Health and Human Services Professional Development

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...

Sup, Doc? Approaching Professionals At Conferences the Right Way by   Jeremy Kanter, Guest Author   on   October 18, 2013   I attended my first national conferences last year for professional organizations in my field, The National Council on Family Relations and The Association of Family & Conciliation Courts. I had worked with a few professors, and our conference proposals were accepted. I was stoked because 1 – I got free trips to California and Arizona, 2 – I was excited to present my research and learn from other research presentations (yes, I am a dork), and 3 – I knew I would be applying for graduate schools this year and these conferences would be a great opportunity to network with students and professors at other Universities! At the same time, I had no idea what to do with myself.  So, I talked to my professors and other mentors about what I should wear, how I should approach others at the conferences, and how I could make the most out of my ...

Asking for Letters of Recommendation by   Jill Bowers   on   December 27, 2014   Dear Professor, I am applying for graduate school. The online application system requested that I put in 3 individuals who might be willing to write me a letter of recommendation. I listed your name, so you can expect to receive an email from them soon. If you cannot do this, I understand. But, hopefully you can. It will only take like 5 minutes because it’s an online form. Oh and, it is due in two days. No, no and no. Your letters of recommendation are critical as they could play a significant role in your acceptance into graduate school or success on the job market. As such, you should approach professors or others who you are asking to write you a letter with thoughtfulness, organization, and gratitude. A few tips…. Carefully choose your letter writers.  Individuals who know you well and care about your future will likely write the best letters for you. Asking a me...