Month: March 2020

HR Careers: An Introduction to Professional Employer Organizations

If you’ve recently graduated with a human resources degree, or are planning to go into the field, you’re probably wondering what your employment options will be. The downturn in the economy means that there are less corporate HR positions available. However, the employment services industry is on the rise, and starting your career at a professional employer organization (PEO) may be the best way for you to start gaining valuable experience in HR.  PEO careers provide a variety of HR roles and responsibilities to choose from.                               

What PEOs Do

A PEO firm provides service in employee management tasks, risk management, and training and development. Many smaller businesses choose to outsource these services to a PEO, as it is more affordable and allows them to be sure that important tasks, like payroll and benefits, are being managed properly.
A PEO does this through a process called co-employment, in which they hire the client company’s employees (making the PEO the listed employer for insurance and tax purposes), and charge the company a fee for providing employee management services. In some cases, this is also called an employee leasing service in that they are basically leasing the employees back to the company.  

Projected Growth for PEOs

As more companies decide to outsource these services to PEOs, the industry continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics, the employment services industry, which includes professional employer organizations, is expected to increase at an annual rate of 1.2 percent, resulting in a total of 3.8 million jobs in 2024. The industry is among those with the largest projected employment growth in the country.

Variety of Opportunities for Experience

Because companies outsource all of their employee management services to PEOs, most HR disciplines are represented within a single PEO company. If there is a particular area of HR that you are interested in, it’s likely that you would be able to gain experience in that discipline while working for a PEO. Generally, job roles within a PEO firm include:
  • Human Resource Consulting – serves as the main contact to the client, and helps them with day-to-day advisement.
  • Benefits Management – responsible for developing and implementing overall health and welfare strategy.
  • Benefits Administration – handles day-to-day health and welfare enrollment issues for employees.
  • Risk Management – provides safety services and training to the client.
  • Payroll/ Payroll Tax – handles payment and tax services for employees.
If you are starting your college career, or are considering returning to school in order to make a career change, why not consider doing so online? Bryant & Stratton College offers a variety of online degree programs. For more information, call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative or click here to find out more about our human resources degree.

Choosing the Right Degree for Jobs in Financial Services

The right degree will ensure you’re a strong candidate for both public and private financial services jobs. While a background in accounting and/or business is important, financial services positions involve more than a clear grasp of numbers, bookkeeping, and/or management skills. Financial service experts must have an in-depth understanding of how money is acquired, as well as how that money is actually managed and used to build current and future financial health.
This list is a sampling of the financial services jobs available with the right degree and career preparation:
  • Financial Consultant
  • Investment Officer
  • Financial examiner
  • Banking Center Manager
  • Lending Manager
  • Financial Manager, Branch or Department
  • Certified Financial Planner
  • Investment Advisor
  • Budget Analyst
Completing your degree in Financial Support Services from Bryant & Stratton College will place you in prime position to obtain a financial services job. Here is what to look for when choosing the right degree for jobs in financial services.
Basic Accounting and Business Principles. The cornerstone of your financial services career is a fundamental education and understanding of accounting and financial operations. You will want to excel in both basic and advanced accounting courses. You should also take classes in business, management and operations principles. These foundational courses will help you determine if your academic interests and acumen are aligned with your professional goals.
Analysis and Application. Make sure your degree program offers courses providing both macro- and micro-views of business and personal finance. As a financial services expert, you will need to both analyze and apply your knowledge and skills in order to improve your clients’ financial viability. You will acquire these skills by taking courses focused on macro and micro economics, finance principals, and strategic management. These courses will ensure you are able to see the whole picture, diagnosing where a company or individual is at, and then providing the products, services, or plan to keep them moving forward, with increasingly healthy financial prospects.
Financial Planning. In some cases, you will work directly with a company or individual(s) to create and implement a sound financial plan. In other cases, the products or services you offer will improve their future financial goals/plans. Either way, your financial services degree should incorporate courses exposing you to all areas of financial planning, including insurance, investment, income tax, retirement and estate planning. These are interconnected disciplines; the health of one area is directly connected to the health of another.
Experience and Practicum. While a conceptual and theoretical education is important for learning concrete ideas and financial strategies, your ability to apply and execute what you have learned is dependent on your real-life experience. A certain portion of your time obtaining a bachelor’s degree in financial services should be dedicated to simulated practicum and/or bona fide internships in some area of the financial services sector. Not only will this reinforce what you have learned, it will also help you to identify which areas of financial services interest you the most, and will help to build your professional portfolio.
If you are interested in our Financial Support Services degree, please contact the admissions office at Bryant & Stratton College. Our admissions counselors can help you determine which program will be best for your educational and professional goals.

Bobcats Soccer Aiming at the Top of National Rankings

A pair of tough losses could have derailed the Bryant & Stratton College women’s soccer season. But the Lady Bobcats rebounded with a pair of impressive victories after dropping two-straight to start the month.
Wins over SUNY Delhi and William Smith College improved the Lady Bobcats’ record to 7-3 on the year and have them threatening to climb back  into the top-five in the USCAA polls after dropping from third last week. Delhi were the unfortunate recipients of the Lady Bobcats rebound after their brief losing spell. BSC potted a pair of goals in the opening 25 minutes and added three more in the second half to topple Delhi 5-1.
Adela Racic continued her assault on the national scoring lead, scoring the opening goal of the contest and adding BSC’s fourth insurance marker in the second half. Racic is currently tied for third in the nation with 16 goals, trailing Erin Tersegno of Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences by four. Kai Jacobs was the star of the day, however. Jacobs figured on every goal for the Lady Bobcats, picking up a pair of assists on Racic’s two markers and adding a hat trick of her own in the blowout.
Jacobs and Racic were at it again against William Smith as the pair each scored just 2:14 apart to stake the Lady Bobcats to a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes of the match. William Smith added a late tally in the dying minutes of the match but that is as close as they’d come thanks to Megan Hagadorn’s nine save performance. The Lady Bobcats have two more matches to climb higher in the USCAA standings as they hope to build on their current winning streak.
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The Bryant & Stratton College men’s soccer team extended their win streak to five games with a 3-1 triumph over Cayuga Community College last week. The Bobcats would do all the scoring they’d need in the first half as Erickson Alves scored just 11 minutes in and Zino Zampach would pick up the game winning goal and first of two on the day.
Zampach’s second goal in the 82nd minute pushed him to seven on the season, good for the team lead. Harry Watson was terrific in goal yet again, turning away 10 of 11 Cayuga shots to keep the BSC win streak alive.
The five-straight wins haven’t done enough to vault the Bobcats over WVU Tech in the latest USCAA polls. BSC sits just two points shy of the number one spot in the nation as they prepare to face Monroe Community College tomorrow.

Questions to Ask Before you Consider a Human Resources Degree

If you are dreading going in to work every day, there’s a good chance you are in a serious job rut and it might be time for a change. During your employment it is likely that you encountered and interacted with an HR professional. But, have you ever stopped to ask if human resources is a good career for you?
The human resources department is extremely important at any company or place of employment for almost every field and industry. Human resources specialists, and other HR professionals, serve as liaisons between employees and their employer. You might be a good fit for a career in HR if you consider yourself a people person or enjoy working closely with others. Though some level of a human resources degree is required to be an HR specialist, there are a number of natural human resources skills from your experience in the workforce that can transfer to this career as well. If you are wondering what skills you might already have that can help you in HR, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Am I a good communicator?

Do you have experience in a position where you were required to use your communication skills? The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is a key asset that you can leverage while working in HR. Since the role of human resources specialists and other HR professionals is to serve as a liaison between employees and their employer. HR specialists are often charged with informing employees on company policy or relaying employee concerns or ideas to the company’s leadership team. In order to best serve both parties, communication is key.

2. Can I make tough decisions?

Individuals make decisions on a daily basis but some decisions, especially ones that affect others, might be more difficult to make. Are you able to make well-informed and fair decisions? HR specialists often have to make tough decisions where the right choice is not always obvious. Their responsibilities sometimes include making hiring decisions or enforcing company policy. The ability to remain levelheaded and objective is important for those interested in this career.

3. Am I an organized person?

Being organized isn’t something that comes easy to everyone. Those who enjoy staying organized possess a valuable character trait needed for HR effectiveness. The duties of a HR specialist usually include maintaining employee records and company files. Depending on the company size, this could be a considerable task.
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you already possess some of the skills needed to be an HR specialist. Pursuing a human resources degree may be the first step toward the professional change you were looking for. Click here for more information on taking that step.

Explore Lifelong Learning Opportunities in Vermont

Do you want to try yoga, cooking or art, but feel unsure about where to start?
It’s never too late to explore new interests and activities. Learning new things stimulates your brain, which is an important part of successful and healthy aging. You can keep your brain sharp and increase your longevity by pursuing new interests and activities.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UVM offers year-round courses and events for adult learners at UVM in Burlington and in eight Vermont communities, including Rutland, Brattleboro, and Newport.
The OLLI spring semester on the UVM campus begins Feb. 1. OLLI programs range from engaging lectures to language and art classes to group travel to domestic and international cities.
“The concept of OLLI is peer-to-peer learning that is intellectually stimulating and engaging,” said Cathi Cody-Hudson, director of OLLI at UVM. Classes are taught by UVM professors, experts and local artists.
Whether you’re interested in classes or lectures about cooking, art, yoga, technology or foreign policy, lifelong learning has many benefits. Through lifelong learning, you can:
  • Keep your mind sharp
  • Meet people with common interests
  • Improve your memory
  • Increase your self-confidence
  • Enhance skills you already have
Programming for the 2014 spring semester includes the “Great Decisions” lecture series at UVM, which focuses on foreign policy issues facing the country today – including energy independence, food and climate, Turkey’s challenges, and relations between the United States and Israel. The lectures are held on Saturdays in Burlington between Feb. 1 and March 1.
More than 25 classes and tours are held at UVM this spring, and dozens of lectures are planned in communities around the state. The program also hosts at least one trip each year to a domestic or international location. The program has hosted recent excursions to Quebec City, Alaska, and Oaxaca, Mexico.
“As we age, it’s so important to explore our interests and stay curious,” said Cody-Hudson, who assumed the role of director on Jan. 1. “Lifelong learning and interacting with our peers is what keeps our minds active and healthy.”
UVM is one of more than 117 colleges and universities in the United States that provide lifelong learning opportunities to adults age 50 and over through OLLI. In 2002, UVM received funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation to establish eight sites around Vermont, the first being in Rutland. Additional funding received in 2010 supported the start of a campus-based OLLI at UVM.
“The people who take our classes and come to our events benefit in so many ways,” Cody-Hudson said. “OLLI is an opportunity for people over age 50 to come together, socialize, and try something new in a rewarding, fun, and economical way.”

Online vs. Campus Classes – What is the Right Choice?

Deciding whether or not to pursue your degree online or on campus can be a tough choice. Both online and campus-based classes offer a number of significant benefits to students. Some students are served best by the flexibility and convenience of online courses while others need to be in the classroom to truly succeed.
As you make your decision between attending classes online or on campus with Bryant & Stratton College, consider this questions before making your final choice.
  1. What is my ultimate academic goal? If your major area of interest lies in business administration, IT, or the administrative and managerial-oriented aspects of health services, an online program can be an efficient way to go at your own pace. You can take classes around your work/life schedule and get the theoretical and book-based learning you need for those fields. However, there are careers in which face-to-face, guided instruction and/or hands-on practice with supervision are required. In these cases a campus program, or a program that integrates both campus-based and online classes, is your best option.
  2. What kind of person/learner am I? Are you self-motivated? Do you find you are adept at creating step-by-step plans to achieve your goals? Or are you an extroverted learner who needs to be physically present with others in order to feed off their energy and enthusiasm to fuel your learning process? Make a list of your learning characteristics and your choice will become more clear. The best online students are those who are disciplined enough to make the time to do their work, rather than needing a specifically scheduled time or place where they must be physically present on a regular basis. An online school is also advantageous for those who struggle to sit in one place for extended periods of time because you have the freedom of timing, space, and movement as you learn.
  3. What is my financial situation? If you will have to work part- or full-time in order to maintain your life while you attend school, online classes are the answer to your conundrum. You can create a personalized academic schedule that works around your professional time clock. Saving money on gas, wear-and-tear on your car, and/or transportation fees is a big advantage in online learning. Also, government financial aid and loans can usually be applied to accredited online schools.
  4. Do I live near a reputable college campus? Moving away from home to attend a college campus that offers the program you want is not always possible. An online school can be attended from literally anywhere on the planet with computer and internet access. Geographic limitations are nonexistent with online classes. Online schools have made continued education available to millions of people who live in rural environments, economically depressed areas, or far from the academic program of their choice.
If you are still not sure as to which type of college would be best for you, contact the admissions counselors at Bryant & Stratton to discuss your concerns. We are an accredited online school, offering a wide range of certification and degree programs. Our admissions counselors want students to be successful and will provide professional input as to the best learning environment for you.

Get a Jumpstart on the Admissions Process

The college admissions process used to involve an elaborate set of steps including hand-written forms and a plethora of paperwork. Fortunately, the internet has completely transformed the experience. There are a number of resources available to students who may need to obtain transfer credits before applying or for those who simply want to do additional research prior to making their decision. The admissions process is also easier online. Prospective students can complete the bulk of their college admissions forms and requirements online, using a computer, keyboard, and about an hour or two of uninterrupted time.
1. Call the admissions office. Before you begin filling out your online applications, call the Admissions Office and speak with a counselor. During a complimentary interview, the admissions counselor will speak with you about your academic goals, as well as your background. The counselor will also go over the application process so you know what to expect. Lastly, the admissions staff can answer any questions you may have, and guide you in the right direction if their academic programs aren’t exactly what you are looking for.
2. Fill out the application. Once you have been given the green light from the Admissions Counselor, it’s time to fill out the online application. This involves a simple series of questions including:
  • Current contact information
  • Military affiliation if any
  • Citizenship status
  • Your academic history
  • Desired enrollment status
  • Academic area of interest
  • Whether of not you need financial assistance
Once your application is complete, you will hit the “Submit” button and it will be sent directly to our admissions office. It’s that simple!
3. Financial Aid. Many college students use some form of financial aid in order to decrease their college tuition, living, and/or school supply expenses. Even if you don’t need financial aid, it is a good idea to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor. You may qualify for grants and scholarships that can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. If you do require financial assistance, Financial Aid Counselors can walk you through the process and help you determine where to apply. There are two kinds of assistance:
  • Grants and scholarships. These can come from public or private organizations and never have to be repaid.
  • Loans. These are also offered via public and private organizations but they do have to be repaid, often with interest.
It’s never too early to begin researching financial aid options as most financial aid programs have application deadlines.
4. Transcripts. At some point during the college admissions process, you will need to send your high school and college transcripts (if applicable). If you have a GED, you can contact your state government’s GED office to request a copy.
Once you have completed these five steps, you can sit back, relax, and wait for your notification of acceptance. Contact the Admissions Office at Bryant & Stratton College to begin your college admissions process today!

International Influence

The recipe for success in college athletics varies by team and sport. At the “junior college” level that recipe can be even more challenging when it comes to recruiting and retaining players. Nick Dimitrievski and Alex Grigorita seem to have found one way to stay ahead in the ever competitive United States Collegiate Athletic Association and that is through a strong presence in international recruiting.dennis kicking ball
Both head coaches recruit heavily in the greater Syracuse and New York regions but they also have a strong international presence on their teams. The Bobcats soccer teams have a combined 24 international players between the two rosters; including players from as far away as Gold Coast, Australia, nearly 10,000 miles from Bryant & Stratton College’s Syracuse campus.
“It’s all about networking and trying to find the best possible student athletes,” Dimitrievski said. “Now we’ve ventured into the international market. At the end of the day it’s about finding the best soccer player, wherever [they] come from.”
Dimitrievski’s squad boasts 14 total international players, two each from England, Germany and Serbia and one each from Australia, Chile, Spain, France, Scotland, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Costa Rica. The women’s team features 10 international players, five from Antigua and Barbuda, four from Trinidad and Tobago and another from Barbados.
Bryant & Stratton College’s international presence has been a long standing foundation of the program. This dates back to Grenadian stars Ricky Charles and Sharlie Joseph, the seven-time MLS All Star and 2009 MLS MVP Finalist. Joseph’s legendary MLS career began with the Bobcats as he played two years with Bryant & Stratton College before transferring to St. John’s University to complete his education.
“We’re looking for those types of guys [like Sharlie], that’s the reality,” Dimitrievski said. “A lot of kids what to be that type of player.”
Having one of the most iconic players in MLS history as an alumni makes for a nice recruiting pitch, but another decision may have been more impactful in attracting students to don Bryant & Stratton College blue; the conference move from the NJCAA to the USCAA.Kai Jacobs (Antigua & Barbuda) has been dominant for the Bobcats this year. Scoring 12 goals and adding 11 assists.
The move opened the door for the Bobcats to offer more opportunities to more players. Eligibility rules in the NJCAA only allows student-athletes to play for a school for two years. Unlike the NJCAA, the USCAA allows student-athletes to play for four years as they pursue a bachelor’s degree. This is an added benefit for both the team and players as they have better options to complete their degree program.
That isn’t to say the option of playing two years for the Bobcats and transferring isn’t a popular choice. For example, Scott Robson’s impressive two-year career at BSC was parlayed into a transfer to Bellevue University where he’s already racked up three goals and 11 assists since moving on.
The ability to provide student-athletes the option of playing two or four years is a win-win situation in the eyes of the coaching staff. Every player, regardless of the degree they wish to pursue upon arrival, has the opportunity to turn their on-field exploits with the Bobcats into an offer from a Division I program just as they have the opportunity to spend four years at Bryant & Stratton College and earn a four-year degree. It’s a situation that benefits the program and athletes equally.
Following the footsteps of alums and fellow teammates becomes a pull for future recruits. The opportunity to earn a degree while playing the game they love attracts many international players to Bryant & Stratton College.
“Knowing [Scott] and watching him be able to find another opportunity is appealing to new players like myself,” said goalkeeper Harry Watson. “It gives us a goal to work for to work harder in class and work harder as a player.”
“Not only do players see this as an opportunity to further their education but to improve their soccer as well,” said Grigorita. “The alumni help because [new athletes] know what kind of soccer we play and the level of education they will get here.”
Grigorita has created a pipeline, of sorts, from the Caribbean to the Bryant & Stratton College Syracuse campus. He has had a great deal of success recruiting in areas such as Antigua and Trinidad; That includes leading goal scorers Kai Jacobs and Portia Davis, who both hail from Antigua and Barbuda.
Both Jacobs and Davis are mainstays on the Antigua and Barbuda women’s national team along with fellow Bobcat Kanika Buckley. The draw of Bryant & Stratton College came from the program’s track record and the Antiguan players who played for the program previously.
“Several girls had come in before me who have moved on to other schools,” said Jacobs. “Some are back home and working and are very successful. So that has given me more motivation to come in and have something to look forward to.”
Jacobs added that a previous teammate and fellow countrywoman was selected as a USCAA All-American during her time at Bryant & Stratton College and set the same goal for Jacobs to achieve. After a 12-goal and 11-assist season, Jacobs may just have the inside track on reaching that goal.
Grigorita’s pipeline has even enabled him to recruit three players from the same school in Trinidad and Tobago. Cherise Roberts, Njemile Charles and Jeanille Lawrence all come from the soccer program at Scarborough Secondary in Trinidad, a program that has unearthed a host of talent for the Bobcats. However, Grigorita is quick to point out that the program a student-athlete comes from is secondary for him.
He notes that when he goes to watch someone play, he’s there to watch the player regardless of the team they’re playing on. He contends that it’s more likely his recruiting will draw more players from the same programs as success with the Bobcats often draws more interest for players to come to Central New York for their collegiate soccer.christian perez
That trip is hardly a short one for Bryant & Stratton College’s international players. By comparison, the trip Jacobs, Buckley and Davis make from Antigua (roughly 1,984 miles) is a walk in the park compared to that of Josh Martin’s 9,522 miles from Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia or even the 5,302 miles Cristobal Rojas travels from Santiago, Chile.
Naturally, there’s also a difference in weather for many of the players who trek to a region famous for winter snow from otherwise sunny locales. While the weather surprised plenty of newcomers, particularly those who hail from the Caribbean, the welcoming arms of the Bryant & Stratton College community quickly counteract any nasty weather.
“Everyone is there for you everywhere you turn,” Jacobs said.
The feeling of family and community on campus is a key factor for ensuring the players don’t just feel comfortable in their new city, but they feel at home. As Dimitrievski points out, English is not the first language for many of Bryant & Stratton College’s international athletes. Providing the proper support system for help inside the classroom and beyond is a key aspect of what the coaching staff and academic departments focus on. This includes a new mentor program in which every student-athlete is paired with a mentor who not only checks up on schoolwork, but ensures the transition to life in Syracuse goes smoothly.
“Everyone here makes you feel like you’re family,” Njemile Charles said. “Here, the college is small and compact and not just on the soccer teams but everyone in the classroom and the faculty makes you feel comfortable.
“To be able to be here playing soccer and something I love gives me a sense of pride for both my country and my family. It’s a positive because I’m pursuing my education while doing something I love to do.”
That’s a sentiment echoed by nearly every player on both teams. It’s easy to find athletic teams that are tight knit on the field and in the locker room, but to have that sense of community carry over to the dormitories and classroom goes a long way in creating an enriching environment for every student athlete at Bryant & Stratton College.
It’s that sense of community which continues to play a major role in drawing elite talent to Bryant & Stratton College, keeping the Bobcats soccer teams in the top-10 of the USCAA rankings on an annual basis.

Instructor Blog: Overcoming Writer’s Block in the Classroom

You’ve researched, read the directions, set yourself up with a coffee in a nice, quiet place. Time to create a paper. Nothing happens.
Your open Word document stares at you, smirking.  Now what? How do you beat writer’s block? Below are some strategies for doing just that.
Multitasking is the Enemy
Many people think they work better listening to music, and the temptation to check in on social media or respond to texts can be irresistible. Th is article has great insights about how inefficient multi-tasking is and how to be more focused: http://blog.strideapp.com/2014/05/how-to-have-laser-focus-without-caffeine/
Smarthinking
Campus-based students have learning centers, and online students have access to the Smarthinking tutorial. This is an excellent way to get extra guidance. This does take time, so it’s great motivation to begin assignments early.
Mix it Up
If you’re stuck on the introduction, skip it. Start with just a thesis then work on your main points. It may be easier to write the introduction last.  As an English instructor, I recommend beginning with sources, in-text citation and the reference page. This ensures that you do not forget, and can also help you see your support more clearly.
Run!
Maybe that’s not your thing. But when you get stuck, step away from the computer and do something else.
Exercise is great for the brain. 
Doing another activity allows your mind to work on what you’re stuck on while engaged in something else. Go for a walk, do some laundry, and try to work through what you are stuck on.
Talk to a Friend
If possible, explain to a friend the assignment and what you are stuck on. Talk through what the assignment needs to accomplish (argue, explain, etc). This may help you identify what you are struggling with. Perhaps your research is not strong enough, or perhaps you need a better grasp of a course concept.
Learn from your Mistakes
If it’s 11:30 on Saturday night, it will be too late to create a quality paper. Remember all of the end of session reflections when you said you would start projects earlier? How can you ensure that this happens?  If Saturday is a difficult day to get assignments done, aim to complete an assignment on Friday. This allows an extra cushion for final polishing and checking your work against the rubric. Beginning an assignment early in the week allows more time for asking instructor questions.
Take it to the Workplace!
These strategies will not only help you finish assignments, they are great strategies for the workplace. Learning how to solve problems and seek guidance will help you succeed in any career.

Athletics Update: Bobcats Soccer Continues to Roll

There has been quite a bit of early season success for the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Bryant & Stratton College. Both teams received top-10 preseason rankings from the USCAA with the men ranking second in the nation and the women ranking eighth.
Less than a week after the initial coach’s poll dropped the women’s soccer team has already climbed two spots to number six while the men have a firm grip on second in their poll. The men’s soccer team have a massive match against University of Maine-Fort Kent this coming weekend, a rematch of last year’s National Championship. They tuned up for the rematch with a solid run of play the last few weeks.
Meanwhile the women rebounded off a tough loss to ASA College with a trio of impressive victories which helped elevate them in the national polls.
Bryant & Stratton College’s cross country team is also up and running, performing well at the University of Rochester Yellow Jacket Invitational; a field made up of a number of strong NCAA programs.

5 Questions to Ask Your Professor in an Online Class

If you are registered for an online course this semester, you may still be acclimating to a learning experience that is much different from a traditional, in-person class. Perhaps the largest difference is that you likely have not met your professor in person, and the vast majority of your interaction throughout the semester will be solely online. Just because you are not meeting with your professor face-to-face on a frequent basis, however, does not mean that you cannot ask him or her questions. Here are five important questions that every student in an online course should ask his or her professor:
  1. Why did you choose this specialty?
If you have not yet done so, you may wish to contact your professor to introduce yourself and to tell him or her why you are interested in this class. It is equally important to ask your professor how he or she became interested in the field. This may provide you with more insight into what will be emphasized in the course, and it can help you make a great impression on your professor.
  1. What are your expectations in this class?
It is also wise to ask your professor about his or her expectations during the course. You can ask how often you will receive assignments and take tests—this may also be outlined in the syllabus. You can likewise inquire about how often your professor expects you to communicate with him or her, as well as anything else that you may need to know to succeed in the class.
  1. How can I prepare for success?
It is important to show your interest in success, as well as your commitment to working hard. Ask your professor about the typical characteristics of successful students in his or her course, and then try to emulate these characteristics.
  1. Is additional help available?
At same point during the semester, you may find yourself struggling with the material. It is always smart to ask early on in the course what types of assistance are available, and to ensure that they will be sufficient for you. If the professor is not offering extra help, ask what additional resources he or she can recommend for success in the class.
  1. What can I do to improve?
Once the course is underway and you have turned in your initial assignments, it is a great idea to ask your professor what you can do to improve. If you are writing papers, for example, you can ask for suggestions about how to better develop your revision or research skills. Ask this question early so you can begin improving, but also continue to ask it throughout the class to build on your progress throughout the semester.
As with any other course, the key is to form a strong relationship with your professor. It is important to demonstrate to your instructor that you are committed to the course, interested in the subject, and willing to work hard in order to do well.
Catherine Martin is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world’s largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.

Will a New Degree at Your Old Job Get You a Raise?

Most people know and understand that the combination of education and work experience will likely help you earn a better salary. In fact, that is exactly the reason why many adults go back to school after they have been in the workforce.
But, does earning your degree while working guarantee you a raise? No, it does not. However, with the right timing and strategy you just might get a raise when you ask for it.
“Ideally, you should ask about the raise before you get the degree to set the expectations,” said Abby Kohut, award winning, human resource professional, contract recruiter and author.
One approach is to be straight-forward and ask whether earning a degree, will you in turn equate to a raise in pay. However, it’s advisable to take a more strategic approach.
“The best time to hold the conversation is during the normal performance review cycle,” Kohut said. “Begin the conversation by discussing your work performance and accomplishments on the job. Then, explain how the degree has given you additional information that will help you produce even more.”
If you have already earned your degree, share the good news at work.
“Alert your boss that you have recently gotten your degree and invite him or her to the graduation,” Kohut said. “And if you get ‘no’ for an answer when you ask for a raise, don’t be grumpy, disappointed or have a bad attitude on the job. Ask when he or she might be willing to consider it and tell them you will work hard to get it.”
You can ask for a raise at any time, but you will always have to justify why you are asking for it. So, take a deliberate approach where you make the connection between your past accomplishments at work, your recent educational attainment and your future contributions to the company’s goals. Kohut’s final tip:
“Never assume you will get an increase in pay. Get your degree because you want one and to help with your future employment not the current job.”

Key Technologies Featured in Office Management Training

If there’s one person who can be considered the “hub” of an office, it’s the administrative assistant. These professionals are typically in charge of doing all the daily activities that keep an office running.Woman typing at computer
According to a survey by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, the biggest self-identified need in administrative assistant training is technology applications. That means, more than ever employers expect administrative assistants and executive secretaries to be tech savvy. The Office Management associate degree and Office Administration Assistant diploma program provides students with courses that focus on key technologies used in the field. Having a foundation in these technologies is important for improving employability skills. Check out the list below and see if you measure up to succeed as an administrative assistant or executive assistant.

Hardware

Mobile devices – From smart phones to tablets, knowing how to operate a variety of mobile devices is important as an administrative assistant. Many executives rely on these devices to keep track of appointments, record ideas, communicate with their teams and basically run day-to-day operations so using one will become just as much part of your job.
Telephones – While the days of large, old school switchboards are long over telephone technology can still be complicated. Being comfortable answering, transferring and forwarding calls is still a big part of the job. You’ll likely receive on the job training for any phone system but being able to approach it with confidence of understanding a variety of technology will help you learn the new system quickly.

Software

Microsoft Office – How familiar are you with Word®, PowerPoint®, Excel®, Outlook®, and Access®? You’ll likely use one of these programs, if not all of them daily, as an administrative assistant. Since the Microsoft Office Suite is critical to many business functions, consider getting a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification as a way to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers.
Cloud computing – Many companies are using cloud computing software so employees can access programs and applications over the internet. As an administrative assistant you’ll need to have a basic understanding of how these platforms work and the individual capabilities and features of the one your potential employer uses. Calendar software – Scheduling appointments for executives, managing shared calendars, and other calendar functions will likely be a big part of your job as an administrative assistant. To practice before you get a job or go back to school try creating a shared online calendar for your family and managing commitments like soccer games, parent-teacher conferences and diner with friends like you would manage meetings at a job.
Email – If your email skills are limited to your ability to forward funny photos of your sister’s cat, then you may need to upgrade before looking for a job. Email is a central function of any business. Understanding how to organize folders, set up automatic filters, build distribution lists and create tasks and reminders will help you do your job better.

Extra Credit

Learn to code – If you want to go above and beyond in your quest to be more tech savvy, learning to code can really help. Managing and updating the company website can sometimes fall on the plate of an administrative assistant, especially at smaller companies and non-profits. Having a basic understanding of code could position you as a stronger candidate for jobs. There are plenty of places to learn code online such as, Codeacademy, courses on Udacity, or Code Racer.
Be a life long learner – While it’s not a technical skill, having the desire to be a life long learner is key to keeping up with technology. The technology you use today in your job will definitely change in a year, three years and ten years. Employers value employees who are adaptable and willing to take on new challenges. If you remain open to learning new technologies, or even suggesting new platforms, so a company can run more efficiently you will increase your job security significantly. Getting administrative assistant training by going back to school to earn a certification or college degree, can help you learn the basics of these technologies and demonstrate to employers you have the knowledge and skills to do the job. Younger job seekers who have grown up with this technology may be more naturally inclined to understand how to use it. But older professionals who have experience in an office plus are technically inclined may be able to develop an edge in the marketplace.

Misconceptions of Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College

My husband is a self-professed, non-reader. He was never terribly fond of school, or writing or homework. But, he knew if he was going to advance in his career he had to earn a degree. His buddies convinced him that an online college would be easier. There would be less work, less reading, less writing, they claimed. And, no traffic to travel to class! They were right about the traffic. It seems there are a lot of misconceptions about online degree programs.
“People think it is going to be easier than traditional campus classes,” says Ricky Braun, Admissions Manager for Bryant & Stratton College Online Education. “But the curriculum is identical to our other 19 campuses.
“People may think they are going to come and glide through but that’s definitely not the case,” he says.
So, why the confusion? People make a lot of assumptions. Here are the facts for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College
Tests: While they are often not proctored, and are open book, they are not easy. Generally, exams consist of essay questions, not multiple-choice questions.
Class participation: While there may not be any public speaking, students at online schools are often expected to participate in discussion forums. Students aren’t graded not just on how often they log in but also by the depth and understanding they demonstrate in their posts. At Bryant & Stratton College, student’s attendance in class is tracked through their activity and participation in the discussion board in their classes.
Lectures: Every instructor at Bryant & Stratton College will post a text-based lecture to their classroom. This means you don’t need to be in front of your computer at any specific time and there’s no worry about having to rewind to get proper notes written time and time again. Like with book reading, some additional assets and supplemental study materials may be video or audio assets, but that varies on a class-to-class and week-to-week basis, just like a traditional classroom.
Books: Bryant & Stratton College uses real, physical textbooks which are mailed to students for each semester. Often, supplemental reading will be provided via e-mail or other electronic means, giving students the information right at their fingertips through the online classroom.
Professor office hours: There are a number of ways to contact instructors at Bryant & Stratton College. Every instructor will provide students with an email address and each classroom also features a questions forum, which instructors monitor regularly and are required to reply to when questions are posted. Additional contact methods will vary by instructor but will include options such as Skype or other instant messaging services. Those methods typically are used for office hours each week. So, while there are differences in terms of traditional methods of communication, online classes at Bryant & Stratton College are very similar to attending class in a traditional class setting. But that doesn’t mean the program is without its perks.
Benefits of Online Education
Flexible class times: Most adult students work during the day or have responsibilities like caring for their family. Most traditional universities don’t offer the same variety of classes at night that daytime students enjoy. Online students go to school when they can, no matter what time the clock reads and have access to the same variety of subjects and classes. Each class at Bryant & Stratton College Online runs from Sunday to Saturday and students have 24/7 access to their courses. This means you can log in and access your classes at any point during the week.
Well-planned assignments: At Bryant & Stratton, students generally have a week to complete homework. Some work is assigned on the first day of the class week while others will come up in the middle of the week. However, students will have a course calendar that illustrates every assignment, reading, test and quiz that will make up the program. Still worried about the workload at an online college? Bryant & Stratton College administers placement tests to every student before they enroll in classes so they are not placed in a math or English class that is above their current level. The placement tests set students up to succeed in classes that allow them to progress. Additional support through our academic advising team and career services is available to all students, ensuring success in the classroom and beyond.
Student Support
Student Services: New students are each assigned a personal academic Success Coach for their first semester to help reinforce positive academic practices for new students. After their first semester students will begin to work with a new academic advisor for the remainder of their degree.
Career help: Upon graduation, you don’t have to road trip back to your alma mater for help building career connections. Bryant & Stratton College’s career services help graduates fine tune their interview skills, resume, portfolio and cover letter, even for students in remote locations. For students like my husband, what this all means is that there is no easy road to earning a degree. For students at Bryant & Stratton, however, that road is a little less bumpy.
“A lot of our students are working full-time and have children. Gas prices are high. Once you put the kids to bed, it’s a great time to get class work done. That’s why online school is so popular,” Braun says. “It is so flexible.  We’ve eliminated the commute, the stress and the childcare.”

Job-Seeking? Identify What Problem You Will Solve

One of the challenges of rethinking our careers these days is how to most effectively position ourselves with a potential employer for maximum opportunity (okay, first to get hired, then for maximum opportunity!). In other words, you and your outstanding skills are the solution to the problem or challenge they face.
Whether you’re writing a cover letter, tailoring a resume, or preparing for a job interview, think about how to demonstrate and document your problem-solving track record.career change arrow street sign The problem or pain point could be as simple as “we need someone reliable who can learn our system quickly and replace the employee we just promoted.” Or it might be “we need someone who knows how to turn our print content into interactive media for our website.” Or perhaps it’s “we need someone who not only understands how healthcare clinics work but also speaks Spanish to help us effectively support the healthcare needs of our growing number of Latino patients.”
Your job is to learn, from the job posting and doing as much research on the organization as possible, what problem, challenge, or opportunity the organization is trying to address through the posted position, and then focus entirely on the value you bring that will help them successfully do so. Basically, your communications should showcase four things:
You have the skills, expertise, and track record necessary to fix the problem This can include education, credentials, work experience, and/or volunteer projects that relate to the challenge the company needs to address. Whether in your resume, cover letter, or interview, your communications need to be about the professional value you bring that lets you help the company resolve its “pain points.”
You deliver results:  Prospective employers pay attention when you can point to quantifiable results from work you did (solutions you provided). Being able to say that you increased customer retention by 15% or contributed to a project that came in 20% under budget or achieved some other measurable positive result means that you have a track record of delivering actual results. How to frame this? Companies generally focus on three bottom-line benefits: an increase in revenue, a decrease in costs, or an increase in satisfied customers. If you’re able to point to achievable results in any of those areas, make sure potential employers know it. And if you’re a student without any applicable job history to point to, then be ready to discuss how you would become their solution based on the knowledge and insights you’re gaining in your program.
You learn fast  Almost any new job is going to involve a learning curve where you’re trained on existing systems, processes, and practices. The faster you can master these and actually start producing value (that is, being the solution), the happier the company. So be sure to highlight any experiences that demonstrate how you quickly mastered new information and were able to apply that knowledge in previous situations. And if you’re a student, talk about what you’ve learned about how you learn in your classes that will enable you to “learn on demand.”
You’re easy to work with and will fit in with – rather than disrupt – their team  In terms of being that great solution, think “seamless transition.” Make it clear that your great people and team skills have helped drive successful solutions in the past, and will do so now as well. So, what problems do your skills and expertise solve?