Thursday, November 28, 2019

Criminal Justice and Criminology Career Experience

Criminal Justice and Criminology Career ExperienceCriminal Justice and Criminology Career ExperienceFor both new graduates getting ready to enter the workforce and for seasoned folks looking to make a career change, one huge obstacle often stands in the way experience. Its the age-old job search paradox. You cant get a job without having experience, but you cant get any experience if you dont have a job. In criminology and criminal justice careers, the problem remains how can you land a job if you dont have any experience in the field, and if you cant land a job, how do you gain experience? Are You Experienced? As frustrating as it can seem, there are solutions. It is possible to get the experience you need to land the job you want. In fact, you may already have it. To put yourself in the best position to get the career of your dreams, youll need to articulate the experience you have, and then augment it with experience youll need. First Things First Before you worry about jo b experience, make aya you know what job you want. All too often, people decide to make a career change or earn a degree in a field without doing the research necessary to learn whether or not theyll be able to get a job. By determining what sorts of careers youd be interested in well before you start hitting the ground on your job search, you can start working on getting real-world experience in your chosen field. What Experience Do You Need? Assuming youve done your research, then youll know what type of experience and education youre going to need and what kind of skills your industry requires. For an idea of what sort of experience youll need when it comes to jobs in criminal justice and criminology, heres a quick rundown of some of the basic skills and experience employers will want to see Written communicationOral communicationInterpersonal skillsAnalyticalResearchCustomer service and public contactResponsibilityGood judgmentDecision makingHonestyIntegrityPublic service So me jobs, such as becoming a police officer, will require minimal real-world experience in the actual field. Instead, relevant work experience can be found in a variety of occupations and environments including past employment, college education, and prior military service. Articulating Past Experience The polygraph exam or background investigations will go a long way toward demonstrating your level of honesty and integrity. The rest youll have to explain in your resume or job application. Heres the good news Chances are, if you dig into your past work experience, you will likely find that youve already got what you need. At least in the abstract. The key to is to be able to articulate how the experience youve already got can translate into the career you want. For example, written communications skills can be demonstrated through college coursework and your correspondence with your potential employers. Customer service and public contact can be shown through a variety of part-ti me jobs, including waiting tables and working as a cashier. Essentially, any job youve ever had in which you were required to interact with the public can demonstrate interpersonal skills, customer service, public contact work experience and even oral communication. Getting the Experience You Need What happens, though, when you find your experience doesnt quite stack up to employers expectations? Heres the part you dont want to hear. The truth is that if youre serious about getting the job you want, you may have to work for free for a little while, anyway. Many professional careers in criminology and criminal justice will require you to have prior experience in your chosen field. That experience, though, doesnt necessarily have to be paid experience. If youre still in school, look for internships, whether paid or unpaid. You can find them through your universitys career development office or by contacting the types of agencies you want to work for and asking to speak with someo ne in their hiring or recruitment office. If youve already finished school, consider volunteer work, informational interviews, and job shadowing. Because so many criminal justice and criminology jobs are public service positions, its quite likely that you will be able to go on ride alongs, tour facilities and even volunteer your time to assist in some areas. Internships and volunteer work can help get you the experience you need. They can also demonstrate your commitment to your chosen profession and, even more importantly, provide you with vital contacts to assist you in your job hunt. Finding Internships and Opportunities When looking for opportunities to volunteer or intern, be sure that your volunteer work is relevant to the job youre trying to get. For example, if your dream is to work in forensic science, you will want to demonstrate experience working in a laboratory doing field research. It can be accomplished by contacting your local university for information about hel ping out in the physical sciences departments. Some places to look for opportunities for internships and volunteer work include Colleges and universitiesLocal police, sheriffs and state patrol stationsMental health facilitiesCommunications centersJuvenile justice centersHomeless sheltersDrug and alcohol counseling centersDomestic violence refuge centers Just because you think you lack experience doesnt mean you need to give up on your dream job. It is possible to find success in your job search by looking at the experience youve already got and articulating how that experience can translate to your chosen career. Work Toward the Job You Want Even if you dont have that experience, with a little self-determination and personal sacrifice, you can gain the skills you need through internships and volunteer work. Through research, work and dedication, youll have no trouble finding a great job in criminal justice or criminology.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Robust job growth rebound calms fears about the economy

Robust job growth rebound calms fears about the economyRobust job growth rebound calms fears about the economyRobust job growth rebound calms fears about the economyOn Friday, July 8, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly employment situation report for June, which is a widely used indicator for the health of the labor market. The June report exceeded job growth expectations rebounding from a disappointing gain in May. The overall labor force expanded as mora people entered the workforce driving the unemployment rate slightly higher.Key TakeawaysU.S. adds 287,000 new jobs as companies increased hiring in June a sigh of relief after changing little in MayThe unemployment rate rose to 4.9% from 4.7% as more people entered the labor force in search of workThe labor force participation rate rose atick in June to 62.7% from 62.6%The size of the labor force has increased by about half a million in the past five months1st-quarter GDP raised again to 1.1% still one of the wea kest performances in the past several yearsWant to know more about the top trends in the job market? Check out the US Labor Market Update from Intelligence.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

4 Important Questions to Ask in an Interview (and Why)

4 Important Questions to Ask in an Interview (and Why) 4 Important Questions to Ask in an Interview (and Why) When searching for questions to ask in a job einstellungsgesprch, youll be confronted with lists of questions covering every possible aspect of the role, company, bewerberbewerbungsinterviewer, and more. Unfortunately, there arent typically opportunities in an interview rahmen to run through the top 50 questions to ask in an interview list you found online.Youll need to pick your spots and prioritize the questions youll ask.Below youre find4 important questions to ask in an interview4 things to remember about your interview questionsAdditional questions to ask the interviewer (if you have time)4 important questions to ask in an interview1) What about my resume caught your eye?This is a question that should come early in the conversation, perhaps even before the interviewer dives into their own questions. However you word it, asking them to describe the reasons they wanted to talk to you over other candidates helps set the course for the rest of the interview in two key ways.One, it gives them an opportunity to speak positively about you right off the bat. It might have been a few days since the interview was scheduled, so theyll be reminded why they were so excited about you in the first place. It might also give you a needed shot of confidence.Two, you might be surprised by the answer. Many candidates submit resumes with similar qualifications. For all you know, a piece of experience that youre taking for granted might be the reason youre there. For example, the hiring manager might have been attracted to an unrelated side hustle that demonstrates more entrepreneurial spirit than other candidates. Where you might have devalued that experience, you now know to play it up.2) How is the department structured?This elegantly rolls up what could be multiple questions about who youd report to, which positions youd collaborate with, and perhaps even the future of the department. It can also give you an idea of how much upward mobility you might have. Some interviewers will even draw up an organizational chart on the spot to show you how it all fits together.Asking this demonstrates that youre team-oriented and can see the bigger picture. If youre able to ask this early in the interview or during one of the early interview rounds, the answer will also help you contextualize your responsibilities and provide tailored answers throughout the process.3) What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this position?Asking what defines success for the position will give you a lot of valuable information to work with during the interview process. You learn which results they value most, which will help you tailor your responses to future questions.The interviewers response can also provide clues as to how numbers-driven or goal-oriented the company or department is, or how much pressure there will be to meet tangible targets. This is a questi on that will help you see how compatible your personal work style is with the departments.4) How is your mission statement reflected in the company culture?Do your research and see if you can find a mission statement or list of values for the company. If you cant find them, start by asking if there are formalized corporate values. Then, by asking how they tie into the culture, you can get a more specific answer about whether there is a cohesive company culture. You can also get an idea whether the company practices what they preach.Simply asking the interviewer to describe the company culture will often elicit a broad, phony response that doesnt really tell you anything. By adding constraints in the form of mission and values, you can get a more thoughtful, complete answer.4 things to remember about your interview questions1) Yes, definitely ask questionsAn interviewer will be worried if you dont have any questions about the role or company. Some of the benefits that come out of pro actively asking questions includeProving that you care and are excited about the opportunityDemonstrating your communication skills and ability to collaborateDetermining whether you actually want the job in the first placeCrafting better answers to future questions as the conversation continues2) Dont wait until the end of the interview to ask questionsAt the end of the interview, the interviewer will probably ask, Do you have any questions for me?Waiting until this moment to rattle off your questions is a missed opportunity. By waiting to ask questions, you pass up information that might help you provide better answers. Make the interview more of a conversation by distributing your questions throughout.3) Most interview processes last multiple roundsWhile there are always exceptions, the interview loops for most corporate roles require 2-3 conversations at a minimum. The more responsibility, competition, or salary attached to the role, the more interviews you can expect. Some inter views can last 5 or more rounds.You dont need to have all questions answered during your first interview.Getting ahead of yourself could put a bad taste in the interviewers mouth. For example, while the interviewer is still trying to figure out whether youre even capable of doing the job, dont ask about opportunities for advancement. That question would be more appropriate late in the process when youre nearing or already weighing a job offer.4) Keep an eye on timeAgain, rattling off dozens of prepared questions isnt realistic in most settings. If the interviewer scheduled half an hour for an initial phone call, or an hour for the first in-person meeting, be mindful of that. They have other things to do so pushing the meeting into overtime to ask your questions might stress them out or come off as annoying. Thats not the first impression you want.More job interview tips and examples3 things to do before a job interview10 common behavior interview questions and answersHow to answer, Tell me about yourself.How to answer, What are your salary expectations?Additional questions to ask in an interviewHave time for more interview questions? Be curious and ask what you actually want to know about the role and business. Here are some ideasAsk questions that show you did your research.Do some googling of the company before your interview. Did you find something amusing or interesting? Ask about it. Did you learn about their top competitors? Ask how the company differentiates themselves.Ask the interviewer about their career trajectory. Once youre interviewing with the hiring manager, asking them about the path they took to get there can help build rapport, reveal their ambitions, and show how advancement works within the company.What does a typical day look like for this position?Hopefully day-to-day responsibilities will be covered by the job listing and the conversation in general, but if you arent sure, askWhat is the biggest problem I could solve for you or the comp any?Showing that youre a problem-solver is a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates. If you ask this, be prepared to demonstrate how you approach problems. The interviewer might want to hear your ideas.How do you describe what the company does to friends or family?If you understand the business, skip this. But there might be times when youre having a hard time understanding what the company actually does. For example, you might be applying for a non-technical role at a high-tech artificial intelligence company. Having the interviewer lay it out simply can help you provide better interview answers going forward.What are the next steps?Dont put pressure on the interviewer by asking when youll have your next conversation. Do ask about how theyre structuring their interview process and when you should expect to hear some news.