CollegeSurfing Insider

This is certainly the month for counting calories, comparing gym membership costs, and turning down a square of co-worker birthday brownies (all of which I spied during lunch today, as I ate my Lean Cuisine pizza and carrot sticks).

While well-intentioned when motivation is new and fresh, all of that pressure eventually comes to a head… usually right around the time you’re surrounded by buffalo wings, cheezy (yes, the “z” is on purpose) nachos, and deep-fried pot stickers on Superbowl Sunday. And soon after that, you’re drowning in the chocolately goodness of Valentine’s day candy. And who can resist those post-Valentine’s bargains at Duane Reed, when you can get a chocolate covered peanut-butter heart for 18 cents? You get the point, right? (I hope so, because this analogy is making me hungry, and I need to stop!)

Just like dieting, when it comes to the workplace, it’s easy to forget that eager, gung-ho spirit you once exhibited as a new employee, and fall into an unhealthy binge-fest of deadline procrastination, negativity, and doing just enough to get by. And before you know it, those corporate dress down jeans are squeezing you tighter and tighter each month as you grow to loathe the daily grind.

But guess what? Sometimes all it takes is what the WeightWatcher folks like to call a “jumpstart” to get you back on track. A “cleansing,” if you will, like the South Beachers do to eliminate carb cravings from their system. In other words, there’s nothing like a new challenge or a new role to get you excited about working again. And it doesn’t only have to happen in January! Here are some ways to get that going:

- Throw your name in the hat the next time a new project comes in. Showing initiative is a good move for you (others will notice!), and it will give you a shot at the groundfloor of something new that can become huge. Plus, it’ll break up the boredom. What would you rather do, take a hip-hop workout class or pedal for a half hour on a stationary bike?

- Give your brain a workout, too, by learning a new skill — and maybe your company will even pay for your career training! If you do your job the same way everyday, you’ll most likely be doing that same job next year. But bring it to the next level — like adding a podcast to your blog (one of my ‘08 goals, coming soon) — and who knows where it can take you?!

- Find strength in numbers. My collection of exercise DVDs are collecting dust. Why? Because I have to count on myself to pop one in and do it. But if I had a gym buddy or a regular class to attend (like my boss Gina’s kickboxing one — soon, G, I swear!), that healthy peer pressure might be just what I need to make it part of my routine. Likewise, professional affiliations will keep you abreast of networking events, and you can stay in the know by checking in on industry message boards and blogs.

If all else fails, you can always try something completely unconventional until you find your fit. Not everyone can give up carbs, right?

Feeling the burn yet? I hope so. Take care of yourself… I’m off to refill my giant water bottle and (hopefully) resist the brownies.

So now the latest news reports include allegations that Mary J. Blige, along with rap musicians 50 Cent, Timbaland, and Wyclef Jean used performance-enhancing drugs to boost their bodies. Sheesh. What’s a buff lovin’ athlete/rap star/musician to do?

Maybe hook up with a personal fitness trainer whose worth his/her weight (muscle mass weight, that is) in education, maybe?! Thanks to top-notch training programs that combine biomechanics and fitness training with anatomy, physiology, and the prescription of legal exercise supplements, it is possible to work with a fitness instructor who can help you flaunt rock-hard abs, throw a 90 mph curveball, and have sick biceps in time for the next Grammy Awards ceremony!

Sound like a field you’d be interested in jumping into? Programs like those offered at American Academy of Personal Training and the National Personal Training Institute will put you in the gym and on the road to a lucrative career (if you stay away from the steroids, that is) in under three months.

-Gina LaGuardia

NBC Photo: Virginia Sherwood

We’re a couple weeks into 2008, and I’m making a different kind of resolution this year: to embrace the unexpected. Because life never goes quite the way we plan, does it?

Take your career path, for instance. A path is just that–one of many roads you might take. There’s no telling whether you’ll backtrack or walk the straightaway for miles. Because, unlike my street and countless others in NYC, a career path is not a one-way trajectory. You can go back and forth and in circles, too. It’s messy, just like the rest of life. Even if you have an idea what you want, it can still end up looking a lot different than the way you initially pictured it.

I was an interpersonal communications major in college because I like people and I like words. Did I know where that would take me? Not at all. But it’s been an interesting journey.

My first job out of college was waitressing; I needed a way to pay the bills while I figured out where I was headed next. Turns out I was headed to a microenterprise development organization, then a ministry to mothers of preschoolers, then an alumni office of a college I didn’t attend, then a law office, then a business forms company, and then I was out of work for a little while. Call it a breathing period.

In the midst of all this I applied to a graduate program in counseling, thinking therapy was where I was headed (as the practitioner–not the patient!). I wasn’t accepted into the program, which was a bummer at the time. I didn’t know which direction to go next.

But that closed path opened up a handful of new opportunities. I began writing for a small magazine, then editing, and it wasn’t long before I knew that I had found my niche. I didn’t wake up with the dread I had felt going to other jobs, and I was learning so many new skills.

I’m still writing and editing today, six years later. Maybe I could have known where I was headed years ago, but it’s OK that I didn’t know. I’ve had fun along the way. Like the Dixie Chicks, I’ve been taking the long way.

I don’t know what 2008 will hold for my career and my life, but I do know that the journey will be full of surprises.

Which path will you take in 2008?

-Robyn Tellefsen

I never thought I’d be a TV junkie, but alas, I have a lineup of shows I just can’t miss four out of the seven days of the week. And just when the holiday madness is over every year, I look forward to snuggling up on the couch with a new season of 24 and LOST.

But not in ‘08. The writers’ strike went and messed that up. And I couldn’t be happier about it! As a fellow writer, I know what it’s like sometimes for people to take what I do for granted. “Anyone can write,” people say. My grandmother brags that my sister is a professor, but when she gets to me, she says I have a beautiful son (which I’m proud to say I do!). But I also have a career as a writer, grandma — and people even pay me for it! Go figure… So I can imagine what it must be like for a TV writer to hear remarks like: “TV stinks… I could write something better than these guys.” Sure, you can.

Beyond relating to the plight of the writer, though, there is much to learn about careers and career education from the writers’ strike:

- Writing is a necessary skill; good writing is a talent. Ever go to a restaurant and see numerous typos on the menu? For me, anyway, it reflects poorly on the business as a whole. That’s because in nearly every industry, the ability to communicate well is coveted by employers and consumers. How you present an idea at a meeting, write up a business plan, even your e-mail address (hotmama08@inappropriate.com anyone?) is a reflection of the job you’ll do. That’s why people pay writers, editors, and designers to help them get their message out the right way.

- You don’t have to settle for paltry pay just because you’re lucky enough to love what you do. That goes for writers, artists, and other “starving” professionals, too. If you keep your skills updated, have a warm personality, and turn in flawless work, you should be able to find an employer or client who appreciates the work you do. It may take a little creativity and continuing education, though, to stay fresh and not get stuck in a dead-end job. Which brings us to the next point…

- We don’t need to watch that much TV. As the strike continues, we’re faced with a future that includes re-runs, bad D-list celebrity reality shows, and five nights of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” See that as the perfect excuse to incorporate some TV-free nights into your week (unless of course, you actually like dumb quiz shows) and take some courses or market your talents by building a Web site, for instance.

- There is strength in numbers. Marching into your boss’ office and demanding better pay or you’ll walk off the job probably won’t end up too well for you. But when a large group like the writer’s union bands together, their collective voice is heard. While you may not be in a union, you can still benefit from being part of a group. Join professional associations and attend their networking events to learn about job openings, career training opportunities, and more.

I hope the writers wind up getting their fair share, and not just because I’m dying to know how the LOST crew made it off the island, or what impending doom Jack Bauer will take on next. They deserve compensation for entertaining us TV junkies night after night. Don’t believe me? Just see how you feel after being subjected to “Temptation Island: The Next Generation.”

Let’s be honest — “thankfulness” is probably not the first word that springs to mind when you consider your career. Maybe what rises up feels more like responsibility, necessity, or even drudgery.

But more likely than not, you were lucky enough to choose your career. It wasn’t dictated to you by society, or thrust upon you by your parents. And that’s what I’m thinking of as I prepare to eat this year’s bird and sustain a major tryptophan overdose: choices.

I’m thankful that today’s technology is such that I can do freelance work online, on my computer, in my home … and I can spend the rest of my time being a stay-at-home mom. This is ideal for me. I consider it the best of both worlds.

Maybe you’re thankful you don’t live in the 1950s and you have the option to be a full-time working mom, or just a working woman, period. Perhaps you’re a man who derives more satisfaction from working at home, or from being a stay-at-home dad. (BTW, the number of stay-at-home dads climbs higher every year: The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are 159,000 dads that made the choice to stay at home in 2006, compared to 143,000 in 2005.)

Isn’t it great that we have the opportunity to try out different roles, or create new ones altogether? Dads can stay home, moms can work, women can be CEOs, men can be nurses … or anything and everything in between.

Choices. Maybe you’re thankful you decided to leave your version of “The Office” to pursue your dream. Maybe you’re like me and you’re thankful for the Digital Age, which ushered in the work-from-home phenomenon.

Or maybe you’re not happy with the choices you’ve made so far. You got yourself into this job, but now you’re dying to get out. Why not consider making some different choices? It really is never too late to change careers, and of course, CollegeSurfing has a ton of career education resources to see you through the process.

This Thanksgiving, I’ll remember this: Whatever I’ve chosen and will choose for myself, I’m grateful to live in a generation where I have career choices at all.

Enjoy your turkey!

-Robyn Tellefsen

When I was in college nearly 10 years ago, it was perfectly normal to not have a clue as to what you wanted to major in, let alone which career you would eventually pursue. The idea was to spend the first couple of years in higher education taking core classes, testing the waters, and for the super ambitious ones, exploring various fields via internships (today, internships are a given). And truth be told, I think those I’ve kept in touch with from my graduating class have done alright navigating the career waters, even if they didn’t jump in right away.

In fact, more than ever, people are launching new careers later in life for a variety of reasons and flourishing. So what’s with the unnecessary pressure on the younger crowd to think grown up thoughts? Granted, unless you’re hovering at genius level, companies won’t come to you offering a six figure salary (a myth that perpetuated in my day… and, of course, I’m still waiting!), so you should do all you can to “sell” yourself. And if you happen to be one of the lucky few who always knew they wanted to be a teacher, or police officer, or nurse, then great for you — go for it! Otherwise, it may take some trial and error to find your niche. As long as you pick up universal skills along the way that you can apply to any future job, such as communicating with others, multitasking, and working in teams, taking your time is OK. Isn’t it?

Tell that to some parents. No, these aren’t the SAT-crazy parents from my era that forced flashcards and prep courses on their teens. I’m talking about the next generation of uber-parents in which it’s considered vital to put 18 month old babies on waiting lists for the most prestigious toddler programs. And get this — there are even career-focused pre-schools if you do your homework! So if you think your little tyke has an aptitude for criminal justice, it would be a shame not to get him enrolled at the local 3-year-old law program, right?! The sad part is, I’m not even kidding or exaggerating to make for an interesting read.

See the madness for yourself — then be glad your parents gave you some space to choose a career that’s right for you.

Are you ready for the fall TV season? Despite my deep disappointment in the cancellation of “Veronica Mars” (VM fans, I know you feel my pain), the fall TV lineup doesn’t look completely bleak for me … Kristen Bell (Veronica herself) is going to be on “Heroes”! When I heard she signed on for a 13-episode arc, I was hooked. The only problem: I didn’t watch “Heroes” last season.

So I did what any other die-hard fan would do — I rented all seven “Heroes: Season One” discs, and had a nail-biting, edge-of-my-seat, 23-episode marathon this past week. I’m watching the last two episodes tonight, and I can’t wait to find out what happens. Will the bomb blow up NYC? Which exploding man will need to be stopped: Peter? Ted? Sylar? Who will finally kill Sylar?

To the rest of the world that has known the fate of the heroes for months, my questions might sound lame. But I’d like to point out a parallel between my “Heroes”-latecomer status and the plight of a career changer. Humor me.

If you’re a career changer, you might feel like a latecomer in the game of life. Maybe all your friends have secure and satisfying careers, but you still haven’t found your niche. You went into business, but you really wanted to teach. You became a nurse, but you’ve been developing an interest in yoga. You work with computers, but you’ve always wanted to try your hand at the culinary arts.

I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late, and you’re not alone. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, by 2010, 16 million people in the country will be enrolled in colleges and universities. More than half of these students are baby boomers. With this education investment, adult career changers are poised to penetrate the workforce en masse. When you consider previous experience and workplace skills, these adults may even be a hotter commodity than the young, newly minted grads making that first foray into the world of work.

Back to TV: You could say that I missed out by not watching “Heroes” last season. But in actuality, I saved myself from some late nights and was able to experience the whole season at once, without waiting a week to soak up the next installment. (A bonus for me, who hates when those three little words appear at the end of a TV show: “To be continued.”) Instead of watching in drips and drabs last season, I didn’t start until I was committed to the show.

That’s not to say that those who have already happily found their career (or those who watched “Heroes” last season) got the short end of the stick. In fact, there is no short end of the stick. It doesn’t matter when you make a career commitment, whether you’re 20, 30, 40, 50 or older–it only matters that you make the commitment at all.

The fact is, it’s never too late for you to find the career of your dreams. And it’s never too late for me to catch up on an amazing show. The experience is still fresh, new, and exciting for us, and that’s all that matters.

Just don’t let anyone give away the ending!

Photo: NBC/John Russo

-Robyn Tellefsen

You might know how to put Flash animation into your MySpace profile, link up a podcast to your homepage, or have the most Facebook friends, but will all that tech knowledge help you in the workplace?

According to the second-annual IT Proficiency survey from Cengage Learning — formerly Thompson Learning, which provides learning solutions for educators and organizations — students seem to lack knowledge of professional applications, like word processing and spreadsheets. That’s a whopping 46 percent of them who had limited or non-existent experience with spreadsheets, and 68 percent with minimal knowledge of database applications.

The bad news: Unless you’re a bloggin’ fool like me, most of your work day will revolve around said spreadsheets and databases. Actually, when I’m not writing or editing, so does mine. In other words, don’t rely on your YouTube or WordPress prowess to understand your company’s weekly ROI report, or help you to manage your client database. No matter which career route you choose, work in some training time on computer applications that you can actually list on your resume.

I’d venture to say that along with communications skills, good manners, and a strong work ethic, such technical expertise will make you an asset at your next job. You don’t want to be that annoying co-worker asking how to sort columns in Excel or merge files in Word. And a snazzy Powerpoint can go a long way if you’re trying to impress a client or your manager with a presentation.

Of course, in today’s world, as long as you protect your online persona, having a great looking MySpace doesn’t hurt either.

The scariest two words in the English language right now would be my first name and my last name. That’s because I’m sitting in a jury duty assembly room and I’m praying that they don’t select me for a case. If I can just make it through another half day, I’ll have served and won’t be bugged again for eight years. Sure, I loved “12 Angry Men” just as much as the next American, but the thought of being on a case for weeks as my work piles up is frightening. Oh please don’t pick me!

But as I sit here, trying to ignore the leg-shaker sitting in the same row as me, who’s making my laptop rhythmically bounce up and down, I’m actually taking advantage of the silence and free WiFi (thank you Brooklyn Supreme Court!) to be quite productive. It’s amazing how many emails you can answer, IM convos you can catch up on, photos you can upload, and checks you can mark on your computer to-do list (update blog — check!) in the quiet of a jury room. No conference calls, no meetings, no 3-year-olds asking for a third mid-morning snack, and no guilt for missing a day of work — it’s bliss! And, all the while, I’m doing my civic duty.

I hate to admit it, but I’m actually loving jury duty. First off, today has been much more pleasant than my last jury service, which felt like being in class with a mean grammar school teacher. I didn’t even have to ask permission to go to the bathroom this time! Plus, I learned from the slightly outdated orientation video that our criminal justice system is comprised of lots of cool jobs beyond lawyers and judges, such as clerks and court stenographers. If you want to get a glimpse into various criminal justice career paths, you’ll be surprised at what you can pick up during jury duty.

Uh oh… hang on. Sounds like they’re going to start calling names. Here it comes. I’m going to get sequestered, I just know it. Then I’m going to fall behind on my work projects. Don’t pick me, don’t pick me…

OK, whew, nevermind, I’m good. I survived that round. Now where were we? Oh yeah, cool criminal justice careers. Despite wanting to get out of here quickly, I actually did sit on a case during my first jury service while I was still in college, and it was so intriguing to see all of the courtroom players in action. It’s not as dramatic as you’ll see on “Law and Order,” but being a part of the process for me was more memorable than an entire semester of Law 101. So much so, that I even considered going to law school (although that notion only lasted for about the 12 minutes that I flipped through an LSAT study guide).

Speaking of 12 minutes, that’s about all I have left on my battery life, so I’m going to cut this short and take advantage of the quiet room to do some more work on my bouncing laptop (isn’t his leg tired yet?). Wait… what’s that? We’ve all been dismissed?! Hooray! You know, maybe it would have been nice to get called to hear another case. Oh well, instead it’s back to my noisy, multitasking reality. This blog is adjourned!

When I was asked to write a guest blog for the CollegeSurfing Insider, I started thinking about the stigma that often surrounds career education. Admit it — no matter how enlightened you might be, you still have an idea floating around somewhere in the back of your head that career school is somehow not a “real” school. It’s a safety school, a fall-back option, a choice for kids who only excelled in shop.

OK, I’m guilty. I recently heard that a girl I know, a bright high school grad, is going to beauty school in the fall. And my first thought was that she could do better.

Or could she?

Maybe I shouldn’t turn up my nose at career education just yet. Consider this: Another friend of mine went to a large state university a few years back, but was unable to land a job after graduation. This smart, motivated guy with a bachelor’s degree in engineering found himself knocking on the door of a local career training school, taking classes to gain practical experience in computer programming. He earned his diploma in computer networking and security in less than a year, got a job shortly thereafter, and today is a supervisor at a leading investment banking firm, supporting his wife, two kids, and a baby on the way.

So back to my friend who’s fresh out of high school. Beauty school might just make perfect sense after all. She’s 18, she’s on her own, and she’s pretty much broke. She knows she needs more than a high school education in order to get anywhere in life. She saw the opportunity to apply for beauty school as well as a generous financial aid package, and she took it. Plus, she’ll be earning money along the way in the clinical portion of the 18-month program. So she’s found a way to get educated, certified, and professionally licensed, and she’ll be able to support herself through it all. Underachiever with a low IQ? I think not.

The point? Career education isn’t for burnouts, underachievers, or kids who haven’t lived up to their potential. It’s for honors students, engineers, self-starters, and anyone else who is driven to succeed. It may even be for me.

-Robyn Tellefsen