Health and Human Services Professional Development

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...

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. ...

Professional Work Ethic by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 4, 2013 How many times have you heard that you should have a good work ethic? What does that mean to you? More importantly, what does that mean to professors or employers?  A recent survey of hiring managers found that employers believe that professionalism is fading and that students coming into professional venues do not have a strong work ethic. That is unfortunate, because most of the students I meet try very hard to do their best. Could it be that they were never taught about developing a strong work ethic? In order to develop a strong work ethic, consider the following: Show a positive attitude:  a sense of entitlement does not mix well with professionalism and a good work ethic. Every class/job has aspects that are frustrating, unenjoyable, and just plain irritating. However, what you do with unpleasant aspects of a situation defines you as a student or professional. Move confidently and c...

Are YOU Smarter than a 5th Grader? Advice from the “Kid President” by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 28, 2013   Nine-year-old Robby Novak has unbelievable charisma. His “Kid President” videos are taking the internet by storm. In this pep talk, he gives advice for doing “something that will make the world awesome.” His advice: Don’t be boring. If life is a game, aren’t we all on the same team? Don’t stop believing. I want to be on the path that leads to awesome. Keep going, and going, and going, and going. What will you create to make the world more awesome? Nothing if you just keep sitting there! https://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o?list=PLzvRx_johoA8PC6S5k5S2SszRQOR8oSEa *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Start Planning for Grad School by   Jill Bowers   on   August 6, 2013   If you are a junior or senior, you have probably started thinking about whether or not you want to go to graduate school or what programs you may want to apply to. If you are just beginning your undergraduate studies, graduate school may not be on your mind at all yet being proactive NOW will ensure you have good options later…AND many of the things you can do now to start preparing for applying for graduate schools are similar to activities that will help you on the job market! Whether or not graduate school (for example, getting a Master’s Degree or PhD) is right for you depends on your career goals, your major, and many other factors. Many individuals want to pursue graduate school because it gives them greater earning power and more opportunities to advance their career, allows them to switch career paths, buys them time to think more about what they want to do after their academic...

Ways to Avoid Being on Employers’ Complaint Lists by   Jill Bowers   on   August 16, 2013   What are employers’ complaints about grads they have recently hired? Supervisors, bosses, and employers get upset when new hires or interviewees: come unprepared to interviews apply for jobs they do not have the skills or background training for demand salaries that are too high for the position (e.g., higher than what others who have been there for awhile make) or premature promotions write letters or emails with typos start and then quit the job without giving it a chance lack professionalism lack tenacity post inappropriate or unprofessional photos or status on social media accounts that are visible to the public, clients, or individuals they serve have poor attitudes, work ethic, or interpersonal skills See more and some general tips for addressing these issues from  The Savvy Intern article,  Employers: 13 Complaints about Recent Grads . Che...

What Do You Wish You Knew Before College? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   February 9, 2014 What do you wish you knew before you went to college? Do you have any hints for those starting an academic journey? Hannah Flom writes of the 14 things she wished she had known before college. I think her list is fun; you can go over to  Thought Catalo g to read the entire post. Some of her thoughts: • Making real friends takes time • It is hard to be away from home • Go to your professors’ office hours • Transferring schools is not the end of the world • College is a time for mistakes I especially like the fact that she allows for mistakes to be made. College is about trying new experiences. Some of those experiments are going to go very well, some….not so much. But, if you are afraid to try something new, and afraid of possible failure, you will miss so many opportunities. *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).