Cleveland

As a newly minted graduate, I frequently get asked why I chose to move all the way from Michigan to New York. The simple answer is there are more writing jobs to be found in New York. For many recent college grads there’s one issue that determines where they live or move: jobs.

I was actually surprisingly pleased to see that the Motor City didn’t come up as first on this list of worst places to live in U.S. from Wallet Pop. The major factors considered include the number of foreclosures, health and fitness of the population, crime rate and unemployment.

Here’s how the nation’s cities ranked:

10. Memphis, Tennessee

Not only does Memphis have a crime rate that’s 90% higher than any other community in Tennessee, it also suffers from corruption among city officials. Not long ago, a city administrator used government funds to purchase big screen TVs.

9. Miami, Florida

Florida may be the sunshine state, but things are not looking so bright in Miami. According to Children’s Health, it’s the second worst city to raise a family. It’s had nearly 40,000 foreclosures and also has a considerable problem with violent crime.

8. Newark, New Jersey

First of all, New Jersey has the most Superfund sites of any other state in the union, meaning its residents are exposed to high levels of environmental pollution. More than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, and the city is making drastic cuts to public services in an attempt to close a $70 million budget deficit.

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In today’s job climate, it can take applying to over 50 or more jobs before you land one interview. With such a drastic shortage of jobs, it’s very important to make the most of each and every interview opportunity you might receive.

There are so many people out of work that an interview is really your only chance to stand out, make a great first impression, and highlight your skills. Below are some tips to do just that, and hopefully land your dream job.

Know your resume: Make sure your resume is tailored to match the job description you’re applying for and you know it inside and out. The interviewer will likely ask you questions based directly on what your resume says, so it would be in your best interest to be ready to discuss anything on it.

Be honest: Answer every question honestly. If you’re unsure of an answer or don’t have direct experience in an area the interviewer is asking about, say so. If you are unsure about a question, make a point to mention that you are willing to learn or be trained in that particular area. It will go over much better than lying and being found out later in the interview. Read the rest of this entry »

College degrees are important and picking a major that you enjoy studying will help ensure you enjoy the career that hopefully results from that degree. For those who enjoy math, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics is a great, yet often overlooked, major. Math degrees can set the stage for a number of careers including an actuary, an applied mathematician, a pure mathematician, a statistician or a school math teacher. Those who have a way with numbers, work well independently and love problem solving could find a very fulfilling career in any one of these positions.

Despite the pictures you probably have in your head right now, a math degree doesn’t automatically limit you to solving math equations with paper and a pencil. Math degrees are useful in computer and information systems, health, the business industry or even operations research. The use of data and numbers makes it possible to apply your mathematics degree to many different career options. Like any degree, students that graduate from the best schools will find that they have an edge in their specific job market. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever used a job board? They are a great way to find a job, if you do not mind checking back multiple times each day and competing against other people who may or may not be embellishing their resumes in order to sound better qualified. In my opinion, the biggest problem with job boards is that most really are not regulated as strongly as they should be. I mean, we are talking about people’s future careers; shouldn’t this be handled a little more carefully?

1stGig.com allows job searchers to connect with the future employers of their dreams.

1stGig.com evidently thought so. 1stGig.com is not a job board, but it is a great way to connect with employers and find your first career.

Think of it as an eHarmony for job seekers and employers. Both sides create profiles; for the seekers, the profile is based on career interests, experience, education, and skills. 1stGig.com then compares the profiles and introduces companies and job-seekers that form compatible matches. Read the rest of this entry »

A career in law enforcement offers a vast variety of professional opportunities, and some of those opportunities are even available to candidates without college degrees.

Many people however are confused about the process to pursue a career in fighting crime in America.

Here are the necessary steps to potentially attain a career in law enforcement.

In high school you should take U.S. government & politics (civics or poli-sci), psychology and U.S. history AP classes to prepare for your continued education. Special dedication to the behavior sciences, business math and computer applications courses may also prove helpful.

Holding a professional degree in political science or criminal justice will likely expedite the process of employment. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems lately the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been recruiting new agents with some surprising educational backgrounds.

Whether you’re of an older generation and remember when Jimmy Cagney was an agent in G-Men or you’re looking to erase memories of aliens like in Men in Black, the FBI is known amongst society to be an exciting, interesting, and competitive career path.

According to reports via the FBI, they are looking for Special Agents for four specific entry-level programs and one general department and are scouting for: Read the rest of this entry »

You went to college for four years, earned your good grades, graduated on time, and now that you are out in the “Real World” you can’t find a job to save your life. It’s pretty frustrating, right? What could you be doing wrong? You know that your résumé is top notch, your cover letter shows your brilliant personality, and you’re dressed in your best clothes for the interview. Why haven’t they offered you a great job with a starting salary at least $10,000 more than you expected?!

OK, well, calm down a little. Maybe $10,000 is a little much to ask for. But in all seriousness, you feel like you have done everything in your power to land a job – any job – and nothing has worked out for you. What gives?

According to Careers and Colleges, most new job searchers make novice mistakes that end up costing them the job. Here are the top five things to do during your job search so that you can finally move out of your parents’ house and start living the nine-to-five dream. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the high turn-over rate, the The New York Times reports that being hired by Teach for America is more competitive than ever. A record 46,359 applicants bid for only 4,500 positions nationwide, a 32 percent increase since 2009. Eighteen percent of the graduating class of Harvard applied for the program.

Will Cullen, who was accepted to Teach for America after graduating from Villanova, reported that a friend who was not hired instead will be a Fullbright scholar. Some students are not even trying to apply for the year following graduation, but instead try to gain related experience to boost their resumes. Read the rest of this entry »

Facebook, Google, FedEx, Dell, and Microsoft are all companies conceived of by college students. Frederick Smith got the idea for FedEx while researching an economics paper whiles getting his bachelor’s of economic at Yale. Michael Dell began upgrading computers from his dorm room while studying pre-med at the University of Texas at Austin. Investopedia shares the key ingredients behind these success stories for the entrepreneurial-minded college student.

1. Fill a Need

What could you create that would make people’s lives simpler, easier or more enjoyable? This is a simple, but fundamental business premise. Mark Zuckerberg, perhaps the richest 26-year-old in the world, began with the simple desire to provide his fellow classmates at Harvard with a student directory that included photos, something that many colleges provide. He began by hacking into Harvard’s server to retrieve the images necessary, but soon got shut down by the administration. His next strategy evolved into the Facebook we know today, with user-submitted content.
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As any recent graduate knows, this is a rough economy for finding that first job after graduation. Forbes recently ranked the top ten U.S. cities for young professionals looking to hedge their bets before moving to a new city.

They analyzed cost of living, unemployment rate, the number of high-profile employers, and potential job growth for each city. Lastly, they counted the number of graduates from the Class of 2000 at Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Duke University, Rice University and Northwestern University had settled in each city.

Here are the results:

1. Houston, Texas

Three of the ten cities that made the list are in Texas, with Houston heading the list. Fourteen of the nation’s largest companies are based in the city, which also has high incomes and a large number of elite college graduates. Read the rest of this entry »