Health and Human Services Professional Development

Ellen Swallow Richards by   Jill Bowers   on   October 24, 2013   Ellen Swallow Richards…one of the founders of family and consumer sciences as we know it today. https://youtu.be/7cHvu6sEUH *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Alive and Sleep Deprived  by  Paige Crutchley, Guest Author   on   October 24, 2013   There are many things that take up your time: class, work, volunteering…sleeping. With so many responsibilities, sleep hours are often forfeited. You may find yourself asking, “How much sleep do I really need?” Unfortunately, there is not a definitive answer for this question yet. This is partly because it is not yet understood  why  we sleep. Additionally, sleep needs can vary greatly from person to person. In fact, your own sleep needs will vary across your lifetime. On average, professionals recommend that adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Take Advantage of the Time You DO Have Set Aside for Sleep Make the most of the time you have dedicated for sleeping.  It can be quite frustrating if you are not actually sleeping for a significant portion of this time. Parenting experts recommend that bedtime routines for children include baths, reading,...

Should I be friends with my boss?  by  Jori Brownfield, Guest Author   on   October 24, 2013   I have had summer camp jobs and university student jobs and have started to wonder what is appropriate for relationships between employers and employees. My work history has been in relatively relaxed settings, where many of my co-workers (mostly high school and college students) seem to be friends with their supervisors. Is this how the ‘real world’ works? For me, work is where I spend the majority of my time outside of classes, and it makes it more enjoyable to work with people I appreciate being around. It seems to make the time go by faster. And, when working with and for people I am friends with, I have fun when completing my tasks or fulfilling responsibilities rather than drag through them, watching the clock.  There have been times, however, that I have wondered, “what are the professional boundaries?” and “are there consequences to employee-sup...

Future Employers are Interviewing You: Are you also Interviewing Them? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   November 17, 2013   There are so many places to get information about answering questions asked of you in a job interview. However, have you ever considered the fact that a job interview is also YOUR opportunity to ask questions of a potential employer? The job interview offers you the opportunity to find out about the position to which you are applying, gather information about the expectations of those in charge, and determine whether the job would be a good fit for you. You should be comfortable using some of the time at a job interview asking your own questions. Think about the following questions: What is the style of leadership I would find here? Could you provide some examples of projects on which I would be working? What specific skills would you say are needed for this position? What types of opportunities are available for advancement? What is y...

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 ...

Employer-Proofing Your Social Media Profiles by   Jill Bowers   on   November 23, 2013   The number of online articles about personal social media accounts and the research your potential employers are likely doing continues to grow. It seems inevitable that a potential employer is going to attempt to gather information about what you are NOT telling them, so what kind of impression are you making with your online profiles or tweets? True or false? You are generally safe with venting via Twitter because less than half of your followers actually read your tweets, and the chances that your hashtags will go viral are slim.   FALSE  – at least the first part. If you doubt this, ask the high school senior who attended a campus information day in Brunswick, Maine and proceeded to post negative or derogatory comments about others while she was there (see  They Loved Your G.P.A. Then They saw Your Tweets. – NY Times ). Remember that employers can...

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 ...