Liberal Arts, Liberal Studies, Liberal Thinking.

Across the social spectrum "liberal" is a term with a variety of connotations. Politically liberal designates a particular set of behaviors and their implied values. Culturally liberal implies loose, generous or easy going. Liberal often packs a significant emotional impact depending on your point of view.

Educationally "liberal" has been used to indicate broad-based or wide ranging. This has evolved from the early established colleges of the eighteen hundreds. When the United States decided to provide an education for every citizen the need for teachers was recognized. Therefore colleges were established to train teachers for the public school system. Initially these colleges were referred to as "Normal" schools but as time passed they were increasingly referred to as Liberal Arts colleges. This designation, "liberal", was meant to show that the students were receiving a wide ranging education. A wide ranging education was deemed necessary for school teachers because of the wide variety of questions they would potentially be asked by their young students.

If you've spent any time with children you know how inquisitive and demanding they can be. A teacher had better be prepared to answer and explain their answer right now. A liberal education was intended to prepare young teachers for this.

As colleges widened their curriculum to prepare students for other careers additional majors were developed. Within the past few decades specific majors have gained popularity. Career minded students have chosen IT or Accounting for Business among many others to help launch their life after Planet College. Employers were thought to respond favorably to the skills such specific degrees required.

So what happened to Liberal Arts? Well it is still in the catalogue and it isn't limited to students who are intending to become teachers. With the current hiring climate as volatile as it is employers are now looking favorably on a Liberal Arts degree. A wide ranging base of schooling indicates a potential employee has a knack for flexibility. Given the rapidly changing nature of even the most basic business practices this flexibility could be a very desirable trait.

So, if you are still undeclared or stuck in your major and thinking of a change consider Liberal Studies. If it is available it might be a way to a degree and a job soon. Give it some thought.

Zs Get Degrees, Or Do They?

Learning while you sleep is an appealing sounding method to acquire Knowledge. Various programs available offer 'sleep learning' usually meaning tapes. These recordings play while the learner sleeps and those available advertise results, sometimes described as 'amazing'. Customers they say have mastered subjects while sleeping and this mastery has assisted them passing difficult courses. One discussion of this subject declared," Z's get degrees." There was no indication whether the students took the test while sleeping.

Looking around any of your a early a.m. classes you will observe many students earnestly practicing another form of sleep-learning. Are these students sleeping? Definitely. Are these students learning? Possibly. Their grade will tell.

Only you can tell the best methods for you to acquire and retain the information necessary to pass any given course. If sleeping helps, well, sleep. What is more likely, though, is the need for you to bring your full attention to any subject you are attempting to master or at least pass. It is also likely that you need to be awake while doing so. Zs may help a student occasionally pass a class. Degrees are obtained through persistence, diligence and an organized approach to studying. And all of this means work. The lure of 'sleep learning' is the implied effortlessness which is in fact very appealing. But, most veterans on Planet College learn nothing worthwhile is achieved without effort.

Ok, now, go take a nap.

You Are Your Resume Part Three

Sorting through the pre-interview process, that is resume distribution and application submittal can be tedious, even irritating, but it is the only way to get through to the next big and critical step in your burgeoning work career, the interview.

Your interview may be causal or formal, it may involve one person or a small committee but the one main component it definitely involves is you. From the posts above you have determined it is important for you to provide accurate information during the various stages leading to the interview.

Now you are representing yourself, in person, and this is the part where You really are Your Resume. The person or people who are interviewing may have questions about you, your attitude, your background and your experience. You should be prepared to present yourself clearly and concisely. Typically the questioning will involve information you have provided which is why it is extremely important that you have supplied accurate information. Don't fib, exaggerate (much) or lie. Those who hire understand you are anxious. But even a hint of dishonesty seriously clouds your desirability as an employee. When the interview has concluded, thank him, her or them and leave.

Here is the super secret, inside scoop, now-it-can-be-told, Planet College exclusive about your interview. What this committee was looking for and will be discussing after you leave is this; "Of the otherwise eligible candidates we have interviewed who, which one, could we actually stand to work with all day?"

That's it. Seriously. You are inexperienced. They know it. You have a lot to offer. They know it. You have a lot to learn. They know it. They could hire any one of dozens of applicants. They know this, too. So. What they really, really consider, all other things being equal, is whether or not your potential co-workers could get through an average work day with you without any further problems than their job already has.

That is it. Finally. As far as you are your resume. Be the person other people could stand to spend an average workday with.

You Are Your Resume, Part Two

If you have been getting no calls and seriously distributing resumes the post above is a good place to start. If now your resume has reliable information then read on. This part might be called Your Resume Is Not An Application.

Because there are a variety of procedures, depending on the industry and particular company, which involve filling in forms and supplying information both before and after hiring, this post will deal with the simplest before hiring procedure.

For most businesses, no matter what size, some standard has been used to organize hiring. This standard is almost always an application. You may have filled out several in your work life. Whether at a computer terminal or at a desk with a pen they ask for information, sometimes extensive information about you. This is information which is probably not on your resume. Social Security number, names, addresses and phone numbers for previous employers as well as additional information for references. (If this information is on your resume remove it. Resumes are not applications and should not include extensive personal information.)

Some applicants assume that attaching a resume to an application after having filled in their name is sufficient for the process. It isn't. If you have been handed an application fill it out as completely as possible. Even if this application essentially duplicates information you have on your resume fill it out anyway.There is a purpose for this beyond what you can imagine. (For example, it could be a useful preliminary test to see if you can follow directions.)

If you have not been called for an interview but are simply applying, the information you have provided will be forwarded to the appropriate department, usually known as Human Resources, and often called "HR".

If you have been called for an interview based on your resume or resume and application, these documents will be forwarded to the interviewer or interviewers, with whom you will be speaking shortly.

And this leads to You Are Your Resume, Part Three.

You Are Your Resume. Part One

If you are new to the serious job market you may be some confusion about basics. Basics like resumes, applications and interviews , what they mean and how they apply.
Whether or not you've heard the term or even think you know what it means. A resume is a brief summary of your work or experience as it applies to the position you are seeking. A prevailing standard now in the big workplace called Planet Earth says keep it brief. There are two reasons for this. First the person who is reading it is busy. Second, if you have yet to reach the quarter century mark on Planet Earth you don't have that much experience. At least not the kind that directly applies to any position you may be seeking. So including every paying situation you've had since you started at the drive-up window of WackyTaco may not be necessary.
Keep it simple. Not too artsy. Not too flashy. Simple, plain and clear.
But.
There is one bit of information which is absolutely critical. Your current contact information.
This means that resumes which you are now submitting must contain your current phone number, probably your cell phone.
Whether your resume is electronic or paper, posted on your WebFace page or hand delivered by a uniformed courier, lack of reliable current contact information is one sure way to early elimination from the hiring process.
So, go check right now. Do the resumes you are distributing right now contain the number of the cell phone you are using right now?
If not make that change promptly.

Physics For Future Presidents

On Planet College most students have learned to concentrate on courses which will lead to their degree.
Once a student finds a major their focus must necessarily be on completing the requirements as promptly as possible. This goal dictates their term schedules.

Undergraduates who are still in lower division or have not found a major have a somewhat wider base of choices for courses and this can be advantageous. Many students on Planet College who do not feel mathematically inclined shy away from any course which suggest a mathematical component.
Universitys attempt to ease these students' anxiety by offering 'survey' courses.

These survey courses do just that. They cover the subject generally offering the students an overview. These types of courses can enrich a student's education without requiring the time commitment difficult, at least for some, science course requires. One such course is offered on one of the UC campuses. At the University of California Berkeley a student can enroll in Physics 110, a survey course titled, Physics for Future Presidents.

The intriguing title tells students here is a course meant for leaders. Most students value being regarded capably and the University acknowledges this in the courses title.

If your schedule is not yet set for next term possibly you might peruse the catalog or class schedule and find a horizon widening course such as this. It could be a welcome addition to your schedule, a refreshing glimpse outside your usual boundarys. Expanding your world view in this manner is a large part of the purpose of your experience on Planet College.

The Sands of Summer and The Sands of Time.

Planet College wide and culture wide the summer months, June, July and August have a vacation atmosphere. The general attitude is these months are a little more kick-back, a little more of a 'time out' feel. Students who are accumulating time and experience on Planet College aren't long seduced by this illusion. Which is what it is for a person whose time is as valuable as yours, an illusion.

For some lolling on beaches enjoying the sands of summer and the parties of summer nights is a rewarding and even necessary time out. For career focused students the sands are running through the big hour glass of their lives all the same.

Now, summer has become time to add hours at work or get another, additional job. This can reduce or possibly eliminate the need for loans this coming term.

Some students take advantage of summer courses offered either at their main campus or some campus closer to home. Making sure this course or these courses ultimately hasten their graduation date is basic wisdom, the kind earned through experience.

Experience shows no matter how you use your time it is still your time you are using. It is only in the hour glass that the sands of time replenish themselves. On Planet College and on Earth a day gone is a day gone for good.

This summer, your summer, will only happen once. When it is done how much closer will you be to graduation?