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Intership 411

There is no arguing the fact that internships assist students with little work history once they've graduated. That being said, finding time between a job and school to do the extra work can be difficult. Without effective time management one will end up letting the ball drop in one area. Since the experience isn't worth having to take advanced calculus for a second time, one should consider several things before deciding on an internship.

Taking on an internship during a difficult semester may not be the best decision. One should consider what their course load looks like when they are considering an internship. If at all possible, registering for less difficult classes is a good idea during the semester that one is planning on basically working two jobs. A semester where one is able to take mainly electives or the  physical education classes that most colleges require to graduate is the best time for one to take on an internship. 

Unless one is lucky enough to have parents who are willing to pay the bills, then one's financial situation will play a big part. In situations like this, a paid internship is the best option if one is available. Although most of these internship programs do not offer enough money to cover all of one's expenses, being paid for the work one does is often more satisfying than spending a semester with a company for no pay.

Many colleges offer stipends for working for the university newspaper or assisting the financial aid office. By working on campus one can also cut down on the expenses of commuting. Another good thing about taking an internship with the college one is attending is the fact that those in charge are usually very understanding about school related obligations.

Other programs offer college credit for the work a student does. These internships enable one to pad their resume and gather useful work experience without effecting one's ability to be considered a full-time student.

For those who not adverse to graduating a semester later, enrolling part-time is certainly a good idea if one is worried about having enough time to study. As long as one is still taking approximately six credit hours one's student loans are usually not effected and one is still able to get grants such as the Pell. 

One could also consider taking a semester off if they plan to participate in a long term internship. These programs often last around eleven weeks and give students more time to develop and show off their talents. If one is thinking about this option and does receive financial aid, then it is important to speak with the campus financial aid department. Many lenders allow a student to take six months off from school before calling in a loan. The financial aid department at one's school will have more information on this subject.

San Francisco Job Market Friendly to First Timers

According to the website collegegrad.com, a site promoting internships and entry level jobs, San Francisco is one of the top five cities to live in for recent graduates due to the number of quality entry level jobs available. The website's president, Brian Kruger, says that “it's important for entry level job seekers to take note of cities with booming job markets and remain open to relocation to those areas. Being willing to relocate can open significant opportunities that may not be available in their local area.” Individuals who are willing move out of their comfort zone stand to gain not only experiences that can pack a punch into their resume but also a larger salary.

Relocating for San Francisco jobs might sound stressful for recent graduated, especially those who have remained in one area for the majority of their lives. Being away from family and friends can be enough to scare many away from such options, but for those brave enough to still consider the possibilities, this leaves more jobs available. 

Areas like San Francisco may have a higher cost of living that one's hometown, which must be considered when making a decision about a monumental move. To aid in making this decision one should use a cost of living calculator to determine the difference in everyday living expenses. Some individuals make the mistake of thinking that this data is enough to base their decision on. When considering the possibility of relocating for jobs in San Francisco one should also compare the salaries available in their chosen industry in both their home town and in their potential new location to see if the available wages are enough to offset the differences in expenses.

When relocating for a San Francisco job one should also consider the cost associated with the move. One should decide if it's cheaper to fly and have their belongings shipped to their new location or if it is more affordable to drive with all they own trailing behind in a U-haul. Although time consuming, driving does offer some possibilities that flying does not. Were one to relocating from the east coast for employment, this maybe the only time they have the chance to make a cross-country road trip. 

For those who always say themselves growing old in their hometown, relocating for a higher quality entry-level job may seem like a stretch, but one must also consider what they stand to gain. By accepting a San Francisco job, one stands to have a higher salary from the start, which is always a plus when written into one's job history. They also stand to gain work experiences that may be more limited in their own area. Just because one leaves home for a better job opportunity, it does not mean they cannot return later. After one has obtained enough experience in an area such as San Francisco, they will find it much easier to get a better or more scarce position in their hometown.

Healthcare Career Choices

Whenever there is a shortage of workers in an industry, those whose who have been trained to do the job stand to benefit greatly. With both an increase in population and in the percent of people that are elderly, those with careers in healthcare will be in great demand for years to come. Because of this these individuals will experience a greater job security and higher salaries than they would normally. 

Most individuals have heard about the shortage of nurses and doctors due to the amount of media coverage the issue has received, but there is also a great need for individuals trained for other healthcare careers. According to Straight.com there is also “a strong demand for medical-office assistants, medical-transcription services, and nursing-unit clerks.” 

Because of the sever shortage of RNs and LPNs, nursing-unit clerks are now doing a lot of work that would not have otherwise been listed in their job description. Individuals with this healthcare career do such things as handling doctor requested x-rays, medication and blood test. They are also responsible for ensuring that a patients diet is changed if necessary. Due to the nature of the job, individuals with this position must be very detailed orientated. According to Pat Bawtinheimer, the dean of Vancouver Community College's school of health sciences, “In these jobs, you can't afford to make too many errors because even a decimal point misplaced could make the difference in medication. It's a very detail-oriented, but it's certainly a great job. And of course, this is another one of the strategies that they're using to try to work with the nursing shortage.”

Canada is also experiencing a sever shortage of Occupational Therapists. Those trained in this healthcare career that are needed most are those therapists that work handle hip and knee problems, and rehabilitation for the frail elderly. There is also a need for individuals who can assist in driver rehabilitation programs.

Overall those with healthcare jobs are finding that jobs are easy to find. For certain professions in this sector, the unemployment rate is less than half a percent. At this time, only one percent of Registered Nurses are unemployment.   

Between the rising hourly wages/salaries and job security being experienced by those with healthcare careers, it's enough to make other individuals in different industries rethink their career choices.

UK Relocation

Whether moving to the UK has been a life long desire or a decision based on a newly received London job, now might be the time to consider doing so. With legislation in the works to assist the unemployed in finding work, London and the surrounding areas could very well see a upward swing in employment rates. The planned legislation aims to assist a quarter of a million jobless individuals in move toward self-sufficiency  sufficient.

For many, a move of this magnitude can be a challenging experience. With so many details to handle so that life continues to run smoothly, it is easy to see why an individuals level of stress could increase due to such a life changing decision. Being prepared and informed can individuals relocating to London for job-related reason will make things much more simple for all parties involved.

The internet has made moving across town or around the globe a lot more manageable. With plenty of resources found on the web to assist those in the process of relocation, the number of visits that one must make to set up their home front has been decreased. Websites like www.moove2london.co.uk are good places to start.

This website has information of variety of topics and offers services in assisting to make relocation simpler. One can sign up for one of the company's information and help packages for information and support services. These packages start at £20 and go up £60, depending on the services one signs up for. The website also offers information on living in and obtaining jobs in London along with knowledge of area transportation and entertainment.

For those who are in search of a London job so that the move of their dreams is possible, contacting recruitment agencies would be in their best interest. These agencies will be able to take one's qualifications and possible places of employment. They will set up an interview for the candidate, but after that one must rely on their own skills to land the job. Brushing up one's interviewing skills is probably a good idea.

When it comes to finding a place to live, one should search the internet for possible listings or reputable agents. By choosing an agent as opposed to a individual listings, one will make things much easier for themselves. One can simply give an agent a list of criteria to look for and the agent can locate several properties that seem prominent. This makes it much easier to review all of one's options in one trip, which will greatly decrease travel costs.

An Immigration Storm is Brewing

Second on the list of coming trends delivered at the 2007 SHRM annual conference in Las Vegas was "verification of right-to-work."  In a nutshell, the push is to force employers to utilize DHS' Basic Pilot Program for instant, electronic I-9 verifications.  "Employers brace for immigration rules" discusses a new tack the federal government is considering.

Illegal immigration and employer issues have been snowballing as both the federal government and states are pushing to mandate utilization of DHS' electronic SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements).  Colorado has already mandated this tool for employers, and Arizona is set to enforce stiff penalties beginning in 2008 for employers that fail to comply, or knowingly employ ineligible workers.

The federal government may be about to change the game again on a national level.  Whether or not any employer nationwide utilizes the electronic system, the Social Security Administration has historically flagged SSNs that didn't jibe with identity info on record.  "No match" letters were sent to workers and employers, but left it up to the employee to resolve the issue.

The proposed rule will put the onus on the employer to make sure the issue is resolved within 60 days or fire the employee outright.  Failure to comply means the employer may be deemed as knowingly hiring illegal workers and face stiff penalties.  This will be added incentive for employers to utilize the electronic instant verification system, but doesn't appear to specifically mandate it (we can assume mandated use of the system won't be far behind).

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