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2008 is almost over and there have been significant changes… first African-American president, first woman vice presidential candidate, government scandals, faltering economy, stocks crashing, government bailouts and the comeback of  Britney Spears. Can 2009 be your year to change your life? We at USCS think so!

As the economy slows and jobs grow more scarce - what can you celebrate when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve? Well, for one thing, 2008 is over and you can only hope that 2009 will be better. But, what are your resolutions going to look like this year? It seems unfitting to go with the regular lose weight or get a new hobby. Why not really make a resolution and go back to school?

Challenge yourself to become better in life and in your career. Whether it’s continue your education or learn a new trade, 2009 is the year for you to go back to school. Learn more about our programs and going back with USCS. 

So, you’re looking for some direction in your life. Well, you’re definitely not alone there. Whether you’re getting ready to graduate, or if you’re just looking for a lifestyle or career change, the number of choices out there can be overwhelming.We’re all well-aware that the economy is not super hot right now. But here’s a piece of advice I’ve heard some career experts recommend to people who are having a tough time snagging a job right now:

They say that volunteering can be a great way to gain experience that employers will appreciate. But best of all, many volunteer opportunities can give you the chance to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Today, I was reading about an organization called City Year. It’s affiliated with AmeriCorps (the domestic version of the Peace Corps), and it gives young people between the ages of 17 and 24 the chance to spend one year volunteering with kids from urban areas all across the country.

Though helping others is a great incentive, City Year can also help its members prepare for life after their year of service has ended. They offer education awards and scholarships, in addition to a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. Plus, you could experience life in a new place, while meeting new people.

A friend of mine who lives in New York City told me about how she sees City Year volunteers all over the place. She said she always recognizes them by their trademark red uniforms and their cheerful attitudes. Apparently, these folks really love what they’re doing!

The benefits of volunteering seem almost endless. And it might even open career or education doors in ways you weren’t expecting.

Jonathan Liebman, the CEO of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, wrote in the September/October 2008 issue of Career College Central  about the fear many students have of success. He points out that many students are the first in their families to graduate from college. Naturally, these students often second guess themselves. What will life be like in this new career? What will change? Do I deserve to be more successful than my parents? Will success cause resentment and pull me away from my childhood friends?

The opportunities an education gives you will introduce you to new people and new experiences. Venturing into uncharted waters can be intimidating but, with a little bravery, you can create a better life for yourself. There is no easy answer to make it through the tough times. Each situation has its own complexities and needs to be addressed in a unique way. But there are some tips that can help you through tough times.

1. Be confident - People trust and react positively to those who are confident, but not cocky. Hold your head high and take pride in what you’ve accomplished. Not feeling very confident in your new role? Fake it. Soon enough, you’ll find that your confidence is sincere.
2. Think of your kids - If your parents did not go to college, it can feel like you are rejecting the life they worked hard to provide. Pretend that you decide that, out of respect for your parents, you decide to not go to school. Fifteen or twenty years from now, your children would be in the same position you are in now. What would you want them to do - have the same challenges you faced without an education, or would you like them to go to college and have a successful career? Most parents strive to provide a better life for their children than they had. It is honoring their sacrifices to take advantage of the opportunities you have.
3. Let go - In order to get what you want out of life, sometimes you need to cut ties with things that are holding you back. If a loved one is not encouraging you to be successful and talking to them about the situation doesn’t help, consider cutting back on the time you spend with them. That can be very tough to do, but if they truly have your best interest at heart, they’d want to help you succeed.

Change can be scary, but success shouldn’t be. Be brave, and don’t let temporary setbacks keep you from the life you want for you and your family.

If you are considering going to college or considering going back to college, the reasons are plentiful. Maybe you want to get a more enjoyable job. Maybe you want to fulfill a desire to earn your degree. Or maybe, just maybe, you want to earn some more cash.

According to an article on PRWeb , the U.S. Census Bureau states that people with a Bachelor’s degree earn over 60 percent more on average than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school graduate and someone with a B.A. (or higher) is more than $1 million.

According to the same site, only 21 percent of adults over the age of 25 have college degrees. Why is this? Some people drop out of college before graduating. Some people enter the workforce immediately after high school, either because they don’t want to go to college or they can’t attend for some reason – finances, lack of scholarships, etc.

So if money is such a powerful motivator and people with degrees make that much more than non-college graduates, why don’t more people try to get college degrees? There is a number of excuses not to get a degree, but each of those excuses has a feasible counter-argument.

Some people would argue they must maintain their full-time jobs to pay the bills and support their families. They say they wouldn’t have time to go back to school. There are many ways around that hurdle. Many colleges and technical schools offer night classes, online classes, television classes and weekend classes.

Some people say they can’t afford to go back to school. This may be true for some, but there are avenues that can be searched. Scholarships may be available. Financial aid is out there. Banks issue student loans. Some employment offices offer tuition reimbursement. And since having a degree offers such a higher earning potential, isn’t it a wise investment to get that degree?

Finally, some people are afraid to go to college. Maybe they didn’t perform as well in high school as they would have liked. Or maybe they have been out of school long enough to be nervous about going to class with younger students. Well, you’ll never know what kind of success you can have if you don’t try.

College can be a very rewarding experience, both financially and personally. And with such a higher earning potential for college graduates, and such a low number of graduates over the age of 25, the people who go back to school sooner will have a great deal of opportunities to earn satisfying, well-paying careers.

Guidance counselors are invaluable assets to school districts, operating at the elementary, middle and high school levels. A school guidance counselor usually has a Master’s degree, and most states require counselors to be licensed.

Guidance counselors have to balance multiple roles when relating to students. They are a primary advocate for students, in both the students personal and academic lives.

Preparing students for the future:

It’s important for counselors to be able to make regular assessments of each student’s academic progress, so that they can be familiar with individual needs and goals. Advising a student on which classes to take and how to prepare for their academic and career futures is a cornerstone of a guidance counselor’s function. Giving out assessment tests, consulting with students regarding career goals and reminding them about scholarship and application deadlines are all regular duties for high school guidance counselors in particular.

Helping students with the present:

One of the hardest and most rewarding aspects of being a guidance counselor is helping students today. Whether it’s giving them the confidence they need to sign up for a particular class, or helping them through a troubled period in their lives, guidance counselors are important. Children coping with family issues, such as divorce, or social issues, such as peer pressure or bullying, often turn to their guidance counselor for advice. Even more importantly, a guidance counselor should be attuned enough to their students that they notice shifts in behavior or attitude even before the student brings it up!

But for somebody who is interested in helping others, who can really listen and wants to help guide children and young adults – for that person, a career as a guidance counselor can be a wonderful and rewarding occupation.

As mentioned on MSN Careers in the article Job Outlook for Class of 2007, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts college hiring will increase by 17.4 percent in 2007. This is the fourth straight year that new graduate hiring is expected to grow by a double-digit percentage.

According to the fall preview of NACE’s “Job Outlook 2007″ survey, employers cite company growth, retiring employees and high job turnover as key reasons for the rise in hiring.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “2004-2014 Job Outlook for College Graduates” identifies seven prominent career fields that will have significant openings in the years ahead two of which tie in closely to school guidance counseling. Read the rest of this entry »

In the article, ‘Eight Summer Reads for the Career Conscious,’ Kate Lorenz outlines recommendations for career-conscious individuals who are reading for both pleasure and profit. However, as a fan of hot summertime days, I suggest these ’summer’ reads for the bitter cold days of winter. After all, what’s better than curling up under a blanket with a good book? Well, maybe you should include a cup of hot chocolate and glowing fireplace for the ultimate experience.

Check out the recommendations below for the best books for job hunters, best books to enlighten (and impress) and the best books for personal effectiveness. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are on the path to becoming a guidance counselor, you’re heading toward a position that involves a great deal of interaction with others. Elementary-level school counselors through college-level guidance counselors work with students to promote and support their academic, personal and social development. It is essential for guidance counselors to be effective communicators, able to provide educational advice, career recommendations, and even help to those who may not be heading in the right direction at all.

Before you can secure your place in this field, you’ll have to successfully complete a different type of interaction process the job interview. Interviewing skills are important for any career field. However, guidance counselors not only need to excel to land a job, they should also be able to help future job-seekers with interview tips.

Learn from common mistakes made by others instead of committing an interview no-no. After all, as Kiplinger’s writer Peter Phelan states, the last thing you want to do is leave the wrong impression.

In his article, What Not to Say at a Job Interview, Phelan outlines 12 gaffes that could cost you a job. Read the rest of this entry »

Article by Stephanie Armour, USA Today

College graduates are experiencing the best job market in four years as a stronger economy leads more employers to ramp up hiring.

Employers expect to hire 17.4% more new college graduates in 2006 and 2007 than in 2005 and 2006, according to a new survey by the Bethlehem, Pa.-based National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Signing bonuses range from $1,000 to $10,000, with the average at $3,568. And employers reported plans to boost their starting salary offers by 4.6% over last year, nearly a full percentage point higher than increases for the classes of 2006 and 2005.

“This is the fourth year in a row that employers have predicted an increase in hiring,” says Andrea Koncz at NACE. “It really is because of the economy and more demand. Companies are growing.” Read the rest of this entry »

For parents, releasing children off into the ‘wild’ (also known as college) can be a really difficult time. You can no longer tell them when to do their homework, you have no control over their curfew, and you can’t make sure they are eating their vegetables. Whether it’s your firstborn or the last of several children to escape the shelter of your wing, parents commonly suffer from empty nest syndrome. However, the most recently discussed problem known as ‘helicopter parenting,’ a term coined by colleges across the nation involves parents who don’t make an effort to loosen the leash. Read the rest of this entry »