Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Finding the Right College Internship

These days, it may seem more difficult to find a job after graduating from college, as so many teenagers elect to attend college after high school than have in the past. It now seems that going to college is becoming a necessity if one wishes to find a job, just as a high school diploma was on par previously.

So what is one to do if they wish to set themselves apart from all the rest after their undergraduate career? Locating and participating in a college internship has become a very effective way in bolstering your resume for recruiters and employers upon graduation.

Not only does its presence on a resume serve a candidate well, but also the experiences and values one can gain by participating in an internship are numerous. As many kids turn to college after graduation, finding a college internship can help separate you from the pack of those whose similar resumes must seem repetitive to recruiters sorting through piles of new candidates' paperwork.

By no means should the experience be deemed strictly for resume building purposes. Embracing the skills and new lessons you can learn interning for a company is important, as this practical knowledge will surely come in handy later in one's career.

Also, do not get any old internship you can find. Try to get one that sparks your interest and has some relevance to the career path you wish to take later in life.

If you find your internship boring and pointless, it almost defeats the entire purpose of it.
The real world knowledge you will gain through a college internship will be evident to the employer or recruiter you are trying to impress.

Sitting through numerous interviews trying to fill the position you are applying for, as well as countless past interviews, interviewers begin to get a feel for judging a candidate's competency and experience by speaking to them. If you are 'winging it' it will show in your interview, as your answers will probably be shoddy and sloppy.

Speaking from actual experience and answering questions with some experience in the real world will allow you to provide thorough, well-informed answers to an interviewer's questions and prove your qualification for the position. It is never fun to stumble through an interview; it can take away one's confidence and become an embarrassing episode for a candidate trying to gain some interviewing confidence.

Participating in a college internship may help to provide the applicant with the ability to speak with confidence on subjects they have become well versed in over the course of the internship. While having a college internship on your resume by no means guarantees you a job once you graduate, many companies prefer to hire their own interns to new full time positions upon graduation.

Also, interviewing skills are priceless, speaking from one's own experiences only gives the applicant the ability to confidently answer any questions the recruiter may have about their qualifications. And, as always, a good GPA is usually important to employers hiring recent college graduates.

About the Author
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Choose a Martial Arts School That Teaches You How to Survive

Get into a good martial arts school that teaches you how to survive! Don't spend years learning useless forms or how to use weapons that were popular in ancient societies. Who carries around a staff or sword in the real world? Find a school with a curriculum that emphasizes overall fitness, self-defense, and survival!

Most martial artists will tell you that your chances of surviving abduction once an attacker gets you into his car are slim to none. Their advice is to fight for your life because statistics show that the consequences are grim. On Wednesday, July 28, 2004, Larissa del Mar Fiallo, Miss Dominican Republic, was assaulted by two men who tried to kidnap her in the parking lot of a shopping mall.

What is interesting to us about this story reported by CNN.com (July 29, 2004) is that Ms. Fiallo was able to escape her attackers because of her judo training. She explained how she fought back when the two men tried to get her into their car and how she knocked over the larger one three times. Her attackers eventually left the scene. While Ms. Fiallo suffered deep cuts and bruises to various parts of her body, she survived the attack and was released from the hospital several days later.

One type of school to completely steer clear of is one that is very traditional, in the sense that you must pay your dues by doing countless hours of forms and techniques that would not work in the street before the instructors give you the "secret" techniques. Don't get me wrong, forms, katas, and tradition have their place in the martial arts, but not when it comes to self-defense.

Combat sports schools such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, MMA, judo, and jiu jitsu are very good places to learn, because in most cases, you get a sense of reality in the training. That is, a real live opponent who is resisting and attacking you. But there are 2 things you need to be aware of when you attended these types of schools for self-defense.

The first is application for the street. Combat sports are just what the name says, a sport. Now as I said earlier they are the best to experience defending yourself against another fully aggressive human being. However, as in all sports, there are rules to make the contest fair and keep the contestants relatively safe. Not so in the street. In the street there are no rules, in fact things considered foul play in a combat sport are probably the best techniques for the street. So if you're in a combat sports school find an instructor that can teach you the logic and the crossover from the ring to the street.

The second is safety. Instructors must simulate what can happen in the street as close as they can, safely. If you attend a school where there is reckless abandon in the training or you constantly are fighting far more superior students, it's only a matter of time until you get hurt. And being injured means your not going forward in your training. It is also harder to defend yourself (impossible with serious injuries) when you are hurt. Ancient warriors invented martial arts training to better their chances on the battlefield. But you can never completely recreate what happens on the battlefield (or in the street) in the gym or dojo, cause then everyone would be hurt or dead! Pushing your body and mind is part of martial arts training, but so is keeping your body healthy and safe. It's a fine line to balance.

Most people are concerned with their safety in an increasingly uncertain world. They want to be prepared to defend themselves and their loved ones. Ms. Fiallo's years of judo training paid off. Are you ready to fight for your life?

About the Author:
Calasanz has created his own system of martial arts and self-defense. To see online instructional videos featuring martial arts and self-defense go to: http://www.interdojo.com

Article Source:
http://www.freearticles.co.za/recreation-and-leisure/sports/martial-arts/choose-martial-arts-school-teaches-you-how-survive.html






Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts

Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts


Speed Training: How to Develop Your Maximum Speed for Martial Arts












Saturday, November 8, 2008

Higher Education Sized to Fit

What is the most important thing you should know before selecting a degree program? Your self. Understanding your own learning style will help you select a program that suits you-making the journey toward a higher degree more profitable and pleasurable.

Universities have responded to the need for flexibility, portability and convenience by responding to different learning styles. Working adults can earn bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from local, regional and national universities-by attending day school, night school, weekend programs, online and blended programs.

The point is: the 'college experience' now runs the gamut from day classes on campus to online courserooms that let you log in from home or a post in the Middle East. To make the most of the educational experience, choose wisely.

Consider the following before you select a university:

1.
Are you a visual or auditory learner? Visual learners: About 40 percent of students are visual learners. If you are a visual learner, you learn best with the help of written words, pictures, diagrams, films, and demonstrations. You prefer visual stimuli and may have trouble concentrating in a noisy environment. Consider online education.

Auditory learners: If you are an auditory learner, you prefer listening to seeing, would rather give an oral report than a written one, and are better at following spoken rather than written directions. Check out on-campus programs.

2.
Does frequent interaction with your peers inspire you to higher performance? This is a tricky question. What does interaction look like to you? Does it mean being in the same room with your classmates? And if so, are you really conversing with other students or simply listening to a lecture together? Do you desire interaction that will improve your mastery of the subject matter? Interaction in both on-campus and online courserooms can be robust-often depending on the style and skill of the instructor. One significant difference in online courserooms is that mastery of the subject is typically demonstrated through writing rather than tests. During your tenure in the course, you'll have the opportunity to see other students'
best thinking in writing; this level of interaction often greatly enhances learning.

3.
Where will education fit best into your schedule? Nearly half of all grad students enroll between ages 24 and 35 and one-quarter start at age 36 or older. About a third of grad students are rearing children. In other words, the 'average' student these days has lots of obligations.

For students with lots of activities in addition to work, a university that flexes to the student's schedule may be the number one requirement. Onlineeducation gives students round-the-clock access to the tools and content of the course. On the other hand, if you're a student who prefers to build your schedule around a twice-a-week course, on-campus learning may be for you.

An expert opinion

Virginia College Online President Stanley Banks suggests students consider the following when deciding which learning model is right: If you enjoy test-taking, live discussions, and face time with your professor and peers as stimulus to manage your time and get your work done-you're probably a candidate for on-campus learning.

If you are a self-disciplined, self-motivated learner, prefer communicating through writing and desire learning through the writing of other students, online education may be the ideal solution for you. If you see yourself in both camps, try a blended model of on campus and online learning.

For more information or help deciding your best course of action, contact the Admissions Department at Virginia College Online at 888-827-7770 or visit Virginia College Online at www.vconline.edu