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  • Benefits of Internships

    Benefits of Internships

     

    For most young people trying to enter the work force the most common reason they give for not getting hired is “lack of experience.” Lots of students feel caught in the cycle of, “how can I gain experience if I can’t get a job.” One of the best ways to overcome this obstacle is to get an internship.

    An internship is work experience designed to allow students to explore jobs relating to their university majors or to a specific career goal. There are a number of benefits to completing an internship. According to monster.com “employers overwhelmingly point to internship experience as the most important factor they consider in hiring new college graduates for full time positions.”

    Aside from the possibility of being more employable to a perspective employer, here are some other benefits of internships:

    1. Completing an internship in high school may help you choose (or rule out) a university major. Maybe you wanted to be a Veterinarian your whole life, but after completing an internship in a vet’s office you discovered it really isn’t for you. The on the job training will help give you the opportunity to see what it’s really like in a certain field, and allow you to test out if the job is everything you expected it to be.
    2. Some internships may allow you to earn course credits. You might also be paid during your internship (though in some cases you will be expected to work for experience not for money).
    3. You can gain first hand job experience and knowledge that can’t be taught in the classroom. On the job training may make you more marketable to perspective employers. Internships also look really great on your resume.
    4. Internships can help you improve your confidence and self-esteem. Working in a professional environment and doing a good job will definitely help boost your confidence. It feels good to work hard and feel like you’ve contributed in some way.
    5. It will provide you with the opportunity to network. You can make contacts you can use in the future, which may lead to a future job opportunity or a valuable reference.
    6. You might work with someone who can become a mentor to you while your pursue career goals. Mentors can be helpful to ask questions to, get advice from and to learn from someone who works in a field that interests you.

    Although education is extremely important, on the job, real world experience provides invaluable opportunities that can’t be duplicated in a classroom, which is why the benefits of an internship are well worth all the hard work you’ll have to put in.

  • The Benefits of Volunteering in High School

    The Benefits of Volunteering in High School

    High school students, it’s time to get motivated! Volunteering while still in high school provides you with the framework for your future career path, as well as instills in you the importance of giving back to others. It may seem difficult to fit in volunteer hours with such a busy schedule of classes, studying and extracurricular activities, but with a little planning you can achieve your volunteer goals. Many not-for-profit organizations only require a few hours a week of your time. For example, the Ottawa Humane Society has a dog walking program that requires a commitment of 2 hours per week. If you love dogs, that is a very easy commitment to make! Even though you may not be reimbursed financially for your time, volunteering is something that can be put on your resume that will help impress future employers and university admissions officials alike. Below, a list of just some of the benefits that volunteerism can provide you:

    Impress Admissions Officials
    You’ve got the great GPA and amazing standardized test scores. But what makes you stand out from students with similar grades? The answer is what you do in your spare time. Volunteer hours and part-time jobs listed on your application will really make you shine. Volunteerism is a great way to show admissions officials that you not only care about the community, but are able to manage your time well enough to balance a volunteer job with your other commitments. By all means, don’t spend every spare minute working on your volunteer hours – you need to balance volunteerism with your personal life, too. But a sustained commitment to one particular cause over a year or two shows that you are willing to stick to something that you care about. This will be very impressive to admissions officials and work in your favour.

    Get Involved Outside of School
    Volunteering allows you to meet people you may not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise, especially if you are volunteering outside of school. If you have heard the term “networking”, that is essentially what you will be doing! You are forming a network of contacts that can help you get to where you want to be. If you already have a good idea of what you want to study in college or university, you can volunteer your time in that field. For example, if you want to study psychology, why not volunteer your time with the Canadian Mental Health Association? You can find volunteer opportunities for almost anything that interests you, so spread your wings outside of your school and gain immeasurable benefits!

    Earn Academic Credit and Scholarships
    Some high schools require you to put in volunteer hours in order to graduate. Others offer extra credits or scholarship opportunities if you do volunteer your time. Check with your high school’s administration office to see if any of these opportunities are available to you. If they are, take advantage of them! A scholarship will help you to cut down on your student loans when you reach university, and extra credits will look great on your transcript to help you land the university placement of your dreams. Check out studentawards.ca to find all of the different community service scholarships that are available – your volunteerism won’t only impress your university of choice, but also the officials who will be deciding whether or not you obtain your scholarship!

    Above are the curricular advantages to volunteerism. But let’s not forget the personal advantages that come from it, too. Giving back to your community and contributing positive energy to the world will do wonders for your self-esteem and self-worth. Volunteering is the way to go!

  • Why Companies Hire Recent Graduates

    Why Companies Hire Recent Graduates

    There are many reasons to hire a university or college graduate. Employers often seek out recent grads because they are fresh and up-to-date on the most recent information available in a chosen field. Depending on the field of work, this is more or less important. In business and medicine, this is hugely important because business practices are constantly evolving and medical discoveries are always happening. The difference between a well informed employee and a poorly informed employee is enormous. There is no doubt that someone who is educated will serve a company better than someone who is less educated. Someone who is educated will contribute to the company by offering fresh ideas and by being aware of the most recent information. People who have not graduated from college or university may cost the organization in the long run by requiring more training and by making more mistakes.

    People with a university or college degree are also often hard working and determined to succeed. Finishing a university or college degree requires a lot of tenacity and some serious work ethic. This is a huge asset to any organization that is looking for its employees to be able to tolerate stress and be able to produce results. Recent grads are ready and able to learn, they are like sponges and are really keen to gain work experience. If an employer is determining between someone with several years of experience and a recent grad, they will often decide that someone who is fresh and keen to learn would be a huge asset to the team.

    On the other hand, an important thing to consider is that not every company will hire recent grads because they are looking for people with experience. To ensure that you have the best chance of success, you will need to have a great resume and build up your jobs skills and volunteer experience. Remember that you will be competing against people with years of experience, which can sometimes prove to be very tough.

    The best bet is to seek out organizations that are specifically looking to hire recent grads. The government often hires recent grads, and companies that are on the front edge of technology will also be looking for them. If you are in high school, it is not a bad idea to take a look at which companies may be accessible to you after you graduate from your university or college program. Look at what requirements they expect and, if you want to work there, start finding ways to fulfill those requirements; This is especially important if you are undertaking a difficult program for which competition for jobs is fierce. You will put yourself ahead of the game by being informed on what is currently expected of grads. Remember that planning is your best bet, and don’t assume that because you are a grad you will get hired right away. Just be well prepared and willing to learn!