Category: College

Ethyl Ruehman of Portage, Indiana, is a student at Indiana University Northwest, and was named an Environmental Hero by the Indiana Resilience Institute in 2020. What did you do after graduating from high school? I had a gap year and that is where I was able to do the most personal growth. The whole time I worked two or three jobs, but I really honed in on my passion for sustainability that set me apart from my classmates. I really put myself into the community, volunteered, and grew my network…

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One of the best ways to embrace resiliency as you establish your professional brand and seek your first dream job is to identify ‘what’s that one problem you are uniquely qualified to solve?’ For me, the most tangible way to be resilient, especially in times of uncertainty, is by choosing a career that allows me to be my authentic self. For instance, I’m fascinated by the art of placemaking, which stems from my degree in Urban Planning & Development from Ball State University. I get the chance to develop that…

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Meet regularly with your advisor to make sure you are on track to graduate. Visit the experts at your college’s Career Services office to plan for your future. Polish your resume. Attend a live or virtual career fair. Attend a live or virtual graduate school fair. Line up letters of recommendation from your favorite professors. Practice your interview skills by preparing examples of how you have solved problems or learned from a failure. Make sure you’re ready to share accomplishments and career goals, too. Make a list of friends, neighbors,…

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Mental health conditions are common among  young  adults, according to The National Alliance for Mental Illness (www.nami.org). Fifty percent of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14 and 75 percent develop by age 24. Speaking up and asking for help is a sign of strength. It can be hard to know what to say, but start with something like, “I’m not feeling right. I think I need help. Can I talk to you about it?” Mental health services and supports are available and the earlier you access them, the better. NAMI recommends taking these actions on your…

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Never getting out of your pajamas and taking classes online may sound like a good option. But is it a good way to earn a college degree? “Online learning can play a part in every person’s educational journey, but it is not the right, first choice for every student,” according to Ivy Tech Community College Vice Provost Kara Monroe. Too often, students end up in an online course because the traditional classroom course is full, or because they need the credit to enter a degree program. A better approach is…

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As a student at Ball State University, Dustin Gilmer majored in journalism and telecommunications, with a goal of becoming a sports reporter. But Gilmer struggled to find an internship, which was both a graduation requirement and something he knew he needed to continue to develop marketable job skills. Born with a rare brittle bone condition that has caused approximately 300 broken bones, Gilmer had already overcome so much through ability and personality, but the lack of professional work was holding him back. A former mentor to Gilmer at Ball State,…

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There’s no better time than now for college graduates to be entering the workforce in Indiana. Indiana boasted a 3.3% unemployment rate in August, the lowest the rate has been since April 2018, according to the state’s most recent employment statistics. But the job prospects are even brighter for college graduates. July statistics from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) show that the unemployment rate was just 2.5% for those earning at least a bachelor’s degree. That’s nearly a percentage point lower than the state’s overall rate. And for…

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Go Big or Go Home? Small Town Offers Opportunity By Lisa Hendrickson Career path: After graduating from the IU McKinney School of Law in 2016, Ahler worked briefly as an assistant to former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in Washington, DC, and as a law clerk at the Chicago firm of Spagnolo & Hoeksema LLC. He now works as an attorney in his hometown. A typical workday: Ahler walks two blocks from his house to the law office he shares with fellow IU School of Law alum Michael Riley. His workdays…

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Free advice from successful professionals on how to make the most of your college experience. Jenn Lisak Golding Founder and Owner: Sapphire Strategy, a specialized digital marketing agency in Indianapolis. Golding has a degree in marketing from Butler University, but she advanced her career by learning technology and social media on her own. What surprised you about the transition from school to work? Honestly, that I liked work more than school. School was great, but I was so ready to get into a work environment and use my skills. I…

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By Marissa Smith Marissa Smith is a senior at IUPUI studying public relations and advertising. She currently lives in Indianapolis and serves as the communications and special events intern at Indiana INTERNnet, her fifth internship throughout her college career thus far. College students hear it again and again – network, network, network. However, building and maintaining professional relationships is often not high on our priorities. The thought of initiating a conversation can be intimidating. Even once introductions and connections have been made, it is difficult for individuals to keep in…

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You may be considering grad school, but don’t know if it’s right for you. Some points to ponder before taking the plunge: Determine costs Make sure to include not only tuition, but housing and other fees. The cost of living in various cities varies widely, so do your research and take that into account. What type of degree do you need? Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce reports that nearly one-quarter of diplomas awarded by colleges and universities are certificates, which can be earned in a shorter time…

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See the world. Expand your horizons. College is the prime time to do both.  “Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience that shapes your future and how you see the world. It takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you think differently about your identity and world around you,” says Nikki Bruckmann, associate director of Student Services at the Institute for Study Abroad at Butler University. Dr. Brian Harley, associate dean of International Programs and director of Programs for Study Abroad at Purdue University, adds that study abroad…

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Ball State University Senior, Telecommunications Major, Pro Photographer Hometown: Union Mills, IN   College/career path: “I started taking photos at a very young age for fun, and then I started to do it competitively in 4-H. I chose Ball State because they have an excellent telecommunications program. I also fell in love with the campus and the genuine interest the professors take in their students’ success. I was offered a job at Ball State University as an event photographer for the College of Communication, Information, and Media. I had never planned to…

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Many people are interested in graduate study, but don’t have the time or budget to support an on-campus experience. Online graduate study is becoming increasingly popular, says Chris Foley, assistant vice president and director of online education at Indiana University. He says online study can be an attractive choice for those who want to “gain skills that would help them move up in their current career,” shift to a new career field, or just increase their knowledge about a certain subject. Blended programs, in which part of your study is…

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Did you know that 57 percent of employers are less likely to call a candidate for an interview if they can’t find information about them online? That’s what a 2017 Harris Poll survey of employers found. The poll, conducted for CareerBuilder, also reported that 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring, and that 30 percent of employers have an employee dedicated to screening candidates on social media. Gary Beaulieu, Butler University’s director of Internship and Career Services, recommends LinkedIn as the No. 1 social media…

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