Health and Human Services Professional Development

Strategies for Communication and Organization When Struggling in Classes During the Pandemic By: Jill Bowers & Sabrina Roley It is always best to turn  the assignment in early or by the due date. Yet, we have been living in a pandemic. I am a graduate student and know that a lot of students struggle with online classes though that is their only option right now. Some of us work at least part-time while navigating a full course load and have family responsibilities. Some students are trying to home-school a few children and or struggling to access the Internet from home because everyone in their home is online at the same time. The struggle is real. But, we will get through it, and there are many things that we can do to take responsibility for our course work and life. Small changes can also influence how professors respond to us. Professors continuously hear about students needing or asking for extensions with assignments, yet some individuals take the wrong approach with thei...

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...

Tips on How to Network from Berkeley by   Jill Bowers   on   July 6, 2013   The Berkeley Career Services Center offers a few good tips for successfully networking. My personal favorites are those that discuss how and why you should consistently keep in contact with your mentors (as opposed to only contacting them when you need them or out of desperation).  A true mentor relationship, or one you will get the most out of, is ongoing. It is also best that your mentor consistently knows about your progress or what you are working on, so they can speak on your behalf (if they are listed on your reference list) or forward you relevant jobs, opportunities, or information that is relevant to your career as they come across it. Along these lines, it is also important to ask your mentors if you can put them on your reference list and notify them when you have applied for a specific job.   *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission gran...

Say WHAT?? How to Address Problem Situations by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 8, 2013   When a problem occurs we could all potentially respond in a manner that is not positive. Below is a list of actual comments I have heard from students in the last 16 years of my work as a university professor. It is too bad you grade so hard and cost me an A. You have no compassion and do not understand students. Be patient; my computer skills are a rusty. I worked really hard on this paper! Why did you give me a C? I won’t be in class on Thursday; will I miss anything? I stopped by your office three times and you were never there! Do you think these comments are helpful as a solution to a negative issue? How would you reword these statements in order to be more professional in nature? Does your approach to a problem lend itself to a solution, or negativity on both sides? Let’s rethink some of these comments and reword them into a more positive approach: I th...

What are Social Skills? by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 Social skills involve picking up on social cues, interpreting the behavior of others, and interacting with others in positive ways.  Examples of social skills may include self-confidence, problem-solving, being flexible and adaptable, displaying empathy, dealing with conflict, smiling, being polite, showing interest, actively listening, and many more. Necessary social skills can vary based on the social norms of a given culture or setting. Some social skills may be innate, but many can be learned. As Daniel Goleman noted in his book,  Social Intelligence , a crucial component to acting wisely in relationships is to develop an understanding of how our moods or reactions are influenced by our interactions (past and present) with others and equally important, how our actions, words, and nonverbal behaviors make others feel and react to us. Example of good social skills: Maintaining eye contact ...

Communicating with Professors, Employers, or Potential Employers by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 Communication is a social or personal skill that when done right, plays a role in your success in college, on the job market, and in work settings. Here are some basic tips to consider when communicating (written, oral, or nonverbal) with others in professional settings. Written or electronic communication Written or electronic communication may be one of the first contacts that you make with a professional. First impressions are critical. Address professors, employers, or potential employers with proper salutations. Although you may hear someone else call that person by their first name, do not take it upon yourself to consider it okay to do the same unless that person offers (e.g., “You can call me ‘Justin’ rather than Dr. Smith.” For those that have PhDs or MDs, addressing them as “Dr. X” is appropriate. If it is a professor and you are unsure, you can always ...

Are Writing Skills Really That Important? by   Elissa Mitchell   on   January 11, 2014  YES, writing skills are THAT important. Writing is a form of communication that is critical in the real world! You may not be looking for a career as a professional writer, yet writing is most likely going to be a part of your job responsibilities. Whether you are writing case notes for client files, communicating with your coworkers or supervisors, submitting a grant application, or creating a brochure to advertise your agency, writing skills are important. Being able to effectively communicate is a key skill in the professional world and employers are looking for it. If your resume or cover letter has grammar or spelling mistakes, then you’re not likely to make a good impression on the employer. On the other hand, a letter that is clear and easy to read shows employers that you care and put in the time to proofread and revise your document. This study by Gramm...

Hey You! Salutations for Success…and Disaster by   Jill Bowers   on   February 22, 2014   Hey you! Hi Jill! Think you are close enough with a professor or boss to address them with the salutation of your preference? You might want to reconsider. It is not something that gets to me (assuming that the salutation does not have a negative tone and there is no name calling). I have, however, heard enough other professors and supervisors complain about this that I can tell you that it’s something that means something to many of them. It will serve you well to think about the salutation you use. It’s not as if the professionals who have an issue with it are on any kind of “power trip” (most of them anyway), rather the pet peeves surrounding the proper salutations are centered on the belief that young adults should respect individuals who are in positions of authority. Generally, they have worked hard to earn their degrees and titles so they can be in positions to hel...