An internship is an arrangement between a company and you that mandates that you work for the organization or the company for a fixed span of time during which they will teach you the nuances of the job. Internship is a great way to get knowledge about the kind of work that the job entails while allowing you to learn first-hand the environment at the firm. This will help you become familiar with your choice of field in order that you make an informed decision whether the choice is right for you or not in the long term.

Most offices do not pay interns but there are some which readily give a minimum remuneration as a token. Internships are mostly arranged by the college you are studying in.

Some companies or organizations view an internship as a way to hire employees for their firm, says A. Harrison Barnes. Having been in the job recruiting industry for the past many years and being the owner of a job search portal, Employment Crossing.com; Harrison speaks from experience. According to him, companies or organizations prefer interns as they don’t need to pay them and even if they do it is not high. Employers get a chance to test the caliber of individuals and if found suitable, a permanent job offer can be made. In the process, money spent on the recruiting process is also saved.

During college, internship is a necessity for every college student. If a student has not been an intern during college life, the employer they apply to after graduation tends to believe that he or she is not competent enough for the job. They think that such students lack some capabilities or diligence to perform. The students on their side get to understand their choice of field better; they can even understand what the employers expect from them. Internship also helps them consolidate their career goals and thus work accordingly to achieve them, feels A. Harrison Barnes.

As an intern you have to follow some rules which will help you be a good intern and make the most of it. If you are successful in following these steps, you can get a job either in that very company or at some other organization after your graduation, believes A. Harrison Barnes.

The importance of an internship during college cannot be overstated and the more internships you can grab, the more beneficial it is for you. Along with this, you need to set goals for yourself every time you do your internship. You have to be competent enough to reach your goals. If you are successful at achieving these, you can surely achieve the career goals in the future as well, avers A. Harrison Barnes.

Remember to behave like a true professional as an intern since that is what you are. Do not take an internship lightly for it is after all a job. You cannot afford to be casual with it just because you are not paid, says A. Harrison Barnes. Though there are some organizations that do pay their interns, payment depends upon the will of the organization rather than its size.

The process of obtaining an internship is like the process of getting a job. You need to interview the same way as you do for a job; you have to work hard for both. You can also use your networking skills to get an internship along with what the college provides. Try to make the most of the opportunity it offers.

When you have secured an internship, try to do your best in order to turn it into a job. Nothing can be better than this as it saves the stress of searching for a new job after graduation. You should also keep in touch with your colleagues to build a strong network.

Some other do’s and don’ts regarding internships include:

• Try to create a good work record at the internship. Schedule regular meetings with your internship supervisor and do not be afraid to ask questions. Anything to learn and make the best of the opportunity!
• Determine in advance what you expect to learn in your internship and take the one that will serve the purpose.
• Add to your repertoire of abilities by learning new skills and methodologies, gaining a better understanding of your field (even if it helps you decide to change tracks!), and clock tangible accomplishments.
• Continue to develop your professional network at the internship by thanking all those who were your mentors, keeping in touch with co-workers after leaving, and making bridges for the future rather than burning bridges.
• And last of all, make an impression before you leave!

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It is important to have a second thought while you are in your profession, and this may be for any reason. Whether you are faced with a professional challenge, or are going through a rediscovery state of mind, or are you just looking for some inspiration to get the grind going, taking a second look at your job is something that helps you get the best out of yourself. Often, despite taking breaks, you may feel that you are not in the right job. A lot of careers are sacrificed because the workers get stagnated in their jobs.

According to A. Harrison Barnes of Employment Crossing, stagnation in your career is not the last word; neither is giving up on hope. What you are required to do instead is that you must practice a few methods for getting back or retrieving the tempo of your vocation.

Get some Free Time: Try going for recreational options as this is something everyone requires. The initial stages of your career are important as they function as the foundation years. However, you are hardly given the chance of taking time off when you are a newcomer. If you don’t have substantial savings, you may not consider this option so strongly, although A. Harrison Barnes would suggest that this is a good manner for rediscovering your passion in the job. A sabbatical is welcome any day and once given the choice, you should always go for it since generally companies are more prone to guaranteeing unpaid leaves. It rekindles your interest in your new job, helping you to identify your keenness or enthusiasm in the profession. However, the most vital aspect that is taken into consideration here is that you get the chance to assess your performance. This is also a method of planning your career moves.

Redefine your Values: Your values can be redefined by a reassessment that lets you get an idea of the highs and lows of your job. Every career is a journey, and this is not realized in a job search as much as it is when you are looking for a career builder. There may be certain aspects or achievements in your career that you are proud of and Employment Crossing’s esteemed CEO, Mr. A. Harrison Barnes is a strong advocate of this perception. He believes in objective perspective of your accomplishments which are things that are highly valued by the employee. Sitting back and taking a second look at the direction your career is heading is equally important, if not more, if you are contemplating professional growth. It actually helps identify the aspects that may be wanting in your career, things you like and those you are missing out on. It is important to rethink your professional stance and modify your approach.

The ambit of your career extends way beyond being merely a 9 to 5 job schedule. It is a reflection-inducing element that helps you reassess your performance and improve on your existing modus operandi as you explore newer ways and approaches. This will help in giving you a better judgmental faculty, purpose, contentment and a radical rethinking of your aims and ambitions. In the words of A. Harrison Barnes, you will be enthused with a sense of motivation and future standing. The aspects that you had so long envisioned could very well be materialized and this feeling will give you loads of good energy to seek your professional goals.

Ask Yourself Questions: Ask yourself certain questions that will enable you to have a better and more objective understanding of your goals and priorities in your career. Some important questions can be:

• What is the job type that you are looking for and what responsibilities would you like to handle?
• How many hours per day are you willing to spend working?
• What type of work culture would be prevalent in the company you would work for?
• How much money do you wish to earn?
• What are your job location preferences?
• What are your thought on the ideal work environment and your superiors and colleagues?
• How would you balance work and personal life?
• What strategy would you adopt in coping with stress and meeting deadlines?

Contemplate and Rethink: Nothing can be better than contemplating on your objectives and going about with ways and means for realizing them. Irrespective of what your financial obligations are, you must take time to rethink your priorities. A. Harrison Barnes, the owner of the largest comprehensive job search portal, Employment Crossing, believes that at certain times when you are too much embroiled in the nuances of your work, the brain may get too much cluttered up. It is when you’ll start feeling as if you have not made a conscious effort in bettering your life. The result is that you begin to question or doubt some of your job responsibilities. This is why you need to ponder on your thoughts and activities.

Ask your Mentor: Your mentor is perhaps the best person to guide you through the phases of professional growth. They are the persons who have seen a lot, been through a lot. They have the experience of an entire lifetime in their career which enables them to guide you properly. With their help and assistance, you can make a success out of your career.

A. Harrison Barnes has always been a forerunner of the school of thought that advises introspection into one’s career with the aim of improving it and taking it in the correct direction. He suggests job applicants to go for self-evaluation at certain phases of their career which would enable a person to reach new heights in his/ her career.

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When you are at work you have several issues to handle. How you handle these issues differentiates how you move ahead in your career. You have to remember that there are no shortcuts that can lead you to success. You have to handle these problems with care and honesty so that you achieve success and move in the direction you have set for yourself. The general tendency of an average individual is to find a bypass route by which they can avoid the situation without having to confront them with honesty and finality. In effect, all they are doing is putting the problem in “pending” mode. Creating a bubble of uncertainty, such individuals will forever avoid confrontation and thereby any sense of satisfaction with respect to their career.

One of the golden rules you need to observe throughout your career is to ensure that what you do does not affect anyone else in a negative manner. Basically, what you do shouldn’t rub out the wrong vibes in the people around you. One needs to keep a check on one’s ambition in such a way that your colleagues do not have to pay the cost. Committing any kind of fraud or damage to anyone for short-term gains is actually childish and will take you only so far. According to A. Harrison Barnes, an experienced person who has created his own job search engine, Employment Crossing.com, to help people get deserving jobs, says that such methods may give you short term gains but these will remain only “short term gains”. These actions or deeds will never deliver long term goals. You will never be satisfied by performing such tasks.

The people engaging in such tactics fail to gain the respect or trust of their colleagues or anybody surrounding them. Such degrading acts strip an individual of his/her honor and dignity. Their unethical strategies eventually play against them by isolating them from others. They get nothing but a bad eye from the other men around them says A. Harrison Barnes. These people should understand that if they wish for long term success and a meaningful and respectable life then they have to work as others do. Though this is a time-consuming process to gain success, this method guarantees you longstanding gains both in your career and your life. You have to learn to work hard rather than implementing devious plots to meet your petty ends. Your hard work will reward you with a meaningful life as a bonus to a profitable and satisfying career. You will be able to recount the path you took with pride. Your reputation and your self-respect are your biggest assets.

You have to understand the importance of self respect. You will even lose your self-respect which is the key to all success. A. Harrison Barnes says that if you learn to respect yourself, you will be respected by others. You have to make your career and your life by doing the right things at the right time and avoiding the short cuts, which could lead you into unnecessary trouble. This way you will find the correct way to a successful and happy career and life.

A. Harrison Barnes has been working for the past many years and thus has come across many people who are experts in scheming up fraudulent plots. He himself has experienced many such interactions with these kinds of men and women in society. He shares his one such experience with us. A couple of years back he got tangled in an ‘accident’ that never occurred. He had bought a Land Cruiser and thus had taken a few of his coworkers for a drive after office hours. When he, along with his coworkers, was passing through downtown Los Angeles, the car before them came to a sudden halt.

A. Harrison Barnes was successful to stop the car at certain distance from the car in front. But the African American woman who came out of the car claimed she could establish that he had hit her car. Nothing occurred as such but she was not ready to accept. In fact she even called the police and thus the small incident was converted to A. Huge issue. At the end of the day, his insurance company had to pay her a good amount of money to settle the matter out of court. They had to do it because she was a California Highway Patrolwoman and had threatened to file a convincing suite in a court of law.

This was a very bad experience that A. Harrison Barnes had faced. He understood that the lady had woven a wicked tale to make her own petty gains, but he knows that such schemes would not give her longstanding success. Through her petty gains, she lost too much. She had lost her dignity and respect before the people who had witnessed her deeds. Thus he suggests you to take the longer way to success; it will guarantee you with all the happiness that you have wished for yourself and your family.

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It might very difficult to gat yourself a job in this competitive market scenario especially if you do not have any previous working experience. Internship may be a good way that might help you to gat into your desired job. The university students, students who are fresh graduates or those who are considering bringing about changes in their career can benefit from internships. The recruiters find it profitable to engage interns with negligible or little experience at a very little compensation.

Internships if completed during the college years enable the students to choose from wide range of career options. A. Harrison Barnes, the expert says that Internships also help the students to develop their self confidence, modify their skills and abilities and prepare themselves for their first job.

In the age of globalization, the fresh graduates or the university students gets a chance to come in contact with the international culture and business. The multi cultured, self confidant and worldly individuals are the hot favorites of the recruiters all over the world. Once the internship is completed successfully you can achieve new heights in your career. The interns not only gain practical working knowledge but also come in close contact with the international forums.

If you have the dream of conducting business world wide, internship provides you with the opportunity to come in contact with the business managers, peers and executives of different companies. A. Harrison Barnes says that your chance of networking multiplies with internships. References of the industry level definitely take your application to a new level. Keeping in touch with the industry people can only yield fruitful results. You might just land up with a job and develop further contacts for the future.

It might be shocking says A. Harrison Barnes, but the fact is that more than 80% of the jobs available in the market are never advertised. Internships can be very helpful for acquiring field knowledge, providing you with job openings and professional connections. You can always keep in touch with your interns and enquire about your job responsibilities and expand your business contacts and networks for future prospects.

Internships provide with several advantages. A fresh graduate, university student, or a person who is trying to change his professional career, during his internship, comes to know a lot about the career field that he has chosen. Internship is considered to be the pinnacle of an individual’s undergraduate education. The class room education can be applied to the real life settings. This is the best possible way you can test your abilities and apply them to your related field. Internships help you to develop specialized knowledge in a particular field. As an intern, you can test your skills, abilities, attributes, values and examine organizational cultures.

With the help of internships, the students become more organized and disciplined in their lives. Their communication skills, thinking skills re improved, that enables them to take quick decisions says A. Harrison Barnes the CEO of employmentcrossing.com. These skills help the students to make logical decisions at no time. Internships benefit not only the students, but also the employers. The interns during their internship are so trained that they can reach the pinnacle of success in any industry or organization.

There are a large number of non profit organization, institution and associations that provides internships. A. Harrison Barnes says that it is very important to identify what the employer is seeking while making recruitments.  The recruiters manly look for the following qualities:

Motivation, inspiration

Leadership qualities

Oral and written communication skills

Work experience

Interpersonal skills

Harrison Barnes says that most of the employees lack these qualities. During the internship period, care should be that the interns are constantly monitored, competent enough to solve problems easily and communicate efficiently. The interns must also be trained to make effective use of technology and media.

A study was conducted over 270 colleges in United States. The 350 students included in the study were required to undertake career development programs where they learned about the ways in which interviews are supposed to be conducted and the ways in which one’s career can be improved. The results, though not disappointing, lacked problem solving ability, the ability to think critically and computer knowledge. The students had very good interpersonal and communicative skills. The case study revealed that they further improve on their skills with the help of internship programs" rel="nofollow. The students who participated in these programs were much superior in comparison to the other graduates who did not undergo the internship programs.

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Building a career over years is becoming a rarity in the age of fast forwarded careers. Hardly a decade ago, any bright-eyed, freshly minted graduate had his options cut out for them. You either get into a management school, get into engineering school or med school and pray that you came out in one piece.  Choosing was not much of a problem, because your choices were limited, and in more ways than one, you got chosen by your profession. By luck you would find yourself able to tolerate what you do as a job and live on. Today, we have avenues for jobs springing up in places we never imagined. The choices are endless post the IT revolution. People change jobs by the weekend. The tendency to change one’s career is on the rise. Sensitivities have changed. Everybody has a reason to change jobs, at least an excuse to convince themselves that they made the right choice.

Changing careers is a common sight today. Most of the people are interested to shift their careers and they have different reasons for it. A. Harrison Barnes, the CEO of job portal Employment Crossing says that there are people who switch careers as soon as they have stepped into their “chosen” field in the face of fallen expectations. There is also the breed that discovers A. Hidden talent they can put to use in a much better way in a different career in the middle of their present careers. Though the prospect of changing the decision about their career is at times painful, the average person today has the courage to change their careers for they find themselves suitable for a different job than the one they are presently in. Job satisfaction is a crucial factor today, so much to the extent that we find employers changing the office environment to make their employees feel “happy” coming to work. It is no longer surprising to hear of a person who landed up in a field that had absolutely nothing to do with the choices he made during his/her education or later on, in the beginning of their “planned” career. Today, the possibilities for a career change at any stage in your present career are endless.

A career change has its bounties and benefits, but there is always the risk factor of losing your way if you do not keep your head straight. Though a career change does involve risk, according to A. Harrison Barnes, you will not know unless you take the risk. A career change also allows you to experience different jobs and provide you with enough knowledge about the day-to-day processes involved in a particular profession. It provides them avenues to learn more and more capabilities and areas where they can excel.

Every individual has his or her own reason to change careers says A. Harrison Barnes. Some may have problems dealing with their colleagues or the seniors with whom they spend the whole day at office. In the present scenario, where the average person has a fairly high degree of sensitivity, uncomfortable peer interaction could easily be a factor that governs a career shift. It is seen that in most cases of resignation from a particular organization, the individual leaves his immediate supervisor and not the organization.  Another reason for the shift could be the frequent change in tasks or even in rules that are not allowing you to perform.

Another culprit of a career shift is the lack of concentration or dwindling interest in routine chores at work. It is a possibility that one can lose focus of the big picture and thus fail to perform up to the desired mark. This change in attitude can put the individual in situations where he is pointed out to be incapable of handling his job efficiently and eventually a burden to his working environment. This could easily provoke a job shift. Though this could result in an immediate shift to a different organization in the same field, it is highly likely that such an individual can face a similar pattern of situations, wherever he or she goes, which may eventually result in verifying the decision to embark on this career and the probability of a different career option.

Changing careers is never an easy job. You need to look at all the facts and take them into perspective before you take the plunge. The few aspects that you need to consider are shared with you below by A. Harrison Barnes.

Have a Well Developed Plan

However bright your prospects may appear to be, you need to have a plan chalked out before you take any step towards a career change. You have to make an effective career change strategy that ensures your success in your new career. This plan could consist of managing finances, current qualifications,  prospects of improving upon your qualifications while on the job, the learning curve at your new job, and research on recent market trends. This is of course a time consuming process, but time well spent. You need to remember that it is a decision that will change your career and your life completely and thus cannot take it lightly. Patience is a virtue you need to develop if you don’t already have it, suggests A. Harrison Barnes.

Your Personal Assessment

At this juncture, it is imperative that you analyze the skills, the talents, the strengths, the passions and the experience that you have accumulated till date. Your complete and honest self assessment will help you decide on the career that you can choose for your future step. You have to make a complete list of things that you can do to push yourself in the right direction to a career you can move ahead in swiftly. The result of this analysis will help you get the right career for yourself says A. Harrison Barnes.

Different Career Alternatives

You can know about other career alternatives through career libraries and through online resources. The job search websites online have the career advice section where you can gain the necessary information. Here you can compare the different fields of work that you have an interest in.

Salary Suiting the Lifestyle

Every person has a unique angle on the lifestyle that he or she wishes to have. Your choice of lifestyle can make you travel to different parts of the world or keep you close to the people you have always wished to live with. You need to be stern in setting your priorities and ensure that your new career will help you maintain these priorities. This is never easy. This is because a new career always tends to set new parameters in your day-to-day life. Adapting to these changes, keeping focus of what you need to achieve ultimately and working towards it will keep you motivated in such a situation.

Apart from these you can take career advice from many resources. You can ask for information from the people who have already made career changes in their lives. A. Harrison Barnes says that they are the best guide for you.

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Reuters is reporting the American job market increased slightly in November 2009.  Government data reveals the lowest job cuts in nearly two years, since December 2007.  Does this mean we are finally beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel?  Maybe; but it also depends on who you ask.  While the government data showed a total of 11,000 jobs cut by U.S. employers last month, many experts, including Gad Levanon, a Senior Economist at The Conference Board, insist the recovery efforts will continue to be weak at least through the first half of 2010.  Further, although the layoffs narrowed for the eighth straight month, the numbers weren’t as many as many experts anticipated.

So what does this mean for those searching for work?  Frankly, it means not much has changed.  Remaining committed to one’s career, even in a less than ideal job market, can be difficult; however, no one can do it for you.  It’s all about focus, determination and the right tools to ensure you stand out from the competition.  These tools, of course, include a flawless resume, the ability to do well in an interview with your conversation skills and faith in your education and abilities.

As A. Harrison Barnes, CEO of EmploymentCrossing.com, points out, networking can play a significant role in locating those positions you might had not considered before.  Further, with the highly competitive state of the job market, any tool you can include in your arsenal is crucial and can often mean the difference in landing a job or losing it to the next interviewee.  Of course, taking advantage of sites such as EmploymentCrossing can also give you the upper hand in today’s unpredictable career market.

Another tip, courtesy of A. Harrison Barnes, is to remain focused in your job search.  It’s easy to become distracted, only to end up in jobs that do not match your area of education or your interests.  Do your research, regardless of how desperate you are for work.  Ensure you understand exactly what you’re getting into.  EmploymentCrossing is an excellent place to start your search.  Here, you’ll discover more tips and advice from A. Harrison Barnes as well as updates from the employment sector and of course, job opportunities you will only find on EmploymentCrossing.

Despite the often confusing news that’s reported in the media, the job openings remain scarce and will likely continue to remain that way for a good many months.  The beginning of a new year is always promising, but it’s important to remember the U.S. has been in the current recession for nearly three years.  We all look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel that might finally signal the end of current economic times, especially those of us who are looking to build or rebuild our careers that will ensure our financial well-being.

Bottom line, there is simply no room for assumptions or “almost” perfects.  You simply must rise above the mediocrity, highlight your strengths via your resume and interview process and work on those weaknesses that might provide trouble after you’ve landed your dream job in your chosen career.  These are all goals we should seek to meet regardless of current employment climates.

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Companies pay an estimated 15% to employees as sick time.  Up until recently, these same companies haven’t necessarily questioned employees on how often they really are sick and when these days are actually being used for other purposes.  Now that jobs have become scarce and companies are keeping a closer watch on the bottom line, absenteeism is front and center. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of EmploymentCrossing.com and a career coach, says it’s not that companies want to penalize those who are sick or have doctor’s appointments, but rather, businesses simply can’t afford to sacrifice a significant amount of money for those taking personal days masked as sick days.

Couple this with the fact absenteeism numbers are up, and the potential exists for major employee/employer tensions.  Many companies have already cut their workforces to the bare minimum, which means letting go of employees now means a job opening that must be filled. This is where EmploymentCrossing.com comes in. Its focus on providing the best talent to fill positions across the country is what sets it apart.  The award winning site uses specific algorithms that enhance the experience for both job seekers and the employers with positions that must be filled.

Hewitt Associates, an Illinois human resources group, reports only 25% of American companies follow their policies on absenteeism in a consistent manner.  A. Harrison Barnes mirrors this sentiment, “Companies aware of this weakness and are now taking a harder look at potential solutions.” Another fact reported by Hewitt Associates is that close to 30% of companies are also considering the benefits of freelancers or outsourcing certain tasks.

Further, studies have revealed those employees with chronic absenteeism also are quicker to leave their employment for career changes, often with insufficient notice, for a different job but not before they cost their employers more in being unproductive when they are at work. This is yet another reason for the success of EmploymentCrossing.com and its sister sites, such as Hound.com.

Some companies are installing certain software applications designed to recognize certain patterns of employees. For instance, there may those who suffer from Friday afternoon headaches and routinely leave at lunch and not return until Monday morning.  There are those, too, that repeatedly call in on the day before or after their scheduled days off in an effort of gaining a long weekend. These habits are costing businesses big dollars.

One final proactive approach employers are taking is asking employees the nature of their sickness and even requiring documentation from medical personnel that can verify an employee was truly sick. Many employers believe asking the nature of an illness somehow violates the employee’s confidentiality rights.  It’s a fine line; however, justifications for those who are repeatedly absent are certainly acceptable.  Barnes encourages any employer who is interested to know what its rights are should encourage the company’s legal department or other similar personnel. And those employees that are discharged or resign, EmploymentCrossing.com offers qualified candidates who can meet the challenge.

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