Both students and parents are worrying about the availability of student loans for college this fall as the crisis in the financial sector begins to affect education loans.  

One way the US Congress is addressing this is by announcing that the federal government plans to now purchase and invest in education loans. The hope is that this will give confidence to lenders, allowing them to make new loans for vocational training and higher education.  The solution on the table from congress is for one year only and there are no long term solutions being considered right now.   

In the 2007 – 08 year, the federal government made or guaranteed almost $110 billion in student loans including Stafford loans for undergraduate college students and PLUS loans for parents or graduate students.

If you don't have a private education fund that you can tap and funding your vocational training or career education program is a challenge for you, consider exploring the following:

- Research or ask about and apply for scholarships. Do not just look to your vocational school for scholarships since there may be opportunities they don't know about. A student in a vocational training program recently told me about a scholarship program sponsored by the property management company that oversees the apartment complex where she lives.

- If you participated in special clubs or activities in high school, there may be private scholarships available, if you choose to continue the activity in school.   Music and art teachers are a great source of private scholarship information from donors or even alumni.

- If you were not thinking about working, think about it now. Although 300,000 jobs have been lost this year, and the US is flirting with a recession, there are still part-time job opportunities available. These might be even more popular when employers want to keep costs low and do not want to higher full time employees.

- Consider a public or state funded vocational program rather than a private school.  Tuition is definitely lower for in state students.  If your goal is to compete a 4-year degree at a later time, completing 2 years at community college will save you a lot of money and give you a lot of transferable credits.

- Negotiate full or partial tuition reimbursement with your current employer.

Wikipedia defines a helicopter parent as someone who pays extremely close attention to his or her child or children, particularly while at educational institutions.  The term suggests that like an actual helicopter, parents "hover" nearby, able to swoop in quickly to address, fix or handle situations.    

The term is mostly used in a derogative way on college campuses, since these helicopter parents are accused of rushing in to prevent any harm or failure from befalling children, sometimes, despite protests from the children or college students they seek to protect. 

Valerie Strauss in an article for Washington Post, says helicopter parents "are needy, overanxious and sometimes plain pesky -- and schools at every level are trying to find ways to deal with them".  

As schools try to deal with helicopter parents, administrators have to balance other research that shows that students with strong parental involvement do better in school.  The Harvard Family Research Project found that teens, whose parents played an active role in their education, do better in school and are more likely to enroll in college. 

If parental influence supports better attainment in high schools, why would that not hold true for college students?  Opponents of helicopter parenting would appear to be saying that once students are safely enrolled in college, parents should immediately take a hands-off approach. 

With HigherEdInfo.com showing a 6-year college graduation rate in the US at 56.4% in 2006 and the 2003 annual ACT survey showed that only 37.5% of two-year college students were graduating within three years, is there a role for helicopter parents? 

Experience, Inc., a provider of career advice and job hunting tools for students and alumni, surveyed more than 400 college students and new graduates on their parental involvement in college life.  The overwhelming majority of college students described their parents as moderately involved.  Twenty five percent of students in the survey responded that their parents were "overly involved to the point that their involvement was either annoying or embarrassing." Additionally, 13% of the respondents said their parents were not involved at all.   

Is it possible that parental involvement at the college level could enhance rather than hinder college student graduation rates? Should college administrators now begin to embrace rather than reject helicopter parents?    

To help helicopter parents, the College Board offers a great quick 12-question quiz that could help you as a parent gauge your current level of involvement with your children.  Whether or not, one agrees or disagrees with the outcomes of the quiz, I did not agree with mine, it does offer the opportunity for personal reflection and could be the foundation of a conversation between teens and parents. 

Do you know who Huma Abedin is? You probably do or you might. You just don't know you do.

Huma Abedin is that person you might catch a glimpse of, if you have are watching the presidential primaries, more specifically, watching Senator Hillary Clinton. Essentially, Huma Abedin is getting a lot of attention as Senator Clinton's "body person" as she manages the Senator's schedule from one event to the next. Here is what New York Magazine says about Abedin. "Huma Abedin, Hillary’s beautiful, enigmatic “body person,” spends nearly every waking minute with Hillary and so has the best sense of her daily rhythms and routines."

Abedin is known for her extraordinary ability to multitask and juggle several assignments without breaking a sweat.

Huma Abedin was born in Michigan, to an Indian father and Pakastani mother. She was raised in Saudia Arabia and attended George Washington University. Abedin became an intern in the White House in 1996 and impressed Hillary Clinton once she landed a role in the First Lady's office. Her role has evolved into that of the personal "body person" of Hillary Clinton, available to meet the candidate's every need from water bottles to schedules to keeping the press at bay.

If you are interested in an internship in Washington DC, here are a couple to consider:

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Internships are open to college juniors and seniors as well as new college graduates within 24 months after graduation. Interns must be interested in careers in performing arts, management and/or arts education. Interns will work 37.5 to 40 hours weekly for a twelve to fourteen week rotation. About 20 college students are selected each semester for these prestigious internships.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Psychology majors in approved APA and counseling psychology programs are eligible to apply for internships at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington DC. The deadline to apply for these internships is November 1. College applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, submit an application, 3 letters of recommendation a formal statement from the program director supporting eligibility for the internship.

Every year thousands of college interns spend time in Washington DC working and learning in a variety of roles. Not only do these internships get valuable work experience, they get to build a network of contacts and mentors who could be invaluable later as your career progresses.

Huma Abedin is one such internship success story.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2014, an estimated 78 million Baby Boomers will retire from the workforce with only 600 000 workers entering to replace them.   Where are these retiring Baby Boomers going? Not home, that's for sure.  Baby Boomers are retooling, going back to school and looking for new skills to begin new careers.   Retirement is becoming more of a temporary segue into a new life, now increasingly known as the encore career.

A recent blog post written at PennFoster.edu states, "It looks like retirement is becoming a thing of the past for the middle class. No more “winter condos” in Florida or retirement homes in Arizona." 

Cynthia Metzler, president and CEO of Experience Works, a national nonprofit organization cites the following in support of older workers in  the labor pool:

1.  The Society of HR Managers shares that 77% have a higher level of commitment to the organization than younger workers.
2. Buck Consultants survey shares that 88% of employers said that mature workers' knowledge provided a significant business advantage.
3. A study by NCOA and McDonalds, says that 97% of employers surveyed said older workers were thorough and reliable.

If anyone wanted additional proof that people are working longer and well into their senior years, look no further than the United States Congress where the average age is now 61.8 years.

Lauren Victoria Burke, in an AP article, shared that the constitutional framers, in the late 18th century, set the minimum age requirement for the Senate at 30 and for the House at 25 years.  At the time, that was considered late middle age at a time when the average life expectancy was around 40 years."

Fast forward to today and you will find active members of congress who are well into their senior years.

Since the first session of the United States Congress, in 1789, the average age of members of the Senate has risen from 47 to an all-time high today of 61.8 according to Senate records.

Senator Robert Byrd at 90 years old is the longest-serving senator in history.  He told a reporter recently to “Shut up,” when the reporter asked how he would respond to those who questioned his capacity to run an important committee.

Employers complain about poor customer service and bad cell phone etiquette skills from working teenagers. These tips will help teens perform well on their summer jobs. 

It is that time again when teenagers start getting anxious and excited about landing a cool summer job this year. For many it will be a first summer job, and they dream about having their own money and the new toys from iPods to video games they plan to buy.

Although teens will definitely learn new job skills on their summer jobs, employers require that teens master certain fundamental summer job etiquette before they arrive at work on day one. Here are a few summer job etiquette tips for working teens that will reduce employer anxiety.

Teen Cell Phone Usage

Oh the cell phone! Everyone knows how important personal cell phones have become to teens. In fact, TeenFrontier.com reports that 25% of cell phone revenues come from teens. As important as your cell phone is, summer job etiquette demands that teenagers take steps to curb the use of personal cell phones in the work place. To be considered a professional working teen at a summer job, keep cell phones off, avoid texting and keep ear pieces out of sight while working.

Friends and Family at Work

Whether this is a first summer job or 10th, having friends and family “visit” an employee at work flies in the face of good summer job etiquette. Of course, it is acceptable if teens are working in the food court in the mall and family stops by to buy food. However, teen friends are just not welcome to "hang out" in the food court just to catch up during the slow times. Just as teens are not advised to look for summer jobs with their friends, they are not allowed to "hang out" while at work.

Time Management

Typically, teens do not have to rise as early in the summer months as they do during the school year. Some teens use the summer as a chance to sleep late and stay up late. Teens sometimes forget that if they set a schedule at work they are expected to be there on time and ready to work. Employers will lay off teen workers who show up late or are no-shows for work. A summer job is an excellent opportunity to develop time management skills and to show that integrity by keeping one's word about the availability to work.

Customer Service

Chances are, a first summer job experience will involve working with customers. Having a pleasant demeanor, being courteous and helpful are all good job skills, or “soft skills” that future employers will want teens to have. Good summer job etiquette requires that employees should be able to speak with many different types of people and represent the company in a professional way, even when customers are upset. Teens should know also when to get someone else involved if the situation gets out of hand.

Summer is almost here and teenagers should be on their best behavior if they want to keep working.

Teenage workers are an important part of the labor pool and have a lot to offer. This article explores nine positive work behaviors to make a good impression at work.

Be a Team Player and Get Along With Other People

The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers annually to find out which skills employers seek from new hires. Teamwork and the ability to work well with others consistently shows up on that list. It is a skill employers expect teen job seekers to demonstrate on their resumes, in the interview and on the job.

Be Respectful

Showing respect for supervisors, co-workers and customers is a good workplace habit that teenagers should develop early.

Be Able to Manage Time

Teenagers need to know that the world of work is far more time sensitive than school. Unlike school, there are not many opportunities to turn in late work or show up late. Unlike the academic record which might not show tardiness until the end of the semester, teens may not get a second chance to make a first impression on the job.

Be Dependable and Show up as Scheduled

Employers rely on teen workers to help their businesses. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 8 million teens were added to the payroll of Summer 2006. Teens and supervisors can collaborate on work schedules ahead of time and employers expect employees to show up as promised.

Be Willing to Go Above and Beyond Without Compromising Safety

To have success on the job, teens should demonstrate a willingness to go above and beyond expectations. Teens and their supervisors should always consider safety first.

Be an Effective Communicator

Teens should develop and use their strong interpersonal and communication skills on the job. Although teens exist in a “sound-bite” and text messaging world, they have to know that a different type of communication is required at work.

Be Visible

Hiding from work is not an option on the job. Supervisors do not want to search for teenage workers who are trying to avoid assignments or hanging out with friends. If customer service surveys are available, encourage your customers to fill them out.

Be Willing to Learn and Be Open to Criticism

Teen employees should keep their supervisors informed of the work they are doing and ask for feedback on their performance. Ask for clarifications of instructions and ask for help when it is needed. Employers much prefer working with teens who ask for clarification rather than make costly product mistakes or, even worse, jeopardize their own personal safety or the safety of others.

Be Confident and Ask for Additional Assignments or Training

As new skills are mastered, employers are very open to changing the roles of their teen employees if it will enhance overall business productivity. Teens should also be confident enough to ask for reference letters and recommendation letters at the end of a job if they have done well.

Keep in mind that every job is a chance to prepare for something more.

Copyright - BullsEyeResumes 2008.  This article is available for reprint, as long as, this byline is included.  

Teens looking for jobs in a competitive market this year should be able to write winning cover letters, thank-you letters and reject-a-job-offer letters.

In a globally competitive marketplace, it is increasingly important that teenagers develop good career and job search habits early.  Teens seeking work or volunteer experiences to learn new skills or just earn extra cash should learn to write three very important letters as part of an effective job search strategy.   These three critical letters are the Cover Letter, the Thank You Letter and the Reject-A-Job-Offer Letter.

In addition to the specifics of these three letters, here are some general tips that should apply to all written job search communications from teens:

-       Be brief and make the point clearly

-       Avoid spelling and grammatical errors

-       Use appropriate salutations

-       Include writer’s name and address

-       If using email, watch the use of slang terminology or text message abbreviations

-              Get help proofreading resumes, letters and job applications

Cover letter

A cover letter, otherwise called a "letter of application" should accompany a resume.  The simple goal of the cover letter for a teenager is to highlight specific skills and to show interest in the job.  Avoid long paragraphs but write complete sentences.  Since not all companies will require cover letters, the general rule of thumb for teenagers seeking a job, is to use a cover letter, unless the job posting specifically says not to do so. 

Thank-You Letter

Teenagers should always send a Thank-You letter to a hiring manager, after the job interview.  Slippery Rock University career center states that only 33% of interview candidates will follow through and send a Thank-You letter.  An employer poll by Monster.com says that 65% of employers expect a Thank-You note.  36% percent of those surveyed say they prefer Thank-You notes sent by email compared to 29% who prefer the Thank-You letter by traditional mail.  Use this letter to thank the employer for the interview, to remind them about interest in the job and emphasize relevant skills.  Since so few people and definitely fewer teenagers send Thank-You Letters, it will definitely demonstrate professional maturity.

Reject-a-Job-Offer Letter

Teenagers sometimes apply for several jobs before getting hired.  If they receive a job offer from an employer and decide, for whatever reason, not to take that job, it is important that they send a Reject-a-Job-Offer-Letter.  This letter is also very simple, but will go a long way to demonstrate professionalism.  Sometimes if the chosen job does not pan out, the employer who received a Reject-a-Job-Offer, might be willing to speak with the teenager again.  This letter should express appreciation for being considered and state clearly that the job seeker is declining the job offer.  Also include a willingness to be contacted for future opportunities. 

Doing a job interview over the telephone has become an extremely important recruiting tool as managers try to lower hiring costs. Poor performance in the phone interview will severely limit the college student's chance of an on-site job interview.

College students, who manage the distractions, have good phone manners and keep the job search strategy in mind, increase their chances of success in the telephone interview.

Manage Distractions – Find Quiet Spots

• A noisy dining hall creates distractions not only for the college student, but also for the recruiter who is trying to hear answers. Most college career centers are more than happy to accommodate students in quiet on-campus interview rooms.

• Cell phone etiquette is an important consideration when scheduling phone interviews while in class or at work. Recruiters are usually very receptive to re-scheduling telephone interview sessions at the student's convenience.

• If using a cell phone, find a place where signal strength is strong and stay there until the telephone call is completed. Tell the recruiter if you fear losing signals and get a telephone number to call back if disconnected. The college career center is one location on campus to find reliable land lines in a quiet place to do a telephone interview.

Watch Phone Manners:

• College students should remember to speak clearly and watch tone and energy level in the telephone interview. Seasoned recruiters and hiring managers know when candidates have low energy or are distracted over the telephone. Since the recruiter cannot see the candidate during the phone interview, a positive tone is a big part of making a good first impression.
• Stay professional and polite in the phone interview. If on a speaker phone, take note of everyone who is introduced and acknowledge everyone listening, just as you would for an onsite job interview.
• Watch slang use during telephone interviews. Every word used is important to the recruiter who is listening intently. Hiring managers are not just interested in a high energy tone; they also take notes on good or weak verbal communication skills.
• Listen carefully. In the absence of body language it is very important to listen carefully and answer clearly.
• Smile. A pleasant persona will actually come across during the telephone interview.

Keep Job Search Strategy in mind:

• Remember, the phone screening is still a job interview and job seekers should not forget to ask questions. Ask for a face-to-face job interview or a site visit.
• At the end of the initial telephone interview, college students should be clear about the next steps and restate their interest in moving to the next step.
• College students should avoid asking questions about the company or the job that can be answered with a quick visit to the company website.

Marcia Robinson writes and trains on career, workplace and employment issues for BullsEyeResumes.com and BullsEye Career Blogs. Robinson has a BS in Human Resource Management, a Masters in Business Administration, nine years of professional experience in career center operations and 14 years of leadership experience in the Higher Education, Hospitality and Technology industries.

Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com, stated in an article for MSNBC that eighty percent of college-bound students have not yet chosen a major. Gupte continues, "It is little wonder 50 percent of those who do declare a major, change majors — with many doing so two and three times during their college years."

Before declaring a major, college students need to explore campus resources including academic advisors, faculty or department chairs and career counselors.

Academic Advisors

Academic advising offices offer a wealth of information about college programs, minors and course schedules and selection. They exist primarily to help college students maneuver through the sometimes complex academic landscape and choose a major. Teens and new college students should know that academic advisors are not just there to pick classes, but to advise students about college programs. Academic advisors know the college catalog thoroughly. New college students should be encouraged to connect with and become acquainted with academic advisors as soon as they arrive on campus.

Faculty and Department Chairs

University faculty and department chairs can share insights and nuances about a major that a college student might not have considered. Visit professors during office hours and ask questions about faculty specialties, research interest and classes in the major. Faculty can tell college students new directions within careers and ultimately the majors required to succeed. Faculty also can connect students with recent alumni and make a recommendation for someone with whom a student could do an informational interview.

Career Centers

Last, but by no means least, students need to become familiar with the college career center. Career counselors do not serve just graduating seniors who need help with a resume. Career counselors, career associates or career advisors as they might be called, are an amazing campus resource, full of information about majors and careers.

Career counselors are not alarmed by college students who are undecided about a major or career; in fact they welcome these students. Students can get help with major and career selection by asking the following kinds of questions:

• What can I do with this major?
• Where can I find out more about this career?
• How can I get more information about certain careers?
• Who can I do an informational interview with in that career?
• Why are my values, skills, interests and personality important when selecting a major or career?

Finally, college career center staff will not only guide teens with the decision to select a major or a career, but have the tools in place to help students make successful transitions from major into career.

Graduation approaches and students from vocational training programs and career education programs are busy writing resumes, filling out applications and preparing for interviews.  To help focus the job search, here are the top 10 resume FAQs, in no particular order, being asked about resume writing from students in vocational programs. 

1. What errors do students and grads from vocational or career training programs make on resumes?  Graduates forget to emphasize hands-on training and overlook projects.  They sometimes overlook jobs and volunteer work done before entering their career education and vocational training programs. 

2. How long should my resume be?  It really depends.  The key to good resume writing is relevance.  Make the best case possible for why your skills meet employer needs.  While the one-page resume is still the standard for new grads, the two-page resume may be necessary sometimes. 

3. What are industry "keywords" and why do I include them in my resume?  Keywords are specific resume words and phrases that employers use to find candidates.  Employers will search scannable resumes by using these phrases specific to their industry.  Job seekers also use keywords and phrases to search for jobs.

4. What is a Video Resume? The video resume is a short video created by job seekers to showcase job skills, competencies and qualifications. 

5. Should I use an objective statement to my resume?  The resume objective sets the tone for the resume and helps vocational students to focus the recruiters' attention on what they are seeking.

6. What is a Resume Distribution Services? Resume distribution services will send your resume to thousands of recruiters, headhunters, and potential employers.  There are definitely pros and cons of using these services and they should not be relied on, as your only job search strategy. 

7. Should I email my resume or copy and paste it in the body of my email? Both are acceptable.  Pay close attention to the employers' instructions for applying and keep your email communications professional.

8. Can I use a Functional Resume as a graduate of a career training program? Yes.  Many graduates of vocational training programs are actually people who are reentering the workforce.  Use the functional resume to group skills around specific competency areas.   

9. Should I include my references on a resume? No.  Generally, you do not include your references on your resume.  Pay close attention to the employer requests and follow the job application instructions. 

10. What is the biggest complaint from employers about the resumes from vocational or career training programs?  Recruiters and hiring managers acknowledge that the number one resume writing blunder which causes them to discard resumes, is grammar and spelling errors.  Get help to proof read your resume when you complete your vocational training.   

If you enjoy being outside, have the energy and the drive to work hard in exciting, always changing environments and want to build your resume, consider a job  in the great outdoors this summer.

Here are some of the types of jobs to consider:

-Provide great customer service for park and event visitors

-Conduct educational sessions for children on trips from schools or camps

-Be a tour guide and share information on tour points of interest

-Distribute information through brochures and educational presentations

-Do environmental research

-Maintain the environment

-Monitor visitor activities for safe behavior

Some of the personal skills needed to succeed in these seasonal summer jobs in the great outdoors are:

-strong verbal communication skills

-good interpersonal skills

-effective time management

-ability to multitask

-teamwork

Here are three great resources offering free online help to concentrate your efforts if you are looking for a job in the great outdoors this summer.

Cool Works

Where can you find information on summer jobs in national parks like Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain National Park and Everglades National Park? Check out a comprehensive, great, fun website called Cool Works. If you are interested in the environment, "green" jobs or just being outdoors, there are thousands of seasonal job opportunities to explore.

Cool Works and similar summer job search websites, lets you create a profile and subscribe to free weekly email updates or even subscribe to their RSS feeds with the latest job information you require.

National Park Services

The National Park Services (NPS) offers up to 10,000 seasonal or temporary jobs yearly and also need about 125, 000 volunteers per year. Some of the temporary and seasonal jobs include assistants for park visitors, guides and rangers, extra maintenance folks and even lifeguards. VIPs or Volunteers-In-Parks as they are known donate millions of man-hours every year to parks, which translates to significant value. Volunteering in a national park or even your local community park is an awesome way to learn new job skills and build your resume this summer. Learn more about summer jobs and internships in national parks at www.nps.gov.

US Department of Interior (DOI)

The Department of Interior manages over 500 million acres of land in the United States. The National Park Services manages just under 20% of that land and so there are opportunities in the rest of the 80% of the territories that the US Department of Interior manages. Think about internships and seasonal summer jobs in one of the over 400 dams and over 300 reservoirs that that the DOI oversees. Look also for job opportunities this summer at regional recreation sites including parks, monuments, seashore sites, battlefields and other cultural sites.

Resume writing fundamentals have changed a lot over the last several years. These 50 hot resume writing tips can give your resume a needed facelift.

Professional resume writers agree that there are many correct ways to write a resume. In fact, get 10 professional resume writers working for the same client and they could feasibly come up with 10 different resumes; all of which could be very good.

Regardless of the resume format and choice of words, resume writers are driven to help candidates develop powerful, professional resumes. The goal is to help create strong resumes to help job seekers promote their own unique personal brand.

Here are 50 resume writing tips to help proofread a resume regardless of who does the resume writing.

• Proofread resumes for grammar, spelling and factual errors
• Use consistent font size. Watch bullet sizes
• Limit or avoid graphics completely when writing a resume
• Use upper case letters sparingly and only when appropriate
• Fancy, expensive resume writing paper is not always a priority
• Using bullets will make resumes easier to read
• Do not use “responsibilities”, “responsibilities include” and “duties include”
• Volunteer work and community service can really enhance a resume
• Adjust margins if the resume is slightly too long
• Avoid personal pronouns like “I”, “my” and “me” except in the objective statement
• Do not list complete addresses of past employers
• Do not include names of references on the resume. Add a separate reference document.
• The top 30-40% of the resume gets the most attention
• Use an ASCII font
• Use page numbers if the resume is more than one page
• Add name and contact to all pages if more than one page
• Try a resume blaster service
• Print out an online profile is not the same as having a resume
• Use tables to align columns and remove lines
• Use a professional email address on your resume
• Hyperlink your email address
• Do not place information above your name
• Set resume margins no smaller than .5
• New college graduates should put education close to top of resume
• With years of experience, move education to the bottom of the resume
• A resume has about 30 seconds to make an impression on the recruiter
• Change the resume objective statement as needed
• Write a strong "Summary of Qualifications"
• Use industry “buzz words” or keywords on a resume
• Resumes must identify specific successful outcomes
• Use $, % and # to demonstrate achievements
• One specific phrase to try and avoid – Entry Level
• Do not use one word resume objectives eg "Sales"
• Research advantages of the Chronological Resume vs Functional resume
• Be consistent with date formats on the resume eg 09/02, Sep 02, Sep 2002
• Consider the Combination resume
• Get others to proof read your resume – be open to criticism
• It is not necessary to include every job you have ever had
• Keep all resume content relevant
• Not all online resume writing services are equally capable
• Always keep a resume writing guide on your desk for quick reference
• Resumes, cover letters and thank-you letters can have the same letter head format
• Try to bring quality resume paper for interviews
• Lying on a resume is not smart or necessary
• Do not include social security numbers; some federal resumes may require it
• Use Action Verbs on the resume to describe accomplishments
• Use short paragraphs. 3-5 sentences maximum
• White space on a resume is not a bad thing
• Make sure your resume contact information is current. If the recruiter cannot connect with you, you have sabotaged your own job search
• Consider working with a professional resume writer for a resume critique

Copyright - BullsEyeResumes 2008.  This article is available for reprint, as long as, this byline is included.  

So you have executed a successful career reentry job search and landed a new job and you are anxious to get started building your new career in a new company.   Once you get over your new employee fears and get oriented to your new space, you will find it takes more than smiles and kind words to fit in. 

Here are few things to keep in mind as you make the transition.

Don't whine.  At least not to the people you work with at the office.   Talk about any job challenges or work related issues with friends, family or trusted colleagues in other companies, and not with your new coworkers.  Avoid complaining about too much work, too many assignments or too long hours at the office.  The fact is, no one really cares how much you have to do since everyone else has their own work, their own assignments, and their own long hours to deal with.  Avoid becoming too cozy with the established resident whiners in your new company as well. 

Make your manager aware of what you are doing and ask for feedback.  A colleague once talked to me about a new energetic recruit who showed a lot of initiative on the job.  Although this new worker meant really well, as my colleague put it, "She was running a great race, but she was in the wrong stadium completely."  Make sure the work you are doing is relevant and critical to the department's mission.  Additionally, make sure your work is being noticed.  It will take a while for you to get into your groove in your new office, and making sure you are not working contrary to the flow is good.  Watch also that you are not inheriting assignments from those who want to hand off their jobs.

Show enthusiasm and energy for the job, business or industry you are in now.  If you just got hired by the largest plumbing fixture manufacturing supply company, you need to get excited about plumbing fixture manufacturing supplies business.  People who enjoy the domains they work in are interested in learning more and will ultimately tend to do better on the job.  If you are not prepared to have meaningful conversations about your job or the industry within which your company operates, you will not be happy.  

Stay on time.  If you have a problem being punctual, work really hard to correct that behavior.  Be in the office on time, if not early, be back from lunch on time and do not pack up twenty minutes before your shift or day is supposed to end.  Arrive on time for meetings and work harder on your own time if you have to.   Of course today's workforce is more about productivity than time spent in the office, but it is still a good idea for to show others you respect their time.  Once you understand the protocols and the routines of the office, schedules can change.