Something that employers want students in college to know is what they desire in an employee. And college graduates would value greatly if they knew this information before getting out of school. So what is it that employers want students to know? Come out of college with experience. It’s what you do within your degree that sets you apart—not just the simple fact that you have a degree. Here are some different ways to gain experience with finances, academics, personal skills and relationships during your college years, leading up to graduation and finding a good ol’ job.

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.

This week went by too fast. There are too many deadlines coming up! Is that how you feel too? Spring break is almost here though, and for me and many others on the quick quarter schedule that means FINALS. So to get those off our minds, let’s take an adventure downtown. Instead of watching a movie, getting sucked into the artificial realities of Hollywood. There is a time and place for movie nights, but tonight is not one of those nights.

Whether you are in New York City or a Podunk town in Nebraska…

1. Go to an improvisational comedy club. Have you ever scene “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” Stand up comedy is also really great, especially when going with a group of people.
2. Gaming centers are fantastic for the inner-gamer and are a nice compliment to the dinner & date combo.
3. Go to a show at one of your city’s venues. They’re usually cheap, depending on the lineup, they’re fun, and it’s an ideal way to support local musicians.
4. Take a walk and admire window displays and city lights and the rush of taxi cabs and cars along the avenues. I strongly encourage getting lost. It’s the best way to find new places and to have spontaneous adventures.
5. Go to that restaurant that is known for their delectable desserts, even though it’s super fancy. Order some dessert and fries. It’s a GREAT combination.
6. Get lost in the city’s large library.
7. Find a large body of water and skip stones.
8. Go to a museum.
9. Ride bikes through downtown and feel the rush of going downhill.
10. Swing dancing! Salsa dancing! Blues dancing!
11. Play Scrabble with friends at a coffee shop.

Whatever you end up doing today, remember to relax. I hope your Friday is adventurous.

P.S. I am convinced that I will be able to work Scrabble into each of these lists.

This is the generation of those who seek information. We have tons of avenues to get information about the world, you know, that big round thing inhabiting almost 7 billion people? I think that it’s a general consensus that being aware and up-to-date with what is going on internationally and domestically is important. Not only is it important to have this knowledge for the sake of being aware, but it’s important because it constructs our identity as people that live on this earth, sharing it with others. That’s at least one thing that we all have in common. We live on the same planet. Do you think that’s important?

Here are some different ways of reaching the outside world (and connecting to it), while simultaneously not getting too comfortable inside your university’s bubble.

1. Joining an activist club for anything international is something that is beneficial to you, your campus and others living internationally, who are being affected by your efforts of activism.
2. Read the newspaper. If your school does not provide free copies around campus then look online. USA Today, Wall Street Journal and New York Times are top notch for national and international news. Your local newspaper is where you will be able to find information going on close by. Reading your college’s newspaper will keep you up to date with important (and sometimes not so important) events and issues going on at your school.
3. Run for an office position, regardless of how big or small. Whether for a certain dorm or for the entire campus, being included in an office position allows you a lot of opportunity to get the inside scoop on what is going on with your college and gives you an opportunity to share that information with others. Use the power however you choose, hopefully for good and not evil.
4. Be a part of an on or off campus petition. If, of course, you are supporting its causes. Being included in the experience of a petition is very surreal because you are living in the moments that create change, actively being a part of the method to which authority figures make important decisions.
5. Following blogs and news websites is a great way to stay informed with what people’s opinions are on issues and they are consistently being updated with information and current events.
6. Talk with other people that are informed such as professors and students. Talking with people who have a similar context gives opportunity to agree and disagree, and then learn.
7. Listen to NPR. There are a range of several different topics that the station covers, every thing from Talk of the Nation to All Things Considered. Both are great programs. A 24-hour program stream of the station is available online.
8. Watch the news. It’s another great method of receiving information. And similar to streaming radio stations online, you can also watch the news online for programs such as CNN, or NBC.

I don’t know where you’re from, but in Seattle the winter is subtly coming to a close. The trees are in blossom and the sky is blue. The sky is almost too blue. It makes me a little worried for the buds, which have the ability to easily freeze within a week of typical winter weather. And it makes me a little worried for the emotions of many, who are soaking in the Vitamin D and are more joyous than usual. I would hate for the winter to come back with a rude awakening to many, leaving many depressed and on the bottom of their game because of the weather’s crude deception. But since the weather is nice (hopefully it is wherever you’re at too), and it is Friday, a trip to the park might be necessary.

For the sake of your studies…

• Take a break. Your brain needs a rest from the long week, so have a little fun by briefly visiting your childhood in a park setting.
• Go swing and close your eyes, tilt your head back. Feel yourself fly.
• If you nanny, take the kiddos along with you who can show you games like ‘Pretend’ and ‘House’ in the jungle gym.
• Take a walk.
• Play soccer or basketball with the kids that typically occupy the park’s fields and courts.
• Have a picnic.
• Read in the sun.
• Fall asleep in the sun.
• Forget about your to-do list.
• Play Scrabble, of course!
• Post-park, watch some reruns of Recess. Remember that show, the one on Saturday morning cartoons?

Hopefully this park excursion relieves any stress that classes may have brought on. And I hope that you don’t rely on this good weather to provide you with happy feelings, because it might not be around for much longer. Have an adventurous Friday!

Life after high school has become a compulsory and repetitive routine in our culture, for students who have the opportunity to take advantage of a college education. And the life of a senior in high school can testify that the last year of free public education is preparation for college through the AP prep classes, the scholarship application processes, and so on. And college is indeed something that is considered necessary to continue on to a middle class job living a middle class lifestyle. But college is not the only route. Sometimes even putting it on the back burner for a while is what higher ed. professionals are encouraging. So why would this be a good idea for your soon-to-be high school grad? There are many reasons. Here are just eight…

Read the full article at Radical Parenting a brilliant site on parenting from the other side. Check out the Parenting Blog here.

Guest Post from Joel. About Author: Joel Ohman is a Certified Financial Planner™ and the owner of a credit card website with a really cool credit card finder tool and some of the best credit card calculators and other tools for finding the best credit card anywhere on the Web (or so he likes to think at least so we won’t burst his bubble)!

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, & Disclosure Act (CARD) that was signed into law last year and set to take effect on February 22, 2010 addresses some important issues that revolve around student credit cards. Here are some of the key changes that students should be aware of and also some tips for finding the best student credit card.

#1 Got Income?

In the past credit card companies could offer credit cards to students even if they had little or no income to show for themselves. Now, things have changed in that student credit card issuers are only allowed to approve a student credit card application if the student under the age of 21 is able to show proof of income or some other means to repay the credit card loans. The days of skating by on the virtue of your good credit score and good looks alone are over. However, there is one exception: if you have a parent, guardian, or someone with a source of income that is willing to co-sign for you and become liable for your credit card debts then even if you don’t have any income of your own you can still get a student credit card with easy.

#2 No More Credit Card “Schwag”

College campuses in recent years, especially around the beginning of each semester, can often resemble one huge colorful marketing event/party thrown by credit card companies giving out free t-shirts, free book bags, free pizza, and other goodies as an incentive to get as many students as possible to apply for their particular student credit card offer. The new rules expressly prohibit any kind of incentivized marketing by credit card companies on college campuses, credit card issuers cannot market credit cards to students within 1,000 feet of a college campus or a college sponsored event, and colleges and universities are now required to fully disclose any kind of financial relationship that they may have with various credit card companies.

#3 Good ‘ol Mom and Dad are Still in Charge

The merits of treating adults over the age of 18 as minors can be debated at another time but the new credit card rules stipulate that if a student is on a joint credit card account with their parents then the parents must give consent before there are any increases to the credit limit. There are many things that students under the age of 21 can do but the new student credit card laws are designed to make sure that asking for a credit limit raise on a joint account has to get the A-OK from the parents first.

What to do When Looking for a Student Credit Card

The new student credit card rules can certainly seem restricting but there are still many different student credit card options for those who are willing to look for their credit cards the smart way. Here are a few quick tips to make sure that you end up with the student credit card that is best for your needs.

1. Do Your Research – Don’t just apply for a credit card simply because you happened to walk by the booth of ABC Credit Card Company on your campus. Spend some time learning about the various student credit card offers and choose the one that best meets your needs.
2. Be Financially Responsible – It can be easy to fall into the habit of using a credit card without planning ahead and making sure that you have the money in the bank to pay the balance off in full each month. Plan ahead and discipline yourself to use your student credit card responsibly.
3. Go for the Rewards – Those who misuse credit cards by carrying a balance are having their credit card work against them. Make your credit card work for you by choosing a rewards credit card that can earn you cash back, airline miles, points, etc. As long as you pay the balance off in full each month and don’t spend anymore than you otherwise would then that is essentially free money. Get in the habit of using your credit card to automatically pay all of your bills and then if you schedule your credit card balance to be paid off in full each month then even something as mundane as paying for your student car insurance each month will end up putting money back into your pocket. Be forewarned though, if you carry a balance on your card then the interest charges are eating away at any of the benefit of your cash back savings.

What do YOU think about the new student credit card rules?

Take this quick survey. College Survey

The Survey covers finances, student brands, and college stuff. It will take less than 5 minutes and is fun to see how you match up with your friends.

Is having a job in college really a good idea?

Yes, if you pay attention to some key factors when job hunting. A job in college has the potential to open a lot of doors for you in the future by giving you real-world experience, strengthening your work ethic, anbuilding your connections. And then of course, if you have the paying off of those big scary loans looming in your future, it always helps to start saving early– an added bonus to having a job in college. But if you pick the wrong job, it can be overwhelming and damaging to your overall college experience. So here’s a list of what to look for in a college job if you want to reap the benefits and avoid the consequences.

Tips on finding a job that will enhance your college experience:

1. Look for a job that’s relevant to your field of study. Are you pursuing a career in accounting? Consider being a part-time bank teller. A career in law? You can often find jobs as an office assistant at a firm. Fashion merchandising? Look at openings in retail/sales at boutiques or clothing stores around you. Science or medicine? Research lab assistant jobs. The job might not be glamorous or exactly what you’re hoping to do in the future, but it’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at your field of interest and at least give you a starting place to build off of.
2. Make sure the hours are flexible. Being able to fit your job into your schedule instead of fit your schedule into your job is key. Before deciding how many hours you can work and on what days, remember to consider more than just when you have classes: think about what clubs you’re involved in, how many hours of homework you typically have, how much “personal” time you need in a week, your sleep schedule… Check with your potential employer to see if they’re willing to work with you and your hours around stressful times like midterms or finals.
3. Consider the location of your job. In general, it’s a bad idea to work anywhere that’s far away from campus– especially if you have to depend on public transportation. The commute time is time you’re not getting paid for, so it weighs on your schedule and is usually quite stressful. Plus, it’s a bonus to work on or around your campus because then you get to know the area better.
4. Factor in the life skill benefits. A job that involves writing, speaking, customer relations, organization, management, and the like will not only build your resume for future job positions but will also aid in you all areas of life — especially your school work. So even if you can’t find a job that perfectly fits with what you’re studying, a job with “life skills” can still be very beneficial to your college experience.
5. Don’t disregard the “work study”. Are you one of the many students with work study included in your financial aid package? Take advantage of this! It means you’re more likely to find a job because employers receive a large subsidy when they employ work study students. You’re also more likely to get a job because there are many jobs out there that are specified just for work study students, so that narrows the field in your favor. A work study job usually means that your employer will be considerate of the fact you’re a student and be more flexible. Another benefit of work study is that the earnings you receive will not affect your future financial aid eligibility, since it is a need-based program.
6. Pay attention to who you’re working with. A job where you meet a lot of people and can get to know your employers is great because it’ll give you connections and strong references for future jobs. It can also be an added benefit if you get to work with other people your age, because a job can be a place where you network and meet people interested in the same things you are.

Bottom line, it’s not all about how big the paycheck is.

Certainly, a job is important because of the funds it provides. But don’t just pick one job over the other because it pays more. There’s a lot more you can get out of a job than just money, so take your time and do your research in order to make the most out of your college job.

The Monster called Fear

A few friends of mine have recently mentioned their slight fear of the library. As they spoke about their fear, it was as if the many shelves of the great rooms created something of a monster, that had huge jaws and a whisperingly soft growl, creeping around the shelves only to be seen in the eeriest sections of the library, eating pages of books and people for a snack. I think you might understand why I responded a little sarcastically, being dumbfounded at why the library was something to be feared. I had not seen the library as a monster of any sort, but rather a friend and a teacher. Someone who wanted to share great knowledge with me. But as I got to thinking about it more, the vastness and the multitude of possibilities in a library can seem overwhelming. And I think that being overwhelmed and afraid can often be interchanged with each other, or at least confused. I also feel overwhelmed at times. So how does one take advantage of the resources in the library, in order to locate and conquer? Here are a few opportunities for you in the library, and a few other fun and free resources to take advantage of… Besides the millions of books, of course.

Do you want your questions answered? Look here:

• Librarians are trained in library science, who study to help people find the information they need. In the context of the college library setting, this means helping students find information on a research topic for a paper or helping students actually come up with a topic. Going to a librarian is your best bet when trying to find a piece of information in the library.
• The Library Catalog is a valuable resource, which is usually available online so that you can search for library documents while at home. Looking through a library’s catalogue allows you to search for books, articles, scholarly journals, music and other archives, along with their cited sources and location. This resource also allows you to reserve, renew and pick up your items on a later date.
• Getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. Go into the library without a destination, perhaps looking for a book to read for pleasure. Travel through the aisles of Fiction and pick up anything that appeals to you. One of the greatest advantages of a library is that it’s all free. By using your library card like a credit card you are able to access tons of information for no cost. Here are some other things you have free access to:

1. DVDs & CDs
2. Online Audio & e-books
3. Online Music & Videos
4. Online Reference Resources: magazines, newspapers, journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories
5. Special Collections: photographs, paintings, maps

• Having a print source directly in front of you is another benefit to the library, as opposed to the internet that goes through mediums of information that have been passed on several times. That’s the wonderful thing about books, it’s not hard to cite the source when it is right in front of you.
• Silence is something that is almost sacred on a college campus. Few places are familiar with this word, and one of them is within the walls of the library.
• Wi-Fi is another reason that the library is great. When researching a paper, combine your print sources and your web sources to maximize your sources.
• Attend events & classes held in your library. Book readings, seminars, presentations, you name it. Pick up a schedule of events at your nearest library.

Believe it or not, your near-empty bank account is a gift in the dating world.

Scratch fancy restaurant dinners and over-priced tickets to the movies– how dull, unoriginal, and expensive. An excessive amount of money makes it altogether too easy to use elaborate, meaningless gestures to try and “woo” someone. As it turns out, what you lack in money you can make up for (and then some) in thoughtfulness and creativity.

Ideas to wake up your (cheap) inner romantic:

1. Get lost in a records store. Sharing music together is always a memorable experience. Most music stores have a means for listening to the music for free, so enjoy the vast possibilities of the music selection. Show him/her some of your favorites, listen to some of theirs, and then find new music you both like together. This is a great date for getting to know each other, because typically you can tell a lot by someone’s taste in music. Plus, take note of their favorite bands/artists for the days when you have a slightly bigger bank account and can afford to take your date out to a concert– always a winner for the music-lover. As for ideas that fit with a budget, you can make the memory last longer by making a classic “mixed tape” or CD with all the songs you already own that you noticed they liked when you showed them at the store.
2. Go for a personal picnic. First, figure out your date’s ideal location. Is it a lookout spot with a view of the mountains or the city? A big quiet field? A charming park? Also, pay attention to his/her favorite snacks and drinks and bring them with. Peach Snapple Ice Tea? Hot apple cider? Dr. Pepper? Chocolate chip cookies? Pita bread and humus? Strawberries? It’s easy to get snacks and drinks for two for cheap. Noticing the details shows you care and makes the date much more than a cliche picnic.
3. Explore the arts. A lot of cities have days where you can visit galleries and museums for free. I know that both Portland and Seattle do this every first Thursday of the month. Research things like this that your city has to offer– local events like art walks, craft markets, food fairs, concerts in the park… Usually local events are cheap and unique to the town/city they’re in, which makes for a fun time that’s different from a typical date.
4. Teach together, learn together. What does your date like to do for fun? What do you like to do for fun? Have days dedicated to showing the other a piece of your world. If you like photography, take your date out shooting pictures with you. Introduce him/her to the basics and let them give it a try. If your date likes soccer, go to a soccer game together or play a little one-on-one and let them teach you a thing or two. By developing an appreciate for each others’ interests and hobbies, you’ll grow closer and find many more activities to enjoy together.

Remember, it really is the thought that counts.

Mixed tapes and picnics have all been done many, many times before. The key to making these inexpensive options special and memorable is by personalizing them to fit your date. This means all these suggestions are a starting place to get you thinking, but you’ll have to take each one and personalize it with the things you know your date likes and you’re good to go.