Monthly Archives: January 2012

What You Can Learn in an MBA Program

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If you’re thinking about going back to school, enrolling in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is a great way to prepare yourself with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to be successful in the exciting and competitive industry of business.

To truly determine whether this program is suited for you, it’s important to understand exactly what you will learn as a student in an MBA program. Reviewing and analyzing the concepts that will be addressed in your courses will allow you to prepare for the workload and gain a better understanding of whether or not you are passionate about the subjects that will be covered.

An MBA program is designed to allow students to earn a specialist qualification on a high level, which can be applied to essentially any business environment. When a student enrolls in an MBA program, he or she will be given the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of different concentrations to specialize in. These concentrations typically include subjects such as accounting, business management, e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, global management, human resources management, marketing, operations management, technology management, and so on. This broad range of subjects will allow you to focus on one or a couple of specific aspects of business administration to ensure full expertise and preparation for corresponding jobs.

In general, an MBA program will address a wide variety of subjects that pertain to business administration. One core subject addressed in MBA programs include leadership and management skills, which will prepare students for high level positions they will be qualified to pursue after graduation. The courses designed to develop leadership skills teach students effective measures for utilizing resources and effectively drawing from the dynamic skill sets of each employee under their management to work toward the advantage of the company as a whole. Furthermore, an MBA program instructs students on effective ways to handle employee conflict and relationships, in addition to approaching moral and ethical issues that may arise on the job.

Students also will learn key business strategies and prepare for projects assigned in the workplace by completing practice projects in an academic setting. After completion, the student’s project will be properly evaluated and graded according to the standards set in the industry. Both a traditional MBA program and an online mba program offer courses in financial planning with risk assessment of credit and interest rates. Students also study capital management and analysis of the financial status of a variety of different corporate institutions. To properly apply these concepts, students should have a knowledge base in microeconomics and the concepts of supply and demand as they pertain to the business industry. Students will examine marketing strategies, product development and distribution, and pricing, as well as information on how to research the purchasing habits and preferences of target audiences.

An online MBA program specifically allows students to understand how to network with other professionals in the industry through technological means. Since online MBA programs encompass various technological mediums for communicating and analyzing information, students in these programs have an advantage in their industry by simultaneously developing proficiency in these mediums and developing proficiency in topics that pertain to business administration.

Leave Feelings about Former Employer at Home When Interviewing

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Ninety-nine percent of us have all had that employer we didn’t like, who messed up our careers, made eight-hour days seem like 16 hour days, and on and on.

That being said, have you gone on a job interview recently and purposely or accidentally trashed a former employer? If the answer is yes, there is a good chance you are still job hunting.

While your feelings may be justified, they need to stay bottled up during the interview process so that you don’t get one strike against you before you even get out of the meeting.

Let’s face it, a potential employer doesn’t want you going on and on about how a former employer did this or that to you. In many cases, complaining about your former company will lead you to a short interview with the prospective employer.

Been Down This Road Before

Speaking from personal experience, I was laid off years ago via an email after a five-and-a-half year run with a company. To put it lightly, it stung and came across as a classless way to let someone go who had devoted much time and effort to helping the company succeed.

That being said, I was asked a number of times on different interviews about how I left the company and always found it best to be honest. While I did not bad-mouth my former employer, I did explain how I was laid off and in a mature manner.

For those interview prospects who wonder whether or not it is a good idea to speak honestly about their former employers when interviewing, keep these things in mind:

  • While Mom and Dad always told you that honesty is the best policy, there are some instances where less is better. If you’re asked about why you are no longer with your most recent employer, simply be as upfront as possible without saying negative things about the company. For instance, you can say that the company was trimming staff and you were one of the cuts. You can also note that a new manager came on board and wanted to take the department in a different direction. Lastly, you can point out that you voluntarily left after coming to the conclusion that you wanted to take your career in a new direction. Whatever the case, the last thing you want to do is say that the company was terrible to work for, you didn’t like your co-workers, and so on;
  • You can come across as negative. If you start going off on a former employer during your interview, the prospective employer may find you a bad fit with that alone for their company. As many employers know, it costs money to continuously be bringing in new people and training over and over again. Companies want to find someone who is positive, will fit in nicely with the staff already on hand, and will essentially be low maintenance. If you come across as a complainer, chances are you will never get past that initial interview;
  • You might be a short hire – As noted above, companies do not want a revolving door in their offices. While more and more people change jobs on a regular basis in today’s day and age, a prospective employer doesn’t want to hire someone who may only be there for the short haul;
  • You may badmouth this employer next – If you go off on a former employer, what’s to say you won’t do the same if this company hires you and you leave them? Most companies are concerned about their images and don’t want to risk hiring someone who may speak ill of them now or down the road;
  • You could be perceived as not that intelligent – You can be the brightest person in the world when it comes to education, but ranting about one or more former employers will be perceived by most folks as not being too bright. Putting a more positive spin on a negative situation will show you to be better educated, more mature and someone who can deal with adversity.

The bottom line is we’re all different personalities, both on the job and in our private lives.

When you stop and think about it, interviewing for a new job is both exciting and stressful; why add more stress to the situation by being negative during the interview?

Dave Thomas writes extensively for B2B lead generation online resource Resource Nation that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs. He is an expert writer on items like credit card processing companies and is based in San Diego, California.

Crimes in College: How they’ll affect your Job Opportunities in the Future

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College—While it’s usually a fun and adventurous experience for most students, there are other students who get into legal trouble due to their definition of “fun.” Getting charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in college is more common than one may think. And while it doesn’t make you the scum of the earth—after all you might’ve been arrested for protesting—your record could still compromise your job prospects after graduating. To see if you should be concerned about getting a background check during your round of job interviews and how you should handle the situation, continue reading below.

What is included in a Background Check?

First things first—you need to understand that just about everything will be featured on your background check, including but not limited to the following: Driving records, credit records, criminal records, military records, workers’ compensation, court records, and whether or not you’re a sex offender. For a complete list and more general information, click here.

What to do if the Transgression is Minor:

Background checks aren’t typically completed until after you’ve nailed an interview and employers are really thinking about hiring you. If your offense wasn’t something too severe—for example maybe you were reprimanded for a minor in possession (MPI) or for a public intoxication, you might not need to talk about it at all—the employer might just gloss right over it if the crime does not directly affect your line of work. Thus it’s up to your own discretion whether you think the issue should be addressed or not. But if you’re really apprehensive about it and you don’t want even the slightest thing to come as a shock to your possible future employer, it might be a good idea to turn your negative offense into something positive when asked “what are your weaknesses or regrets” or some other variant of the question. You can talk about your situation and explain how it made you learn and grow from the experience.

If the Transgression is Major:

If the crime was something more serious, it’ll benefit you greatly to talk about the issue up front. While you may think of waiting so that you’ll have more time to prepare what you’re going to say and how you’re going to explain this situation, the truth is that you’ll probably never get the opportunity to sway the interviewer in your favor if you wait—nowadays employers are looking for any little mistake so that they can eliminate candidates and make the hiring process easier. So if they see a tarnished record before you have the chance to explain what happened you’re application may be immediately tossed out the window. Thus it’s probably best to address the issue and tell the interviewer, “yes I messed up. This is why. This is what I learned.”  You should also talk about the steps you’ve taken to make sure that the incident will never happen again and that by no means will it interfere with your job. It may be best to wait until the end of the interview to talk about the issue, well after you’ve wooed and impressed—it’ll make not giving you a second look all that much harder for your employer if he or she already likes you. Just make sure that you control your temper and try not to get too emotional when explaining your offense. If you’re nervous that your interviewer may throw you a curveball that you’re not prepared to answer, have a mock interview with a friend, family member or even a career counselor so that you’ll be a little bit more prepared on how to defend yourself.

Your criminal record may make it difficult to find employment at first, but be persistent with it—someone will give you a lucky break the more honest you are about it.

Byline:

Jane Smith is a freelance writer and blogger. She writes about criminal background check for Backgroundcheck.org. Questions and comments can be sent to: janesmth161 @ gmail.com

You Don’t Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression

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How much time and thought do you put into your overall appearance preparations when you go on a job interview?

If the answer is little to none, then there is a good chance that you are still looking for a job. You see, appearance, including clothing and grooming, does make the man or woman in many cases when they step foot in someone’s office for a one-on-one interview.

 

The Suit Does Make the Man

When I first relocated to the West Coast some 16 years ago, my first interview at a weekly newspaper caught me a little off guard. I showed up for the meeting wearing a suit and tie, only to have the editor catch me off guard with an unusual comment when we met.

He asked me if I was originally from the East Coast, to which I answered yes. He then stated that most “locals” did not dress up with suits and ties; I guess in a way complimenting me on doing so.

Granted, most job interviews do not start off that way, but needless to say, I did find it a tad bit interesting.

In today’s job search world, it is always best to fall on the side of caution and make yourself as presentable as possible.

 

Do You Appear to Know the Keys to Looking Your Best?

That being said, what are some keys to looking your best and enhancing your chances of getting that job you want? Among the things to remember are:

  • Dress codes vary – There is not one “fit all” dress code that blankets the job world. Before you go in for your interview, take into account what the position entails and how you would best represent yourself. If you’re interviewing for a retail job, overdressing may come across as you being overqualified for the position. In the event you interview for an executive position, underdressing may show that you are not serious for the post and would not be a good representative of the company;
  • Look the part – In the event you are interviewing for a sales position, keep in mind that if given the job, there is a very good chance you will be meeting with clients on a regular basis. Your potential employer will want to make sure that you dress the part, thereby doing a good job in representing the company when out in the field. If you come to the interview underdressed, hair a mess, not cleanly shaven, wearing too much makeup etc., you can be setting yourself up for not getting the job;
  • Use that toothbrush and razor – Just as the clothes are important, it is also critical that you make sure the toothbrush, razor and any other needed accessories are put to use before going to your interview. While it may seem a no-brainer, you would be surprised how many candidates go to an interview and forget to brush those pearly whites or run that razor down their face. Improper grooming habits tell a potential employer that they are not a priority in your life, something that can lead to being passed over for the position;
  • Don’t overdo the makeup – While this advice is primarily for the women, it holds true for some men too. Yes, you want to look appealing for your interview, but don’t show up with an extra pound of lip gloss, mascara, hair gel, toner and more. Remember, this is a job interview, not a precursor to the Miss America pageant;
  • Make the interview interesting – It is safe to say that many people find job interviews to be a job in and of itself. Many people find the process to be taxing and at times very stressful. One of the ways to ease the tension is to go into the interview full of confidence, looking your best, and most importantly, being you. If you’re not comfortable in a three-piece suit or designer dress, then wear something comparable where you can look good, yet be yourself. Most importantly, demonstrate your interest in the job and why you want to work for this company.

For those who make a little extra effort in their appearances, the odds appear higher that this year will bring them more opportunities to snag their desired job.

 

Dave Thomas, who covers among other items background checks and home-based jobs, writes extensively for Business.com, an online resource destination for businesses of all sizes to research, find, and compare the products and services they need to run their businesses.

Philanthropic Field Representative Gives Canine Eyes to the Blind

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This is the career story of a professional philanthropist as told to JustJobs.com Academy. This site features real stories from professionals in a myriad of professions. If you have considered a career in philanthropy, read on to learn what the job is really like from this Philanthropic Field Representative. Visit JustJobs for more interviews with philanthropy professionals including one from a fundraiser and a giving coordinator and many others.

My job title is officially “field representative.” I have been doing this job now for about 20 years and I’m looking forward to retiring soon. I work for a school that teaches blind people to use guide dogs. My job is to deliver the puppies that will one day become guide dogs to foster families who raise them for about a year. During the year, I keep in touch with the families and make sure that things are going well. I arrange training and social events for the foster families. Then, I go back to pick up the dogs at the end of the year and deliver them to the school for intensive training. I also attend fundraisers and speak to different groups throughout the year in order to obtain money to keep the program going.

I love what I do! Knowing that I am helping blind people to become more independent is very rewarding. Of course, I’ve worked with a lot of families and children, too, over the years. Now, many of the children that raised puppies when I first started are in their 30′s! It is very rewarding to see how they have grown and changed. I guess you could say that this is why I get up and go to work each day. I really believe that the work I do is important and life changing!

I got started in this field by chance. My husband and I were raising foster kids and we heard about another foster mother who had enrolled her children in a puppy-raising program. She felt that it really helped the kids emotionally. We decided to do just that and enrolled our foster kids in the same program. We saw such great growth in them, and really enjoyed the whole experience. Several years after we had joined, a job opened up for a field representative. Since my husband had just lost his job and we needed the money, I applied. I got the job and here I am!

The strangest thing that happened to me at this job was that I literally bumped into a blind graduate with a guide dog that I had delivered to a foster family living near my own home. I think the dog recognized me because he led his owner right to me! The owner had no idea what was going on because the dog wasn’t obeying his commands!

For my job, I really didn’t need a specific type of education. Perhaps, that has changed now. However, I would say that in my particular organization, the staff was looking for someone that they knew was already committed to the cause, so to speak. I believe I probably got the job because I was already involved with the organization as a volunteer.

If I knew that a friend of mine wanted to work for philanthropic organization, I’d tell them to get involved in that particular group first as a volunteer. That is important for several reasons: firstly, sometimes philanthropies don’t pay so well and you really need to love doing what you are doing to make it worthwhile. Also, if you do not support the cause, you probably won’t last long doing this sort of work.

 

Good Careers that Don’t Need Excessive Education

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The four-year degree has recently been called in to question due to the large amounts of those with them who can’t find a job. Thousands of recent college graduates are now without work, and are still suffering from the burden of high student loans. Many of those graduates attended college under the pretense that they would be able to obtain a career after graduation.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore.

The once sought after college degree isn’t as important as it once was – especially if it is a liberal arts degree. Employers now want individuals with specific training and actual experience – and usually two year programs do a better job at fitting this bill than 4 year colleges do. Great two year programs that are generally more useful include:

Web Designer

There is no doubt that the need to web designer is only going to continue to grow as more and more businesses move to the web. Most community or two-year colleges offer web designing programs, and after graduation, you can expect a salary of $50,000 or more if you get hired.

Medical Coding and Billing

Medical coding and billing is becoming a highly sought after position as the need for just about every type of healthcare position has increased as the baby boomer generation ages. The average medical billing and coding specialist can expect to spend their days being the translator between medical facilities and insurance companies, and make on average $38,000 or more a year.
Physical Therapist Technician

Also increasing because of the aging baby boomer population is the need for physical therapist technicians. Techs work in either hospital settings or in a physical therapist’s private office, and aid the therapist with exercises and clerical work. They can expect to make around $50,000 a year.

Executive Assistant

Although not as lucrative as some of the other fields, executive assistants are still in high demand. Becoming an executive assistant also allows you the ability to climb the ranks of whatever company you work for while learning all the tricks of the trade. The average salary for an executive assistant is around $35,000 to $40,000.

Radiation Technician

Out of all the two year degree career, radiation technicians tend to fair the best. A radiation technician will be responsible for taking x-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, MRIs, and mammograms throughout the day, and on average make around $57,000. Upward mobility is also very high in the field of radiation technology.

If you are looking for a career change or are just starting out on your journey to finding a career, consider not wasting your time with a four-year degree and going with a two-year program instead. If you acquire the appropriate education and training, most of these degrees pay the same, if not more, than 4-year degree careers – and you won’t have to waste as much time and money.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Female Operations Manager Takes Care of Business

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Ever thought of working in a high-end leadership position? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect as an operations manager, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more.

I currently work as operations manager in a company that provides simultaneous interpretation and translation services. I have worked with this organization for the past four years. I am hardworking, resourceful and a fast learner.

I am an African female. My ethnicity and gender have posed some challenges in my work. I have had to work extra hard to prove myself as a leader because I am a woman. Yes, I have experienced some discrimination in my work place. When I received my current promotion, there were two men who were eyeing the same post. I became their boss and they decided to make my work very difficult. They hardly followed instructions and made intentional mistakes in a bid to make me look incompetent.

I am in charge of the entire operations of the organization. I oversee the human resources, administration, finance and marketing departments. All the departmental heads report directly to me. I ensure that the organization is running smoothly. I handle crisis management in a bid to ensure that the operations remain intact. There are some common misunderstandings that have arisen in my line of duty, which I would like to do differently. I would like to take my leadership skills to a higher level by providing more incentives and boosting the team spirit of those in various departments.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate my job satisfaction level as 6. There are certain changes I would like to witness in my job that will enable me unleash my full potential. The organization I work for has a bureaucratic system that does not work in my favor. The decision making process is slow and I have to seek advice for every small detail that arises. I would like a situation where I have been given full control to handle the different departments under my jurisdiction without constantly seeking consultations with the company directors who may not be readily available to respond to urgent issues.

My current job moves my heart. By simply assisting those below me to grow in their career and achieve their expected results, I am able to get a lot of satisfaction. There are times when I feel that I have found my sweet spot in life with the job I am currently engaged in.

The uniqueness of my situation in the current job I hold is the fact that I am a woman in a leadership role. I am constantly faced with challenges that require quick action which forces me to think out of the box. Being in a position to handle four departments is quite challenging, but I have been able to stand up to the challenge.

I got in to this line of work by gaining experience in marketing, finance, human resources and administration in other organizations. My collective experience has enabled me to run the organization in my capacity as the operations manager with ease. If I had to do things differently, I would change a few things, like the reporting structure, the organizational chart, and cut down on unnecessary tasks that can cost less by outsourcing.

I learned that you must be vocal enough in order to have your strategies and ideas listened to. The ability to have people listen to you is very crucial. When I obtained my current position, I had to implement certain changes in the organization. I faced many challenges with most of the staff preferring to do things the way they were accustomed to. I had to put my foot down, and in the process not gain resistance but rather have the staff embrace the changes.

I have learned that in school most of the concepts taught are theoretical, but the business world is more practical. Being able to find a balance between theory and practice is essential to succeed in business.

One strange thing happened to me in my line of duty. I received a telephone call telling me that my staff was working too slow while dealing with a big project. I panicked because I imagined the law suits that would be slapped on us. I had to think fast, however, and contain the situation before it got out of hand.

I get up and go to work because I have bills to pay, but also because I enjoy what I do. I was proud to witness one of the staff that I had mentored being awarded recognition as employee of the year.

I face some challenges in my line of duty. For instance, I have to deal with staff complaints that cannot be handled at the departmental level. The fact that everyone always expects a solution from me can also be very challenging.

My job is very stressful because of the short deadlines and late hours. I work so hard that I even forget to exercise and eat right which has negatively impacted my lifestyle.

I am paid a package of approximately $ 6,000 each month. I feel the pay is little as compared to the amount of time and effort that I put in to it.

I take my vacation once a year though I would not mind having it twice a year.

In order to be hired as an operations manager in the interpretation and translation industry, you are required to have a MBA, professional qualifications in management, and a first degree in Business Management or Administration. Knowledge of international languages would be a major plus.

I would advise a friend who is interested in my line of work to keep him or her self constantly updated on the new trends in management and administration. Attending short courses in this line would also be beneficial for career growth.

If I was to write my own ticket, in the next five years to come, I would like to be running my own business.

This is a true career story as told to DiversityJobs.com.

Torn Between Graduate School and a Career? You Don’t Have to Be

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It might be easy get by with a part-time job while you’re an undergraduate student, but once you graduate you’ll likely seek bigger and better things. If you’re lucky enough to find a job in your field, it can be a difficult prospect to turn down. However, if you always planned on attending graduate school, it’s easy to find yourself torn between accepting a good job now and sacrificing several more years of your life in pursuit of a career. Although some students have found ways of balancing both graduate school and a career, it can be difficult to juggle the life-consuming demands that each requires.

Since so many bright and willing students have been conflicted with this decision in the past, new options have surfaced to make the challenge more manageable. An online master degree program, for example, can grant students the opportunity to attend school on a schedule that makes sense for them. Many institutions now offer online alternatives, allowing students to strike the balance between work and school. This not only solves the problem of scheduling, but it also allows students to truly deliver their best performances without letting a work overload compromise their capabilities.

An online program may also be a good solution for students whose jobs require frequent travel. With a traditional degree program, traveling could heavily interfere with class attendance and keeping up with course material. With an online program, the problem can be solved as easily as packing your laptop and having an Internet connection.

Although the prospect of an online program may sound like a cure-all solution, it doesn’t mean that earning your graduate degree while working will be easy. It will be challenging, but it won’t be impossible. Balancing online classes with work will require some sacrifices throughout the years. You might lose some sleep, your weekends may turn into catch-up days, and you may not have a whole lot of extra time for recreation, but you will reap the reward for such a huge investment of your time and effort when you earn your degree without having to sacrifice your job.

In the modern age, more and more students are beginning to recognize the wider range of options when it comes to higher education. In the current economy, many individuals want to improve their skills and education to be better prepared for a dwindling job market, but going to school full time may not always be the best option. If you’re a self-disciplined student who doesn’t need consistent attention to meet deadlines, an online education program may be the solution you’ve been seeking.