The following is the career profile of Clark Jacobsen, project manager at Sega Inc, a utility consulting firm in Kansas City.

What is your job title?

Project Manager

What is your job like?

The job is concerned with the design and construction of electric power facilities.  Customers are typically utilities or related companies.  Large industrial or commercial customers are typical.  The majority of the work is in four areas:  1) preliminary studies to determine the actual need of the customer and basic requirements to serve that need, 2) the design of facilities resulting in specifications, drawings, or reports, 3) procurement of equipment and materials, and 4) construction of facilities with contracted firms for labor supply, testing, and commercialization.  Work is either in the office for design included in reports, specifications or drawings, or in the field providing inspection services, consultation with construction forces, or basic testing needs.

What is a typical day?

It can vary substantially and change depending upon the next phone call and the needs of the caller.  Generally design work is associated with work in the office or a customer’s office or facility.  Field work will be at the site looking at the existing facilities, the new construction, coordinating with the Owner or Contractor regarding design or construction issues.

What is the typical entry level job for someone in your field like?

Typically I like to have a new graduate engineer start in design in the office for one to two years to get a feel for the product being designed, the plans and specifications, the types of issues that may be encountered with the product, and in general, a sense of the business, to learn the business “language” or lingo and what it means.  At some point this person will start to meet the Clients, to interact with them, and go into the field to coordinate with the Client or Contractors, perform inspection of facilities, and represent the engineering firm by being the eyes and ears for senior personnel.

How did you get into this field?

I started work with a utility after college.  After a couple of years, I became employed by a consulting engineering firm.

Is college necessary to get into your field?

Yes.  A degree is generally required to continue along a path of continued development and responsibility, including better pay.

Is there a particular course of study you would recommend a student take in college for your field?

Engineering, construction management, business courses.  A good grasp of the use of the written and spoken language is essential.  The ability to “read” and understand people, their attitudes, needs and desires, the things that motivate them is very helpful.

Is there a certain type of experience you recommend students get?

Work experience is very helpful in understanding what is needed to be successful in the industry.  Life experience in making good decisions is always a plus.

What would make a newly graduated student stand out when applying for jobs in your field?

An individual that has a basic understanding of what the work is about, an understanding of the business is always at an advantage to those who do not have that knowledge.  An individual who is clearly understanding of who he/she is, what he/she is looking for, with a sense of direction, yet willing to learn and be flexible can make a very good impression on those with whom he/she speaks.

How does your job differ compared to what is the public perception of your job?

The job definitely requires a good “hands-on” type of attitude, a willingness to look at issues or problems with an open mind and consider various alternatives for a solution.  Technical issues are usually the easier of those to solve.  Many issues will be concerned with soft or “human” issues which require a great deal more finesse that the technical issues.  The ability to understand people can be very helphul.

What do you like the most about working in your field?

I enjoy working with the different types of people that I come in contact with as Clients, equipment and material suppliers, contractors, permitting agencies, public.  A lot of training is typically required in the contacts that I make.  I am often needed to determine the type of facilities that are required for a new installation and enjoy the thought process involved in considering the requirements for a new or modified installation.

What do you like the least about working in your field?

There are seasons when the hours are long, when the travel becomes extensive, the airports and hotel rooms all seem the same.  At the same time, I know people from over a wide extent of the country.

Are there any particular colleges and universities which stand out in preparation for students in your field?

There are a number of good colleges that provide a good education for engineering.  One needs to check and assure the curriculum is accredited to permit registration and licensing as a professional engineer in the various states across the country after graduation.

Is there anything else you would recommend to a student interested in your career area?

Study hard.  Good grades are essential for that first job interview to be 1) accepted and 2) successful.  A wide ranging college experience with study, extra activities or work experiences can help round an individual.  In an interview, we always look for an individual that can perform the work, being technically capable of doing the work.  This is in part being able to handle the intellectual study side of the business.  A second part is being able to take a “hands on” type of authority, willing to get ones hands “dirty” and dig in to get a job done, to find a solution, to think outside the box and think originally about an issue.  Another aspect is simply the answer to the questions,”Can I work with and relate to this person?”  Age, sex, race,background, education, experience, etc. is not the question.  Simply – is person one that will relate to me, to the people in my group, to my Clients, the contractors, and other people that we routinely come in contact with.  This last item can often out weigh all others.

Tweet This Post

The career profile of Bruce Reeve, Laboratory Administrator, Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

What is your job like?

A career in forensic science is very rewarding.  As someone who has a great interest in science, it allows me to  be involved in a fascinating career that also provides me the opportunity to make a very positive impact on society.  Every day, in one way or another, I get feedback on the importance of the work we do here at our laboratory.  To me that’s very gratifying.

What is a typical day?

A criminalist’s day typically involves opening evidence, processing the evidence utilizing forensic discipline specific methodologies, and reporting out results.  But there are many other funtions, including: testifying in court as an expert witness; training to maintain expert status; processing crime scenes; providing training to law enforcement agencies; and helping with other ancillary functions like safety, quality assurance, and procurement programs.

What is the typical entry level job for someone in your field like?

New analysts come in as criminalists.  Most of their time is spent in training, until they reach the point where they can be competency tested in thier specialized forensic discipline.  The duration of that testing is discipline specific.  Some areas require up to 3 years of in house training before analysis on casework can begin.

How did you get into this field?

I came in before all of the forensics shows started up, so for me it was just word of mouth from people I had worked with prior their coming to the DCI Lab.

Is college necessary to get into your field?

Yes.  The minimum requirement is a baccalaureate degree in a science related to the forensic science discipline of interest.  However, now our applicants often have multiple and/or advanced degrees.  The most common degrees we recruit are chemistry, biology, and physics.  For working on DNA, FBI standards require coursework in molecular biology, bio-chemistry, genetics, and statistics.

Is there a particular course of study you would recommend a student take in college for your field?

It really depends on the forensic discipline the student is interested in.

What are the forensic disciplines?

In our lab, the disciplines include: trace materials, arson & explosives, impressions (fingerprints, tire prints, footwear prints), writing and ink analysis, breath & alcohol, toxicology, drug identification, firearms & tool marks, DNA, crime scene support, evidence room management, and photography & video enhancement.

Is there a certain type of experience you recommend students get?

Some sort of real job experience in science, so we can access work habits and capabilities.  It’s good if that experience is in forensics, but that isn’t always possible.

What would make a newly graduated student stand out when applying for jobs in your field?

Applicants who have had the opportunity to teach or provide instruction to a group of people stand out in the interview process.   Being a teaching assistant or a coach are two examples.

How does real life forensics compare to what is portrayed on television?

Real life forensics can be very exciting at times, but more often it is fairly routine.  Criminalists are generally non-sworn personnel who do not take on the law enforcement functions that are often portrayed on the TV shows.

What do you like the most about working in your field?

The gratification of knowing my work has helped to provide resolution to victims and their families.  Or, that my work could result in exoneration of someone who is falsely accused of committing a crime.

What do you like the least about working in your field?

It can be repetitious, and I would prefer not to be confined to the lab as much.

Are there any particular college and universities which stand out in preparation for students in your field?

Most of our successful applicants have not come through undergraduate forensic science programs.  Most have baccalaureate degrees in one of the core sciences related to the forensic discipline of interest.  Then if they do go on to graduate school, they might might attend a forensic science program.

Is there anything else you would recommend to a student interested in your career area?

Perseverance is important.  Our laboratory is the only full function forensic lab in Iowa.  So there aren’t a lot of employment opportunities.  But in other states, where there are many labs, more opportunity exists to get into forensic science.  Call other lab systems to see what they prioritize when evaluating prospective applicants.

Tweet This Post

The Career Profile of Dr. Micheal Puthoff, Physical Therapist

What is your job like? (from American Physical Therapy Association literature, http://www.moveforwardpt.com/why-a-pt/)

Physical therapists are focused on improving or restoring mobility and function.  Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes.  Physical therapists diagnose and treat people of all ages, including newborns, children, and elderly individuals. They may consult and practice with other health professionals to help improve their patient’s mobility.

Physical therapists complete a patient examination to determine the cause of the patient’s problems.  Based on the findings, an individualized intervention program is created to address the patient’s problems.  This typically involves exercise, education, and modification of the environment.

What is a typical day?

Based on the setting where a physical therapist works, the day can vary.  I currently work at a hospital where the usually schedule is 8AM – 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.  Then the staff rotates who works on the weekend.  Therapists in an outpatient clinic will typically only work Monday-Friday, but some may have early morning hours or evening hours to meet the needs of their patients who work.  Most therapists work 40 hours a week, but some therapists may work less for personal reasons.  There is a lot of flexibility in this job.

What is the typical entry level job for someone in your field like?

New graduates will typically enter one of the settings listed above.  In most situations new graduates will seek out a situation where they work closely with more experienced therapists.  Some facilities even have formal mentoring programs in place.

How did you get into this field?

I had an interest in healthcare as a high school student.  I performed observation hours at a local hospital to learn more about the profession.  I found that physical therapy would be a great fit for me.  It is a challenging and rewarding job.  Physical therapists work closely with so many other healthcare worker, such as doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists to name a few, but also have a lot of professional freedom when working with patients.

Is college necessary to get into your field?

Yes.  In order to become a physical therapist as graduate level degree is required.  Most programs offer the doctor of physical therapy as the entry level degree.  After a student finishes their bachelor’s degree, then they apply to a graduate program in physical therapy.

Is there a particular course of study you would recommend a student take in college for your field?

Students interested in physical therapy will have to take certain prerequisites to qualify for physical therapy school.  Each program has slightly different requirements, but in general students are expected to take a year of biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy & physiology.  Additionally classes in psychology, statistics, and math are typically required.  As for an undergraduate major, that is really up to the student.  Most physical therapists have bachelor’s degrees in biology, psychology, kinesiology, or exercise physiology/science.  As long as the prerequisites are completed, most schools do not care what your bachelor’s degree is in.

Is there a certain type of experience you recommend students get?

The best thing to do is shadow a practicing physical therapist.  Ask him or her why they chose physical therapy as a profession.  What do they like about their job, what don’t they like about their job.  Ask questions about what they are doing.  It is also beneficial to explore other healthcare related jobs to make sure physical therapy is the right choice.

What would make a newly graduated student stand out when applying for jobs in your field?

Most employers are looking for self motivated individuals who have a commitment to lifelong learning with strong critical thinking skills.  Employers want to know that their therapists will value self improvement and that they understand that learning continues after graduation.

How does real life physical therapy compare to what is the public’s perception?

I think a lot of people think that all physical therapists do is work with people who have sports injuries or individuals who have musculoskeletal problems.  However physical therapists work with patients in a range of settings.  For example I had worked with patients on mechanical ventilators getting them up and moving while still on the ventilator.  I have also worked with patients before and after bariatric surgery to help them become more physically active.  Physical therapists work in a range of areas that so many people have not seen.

What do you like the most about working in your field?

I like two areas the most.  First seeing patients improve and make significant improvements in their quality of life.  Second I like the constant challenges of the job.  No two patients are exactly alike.  As a physical therapist you have to always be thinking about the individual and how you reach the person in front of you.

What do you like the least about working in your field?

Some people chose physical therapy because they think they won’t have to deal with patient dying.  However working in the geriatrics field of physical therapy, you have patients that don’t get better and some that never leave the hospital.  You also work with patients who have given up on life and no matter how hard you try, you can’t change their mind set.

Are there any particular college and universities which stand out in preparation for students in your field?

Disclosure: I am also a faculty member of the St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Department.  So of course I think we have an excellent program at St. Ambrose University.  We have a program called Track I where qualified high schools can apply and if accepted they have a conditional spot in the graduate program.  Track I gives students the security that they are already in the graduate program.  See our website for all the details and requirements.  We have 3 other wonderful physical therapy programs in the state of Iowa; Des Moines University, Clarke University, and University of Iowa.  Visit the American Physical Therapy Association website, www.apta.org, to see a listing of all the programs across the country.

Is there anything else you would recommend to a student interested in your career area?

No matter what field you go into, you will likely be doing the job for another 40 years of your life.  Do you research to make sure you know as much about the profession as you can.

Tweet This Post

I’m starting a new series of posts about career profiles.  I am asking several people to respond to questions describing their jobs and what recommendations they have for students interested in their fields.

The first career profile is from Doug Schorpp, reporter for the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa.

What is your job like?

It involves writing stories on a daily basis mostly in the area related to businesses. Probably half of the ideas come from editors and the tips. The others area usually ideas from myself and other reporters based on news, trends and brainstorming of new ideas.

What is a typical day?

Usually work an 8-hour day during the day, although hours vary on what events need to be covered that day. During the course of a day, I could be working on numerous stories, some for the daily paper, some for weekend stories and some for our monthly business publication.

What is the typical entry level job for someone in your field like?

That depends on the size of the newspaper and education. With experience and a degree from a top journalism school, you can start off at a decent-size paper in a variety of reporting positions. With little experience, the first job could be at a smaller newspaper and sometimes the reporting opportunities come slowly.

How did you get into this field?

Started doing this on a freelance basis many years ago through the suggestion of a friend who worked at a newspaper. I had no experience and thus, started out covering the city council of a tiny town. I then got a college degree later.

Is college necessary to get into your field?

For the most part, yes. I have known people who do not have degrees and they have done well. But generally, a degree is going to be a mandate.

Is there a particular course of study you would recommend a student take in college for your field?

English and journalism. English helps, of course, but other writing courses may help a bit, but actually are quite different from the type of writing you would do at a newspaper.

Is there a certain type of experience you recommend students get?

For newspaper, get clips, or copies of stories you have written. That is vital to see what you have done. College newspapers are good also, but if you can intern or do some freelancing at your local paper, those clips will pay dividends later.

What would make a newly graduated student stand out when applying for jobs in your field?

A nice portfolio of articles from internships and other work in a variety of stories. That would include breaking news, people stories, technical stories, etc. In most cases, you have to be able to handle all types of stories.

How does real life journalism compare to what is the public’s perception?

Most people compare it to TV news programs that offer opinions and slants. In most newspapers, reporters try to avoid their options and write, fair, accurate stories. And many people believe papers just want to sell papers and will use sensationalism to do it. That is true sometimes, but there actually are more positive stories these days that murders, crimes, etc.

What do you like the most about working in your field?

It feels like the job I was meant to do. It fits pretty well with my personality and provides many opportunities to meet people.

What do you like the least about working in your field?

Sometimes the hours are unpredictable.

Are there any particular college and universities which stand out in preparation for students in your field?

Locally, Missouri and Northwestern are considered two of the top journalism schools.

Is there anything else you would recommend to a student interested in your career area?

Try to get some practical experience before you get your degree to see if it is what you want to do.

Tweet This Post

One of the aspects of the new health care bill that is leaving many Americans scratching their heads is the takeover of the student loan industry.  What in the world did student loans have to do with health care, and why is the government taking over a whole industry with no visible debate?

As for the first question, I have no idea; but for the second question, it’s not nearly the take over that you may suspect.

Shortly after taking office, President Obama announced that he intended to eliminate the FFEL program where various banks provided Stafford and Perkins loans to students; and transfer all federal student loans to the Direct Loan program.  For more information, check out Feds want to take over student loans.

The inclusion of the student loan provisions within the health care bill is just a convenient way to codify changes the administration announced last spring.

So what will be the impact to you the consumer?  One impact will probably be welcomed by many of you.  You will no longer have to pick a lender for those Stafford loans when there is no difference in any of the loan terms.  Another impact is likely, but will not be realized for a year or two.  The government is not exactly known for customer service.  There will probably be many comparisons of student loans and standing in line to get your driver’s license.

This will not have any impact on the private student loans which will still be available by several lenders around the country.

Tweet This Post

by Lynn O’Shaughnessy, link here

What schools offer the best college financial aid?

Last month, I wrote this post: 51 Colleges with the Best Student Financial Aid.

Please take a look at the list because it includes schools with awesome financial aid policies that will reduce your stress about how you will pay for college. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Amherst College assembled the names of colleges and universities that offered financial aid packages that didn’t include student loans.

You can also find a list of schools with great college financial aid at ProjectOnStudentDebt.org.

But here’s a problem: The list of colleges with the best student financial aid is in flux. The days of no-loan financial aid programs could be ending for many middle-income and affluent families. In fact, at least two colleges on the list of the 51 Colleges with the Best Student Financial Aid, wouldn’t even qualify anymore.

Last week Williams College announced that it was reducing the eligibility for its gold-plated college financial aid help.  Dartmouth College announced yesterday that it was ending its no-loan student financial aid policy. From now on families with incomes above $75,000 will have to borrow some of the tab.

I suspect the announcements will keep coming.

It was hardly a surprise that elite colleges, which traditionally offer the best financial aid, would start rolling back their cushy financial aid programs. You see these colleges launched these aid programs back in late 2007 and early 2008 –  right before the stock market collapsed and endowments started tanking.

When the no-loan financial aid policies first began in 2007, elite institutions didn’t want to be left behind so within a breathtakingly short period many super selective colleges and universities piled on. Now that Williams and Dartmouth have made their moves, I wouldn’t be surprised if many more colleges become stingier.

Lynn O’Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and she writes a college blog for CBSMoneyWatch. Follow her on Twitter.

Tweet This Post

The waiting game is the hardest part of the college financial and selection process.  Everybody has to play this game.  But if you cut this game short, you could lose a lot of money and spend more on college than you need.

During the fall, students and parents are consumed with college admission applications.  For many families, they longed for the day when the admissions applications would be over.  Sometimes it took months to finish.  Then when December and January rolled around, the financial applications started.  Maybe yours only took a day.  For a few unlucky contestants, days turned into weeks.

But now for most of you, the admissions applications are done, and the financial applications are history.  So what’s the next step?  Do you jump at that admissions offer from your student’s top choice?  Do you take the school with the lower sticker price?  What if you haven’t heard anything out of the schools yet?  Have they forgot about you?  What do you do now?

This is where the hardest part of the college selection process starts.  It’s nerve-wracking.  It’s frustrating.  It’s going to play with your mind and make you feel like you don’t know what you are doing.  It’s… waiting.  Yes, waiting.  The one thing that Americans are the worst at of any people on earth… waiting.  Just think of it as a character building experience arranged for you by God Almighty.  He always said that patience was a virtue.  Now you get to prove it.

Colleges and universities need time in making these decisions.  They’ve got thousands of applications to sort through.  Some are faster than others.  Some are slower than others.  But don’t fret.  This is just the way the game works.  What’s the old proverb from the military… “hurry up and wait”

You need to wait for all of the financial offers to come in from the schools you or your student applied to.  Then you need to take your time to compare those offers.  Then you need to formulate your appeals back to those colleges (negotiate) if appropriate.  It is very likely you will not actually pick a college until April or sometimes as late as May.

Now in the meantime, you might want to consider putting down the housing deposits for any schools you or your student is exceptionally interested in.  Housing deposits are often non-refundable, so you have to be willing to give those up if you decide on a better offer at a different school.  But at least putting down a housing deposit will give many students comfort in the face of risking the dreaded “temp-housing”.

Tweet This Post

The FAFSA is the standardized financial information form used by all colleges and universities across the country.  For 2010, sweeping changes have come to the FAFSA form.  This 60 minute webinar will orient you to the FAFSA in its new form.  We will be covering:

• FAFSA on the web
• The PIN website
• Financial Aid Priority Deadlines
• The FAFSA worksheet
• EFC and how it impacts you

The webinar will be at 7pm (central time) on Wednesday, January 20th.  Register below.

Tweet This Post

College Finances 101: Introduction to college funding and financial aid is now available for review.  This recording was made on the evening of December 8th, 2009 and covers the following:

• The college funding environment
• The college financial aid system
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• FAFSA
• CSS Profile
• Financial Aid Priority Deadlines
• College Financial Track Records
• College Application Strategies
• College Financing
• Strategies and Tactics to Minimize College Costs and Increase College Financial Offers
• Negotiating the College Financial Award

This overview runs about 71 minutes. After you have finished watching, click the link below the video to request a PDF of the presentation be emailed to you.

Should you have any problems viewing the video, you may need to update your computer’s flash player.  You can do that at the Adobe website.

Webinar Response Form

Tweet This Post

People often ask “what is the annual FAFSA or CSS Profile income limit that still allows my student to get college financial aid?”  This is a logical question, right?  The IRS uses all kinds of income limits for taxes.  Loan companies have income limits for borrowing money.  Colleges have grade point, ACT, or SAT limits for awarding money.  So what’s the income limit for getting college financial aid?

There is none.  There are no income limits for college financial aid.

College financial aid is a very complex calculation which utilizes student and parent income and assets, number of students in college, the cost of the college, amount of taxes paid, and a whole host of other information to determine what a student is eligible for.  There are no hard and fast rules that says one family will get $5,000, but the family making X number of dollars more will get nothing.  In fact, I have seen situations where a family with income around $70,000 per year received no financial help from a college, while a family making $200,000 received a pretty good chunk of money.  The money the student is awarded is dependent upon the unique factors of that student’s individual family.

Now there are some pieces of financial aid which have EFC (expected family contribution) limits attached to them such as Pell Grants, SEOG grants, and certain subsidized loans.  But EFC and income are not directly correlated.  There are also some individual colleges and universities which will have their own internal policies keyed to specific income levels, but these individual policies are not universal by any means.  For example, Harvard University will cover the total cost of college for student’s whose families make less than $60,000 per year.  But again, this is specific to Harvard.  Also, students whose families make more than $60,000 will be eligible for substantial amounts of financial help specific to their unique circumstances.

Do not get hung up on any kind of income limits.  Always complete the financial aid paperwork.  If you have heard about some income limit above which students don’t get any help, then your listening to useless rumor and inuendo.

Tweet This Post