AU Blogspot

 
                Thanks to superbomba for permission to use this Photo.

I think the biggest challenge for me personally is trying to study and keep after my daughter at the same time.  She is 15 months now and is into anything and everything, so the only time I get to study anymore is when she’s in bed.  

I’m an Army wife, so spending time with my hubby when he’s actually home cuts into my study time as well.  Between being an Army wife and a mommy; between cooking, cleaning,  bathing, chasing, and keeping the little one happy; it gets rough trying to get my school work done. 

Yet…it’s all worth it though! 

I’m glad Ashworth allows me to work at my own pace or I think I’d be up a creek without a paddle! 

Lynn
Ashworth High School Student 

I finished my first course today! I have a paper that still needs to be graded, but so far my grade is a 99%!  It will be interesting to see what the other courses are like.

I have to admit, this being an *online* school that isn’t going to ‘break the bank”—I thought the lessons and testing would be on the easier side. Boy was I wrong. The first course, EN110, I found challenging and had to actually take time to finish the papers and make sure they didn’t seem ‘thrown together.’ You actually had to understand the material for the exams as well.

Kudos to the Ashworth people.  This is more challenging than the community college that my job sent me to for specialized training!

With the large amount of apprehension that I had my first week, I have to say that this is going to be a very enjoyable journey and worth every blood, sweat, tear and cent I put into it.

John
Student
Ashworth Business Administration Program

Dr. Tom Guarrielo is a member of the Ashworth University contributing bloggers network.  In his real life, Tom is the Chief Idea Officer and Co-Founder of True Talk, Inc., a leading management development consulting company based out of New York. Through his popular and respected The True Talk Blog, Tom provides some of the best business innovation and organizational planning strategies on the web. We would like to thank Tom for openly allowing us share his perspectives with our Ashworth student community. He’s been nothing but helpful since we first contacted him. Visit the True Talk website to learn about the life and work of Dr. Tom Guarriello. Thanks Tom!

 
               Thanks too Margaret S for permission to use this Photo.

I’m new at Ashworth University.  I have been reading the book on becoming a Master’s Student. I’m not sure if anyone has had the same experience I did, but working through the exercises provided in the first chapter of this book has made me realize so much about myself.

Unknowingly, I have gone into a self discovery that I never knew existed inside of me.  Simply by being honest with myself, I was able to see what I need to work on. The funny part is that in the back of my mind I knew I did a lot of these things, but I would always have an excuse for myself on why I did it.  

The reason for this message is that I want to share this experience with some other students that are possibly having a hard time with all the topics this book covers. I was bothered enough to actually take out the time to write this message.

When I say bothered, it’s because this discovery has pierced into my comfort zone. It actually made me feel nervous. The type of nervous you feel when you sense your relationship with your partner is ending. I thought It was something bad, but I sat down to analyze the feeling and I understood  where was it from.

For all those who haven’t read this book—you should.  Even those who have simply read it and and answered the test can find a lifelong lesson hidden in there.

Vanessa
Student
Ashworth University Business Administration Program

Believe it or not, I temporarily worked as an Admissions Specialist at “AU”. I guess you can say the awe-inspiring stories I heard each day from prospective students had a lot to do with me finally going back to school.

Another reason is a little friendly family competition I’m having with my 18-yr old son who will be attending Georgia Military College this fall. I’m somewhat ahead of him already because his semester tuition is $7000 and mine is $1200.   That doesn’t really matter since I am studying for my Associate Degree in Finance; I’ll be able to put a plan in place for him to pay off his student loans in record time!

My goal is to finish my degree in one year; I made 100% on my first exam today. Yesterday was my birthday and it feels great that I am no longer making excuses about not continuing my education -Thanks Ashworth University!

Melissa
Student
Ashworth University Associate Program in Finance

 
                    Thanks to Torley for permission to use this Photo.

Hi everyone, my name is Camilla.  I am the proud parent of one little angel named Destiny.  She is the love of my life and I love her so much.  Having a daughter has opened my eyes to the realities of this world.

I have always been a very mature and responsible person, but had somehow managed to procrastinate taking my education to the next level.  I have been employed in the travel industry since I left college, which is a very challenging and exciting profession!

I have always put off pursuing my bachelor’s degree for a later date, but after having my daughter, I decided that I needed to do it now for many reasons.

Firstly, earning my degree in management is totally vital to me in terms of self satisfaction and knowing that I did all to achieve my ultimate educational goals. Having taken the necessary steps towards my goal, I totally intend to use this as an example of hard work and dedication to my daughter. 

Some people believe that when one has kids—it’s the end of the world; but it doesn’t have to be. Raising a child is just as much an opportunity to get to know yourself better as it is a life long process of discovery.

In addition, this degree gives me a better chance of earning a better salary, which will in turn help me care for my daughter much better financially.

Although it is very challenging to study and make plans when you are a parent, it is very important to find it in your inner self to make the time. Dedicate yourself to doing this and rely on your support system no matter how small it is.  Just keep staying focused on your ultimate goal.

However; I have also learned that no matter how urgent the deadline for an assignment might be—it is always best to take care of my daughter first, instead of ignoring her, and then get back to the assignment.

So to all fellow students who are parents (male, female, single, married, or divorced)—I say congratulations for making this step to advancing your education and wish you all the best with your endeavours!

Camilla
Bachelor’s In Management Program Student
Ashworth University

 
      Thanks to Geoffrey Chandler for permission to use this Photograph.

My favorite practice is to research the company that I am interviewing with and asking any questions about them that I can think of.

For me personally, I try to be myself because I want them to be able to evaluate whether or not I will fit into their corporate culture.

How I conduct myself in an interview also depends on the person interviewing me. Some more inexperienced interviewers will completely dominate the conversation—telling you everything they can think of without really finding anything out about “you”.

Always be prepared with an answer to:

“So, tell me about yourself”.

Most good interviewers realize that this is basically a useless question these days, but some still ask and you want to be able to answer that one without missing a beat!

That’s all for now!

Melanie
Associate Program in Paralegal Studies Student
Ashworth University School of Legal Studies  

From Kate Lorenz of CareerBuilder.com:

There are many rites of passage in every young person’s life. Getting your driver’s license, graduation day and turning 21 are just a few. But another rite of passage can be even more important to your future — writing your first resume. While it’s not as exciting as learning to drive, creating your first resume is a vital step in launching your career. The process may seem daunting. You have to put all of your best qualities on paper, make yourself look more attractive than the next person and completely sell yourself, all on one sheet of paper. “You have only a few seconds to snag the employer’s attention,” writes Seattle-based career coach Robin Ryan in Winning Resumes, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003). “You must sell the employer within 15 seconds of looking at your resume, or you’ll lose the job.” Here are seven tips to help you catch an employer’s attention.

1. Start with the basics.

It sounds obvious, but your resume must include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Be mindful of the address you include. College students, in particular, tend to move often, so include a permanent address, such as your parent’s address. Take care with your e-mail address too. “Make your user ID related to your name, not any nickname attributions,” Ryan says. If you want to appear professional to an employer, a user ID like “sexylegs2000″ will not work. If your personal e-mail address is not appropriate, set up a new account just for job searches.

2. Include an objective and summary of skills.

These sections come right after your personal information and, for a first-time job seeker, should be concise.

For example:

Objective: Editing Position

Summary of Skills: Excellent writer proficient in copy editing and familiar with AP style. Extremely organized, with ample experience meeting deadlines and working in high-pressure situations.

Your “summary of skills” should highlight experiences and qualifications that the employer is seeking. Remember, Ryan says, “a resume is not about what you want. It’s about what you offer an employer.” 

To read more of Kate’s great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.

Copyright © 1996 - 2008 Experience, Inc. - All Rights Reserved 

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University

              Thanks to Steve Evans for permission to use this Photo. 

The Ashworth University Career Center is a free student resource provided through our partnership with Experience.com, the nation’s largest career advancement site focusing exclusively on college students and young professionals.  You can access the Ashworth University Career Center through the Student Portal.  Simply click on the “Career Center” link on the left hand navigation bar after logging into the Student Portal.  Here’s an example of some of the very informative career enhancement articles you have access to within the Career Center:

The ability to plan ahead is a key trait of any good budgeter. Jenny, an Experience alumni, talks about planning for the unknown. “I’m sure I’ve gone over budget when I had my own company because of unforeseen things,” she says. “You end up eating it, and people are upset. But, you get better in time about knowing what things will cost. It’s a matter of experience. You find out what’s realistic.”

Because You Never Know…

“Unforeseen things happen. Say you’re in New York City shooting a sound shot and recording actors on a street corner. In New York, you’re given policemen on sets to help act as liaisons to the community. But, basically, a homeless man could come onto your set and start screaming. And there’s nothing that you can legally do. You can’t arrest the guy. The policeman could ask him to leave, but the man isn’t required to leave. It’s a public street. There’s freedom of speech. So, one person can basically ruin your entire day and cost you $50,000 or more. And there’s nothing that you can do about it.” In the spirit of random screaming homeless men, Jenny advises putting away a little money into your savings each month, just in case something comes up. “

I started to do that in my mid-twenties. I started off putting $50 into one of these automatic investment mutual funds. I didn’t even miss it. Every month I had it automatically withdrawn from my bank account. It’s great, because now I know if I got fired tomorrow, or if I lost my job, or if something happened and I had to take some time off, I have a little money. I know they say you’re supposed to have six months salary in the bank, but that’s a fantasy when you’re 21 years old. If you have at least two months worth, it’s a measure of comfort.”

Copyright © 1996 - 2008 Experience, Inc. - All Rights Reserved 

To read more of this great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here.

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University

The Ashworth University Career Center is a free student resource provided through our partnership with Experience.com, the nation’s largest career advancement site focusing exclusively on college students and young professionals.  You can access the Ashworth University Career Center through the Student Portal.  Simply click on the “Career Center” link on the left hand navigation bar after logging into the Student Portal.  Here’s an example of some of the very informative career enhancement articles you have access to within the Career Center:

Getting Great References 

By Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire

It’s inevitable that at some point in your job search you will be asked for references, and when you are, you want to be sure you have a great group of advocates who are prepared with answers that will help rather than hinder your chances at landing the position.

References are something you should think about at the beginning of your interview process and not just at the end when you are under immediate pressure to provide them.

Start by making a list of all the possible people you can use as a reference. Be sure to think about:

• Former employers
• Former Clients
• College professors
• Deans
• Family friends who have seen you in a professional setting
• Association leaders

Copyright © 1996 - 2008 Experience, Inc. - All Rights Reserved   

To read more of Tory’s great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here:

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University