With the “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games” series over, let’s face it, we all know enough about vampires and postapocalyptic worlds and can focus on some career reading this summer.

Slip one of these books into your beach bag this long holiday weekend, and get inspired about your career or furthering your education.

These authors make it easy to soak up both the rays and important information about earning a first-time degree or advanced degree to move up the ladder professionally. Just imagine what were to happen if Katniss was to combine her Hunger Games experience with a college education – she would be even more unstoppable!

How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30 (Or How to Avoid Living in Your Parents’ Basement) by Donald Asher (Ten Speed Press)

Asher, a career consultant who is author of several books, encourages people to think about their “top five issues in this world” as part of considering a career path and gives the low-down on education options, recognizing that career paths can change over time. Plus, there’s a special chapter on summer jobs.

Bossypants by Tina Fey (Reagan Arthur Books)

It’s your typical career book, but Fey’s hilarious memoir shows what it’s like to succeed in a male-dominated industry, working at SNL and having her own Emmy Award-winning show, “30 Rock,” and how she balances being a mom in show business. You get all that, and be prepared to hide under your oversized beach hat because you may be embarrassed at how much Fey’s essays are making you laugh.

The MBA Reality Check by Evan Forester & David Thomas (Prentice Hall Press)

If you’re considering earning your MBA, you probably need a summer vacation from all of that research. This book presents the MBA pursuit from the mindset of how you can be a compelling candidate to a college, written in a way where you feel like you’re chatting with a friend – albeit a very experienced, knowledgable friend who is an educational consultant. Forster’s insider’s look into getting into a business school is fueled with stories of applicants, making it an easy summer read.

Let us know if you’ve found other career- or education-related books or biographies that have inspired or informed you to take your next career step!

-Lori Johnston

When weighing the decision to go back to college and finish your degree, adult workers often wonder if life experience will count.

Taking some of the classes in a subject area you’ve already spent years working in will meet the degree requirements, but will it shed any new light onto the subject and just prolong your college years?

Well, on-the-job experience and life knowledge you have gained actually could serve you well in college.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that two services are seeking to establish national norms to give credit for “experiential learning” – skills you have gained outside of the classroom – and possibly could help hundreds of thousands of individuals earn degrees. The programs also recognize that it’s a time-consuming and labor-intensive process when faculty members at individual colleges evaluate portfolios of students seeking to receive college credit for career experience.

More than 80 public colleges and universities, community colleges and technical schools, Christian colleges, and for-profit online schools are participating in the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning’s new program, Learning Counts.

On a smaller level for now, there is KNEXT, which is affiliated with for-profit Kaplan University and also has agreements with New England College of Business and Finance and Grantham University.

There is a cost for students to participate. The Chronicle reports that the portfolio-creating course from Learning Counts costs $500, plus an extra $250 for each portfolio that a student wants evaluated. KNEXT has an all-inclusive price for $999.

Students get credit from participating colleges for completing the course where they learn to create a portfolio about their workplace learning. The portfolios are reviewed a national panel of subject-matter experts, which determines whether the student should earn credit, the Chronicle reported.

So while considering heading back to school, think about your career experience could boost your college experience. Depending on the degree you’re pursuing, it may allow you to bypass some courses and even finally grasp that diploma a little faster.

Donning that cap and gown soon? Here’s another reason to smile: Your chance of getting hired is greater than those who earned their degrees last year.

The good news comes from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, whose recent survey found that employers plan to hire 21 percent more recent college graduates this year than they did in spring 2010. That’s up from a 13.5 percent increase in college hiring that employers said back in August they expected.

Maybe you’re seeing more recruiters on campus, a sign of hiring activity. And if you get an offer, it might be more than your friends were being offered last year. Pay is rising, with the average salary for all 2011 graduates at $50,462, up 5.9 percent from last year, according to NACE’s Spring 2011 Salary Survey.

Engineering majors are going to have a better chance of finding a high-paying job upon graduation. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Spring 2011 Salary Survey reported that the 10 top-paid majors for the class of 2011 were:

Chemical engineering
Average salary offer: $66,886

Computer science
Average salary offer: $63,017

Mechanical engineering
Average salary offer: $60,739

Electrical/electronics & communications engineering
Average salary offer: $60,646

Computer engineering
Average salary offer: $60,112

Industrial/manufacturing engineering
Average salary offer: $58,549

Systems engineering
Average salary offer: $57,497

Engineering technology
Average salary offer: $57,176

Information sciences & systems
Average salary offer: $56,868

Business systems networking/telecommunications
Average salary offer: $56,808

Now that you’ve gotten the encouraging news, do something about it! Pursue jobs and network with potential employees knowing that many are on the lookout for well-educated workers to help their companies grow.

-Lori Johnston

A student I know who is applying for summer internships recently mentioned that she is writing a variety of cover letters to send to potential employers. I was so proud that she recognized a cover letter is essential when introducing yourself to prospective employers and that she needed to send more than a quick e-mail to the companies.

The cover letter is one of the three important letters you need to know how to write for career success. The others are the thank you note and the rejection follow-up letter. Here are some key things to know…

Cover letter

Use a brief but interesting cover letter to sell yourself as a valuable asset to the company.

You don’t want to regurgitate your resume; the cover letter should serve as an introduction to your resume.

Let the employer know what type of job you are interested in, and why you think you would be their best hire. You’ll also want your cover letter also to reflect your personality and work ethic.

Check out Virginia Tech’s Career Services’ division for sample cover letters and other tips. There’s also a paragraph-by-paragraph synopsis of what you need to include in a cover letter on the state of Michigan’s website.

But remember – you have to be accurate. You must spell the company’s name right and the contact’s name correctly. Any spelling errors or poor grammar will reflect poorly on you and impact your ability to land the job.

Thank you letter

Getting a job is all about relationships, and the thank you letter helps show your continued interest in the job and move forward your relationship with a potential employer.

A survey by Northwestern University notes that less than 15 percent of job seekers follow up with thank you letters. So taking the time to write these notes could really help you stand out! Northwestern’s tips include:

• Send the letter within 24 hours

• Mention something discussed during the interview (it helps remind the person who you are, especially in the case of open positions with multiple candidates)

• Briefly reiterate qualifications and skills that could be vital to the position

• Use e-mail to send the letter, but pop a hardcopy in the mail, too

Rejection follow-up letter

If you get rejected for a job, the last thing you want to do is to keep in touch with that company. But if you put aside your pride and write a follow-up letter – not to vent, but to thank them for considering you for the job – it could make a lasting impression that could lead to a job in the future.

One example of a rejection follow-up letter does a perfect job of not seeming bitter about losing out on the job, but keeping the door open to apply for other openings. Monster.com says that “following up can send a powerful message about your resiliency as a professional and your heartfelt interest in the company.”

These three letters are essential to launching a successful job search now and in the future. So start writing!

-Lori Johnston

If you’re app crazy or maybe just got a iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, or another new phone and are just checking out the apps, don’t just focus on games like Scrabble and bubble wrap, the popular virtual Zippo lighter, and Urbanspoon for restaurant hunting.

But some of the apps, whether free or not, actually could help you in college.

Here are a few you may want to consider.

1. Webster’s New World Dictionary, $14.99

No more lugging around a dictionary or turning on your laptop to search a word, especially if your professor has used it and you’re lost in the discussion. If you’re in health care, you may want to use the Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, for $24.99.

2. Cube Student Time Tracker, $9.99

Track how much time you spend on your courses and figure out your study patterns with this app. The iPad version of this app was named a must-have iPad app for professionals by Forbes.

3. iStudiez Pro, $2.99

Get organized with this app, which some students say they have used to replace their paper calendars. You’ll use this tool to keep track of class schedules and assignments with due dates, so that things won’t slip in between the cracks.

4. AP Mobile, Free

If you’re studying a field like political science, journalism, business, or criminal justice, you’ll want to make sure you know the latest news, so you can stand out in class discussions or ace tests. You’ll get instant updates as the news hits the Associated Press wire, whether you’re on the phone before class starts or can access the info during discussions.

5. Classes – Timetable, $.99

The Classes timetable app can notify college students when homework needs to be done or you need to be heading out (or logging on) for a class. One cool design feature is that when your phone is in landscape mode, you can see a color-coded schedule of classes and subjects you need to study.

What apps have you found beneficial in your classes this fall?

-Lori Johnston

We love to hear inspiring stories of those of you who recognize the earning power and other benefits of earning a college degree, and a new report from the non-profit College Board gives data that backs up those stories.

The College Board Advocacy & Policy Center’s study finds that four-year college graduates earned nearly $22,000 more than high school graduates and that earnings increased more rapidly from 2005 to 2008 for college grads, too.

But in addition to the financial value of a college degree, it is also interesting to see the link between a college education and health, involvement in the community, and other lifestyle choices.

Sandy Baum, the report’s co-author, says: “If you have a college degree, you are more likely to exercise, volunteer, vote and read to your kids, and less likely to be obese or smoke. Education pays out more than dollars.”

The Education Pays 2010 report, based on 2008 data, found that:

• 68 percent of college graduates were covered by employer-provided health insurance, compared to 50 percent of folks with high school diplomas

• 20 percent of four-year college graduates ages 25 to 44 were obese, compared to 34 percent among people with high school diplomas

• Smoking among bachelor’s degree recipients dropped from 14 percent to 9 percent over the last decade, while the rate for high school graduates barely declined – 29 percent to 27 percent.

• 63 percent of 25 to 34 year olds with college degrees exercise vigorously, compared to 37 percent of high school graduates

• 43 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients participated in community service activities, compared to 19 percent of high school graduates

You may feel that school commitments right now are keeping you from being exercising and earning more and even causing you to use some bad habits to survive. But this news shows that your college degree could be making you healthier, physically and financially, in the long run.

-Lori Johnston

“Survivor” is breaking this season’s contestants into two tribes – young versus old. During this week’s season premiere, it was the older team (called Espada and including contestants over 40) that got sent to tribal council in Nicaragua, sending 48-year-old Montana goat rancher Wendy away (through a graveyard, no less).

It struck me as the credits rolled that if you’re an adult student and going back to school, you may be feeling like there’s two tribes in your classes as well. While you may have been told that the younger students will respect you for your life experience and knowledge, you maybe can’t help but feel that the age gap divides you from your 20-something classmates.

But let’s think about how “Survivor” typically plays out. At one point, the tribes are going to merge. And at that point, usually the younger contestants realize they can learn from the older players because of their experience, maturity, and wisdom, and vice versa.

As host Jeff Probst told CBSNews.com: “You have young guys running around, young women running around, and they’re fit and they can do all these challenges. But can they think? And when you look at the older tribe, you see people who stop before they walk and say, ‘We should go this way.’”

In the meantime, here are some tips provided by the University College Community at Rutgers-New Brunswick for adult learners:

• Seek out organizations and honors societies with adult students participating

• Make time for special events geared toward nontraditional students

• Contribute to campus events, working alongside those younger than you, to make a difference on campus

• Participate in the classroom and in group discussions

The young versus old experiment that “Survivor” is doing also may give you some insight into how you can relate to younger classmates, too.

-Lori Johnston

I was with a group of college students this week recently who brought their planners with them to schedule events throughout the semester. I was surprised at how most of the dozen students brought paper calendars and planners, instead of plugging the dates into calendars on their phones or computers.

I understand the reluctance to put all assignments in a calendar or file on the computer or to use the calendar and to-do apps on an iPhone or Blackberry. There’s always the concern, especially with students who aren’t that tech-savvy, that something could happen with the phone or computer and all of that crucial information for a college student seeking to ace a class would be lost. Talk about a stressful situation.

Maybe it’s easier to contemplate going virtual with assignments and calendars when you’re taking an online class. All the class information is online, so why shouldn’t your planning and time management for assignments be on the computer, too?

Diane Hamilton, author of “The Online Student’s User Manual,” says she’s a fan of the free iGoogle service because it allows students to keep track of and access their calendars and course information from anywhere. That’s helpful, even in the worst-case scenario.

Hamilton, who teaches for six online universities, says that even if your computer crashes, your schedules and assignments will be accessible through any computer.

Have you tried using iGoogle or other sites to manage your college coursework and other activities, and what have you found are the pros? Or what should students know if they’re trying to use more web tools to manage their assignments?

-Lori Johnston

CollegeSurfing.com and The CollegeBound Network are offering you an exclusive opportunity to win a full scholarship* to attend Animal Behavior College (ABC), where animal lovers pursue animal careers via convenient, local hands-on training using the latest training techniques.

At Animal Behavior College, animal lovers can pursue their professional certification in any of these three exciting careers – Dog Trainer, Pet Groomer, and Veterinary Assistant. With more than 1,000 locations nationwide, ABC is the leader in animal career vocational training.  With 13,000+ students enrolled since 1998, ABC is dedicated to helping animal lovers make their passion their profession.

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Essays should be submitted by September 30, 2010 to Shelly@dawgbiz.net, and have a maximum of 500 words.  One winner will be selected on October 15, 2010, and will be awarded a full scholarship to one ABC program. This includes the total tuition cost; no additional costs will be incurred throughout the program.

For more information on Animal Behavior College, please visit www.AnimalBehaviorCollegeCourses.com, and click on your program of interest.

* The contest will be administered and winners will be solely determined by ABC. The CollegeBound Network is not involved in contest judging or winner selection.

If you’ve ever lost weight before, it’s probably not been an easy task. But the rewards are so great, as I’ve recently lost 10 pounds by exercising more and eating less (two things that sound simple, but are difficult). I feel so much better and am proud of my accomplishments.

The amazing thing is that the steps people take to successfully lose weight can also be applied to being a successful student, too.

Keep Track
Everything that I eat, every day, is recorded online so I can make sure my calorie consumption is low enough to shed pounds. It allows me to see when I’ve been extra good – so I can splurge, too.

Keeping details of calories and exercise can be time-consuming, but like keeping track of progress of assignments, exam preparation, and projects, it is so worthwhile. It can help you avoid waiting until the last minute or falling so far behind that an all-nighter won’t even help you feel confident during a test.

The Idiot’s Complete Guide to Study Skills recommends getting started by writing down everything you do, hour by hour, to get a feel for how you are spending your time. The book, by Randall S. Hansen and Katharine Hansen, says you may find things that are time-wasters.

Also, check out this assignment calculator, which lets you input your due date, when you’ve started the assignment, and the subject area to calculate a schedule for getting the work done.

Schedule It Out
I’ve had to plan when I’m going to exercise so I don’t run out of time during the day or push it off for another day. Every week, I’m looking at my schedule, the class schedule at the gym, and what type of workouts I want to have during the week. Then I put in my Blackberry calendar when I’m going to be at the gym.

It’s the same strategy when you’re in school – take a look at what big tests and assignments are happening each week and block out time on your calendar, whether on your computer, phone, desk, or wall, to prepare.

You may need to use a color-coded system in your calendar so you can quickly see when you are planning to study, spend time with family and friends, work, attend events, and do other tasks. Most professors suggest spending two to three hours out of class on studying for every hour of class time a week.

Get Some Support
My husband and friends are encouraging me – nicely – to lay off the chocolate and fried foods, and some of them are losing weight along with me. Especially if you are going to college for the first time, you’ll need people who can support you when the assignments pile up and tests seem daunting. Those people also could include a study partner in your class who can make sure you don’t go through it alone. Sure, you’re the only one who will be taking the test but you can have an entire group of people supporting you and celebrating in your successes.

-Lori Johnston