Health and Human Services Professional Development

Human Service Professionals Author: Mikki Sherwood I teach a course for graduate students that is called “Current Issues and Trends in Family & Consumer Sciences.”  At the beginning of each semester I teach about the history of FCS. I have sections about the scientific roots of FCS, the  early leaders  of the discipline, and how FCS has evolved in more than 100 years.  I also cover the basic philosophy of FCS, explain the importance of the integrative nature of the discipline, and describe  Bronfenbrenner’s Systems Theory  in detail. My students all ask me why I think they need to have this information. I tell them to consider the fact that at some point they will be in the job market, in competition with many other people. They will need to be able to explain their unique attributes to a potential employer. One of the unique attributes of someone that studied FCS is that he or she has the ability to look at various aspects of the functioning of...

From Casual to Professional Author: Mikki Sherwood The skills you use to navigate relationships with your peers are very different than the skills used when communicating with teachers, employers, or other figures of authority. Having the ability to distinguish between professional and personal worlds, and learning how to interact with others in both environments, is critical to your success as you apply for jobs and interact with professionals in your field. Many people have problems switching from the super-casual vernacular used with their friends to a more professional tone when in an academic or work environment. The problems I have seen in my work as a professor have centered on the misuse of another person’s time and a too-casual demeanor. Yet, these social mistakes can be avoided with some thoughtful self-reflection and by practicing prosocial responses. Here are a few things to think about: Think before you speak about the timeliness and relevance of your questio...

WHAT IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP? Many FCS professionals may choose follow the path of an entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur is exciting, yet challenging, because one has to make the decision to forgo the safety of a steady paycheck, and risk everything they have. They may study business planning, principles of assessment, market analysis and many other topics related to the business aspects of FCS. Anyone within any FCS major or area of focus may decide to create their own venture using principles of entrepreneurship. At Career Skillet, we provide articles written by successful entrepreneurs from various industries. Some issues about which entrepreneurs may want to learn include, but are not limited to: • Creating a business plan • The importance of branding and consistency • Marketing • Quests for start-up funding • Forming a corporation, LLC, or nonprofit • Business counseling ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: For more information on entrepreneurship, see: SCORE ...

WHAT YEAR SHOULD I ATTEND MY FIRST JOB FAIR? It is never too early to attend your first job fair. Although you may not be on the job market as a freshman or sophomore in college, attending a job fair could give you an idea of the types of organizations that exist in your field, or the types of jobs that you can get. Make sure you go to job fairs prepared regardless of what stage of career planning you are in. You never know who you will meet or what kind of opportunities the career fair can bring. Therefore, dress appropriately (see  Making the Most of a Job Fair ), and if you ARE on the job market, bring a few copies of your resume (make sure your resume proofed by a mentor or career services counselor).  Written by: Jill Bowers Additional resources for attending job fairs: How to Prepare for a Job/Career Fair [Virgina Tech website] Top Ten Tips for Students Attending Career or Job Fairs [Quintessential Careers] Job Fair 101; What to Wear Bring, and Ask [Men’s Life Today] ...

Check out this PBS.org video,  “It’s OK to be Smart: Pay Attention!”  It describes the fact that we are wired all of the time! Technology allows us to be alone, but still together. It connects us to one another and to a vast onslaught of information. We have to take all of this information and filter out what we don’t need. Luckily our brain is complex, and has the capability to allow us to focus on the information that is important to us, and ignore the rest. I recommend you take five minutes and focus on this interesting video!It’s OK to be Smart: Pay Attention!”

Stress and Food Choices Author: Melanie Burns Stress can influence eating patterns for college students, and eating patterns can influence college students’ satisfaction with how they handle problems (see  Cornejo & Cookston ).  Eating healthy does not need to end when you leave for college nor should it wait until you are through college.  While life stressors can make healthy eating less of a priority, making healthy food choices needs to happen every day. Little changes, such as eating breakfast and drinking low-fat milk, can make a difference in how you handle your weekly or daily stress.  The calories from the late-night pizzas and the all-you-care to eat dining hall buffets can add up quickly! For more information on making healthy food choices during the college years, visit the  USDA’s My Place On Campus . *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES? Students who study human development and family studies (HDFS) gain an understanding of how individuals and families develop across the life span and how individuals and families are shaped by the environment and culture. HDFS students learn how to optimize individual well-being, strengthen family relationships, and become leaders in community, education, and work settings that focus on issues which include, but are not limited to: Teen pregnancy Sexuality education Child and elder abuse Grandparents raising grandchildren Balancing work and family Drug and alcohol abuse Media literacy Divorce Romantic relationships Parenting Family diversity Children with special needs WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES DEGREE? Jobs one can get if they focus on HDFS include, but are not limited to: Family caseworker Addictions counselor Intimate partner violence case manager Rehabilitation counselor Child care worker Ch...