school. I wanted to become a financial advisor and had already passed all of the relevant examinations. Now all I needed to do, was to a find a company who was willing to take me on.

I decided to join a specialist financial services agency to help me with my search. I went and met a man who had been assigned my case etc. His name was Mark and he was very professional and knew his stuff. He quickly managed to secure me an interview and asked if I would meet him so that I could have a dummy run with him. He was aware that I had not attended an interview for a number of years and probably felt that I needed the practice.

To say that he was not impressed with my interview technique was an understatement and he quickly started to give me advice of where I needed to improve.

This is what he advised me to do:

Produce a personal profile of myself. This should include my c.v, any examination certificates, any other qualifications that I have such as first aid, information about my interests and anything else that makes me look good etc. This should all be put into a quality folder and can then be presented to the people conducting the interview when they ask me to talk about myself. They will see how much effort I have put in and will hopefully be impressed.

Try to predict what questions will be asked and prepare good quality answers to these questions. This is something which sounds so obvious but which I had never done before. When you have attended each interview you then try to remember all of the questions which were asked and then add them to your list. When returning home, you then think about the best way to answer these questions in the future, if they are ever asked again.

Find out information about the company with whom the interview is with. You may be asked at the interview if you know anything about the company you are hoping to join. It will sound a lot better if you can reel off a number of important facts rather than just saying something which is obvious. To find out this type of information you can use the internet, ask friends or go to the library.

On the day of the interview it is a good idea to have a bath before you go. A bath is a well known form of relaxation and can help to soothe and loosen up your muscles.

These tips that Mark gave me soon helped me to find work and I hope that they help you in your quest to gain future employment.

Steve Hill

Working on campus often has many benefits for students. Employers on campus can be more flexible with hours and more understanding of exams. Being on campus means that you are close to the library and other school resources if you have to grab a book or meet with a prof before or after work.  You will also learn more about your school and how to use your resources to excel. Here are few places to look for jobs on campus:

What is important

Before you start your job search, you need to establish what is important about the job that you are looking for. Do you have certain number of hours that you want to work? A set amount of money that you want to make? For a sample budget, visit www.theguideto-studentloans.combudgeting.

Work in your department

Do you want to stand out to future employers? Give yourself an edge in the job market by getting a job in your department. Often these jobs aren’t posted, because they are snapped up so quickly. The best way to get a job in your department is to ask a few of your professors if they are doing research projects and need research assistants. Often this job is as simple as filing; sometimes this job could involve slogging through microfilms in the library to find facts or articles. You might even be assisting in experiments. Find out the nature of the job before you begin. Speak to the department secretary and drop off your curriculum vitae in case any professors are looking for help (even she might be looking for some student aid). A curriculum vitae is like a resume, but it highlights your scholastic accomplishments. For this, you would be able to put down any major projects that you have done.

Consider being a Teaching Assistant

Have you ever taken a course with a teaching assistant? Did you do particularly well in that course? You can visit that professor, or the professor who is currently teaching the course, to see if you can get a teaching assistantship. Sometimes these are paid positions. Other times you can be a teaching assistant for credit. Decide which is best for you. Remember: these don’t all have to be in your department.

Secretarial Positions

Universities and colleges are massive bureaucracies. This means that there are many administrative assistant positions in order to get all that paperwork under control. Find out where students can apply, and you could land a job at the front desk of the Humanities Centre, or you could man the desk at the Student Resource Centre. Of course, all campuses are different, but find out where you can work at yours.

Special Interests

Oftentimes you can work at the Women’s Centre, the GLBTQ space, or the childcare centre on campus. You could get a job at the international student centre, or at the aboriginal students centre. Do you fall into any special group on campus? Chances are that you could find a position doing something that you like based on your status on campus.

In Your Field

Do you want to work with computers? Consider a job at with the information technology people on campus. You could answer the helpline when students call in for tech support. You could supervise the computer lab.

Are you planning on working in the arts? Why not apply to the box office to get some front of the house experience? Box office experience looks great on any musician, artist, or actor’s resume, because it shows that you truly have a passion for the entire field and are more than just a diva.

Do you think you might be a teacher? If you are interested at all in working in the resource centre, getting a job at the library might be an asset to you.

The list of jobs on campus related to your field goes on and on; these are just a few examples.

Go all in

If you can co-ordinate a centre or institute, do so. Work for a year in the child care co-operative, then become the co-ordinator. This will give you added responsibility, but will also improve your resume and help you get involved. Remember, however: don’t overschedule yourself or get in over your head. The reason you are in school is for the classes. The rest is icing on the cake.

Hunting for the perfect job for an individual requires time, effort and knowledge.

For stress free job-hunting, every individual must first consider the following pointers before starting your job hunting process:

1. Know what type of job you would like to apply for. Gate crashing job fairs that offer work not related to one’s degree or work preference would be a waste of time.

Consider your interests, preference of work location and job shifts (to be especially considered by professionals who have family members to take care of). If all these fit the category of the job opening available, it would be best to proceed with the application process.

2. Prepare possible needed documents or career portfolio. Have several copies of your resume, transcript of records and any certifications ready for immediate submission if needed.

3. Know where to look for job postings. There are various forms that offer listing of jobs. Below are some of these sites:

3.1 Internet. One of most widely used searching options is the Internet. Aside from the fact that browsing the Internet for available jobs is less time consuming than personal appearances to inquire at the offices, this can also be the least expensive form of job hunting.

You would not need to buy newspapers to browse through the ads for vacancies nor spend gas money to go to the offices.

Not only local or national vacancies can be browsed through the net, international job openings could likewise be easily accessed by the user, thus, offering one a much wider perspective in choosing the right job.

3.2 Newspapers. One of the most commonly used searching medium. Local newspapers advertise jobs that are within an applicant’s commuting distance. Available jobs are usually printed on a regular basis.

3.3 Career or Job Centers. These usually offer jobs for ages 16-18 and rarely above 21 years of age. Though fully loaded with vacancies, it caters mostly to the younger applicants.

Job listings are frequently updated; therefore regular visits would ensure the applicants of new job postings.

3.4 Periodicals or magazines. Professionals are best advised to look for jobs on magazines since employers that would want to hire the same would advertise on such journals.

3.5 Offices. Most offices have postings of job openings on their Vacancy Boards. Applicants may directly go to the office to look for vacancies and then directly submit the resume or other pertinent documents to the respective division that receives such documents.