Some students may feel as if they need to just simply survive English courses. As an instructor who teaches four different English courses at Bryant & Stratton, I wanted to share some tips for not just passing, but thriving in courses essential to your life-long learning and professional development.  

Most assignments in your English courses are focused on research and writing. This means that, to succeed, you will need to communicate an idea clearly and support it with research.  Thinking about how you can improve in those areas will help you in each English course. One common error I see is students not proofreading carefully. 

Almost all assignments in your English courses include a category in the rubric for grammar, including discussion. Taking the time to not only run spell-check (even in discussion) but proofread can be the difference between an “A” and a “B.” Creating even short assignments such as the initial posts for discussion and reflections in Word can ensure that you meet the word count requirement and have the opportunity to proofread carefully. Incorrect citation can greatly impact your grade.

Click here https://www.bryantstratton.edu/blog/2014/september/instructor-blog-citing-for-success to read more about APA format and avoiding plagiarism.  

Insufficient research is another area that can undermine an otherwise well-done assignment.  This brings us to one of the most important resources for students: the rubric. Rubrics are provided for most assignments, and all major assessments such as the portfolio project.

Remember, this is what your instructor uses to evaluate your work.  Look closely at each category and examine the quantitative requirements (number of sources, for example) and qualitative requirements (scholarly level of sources). Below are additional resources that are particularly useful for English courses:

These strategies and resources will not just help you in your English courses, but in any assignment where research and writing are needed.

Got your first interview coming up? Don’t be tempted to wing it. As competitive as the job market is these days, coming across as uninterested, unprofessional or unprepared during the interview will prove to be a big mistake. Here are three common interview mistakes and how to avoid them.

Let’s face it, many of us move through life at warp speed these days. With so many demands, such as school, work, family, and a dire need to keep our social media followers updated, we are multitasking all over the place. Maybe multitasking works effectively in some situations, but in job interviews, it simply does not.

Francina Harrison, MSW, also known as The Career Engineer (http://TCEnow.com), has seen candidates check their watches, not silence their phones, appear rushed and act like there was someplace else they’d rather be.

“I was shocked that a candidate in today’s market would be so careless and [display] these behaviors. If you can’t make quality time to interview, how will you invest in quality time on the job?” she said.

Social media has fueled a lot of casual interaction that takes away from the formality of the professional world. Newcomers to the business world must show that they know the boundaries when it comes to business, casual and personal interaction.

Furthermore, job candidates must show they can hold a professional conversation – one that is balanced with talking and listening, and that is focused on the topic at-hand. After a brief period of small talk at the start of the interview, everything discussed should be succinct in delivery and related to how you are the perfect person for the job.

“One mistake recent college graduates might make is volunteering too much information,” said Harrison. “Instead of just answering the question, candidates keep talking and talking until they have talked themselves out of a job opportunity,” she said.

Experts suggest researching the company: explore websites; read trade magazines and news articles; and follow social media sites. But, don’t stop there. You must also be able to hold an interesting and well-informed conversation about what you found. Take time to sit down and think about the discussion you could have around those topics. Don’t tell employers what they already know, like the mission statement. Instead, try to understand how the department or position fits into it that mission and talk about what in your background has prepared you to contribute to it.

Also, when asked if you have any questions, don’t say ‘no’ and don’t ask about benefits. Ask a question or two about the position expectations and then use your research again. For example, I read about the company plans to expand the community projects. What types of projects are being considered that my department might contribute to? Then, tie in your experience one more time.

“It’s a hyper-competitive market on a worldwide scale. Most college programs share skills in ‘traditional’ interviewing and obtaining careers,” Harrison. “But in this 21st century economy, power branding, sales and marketing of your career-related value is the name of the game.”

When all is said and done, don’t forget to seal the deal.

“Ask for the opportunity in an authentic and professional way,” said Harrison.

Bryant & Stratton College offers career services for all our students to help them put their best foot forward into the job market. Not a student? For information on how we can help you get started toward a new career, contact the Admissions office.

Students pursue higher education in order to obtain the skills they need to get the job they want. This often means focusing on training and skills that are most relevant to their vocation of choice. For example, students who are studying to become nurses will spend a significant portion of their education focusing on subjects like biology and health science, while students pursuing an accounting degree, will spend more time studying topics such as finance and mathematics.

But many fail to recognize the importance of developing soft skills while earning their degree. The term, \”soft skills,\” refers to the personal qualities that allow an individual to interact and build relationships with others. Employers have recognized the importance that these skills play in job performance; more and more, they are looking to hire individuals who exhibit intelligence, critical thinking and information literacy, among other abilities.

These skills are crucial for nearly every type of job, and significantly affect your level of employability. Your ability to think, process information, and go with the flow is just as important as typical knowledge and training.

According to Forbes\’ list of the \”10 Skills That Will Get You Hired,\”theseproficiencies are indeed important for establishing your employability – the top four attributes listed were all soft skills. The four soft skills included in the list were:

As you research online degree programs to determine which one is right for you, it\’s crucial to find one that will put some emphasis on soft skills. While it is important to build a foundation of \”hard skills\” pertaining to your degree (e.g. finance and statistic courses for an accounting degree), it is also important to focus on developing and enhancing the interpersonal skills that will help you thrive in the workplace, therefore making you a more desirable job candidate.

Bryant & Stratton College Online aims to help students maximize their employability for career success through its Employability Series. This set of core competencies is integrated in to the College\’s online degree programs, to complement occupation-specific training and help graduates get hired. Interested in learning more about the online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online? Call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

John Lennon is often quoted as saying “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love…” While the great musician probably wasn’t dispensing career information and advice, thinking about this philosophy may help you navigate your career – and the rest of your life – with success.

How often have you been motivated by fear? Maybe it started with being afraid to go back to school because you thought you were too old. Perhaps it was not going after a job or a promotion because you feared being rejected. Or, maybe you didn’t volunteer for a career-advancing project because you worried you didn’t have the right skills. Whatever it is, we are all too often held back by our own fears.

When said out loud (or written down) this can seem like an obvious step but it often takes a little thought to figure out what’s holding us back. One way to identify your specific fear is to think about something you really want in your career. If there’s something holding you back it will likely be at the end of your thought of what you want. For example “I want to that manager’s position but I’m afraid I won’t get it if I apply,” or “I want to go back to school but I’m afraid I won’t see my children as much.” When you understand your specific fear, then you can figure out how to diminish it.

Just like everything else in life, overcoming a fear takes practice. You may have seen extreme examples of this in immersion therapy for people with severe phobias. We’re not recommending that you jump head first into your deepest fears – especially without the guidance of a certified professional. But, practicing tackling small fears can help you gain the confidence you need to face bigger career-changing fears. Try to do something that scares you every day and you’ll be surprised how easily your other fears will dissipate.

It’s really easy to wish you had done something differently in the past. But focusing on these moments of regret could be affecting your present day decisions. There is a lot to learn by past mistakes or failures, but make sure you are thinking about what you will do differently next time not dwelling on the mistake itself.

In the workplace, it can be hard to admit you are afraid of something – especially if that something is part of your job responsibilities. This can be especially true if you are young and just starting your career. However, finding someone you can trust at work to be an ally and a confidant can help you from getting in over your head or passed up for interesting assignments. By talking to someone in your office about your fear you may find they faced something similar and know what you can do to overcome it. If you can’t find someone at work, turn to your friends or family. Sometimes even just saying your fear out loud can help it seem less scary.

Fear is definitely linked to stress, so if you’re feeling particularly anxious about something make sure you add stress-reducing activities to your life. Eating right, exercising and meditating are all known to lower stress. Everyone is different so find something positive that helps take you to your “happy place” and make sure you do it a couple times a week. Conquering your career-related fears can help you advance in your current position and it may also help you get a new job (either now or down the road). When you get over your fears, you’ll be able to take greater risks that will result in greater rewards. Showing that you are the kind of person who can make an impact in an organization is a valuable employability skill and something that will make any employer take notice. Bryant & Stratton College Online aims to help students maximize their employability skills for career success through its Employability Series. This set of core competencies is integrated into the College’s online degree programs, to complement occupation-specific training and help graduates get hired. Interested in learning more about the online degree programs offered by Bryant & Stratton College Online? Call 1.888.447.3528 to speak with an admissions representative.

Did you just finish your first year of college, only to realize that you do not enjoy your major? Thinking about changing to a new course of study?

You better be sure.

Did you just not happen to like these classes? Did you and your professor not hit it off? Were you bored with the first year of requirements because you want to get to the meatier classes the seniors are taking? If you are going to change your major, you better darn well despise it, because it may take a lot of work to earn back that year.

Brook Urban, senior academic success coach for Bryant & Stratton College Online, said the decision to change your major should not be based on a single feeling or experience.

“It is an important decision and should not be taken lightly,” she said. “It is important to consider the short and long-term effects.”

The first issue: not every requirement you took will transfer to your next degree. For example, if you were studying paralegal and decide to transfer into the medical administrative assistant program and Bryant & Stratton College, not a single paralegal class would transfer.

As for the long-term, Urban said, you need to consider, and answer, a series of serious questions: Why am I making this change? What career field do I want to break into? What credentials/education do I need to get a job in this field? As you consider these decisions, it is important to reach out to your academic advisor who can help them review their answers and determine how many credits will transfer.

If the student decides to make the jump, the academic advisor will be the one to process the request. They key to changing majors is making the switch as soon as you know you have chosen the wrong course of study for you.

“It is never too late to change your major, but I would recommend you try to decide early on in your degree program,” Urban said.

The great thing about starting a new year is that you can resolve to change all sorts of bad behaviors – you know, things like downing four glazed donuts every morning or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey every Friday night, spending way too much money on that online gambling site, or waiting until the last minute to get started on your course assignments.

Right. We all know that probably most of those resolutions will be toast by, oh, mid-February at the latest. However, there is one resolution you need to make – and can probably keep – right now. It will not only make this year better for you, but in terms of your career future, it will likely keep potential employers from deciding you don’t quite have the professional maturity they were looking for.

What resolution is that? Simple: you resolve not to ever again say negative, whiny, snarky things about anyone in any online venue. Being critical of others in an online setting (think LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, a school social media site) is guaranteed to do more damage to you and your professional reputation than it will do to the person you’re criticizing. It makes everyone who reads your comments doubt your professional judgment (remember, as a student, you’re laying the foundation for your career), it leaves the impression that you’re a critical, negative person (who no one will want to work with), and in case those two damage factors aren’t bad enough, your comments never go away. 

Since one of your goals when creating your career options is to build a strong, positive professional reputation (your professional “brand’), you want to make sure that you’re not demonstrating the exact opposite through your online comments. It’s long been a management best practice that you praise in public and criticize (if necessary) in private. It’s exactly the same with your online communications: social media sites are public environments, and you want to be sure to treat them as such. One, it’s the right thing to do, and two, this will keep potential hiring managers from seeing any sarcastic, snide, or otherwise embarrassing comments you might have otherwise made in the heat of the moment.

Here are some basic student social media etiquette resolutions to make right now:

When in doubt about an online post you’re about to make, ask yourself this question: Will this comment demonstrate to others how mature, professional, and smart I am (for years to come)? If not, you probably want to back away from that keyboard.