10 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • JULY 25, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com kids & education Select the right camp for your child Making the transition from college to career Many recent college graduates continue to face a challenging job market, but do they know how to effectively locate and acquire a job? With 53.6 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 underemployed or unemployed, the nation’s young people are unfortunately less prepared than they think. According to a new national survey, 48 percent of college career center directors felt students were not well prepared for the career landscape - noting a lack of motivation and understanding about the job search process as major barriers to successfully landing a job. The survey, Effectively Counseling Graduating Students, was conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) on behalf of the Career Advisory Board, established by DeVry University. Career center directors cited that, overall, students have a poor understanding of the effort required to search for and secure employment. More than 77 percent of college career center directors felt the greatest obstacle in counseling students to enter the job market was getting them to understand the effort required to successfully search and compete for a job. These factors contribute to students not utilizing their school’s career center or skipping this resource altogether, which could prolong the job search process. Fifty-six percent of career center directors felt students did not have resumes ready to show employers. “The survey reveals recent graduates may be prepared to perform on the job, but not prepared to fi nd the job,” said Alexandra Levit, business and workplace consultant and Career Advisory Board member. “Students need to seek out the career center early in their college experience to take advantage of resume review, coaching and career counseling to prepare for the job.” Eighty percent of the career center directors surveyed believe individual student career coaching is the most effective resource available for students. Additionally, the Career Advisory Board recommends the following advice for students and recent graduates to become marketplace ready: 1. Tailor your resume- Do your homework. Ensure your resume fi ts the target position’s job description, including keywords before submitting. Craft your resume in a way that will interest an employer immediately. 2. Build on your skill set - Continually improve your skills. In order to succeed in the workplace, you need to be able to master new information, write coherently and contribute meaningfully in a group setting. 3. Practice makes perfect - One-on-one coaching sessions or mock interviews with career service professionals are the best forms of rehearsal and a good way to learn the dos and don’ts. To learn more about the survey and successful strategies to transition from college to career visit: CareerAdvisoryBoard.org. Courtesy ARA Soccer camps, wilderness camps, chess camps, language camps - whatever interests your child, there’s a camp for him or her. Whether you’re looking for a local day camp or an overnight experience far from home, the key to fi nding the right camp involves research. That means not only learning about all the options, but carefully screening camps to ensure your child will be safe and have a fun and memorable time. Not all camps need to be licensed by a local or state government agency, nor do all seek certifi cation through the American Camp Association. And with the wide variety of camps from which to choose, there is no standard set of regulations across the country, according to FindLaw.com, the nation’s leading website for free legal information. “Because the commitment to quality and safety can vary dramatically from camp to camp, it’s really-important for parents to do their homework to make sure they’re getting the best fi t for their child and themselves,”-says Adam Orlow, a personal injury attorney with The Orlow Firm in New York. If you’re looking for a camp to enhance your child’s skills, or simply to give him or her a little adventure, here are tips from FindLaw.com on what to consider when researching summer camps: Get references - Ask the camp for two to three references of parents who live near you. Don’t hesitate to contact those parents to learn about their child’s experience at the camp. In addition, peruse online reviews. Check the camp’s hiring procedures - Camps should readily share their protocol for staff background checks, which should include criminal background checks and personal references. In addition, make sure the camp offers its staff training on appropriate communication and discipline. Visit the camp - If possible, visit the camp to inspect the facilities and equipment, review safety policies and meet the staff. For example, if the camp offers horseback riding, are campers wearing helmets? If a camp offers kayaking and canoeing, are life-vests stocked and well maintained? Read all of the camp’s registration forms - Pay special attention to cancellation policies, disciplinary rules, and how staff handles cases of homesickness. Ask about emergency procedures - Findings from an American Camp Association study indicate that few camps systematically review their health and injury records to make improvements toward preventing or reducing injuries and illnesses. With that in mind, ask the camp about policies and procedures for handling medical emergencies, especially if you’re sending your child to a sports camp. Ask the camp about insurance - All camps should have insurance, and if you come across a camp that does not, you might want to consider other options. Check the staff’s expertise - If a camp promotes itself as a source for your child to enhance his or her skills, carefully check the staff bios to make sure they have the proper training and background. What are the camp’s policies toward visitors - How does the camp monitor visitors such as vendors and support staff? What does the camp do to secure its property throughout the day and night? Courtesy BPT
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