Health and Human Services Professional Development

Video: What is Family and Consumer Sciences Author: Jill Bowers    https://youtu.be/qBa_2w7Z5b0  *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Doing Professionalism Author: Jill Bowers Video of professionals on, “What is professionalism?” https://youtu.be/O3BG_47ZV8E According to these professionals, being a professional means having an understanding of what is expected of you in your field and having the skills, competencies or qualities that allow you to meet or exceed expectations of those who you are working for or with. We interviewed a few professionals in various fields and asked them to define professionalism and their advice for acting the part. Here are 15 tips that summarize professionals’ responses: • Be able to demonstrate your knowledge and articulate it • Know how to dress and use the language you are supposed to use for the industry you are applying or will be working in; be able to look like you belong in that industry • Follow through; do what you say you will • Know and understand the expectations for formality (how you address professors, employers, colleagues, or those...

Me, an RD? Cool! by   Melanie Burns   on   June 30, 2013 According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the leading professional organization for dietitians, a dietitian is the food and nutrition expert.  Although many times students think that registered dietitians only work in the hospital (or acute care) environments, dietitians work in food industry (think Keebler, Kraft, Campbells, Mars, and Hershey), food service (Marriott, Hilton, school lunch programs, and McDonald’s corporate), education (community colleges and universities), research (Monsanto and ADM), and public health (WIC, food sanitation inspector, and lobbyist). For more information on becoming a registered dietitian, visit  the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics . *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

The Role of Body Language and Nonverbals by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013 As you prepare for job interviews, conferences, career fairs, or other networking opportunities, have you considered the role of your body language? This could include posture, handshakes, and facial expressions. In this Ted Talks video, Amy Cuddy (social psychologist, professor and researcher at Harvard Business School) talks about her research on  nonverbal cues, how they can influences others’ perceptions of you , and how  you may be influenced by your own nonverbals .     Watch the Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?language=en   *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers)

The Art of Self-Disclosure by   Jill Bowers   on   June 30, 2013   How much information will  you  disclose in an interview or professional setting? It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” This does not mean you should have to feel insecure that everything you say might be stupid or offend someone. What it does mean, however, is that you should think before you speak. In doing this, you can avoid disclosing  too much  information about yourself. In fact,  what  or  how much  you disclose can influence how others’ perceive you and how much they trust you as a potential employee or colleague. For example, “too much disclosure” may cause an interviewer to think you have “issues” or cause them to question your ability to keep information about their company or clients confidential. Not enough disclosure, on the other hand, can make you appear “c...

To Whom it Concerns…Please Read My Cover Letter by   Jill Bowers   on   July 1, 2013   There are no second chances with a cover letter. It is often the first thing that employers glance at. Some may actually read cover letters. Others will skim them. Regardless, if something they do not like jumps out at them, your file will likely be tossed to the bottom of the pile…or worse yet, the trash. Thus, the cover letter is crucial. Some red flags include typos/grammatical errors, too long, rambling, repeating what is on your resume or CV, not addressing important points (e.g., the skills you possess that qualify you for the job), or using the same action words (best to avoid repetitive use of the same words). For more information, see  6 Secrets to Writing a Great Cover Letter ,  8 Cover Letter Tips for Graduates with No Job Experience ,  5 Things Your Cover Letter Must Cover , and  Action Words for Your Cover Letter...

Top 3 Mistakes Students Make in their Internships by   Elissa Mitchell   on   July 2, 2013   Top 3 mistakes students make in their internships:  1. Not taking enough initiative Once you’ve been on the job for a while you should be able to work independently on projects without asking for too much direction from your supervisor. Of course, you should check in with your supervisor on a regular basis and make sure you’re on the same page, but you’re there to help with the work load, not create more work (and believe me, supervising an intern is work). 2. Acting like an expert The reverse of the first point is that you take too much initiative without input from your supervisor and strike out on your own – but in the wrong direction. I’ve had internship supervisors complain that their students’ sometimes need to learn when to act and when to step back; when to speak and when to listen. Yes, you may have completed all your coursework and you may even h...

How to Build a Great Relationship with Your Employer by   Tami Duzan   on   July 2, 2013   Have you ever noticed how some students always seem to connect with their instructors…or how some employees seem to always please their boss?  Here are 3 insider tips on how to build a great relationship with your boss! 1) RESPECT!   Aretha Franklin tells it like it is in her 1967 R&B hit RESPECT.  “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.”  Find out what RESPECT means to your boss and then show it…but KEEP IT REAL!  There’s nothing worse than an employee who is “kissing up” to the boss all of the time.  You’ll not only ruin your relationship with your boss but your co-workers won’t think very highly of you either. 2) INITIATIVE!   Employers appreciate employees who show initiative.  A good place to start is by exhibiting a good work ethic.  Show up for work a few minutes early and/or stay a few minutes late. ...

All Grown Up and Doin’ It on Your Own! by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 2, 2013   For the past few years I have been teaching two night classes in a row. The first class met from 4-6:30pm and the second from 7-9pm. That is a LONG time to be on your feet. I really wanted to change my schedule to something that was not so physically difficult. What do you think I did about the problem??????? I had my mother call my Asst. Chairperson and explain that the hours were problematic for me and that they were causing my feet to hurt. Just kidding, of course. Would it ever occurred to you that a professional woman in her 40’s would involve her mother in her job? But…..have you, or anyone you know, ever had a family member contact a professor or future employer? NOTHING erodes credibility more than an inability to address a situation without the help of parents. It is very unprofessional to bring family members into the academic or professional setting. When an issue o...

What is a Mentor and How do I Find One? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 4, 2013 Most of us have heard of the importance of mentoring. However, do we really know what that means? I know I really struggled with the concept of mentoring when I was a student. The whole idea was intimidating to me. A mentor is someone that guides or advises on a regular basis. A mentor is honest, but supportive, and has the time to spend with you. According to  WiseGeek.com   “Mentors share their body of experience, relating what they have learned in ways that will connect with the newcomer.” Please note that a mentor should want to get to know you and be willing to form a mutual relationship. A mentor does not just teach, but will collaborate with you in a supportive manner. According to  Forbes.com  “Mentoring is a responsibility; a commitment that requires valuable time and focused attention to assure the mentee’s goals are progressing forward.” Finding, ...

What to do with a Bad Grade by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 4, 2013 You worked hard; and you thought you had nailed the assignment! When your paper is returned you have a grade that is lower than you expected. What can you do? I teach hundreds of students a year. Unfortunately, students are not always happy with the grade I believe that they earned. I am always happy to discuss grades; however, the conversation can go more smoothly if a few tips are followed. Give yourself a day to calm down . Initial disappointment may give in to an understanding of what you did wrong if you sleep on it and look at everything from a less emotional perspective. Look over all of the directions again . Could you have missed something important in the directions? Check any handouts, web resources and the syllabus before approaching your professor. Ask to make an appointment with your professor so that he or she can focus attention on you and your questions.  Avoid trying to...

What is the “Right” Internship? by   Elissa Mitchell   on   July 4, 2013   You may have seen articles or heard your professors talk about securing the right internship. But what does that really mean? It’s different for everyone, but here are a few important points to consider when deciding whether an internship is the “right” one. It provides you the opportunity to learn new skills.  The point of an internship is to learn new things – about a career, about an agency, about you. Your internship should be a safe space for you to try new things and get feedback and advice from your supervisors. An internship that doesn’t get you outside your box a little to experience new things most likely isn’t the “right” one. It lets you use your existing skills.  For some organizations, especially non-profits, interns are a great way to get free labor. Finding an intern with great technology skills, for example, saves an agency from paying someone to redo thei...