This week

Work experience and job hunting

• Feature —The first hurdle: Getting experience
• Your Turn — Job hunting techniques
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

The first hurdle: Getting experience

Looking for a first job can be a very difficult task. Many employers look for experienced workers, but how do you get experience without having a job?

You have to expand the way you think about experience. Volunteer programs, school projects, and organizations often provide valuable experience that is useful in a work setting.

Identify your skills when thinking about job hunting, but also keep track of experiences you've had that an employer might be looking for:

• Have you ever worked on a team in school (yearbook staff, literary magazine, athletics)?
• Did you use a computer in your studies (research, writing, Web site development)?
• Did you work on special projects during high school that brought you additional knowledge of a certain skill or topic (video projects, theater productions, planning committees, student government organizations, FFA, debate team)?

Work experience is a good thing. It shows responsible behavior and the ability to get along with others. And, having a part-time job is a good way to help meet education expenses.

Not everyone can or should get a job while they're in high school, but it's definitely something to consider. Talk to your parents and others who have experience working while in school to help you figure out whether it's a good idea for you.

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Your turn

Job hunting techniques

Finding a job is a job in itself — with no pay. The payoff is getting the job you want.

Hard work and dedication are the best job hunting skills, but other hints might help you in your quest. Consider these tips:

• Involve friends and family. They can offer encouragement and assistance in your job search.
• Check job listings in the classified advertising sections of your local newspaper. Your state employment office may also be able to offer some job search assistance.
• Know what you want. Don't accept a job just because someone offered it to you. Find out what you'll have to do once you're hired and make sure that's what you want to do. But don't be too picky. If this is your first job, you can't be the boss the first day. You will have to do what someone asks you to.
• Don't be shy. Contact people and businesses in your area that hire people with your career interests. Ask to speak to someone in the employment office. Find out if they offer special summer programs, internships, or part-time opportunities for people with a desire to work hard. Such employment can be a great way to gain experience while trying out a career to see if it really is what you want to do.
• Devote time to your job search. A thorough job search is hard work. Set aside several hours a day for hunting.
• Allow a reasonable amount of time. Don't expect to find a job within a few days or weeks.
• Be organized. Keep a record of all the places to which you applied, the name of the person with whom you spoke, and what response you received.
• Meet with people in the field you are interested in pursuing. They might be able to tell you the best sources of job information or what you need to do before you can get a job.
• Ask people who know you well to write you letters of recommendation. Ask them to emphasize the skills you have that relate to the specific job you're interested in. The best help is a letter that outlines the abilities you have that fit a particular position, not one that just talks about you in general.

For more advice on how to get a job, visit AIE's "Get A Job" page (www.AIE.org/HighSchool/Jobs/index.cfm).

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen and sophomores

Make homework grades count. Homework helps you to understand concepts more thoroughly and helps you practice new skills. Remember that the grades you make these first two years in high school are as important as the grades you make your senior year.

Studying is homework. Remember that completing written work is not the only type of homework. Reviewing notes, reading, and studying for quizzes and tests are all types of homework. Include these activities in your homework time allotment. The key to dealing with homework is to make it a part of your evening routine.

For juniors

Your teachers are in a partnership with you to help you reach your goals. As you work with them, keep the following thoughts in mind:

• You may need to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation for employers, colleges, and scholarships. Try to get to know your teachers this year.
• Many college, employment, or scholarship forms that you'll ask a teacher to complete on your behalf request that the teacher "rate" you on a set of characteristics. As you work in your classes, you'll want to demonstrate your positive attributes.
• Solicit help from teachers. They are impressed with students who seek to improve their skills and classroom performance. Use their expertise and experience.
• Participate actively in your learning! Remember that the skills and knowledge you're gaining today will benefit you later in life. A student participating enthusiastically and positively in classroom activities is greatly appreciated by a teacher.

For seniors

It's time to start thinking about the actual college application. On average, students apply to between five and 10 colleges or universities during their senior year. Many schools now have their applications available online, making it even easier to apply. Prepare your college resume and be sure to include a record of your academic abilities as well as your extracurricular activities and achievements.

Here are a few other tips to help you as you begin filling out college applications:

• Be honest. Admissions offices will check your application with your transcript.
• Follow directions. The application often provides a first impression of you.
• Be specific. What instrument do you play in the orchestra? What position do you play on the team? What competitions (debate, speech, theater arts, etc.) do you participate in? What awards or recognitions have you earned?
• Be complete. Provide all the information the college needs to process your application. Don't leave fields blank unless they are indicated as optional.
• Ask for help if you have questions. Don't be afraid to call or e-mail the college admissions office if you have questions about the application. They want you to get it right!

Another great resource for information on the college application process is your school guidance counseling office. Many times, the guidance office receives college catalogs, viewbooks, CDs, applications, and other information from schools across the country.

For parents

With school starting, you probably have more paper in your house than you want. Volunteer forms, emergency care cards, PTA membership forms, and many more items fill the packets that come home the first few days of a new school year.

• Emergency care card — This is critical information for a school. Should your child get sick or be injured at school, this card provides the names and phone numbers of people to contact. Be sure that all work phone numbers and cell phone numbers are recorded. Provide correct physician information as well.
• Volunteer form — Review volunteer opportunities carefully. Schools that have significant parental involvement have better student performance.
• Handbook receipt form — Many high schools ask parents and students to sign an acknowledgment form that indicates that a school handbook has been received. The handbooks usually contain information about a school's grading policies, dress codes, discipline procedures, and much more. Return the form and keep the booklet handy to answer your questions.
• Parent/teacher organization membership form — Joining your school's organization is another way to show support for your community's educational endeavors. Support your teen's school and join today. Attend meetings and express your opinions.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web site (www.collegeboard.com) or call (866) 756-7346.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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