BrainTrack College And Work News

More Considering Second Careers In Truck Driving

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

By Yaffa Klugerman

January 20, 2012

David Clayton, 47, had just retired from a 25-year law enforcement career when life on the road beckoned. While growing up on a ranch, he learned to drive cattle trucks at an early age, so a second career in truck driving seemed like a natural choice. Currently, he is enrolled in a six-week program at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, to earn his Commercial Driver's License.

Truck driving, he explains, "challenges you. You constantly have to learn. Laws change, vehicles change, routes you drive change, so you're constantly in a challenging and learning environment. That's why I like it."

John Stephens, who teaches the course at San Jacinto, sees students like Clayton all the time. "Just about every one of our students that come through has had some former occupation in another area," he says. "Their jobs have played out, or they've just gotten to the point in their lives where they're ready to start driving. They've always wanted to drive, but they've had other careers."

The Economy Plays A Role

The economy is another important factor. Jacob Richards, who runs The Truckers Agency, a Michigan-based business that specializes in helping first-time truck drivers acquire their CDL, notes that the vast majority of his applicants are people who have worked in at least one other field that has dried up.

"The general theme is that they had steady work doing whatever it was that they did until the economy started to tank, the housing market crashed, and all their work just disappeared," Richards says. "Many people toughed it out for a couple of years, trying to stay in their chosen field until the economy turned around, but at this point most people have burnt through their savings and desperately need a recession-proof job."

Truck driving is a career considered by many to be a sure bet. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 3.2 million truck drivers and driver/sales workers in 2008, and close to 300,000 new truck driving jobs are expected to be created by 2018. Still, points out Stephens, the industry has not been immune to economic fluctuations: Because manufacturing and production dropped during the recession, trucking companies suffered as a result, and fewer truck driving jobs were available.

But that has changed. "The trucking companies are now in drastic need of drivers," Stephens says. "I've got several companies locally around here, and they need anywhere from 10 to 20 drivers right now."

Improvements to a Difficult Profession

To be sure, truck driving is not a career for everyone. The physical demands include driving for many hours, loading and unloading cargo, and making deliveries. In addition, long-haul truck drivers often spend days or weeks away from home, and they must deal with boredom, fatigue, and loneliness.

But the industry has improved in recent years, notably with regards to safety. According to regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a long-distance driver may drive for no more than 11 hours per day, and work a total of no more than 14 hours, including driving and non-driving duties. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty, and they cannot work more than 60 hours a week without being off duty for at least 34 hours straight.

Salaries and benefits have increased as well. "These students that graduate here can expect to make between $35-$45,000 the first year out," Stephens says. "That's really not bad, considering that they're still in training for the first year and still learning the industry. I have several students that graduated 10-11 years ago that are making six figures now."

Assistance is Available

Finally, more opportunities exist to help prospective truck drivers get their training. The Truckers Agency, for example, helps pair up potential truck drivers with companies that want to train them and offer them full-time jobs. The company - which offers its services for free - examines each application to determine which company would best suit each applicant.

Financial aid for training is sometimes available as well. A new grant at San Jacinto College from the DOT covers the full cost of tuition and fees - just over $2,000 - for 48 students. The grant is aimed at attracting more qualified drivers to the industry in Texas.

"This will help individuals who would like to come to truck driving and can't afford it," says Stephens. "It will change their life, because trucking is a lifestyle change, not just a career change."

That lifestyle change, though difficult, can be a worthwhile change for many. "Trucking," says Richards, "is definitely an industry where those who are informed and work hard can expect to be rewarded with a steadily increasing salary, new benefits, and a pretty clear path to becoming an owner-operator and a small business owner."

As Cyber-Attack Threat Grows, Cybersecurity Industry Booms

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

By Beth Panitz

January 12, 2012

For three days straight the attacks continued. A relentless team of hackers ruthlessly infiltrated the computer network--attempting to steal information, disrupt services, and modify key files--while computer science student Neil Banerjee and his fellow "cyber warriors" from California State University, San Bernardino, worked to thwart the attacks.

Welcome to the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), where students compete in a "cyber-war game" scenario to help prepare them for work in the growing cybersecurity industry. Teams defend a fictitious company's network, while skilled cybersecurity professionals stage attacks.

Banerjee's stellar performance in the 2011 Western Regional of the CCDC landed him a job upon receiving his bachelor's degree as an enterprise risk services consultant for the Los Angeles office of consulting company Deloitte & Touche. "Cybersecurity is exciting, fast-paced and essential for the industry," says Banerjee, whose work includes data mining for anomalies that could indicate security breaches. "I like thwarting the bad guys; it makes me feel like James Bond."

Preparing for the 'Next Pearl Harbor'

With growing global reliance on information technology, comes increased risk for cyber-attacks that could compromise military intelligence, rob financial institutions, take down power grids and steal personal information. In 2007, the Baltic republic of Estonia experienced the seriousness of cyberwar, when its government, financial and media computer networks were paralyzed by a series of attacks. In the U.S., corporate giants like Citigroup and Google have faced security breaches.

President Barack Obama has declared that the "cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation" and that "America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity." Last year, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, then CIA director, testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that "the potential for the next Pearl Harbor could very well be a cyber attack."

Securing the Nation's Crown Jewels

As the most wired nation, the United States also has the most targets to defend against cyber attacks, which translates to a booming cybersecurity industry. Government and industry alike are ramping up their cybersecurity operations, says Ed Kanerva, vice president of consulting heavyweight Booz Allen Hamilton, and are also turning to agencies like Booz Allen for their expertise in securing systems.

"The Internet is the place where companies and governments keep their crown jewels - their intellectual capital, their financial information, their people's private information," says Kanerva. "Because the Internet is growing, there's an exponential growth in the need for cybersecurity experts."

The serious threat of cyber attacks prompted Booz Allen to launch a cyber campaign four years ago on the advice of Vice Chairman Mike McConnell, who served as director of national intelligence under President George W. Bush. The company, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, expects to hire 1,700 cyber professionals this year alone.

Cyber Opportunities

"There are opportunities in the cybersecurity industry for everyone, from blue-collar jobs, to positions for those with a Ph.D. in mathematics or physics," says Larry Cox, senior vice president and general manager of the Cyber & Information Solutions Business Unit of McLean, Virginia-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a leading consulting company in the area cybersecurity. "The industry is three-tiered, with people who install the infrastructure, people who maintain and operate the systems, and people who invent new ways to protect the systems."

In the federal government, jobs abound in cybersecurity, with the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 requiring each agency to develop, document and implement an agency-wide program to provide information security. The demand is especially high in the military, intelligence, and homeland security arenas, where security is critical, says Cox.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increased demand of 30 percent for computer network, systems and database administrators from 2008 to 2018, attributing part of the growth to "the increasing need for information security. As cyber attacks become more sophisticated, demand will increase for workers with security skills." according to the "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition," the most recent edition.

Developing Cyber Warriors

To meet the digital age's demand for security specialists, universities are developing programs in cybersecurity, with some focusing more on policy and management and others emphasizing the technical component. In response to industry's need for high-level technical skills, the University of Maryland is launching a master's program in cybersecurity engineering this year, says Paul Easterling, director of educational development and communications for the university's Office of Advanced Engineering Education. Graduates will be prepared to "develop new protocols and new ways to defend systems."

While a cybersecurity degree is helpful, it's not a "deal-breaker" for advancing in the industry, notes Cox. Information technology professionals with a background in fields like computer science, engineering and mathematics can transfer their skills to the cyber field, especially with some additional training and certification, he says.

Banerjee, the CCDC competitor, is working to supplement his B.S. degree in computer science by becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker, which indicates expertise in using hacking for good, rather than evil. These professionals penetrate networks and computer systems to uncover and fix security vulnerabilities. He is also working to become a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

Training the Workforce

Companies like Booz Allen are investing heavily in training their corps in cybersecurity. The company's Cyber University provides internal training to approximately 5,000 employees annually. Booz Allen has also teamed up with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) to offer three online graduate certificate programs in cybersecurity.

With some training, even those without a technical background can support the burgeoning industry. Caitlin Moore, a senior consultant at Booz Allen, came to the company less than three years ago, fresh out of college with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Moore serves in IT workforce development, ensuring that employees have proper training in cybersecurity. She earned her Security+ certification, which demonstrates knowledge in information security, and received a Foundations of Cybersecurity graduate certificate, through the partnership with UMUC. "Even if you're working on the softer side of the field, you need to have some of the technical knowledge," says Moore.

Cox projects continued job growth in the field. "The threats will only increase," he says. "It's an intellectual game of mind against mind, attacker against defender, and it will continue for a long, long time."

New Lawyers Have Rising Interest In Public Interest

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

By Yaffa Klugerman

January 3, 2012

Sterling Morriss went to Georgetown University Law Center with the intention of working in public interest, but realizing her goal wasn't simple. She discovered that the field was crowded and competitive, and so she proceeded to apply to as many places as possible. Her perseverance paid off: After graduating from law school this year, she landed a job working for the Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program, which is the largest public interest fellowship program in the country.

"I love that every day is different and that my job involves building relationships," she says of her job as a Fellowship Sponsor Relations Specialist. "I get to travel and have the opportunity to meet amazing people from all facets of the legal community. Most of all, I enjoy that my job is to create positions for other law school graduates who possess the passion, drive and ability to represent those who are legally underserved."

Morriss is not alone in her desire to focus on legal work that seeks to enhance the public good. While the vast majority of new law school graduates find jobs with private law firms, many law schools have seen a significant uptick in the percentage of students pursuing careers in public interest. At the University of Michigan Law School, for example, the number of students entering public interest more than doubled from 4.8 percent in 2006 to 10.7 percent in 2010.

The national statistics show a similar pattern, although not quite as dramatic: According to NALP, the Association for Legal Career Professionals, 5.4 percent of new law graduates entered public interest in 2006, compared with 6.7 percent in 2010 - the highest percentage in at least two decades. During those same years, those who found jobs at private law firms dropped from 55.8 percent in 2006 to 50.9 percent in 2010.

The economy is only one factor

Undoubtedly, the economy has played a role in these numbers: Since fewer opportunities are available at private firms, presumably students are more open to pursuing careers in public interest. But experts say that's not the whole story.

"I think a larger factor is that law students today are wary of the tales they have heard of lawyers who are unhappy in private practice," says Alyson L. Robbins, director of public interest at the University of Michigan Law School, "and they are actively looking for the opportunity to have meaningful careers that will also allow them to enjoy other aspects of their lives."

Equal Justice Works, a national nonprofit committed to promoting and creating public interest law opportunities, has seen that trend as well. The Washington, DC-based organization currently has 180 fellows working in low-income communities throughout the country. These fellowships are highly competitive: Equal Justice Works receives over 1,000 applications for roughly 100 openings per year.

"It is true that there is a record number of law students applying to work for the public interest, but I don't attribute it to the bad economy," notes David Stern, executive director of Equal Justice Works. "I think it is a reflection of a generation of law students who enter law school with an established public service commitment. Many have spent time between college and law school working in Teach for America, AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps or other service opportunities. These students choose law school because they see how a law degree can be used to help under-served communities and causes."

Loan repayment options are an added benefit

Undoubtedly, the increased opportunities for public interest lawyers to repay their student loans have helped make it feasible to consider these traditionally low-paying careers. The federal government's College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which was passed in 2007, allows graduates to make monthly payments on their federal loans using the Income-Based Repayment program, which calculates lower loan payments based on one's income. Even more significantly, the law allows those employed in public service to have their loans completely forgiven after 10 years of qualified payments.

That's welcome news for public interest lawyers, who, according to NALP, earn a starting salary of about $42,000 annually. Earnings for those employed by private law firms, meanwhile, start at approximately $103,000.

"Today's graduates often face mortgage-sized debt," explains Stern, whose organization pushed for the passing of CCRAA. "Our goal is simple - we want to ensure that educational debt is not a hindrance to individuals wanting to pursue what have historically been lower paying public service jobs."

The increase in loan forgiveness programs at law schools has helped as well. This year, for example, Michigan Law introduced a new Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which supplements the government's Income-Based Repayment. Lawyers who earn less than $50,287 in 2011 are eligible to receive a payment from Michigan Law equivalent to the entire annual IBR payment. In other words, law graduates at that income level will not have to make any payments to their loans.

Morriss, who is enrolling in a similar LRAP offered by Georgetown Law School, agrees that such programs make her career goals attainable. "I do not pay anything [towards federal student loans] unless I stop working in the nonprofit sector," she says. "Without Georgetown's LRAP program and Income-Based Repayment, I would not financially be able to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. My monthly payments on my student loans would be too large to afford to work for the lower salary that is common in the nonprofit and public interest world."

Net Price Calculators Can Demystify The Cost Of College

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Yaffa Klugerman

November 14, 2011

Kelsey Gooden, 17, hopes to attend a New York college with a solid acting program, but she knows that her dream is an expensive one.

Gooden, a senior at Old Mill Senior High School in Millersville, Maryland, has been comparing tuition prices and finding out just how prohibitive they can be. The published cost of tuition, fees, room and board at Syracuse University--one of her top choices--is just under $54,000 a year. She knows that the cost is far more than she and her family can reasonably afford.

"With this economy," Gooden says, "price is a big factor in going to college."

Relief From Tuition Sticker Shock

But a new resource can offer some hope for Kelsey and for many families that are searching for affordable higher education. It's called the net price calculator, and it can be found on virtually every college and university website in the United States, thanks to a federal mandate that went into effect at the end of October. The calculators allow prospective students to enter information such as income, savings and family size to determine financial aid eligibility. Based on that data, the calculators compute a "net price"--the amount a particular student can expect to pay after receiving financial aid.

Such information is crucial when considering colleges because the actual price of attending an institution can often be tens of thousands of dollars less than its sticker price. At McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, for example, the published price of tuition, fees, room and board for 2011-12 on-campus undergraduate students is just under $45,000. But according to Patty Williams, the school's director of financial aid, perhaps 5 or 6 percent of their students actually pay that full price, while the rest receive various levels of financial aid.

A net price calculator, Williams says, helps communicate that fact. "We put it up there not so much to increase applications," she explains, "but so that we wouldn't scare people away. So that we could say, 'Yes, McDaniel is affordable, don't cross us off your list.'"

Similarly, Syracuse University's net price calculator can paint a completely different financial picture for prospective students. According to the net price calculator, a theoretical family of four that earns $100,000 in annual income, owns a house worth $200,000 and has $10,000 in savings could expect to pay just under $30,000 for annual tuition, fees, room and board. With student loans and work study factored in, the price drops to about $21,000.

Calculators Vary From One College To Another

Despite the usefulness of net price calculators, financial aid experts are quick to point out that their accuracy is not guaranteed. "The calculators are a step in the direction of helping families make a more informed decision about college affordability, but families should use them with caution," says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb.com and FinAid.org. "These calculators are in their infancy and are suffering from teething pains."

Part of the reason for this is because most of the calculators are new, and thus it's too early to predict how well they will estimate costs. In addition, net price calculators can vary significantly from one college website to another, and some may generate a net price that overstates or understates the true bottom line cost. For example, some calculators that are based on the free federal template ask few questions, require little time to complete, and are based on two-year-old data that is updated in December.

McDaniel provides a custom net price calculator on its website, which takes longer to complete but includes more data for determining the final figure. "I knew when I first saw the federal templates that we could not use that," says Williams. "It's too simplistic. I don't think it can give a very accurate estimate of the Expected Family Contribution for the family just based on the bare-bones data that it asks for. If it were that easy to apply for financial aid, how great that would be, but it's not."

Jeff Whorley, president of Student Aid Services, Inc., which has created custom calculators for over 580 campuses including McDaniel, agrees. "Overly simplified, very short calculators are just not very accurate," he says.

Whorley notes that many of their clients have opted to include features that compute military aid, translate the calculator results into Spanish, and even provide the total cost of a degree with post-graduation monthly loan estimates. "We expect the number of schools choosing to move to more accurate, customized calculators to continue to grow," he says, "as more become aware of how much an inaccurate net price calculator can overestimate or underestimate actual costs."

Be Wary of Results

In the meantime, however, families should be wary about figures generated from net price calculators. "The calculators are good for determining whether a college falls inside or outside the ballpark of affordability, but are not yet good enough for distinguishing between home plate and center field," Kantrowitz says. "The calculators should not be used for comparing colleges. They can be used to identify additional colleges worth considering, but should not be used to exclude any colleges from the initial selection, since they are not yet accurate enough."

But he predicts that in time, they will be. "After a few years of refinement," he says, "the net price calculators should become valuable tools for families."

Volunteering Can Lead To Unexpected Career Opportunities

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Yaffa Klugerman

September 26, 2011

Last year, Stephen Anfield had a steady part-time public relations job in Washington, DC, but his heart was leading him elsewhere: Shaken by the death of his grandmother from a rare disease, he resolved to help out older Americans. He decided that his future was with AARP--and so he began to volunteer there.

"It was the first time I experienced what it's like to have a grandparent whose health was slowly deteriorating," explains Anfield, 30. "It hurt me to see someone who did so much for me suffering so much. I wanted to do what I could to help older Americans obtain the necessary care they deserve."

After several months of juggling his part-time job with volunteering for AARP's Create the Good campaign, Anfield was offered two contracted paid positions--one at AARP and one at the AARP Foundation. He accepted both and eventually connected with the nonprofit think tank Civic Ventures/Encore Careers. Today, he works there full-time as their communications associate/online community manager, where he helps older adults find career paths.

Anfield acknowledges that volunteering paved the path to his career. "Volunteering certainly is a great way to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack," he says.

The Value of Volunteer Experience

Despite difficult economic times, volunteering has increased dramatically in the past few years. A study released by the Corporation for National and Community Service found that the number of Americans volunteering in their communities increased by 1.6 million in 2009--the largest increase in six years. All together, 63.4 million Americans volunteered for charitable causes that year, providing more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth about $169 billion.

With all that volunteering going on, it's no wonder that such experience is increasingly being recognized as valuable, and particularly in this difficult job environment. In a recent survey of nearly 2,000 professionals conducted by LinkedIn.com, 41 percent said they consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience when evaluating job candidates. In addition, 20 percent of the hiring managers surveyed said they had made a hiring decision based on a candidate's volunteer work experience.

But LinkedIn's survey also found that evidently not all professionals regard volunteer experience as "real" work experience: Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they had personally volunteered, but only 45 percent included their volunteer experience on their resumes.

That's a mistake, says Nicole Williams, author of the book "Girl on Top" and connection director at LinkedIn. "Hiring managers are assessing hundreds of equally qualified candidates," she points out, "and it's often volunteer experience that ends up differentiating the person who gets the job when it becomes a tight race."

To help people better utilize their volunteer experience, LinkedIn recently introduced a "Volunteer Experience & Causes" field to LinkedIn profiles, where members can opt to list causes and organizations they support as well as volunteer positions. Williams says that including such information is crucial given today's competitive job market.

She expects volunteer experience to carry even more weight with hiring managers in the future. "I do think this is a new trend," she says, "and will continue to grow as both hiring managers and individual volunteers see not only the merit of supporting a cause they believe in, but the opportunity to be exposed to really challenging, career-developing tasks."

Creating New Career Paths

Jeremy Rivera, 28, wasn't planning on a technology career when he volunteered for a computer training program that taught introductory level computer skills to the unemployed. At the time, he was 18, attending Riverside Community College in southern California, and saw the volunteering as an opportunity to help others with the computer skills he had acquired in school. Rivera eventually applied for a customer support position with Homes.com, and his volunteering experience helped him land the job.

"I listed the experience on my resume," he says, "and it really was something that got their attention and helped me land that entry level job. The hiring manager was impressed by the skill set that the volunteer environment gave me in communicating complex technology in simple and understandable terms."

Rivera has since been promoted several times, and is now employed as the company's search engine marketing manager. It's a job that he never expected; originally, he planned on pursuing a career in linguistics. Nevertheless, he says, "I am truly satisfied with my career path."

Others have also found that volunteering often opens doors to new and unexpected career paths. Cher Hale, 20, originally had planned on a career in the business sector, but changed her mind after she began volunteering for the Las Vegas-based nonprofit Hero School, an organization that assists the homeless and unemployed. After several months of volunteering, Hale was offered the position of social media director. She has been working there since May and is now a full-time employee.

"After working for a nonprofit and finding out how much I appreciated the sector, I decided that I would work my hardest to help Hero School grow into a national brand," she says. "I plan to stay with the organization to watch it grow to a point where it is creating scalable change in the United States."

Anfield agrees that volunteering has led him in unexpected directions. "My career path is anything but normal, and I wouldn't have it any other way," he says. "I feel that my work is truly making a difference."

As Older American Population Increases, So Does Demand For Elder Care

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Yaffa Klugerman
September 7, 2011

After over a decade successfully working in finance, Nadir H. Wright is getting set to embark on a new business venture: This October, he will be opening Bright Days Home Care in New York, which will provide non-medical, in-home care for older adults. He expects his business to serve about 30 clients in the first year, with a staff of about 35 caregivers.

"There is such a great need for this service," he explains, "particularly as the Baby Boomers continue to age."

Indeed, study after study has confirmed that quality care for America's elderly remains a pressing issue. According to a recent report released by MetLife's Mature Market Institute, about 10 million Americans age 50 and older currently provide care to one or both of their parents. Fifteen years ago, just one-third of that number did so.

Moreover, as the population of aging Americans grows, the demand for services for the elderly is only expected to rise. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 40 million, or just under 13 percent of Americans are currently age 65 and older. By 2050, however, that number is projected to expand to 88.5 million--roughly 20 percent of the country's population. People 85 years old will be among one of the nation's fastest growing groups: Today, there are just under 6 million of them, but by 2050 the number is expected to rise to 19 million.

"All of these people are going to need more care and more services," notes Denise R. Scruggs, director of the Beard Center on Aging at Lynchburg College in Virginia. "We see people living longer, and we never have enough qualified people to care for them."

Public perceptions make it difficult to attract workers

Part of the problem with attracting workers to the field, she says, is public perception. "Working in the field of gerontology is not sexy," she says. "We're seeing a disconnect among generations, and we see stereotypes that aging is not good, and that working with old people is boring."

Maria Yefimova, who graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UCLA in June and is currently working towards her nursing doctorate with a focus in gerontology, agrees. "I believe there still exists a persistent stereotype of a debilitated dependent older person, which discourages people from pursuing a career in gerontology," she says.

Many people also avoid careers in elder care because workloads can be high, and wages are typically lower than in other fields. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2010, for example, home health aides earned a mean hourly wage of just $10.46. This was the case even though such workers are in great demand: The BLS predicts that employment of home health aides will grow by 50 percent between 2008 and 2018--significantly faster than the average for all occupations.

Even with more education and training, salaries remain significantly lower in careers that focus on treating the elderly. According to data from the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs and the American Geriatric Society's Geriatrics Workforce Policy Studies Center, for example, the median salary for a geriatrician in private practice in 2010 was $183,523. This was $5,879 less than the average family physician's salary, and $21,856 less than the average general internist's salary. It's no wonder, then, that in 2009-10, only 273, or 56 percent, of geriatric medicine first-year fellowship training slots were filled.

Workers seek to make a difference

Ultimately, says Scruggs, people who pursue careers in elder care choose to do so because they want to make a difference. "It's more than the money," she says. "You need to have a love of working with older adults."

Charlotte Arbogast, a Certified Dementia Practitioner who is currently pursuing her master's in gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University, is one such example. She graduated with a bachelor's in history, but became interested in gerontology around the time that her family started caring for her grandfather, who was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Arbogast discovered that most workers lacked the skills and training necessary to provide adequate assistance. Currently, she is focusing on the policy aspects of gerontology, such as with issues of power of attorney and title protection for gerontologists.

"I wanted to help solve some of those problems," she says.

Wright, of Bright Days Home Care, understands that feeling. "I have had a successful career working in financial services for over 10 years, but in the end that has proven not to be as rewarding as when I am helpful to others," he explains. "I witnessed my grandmother struggle with diabetes and my mother with liver failure. It was a challenge for us to find in-home care that was consistent and compassionate. I am doing this in memory of them, ensuring that the clients I serve receive quality care."

Not surprisingly, he describes his ideal candidate as "someone who wants to do this job because they find it rewarding to be of service to others."

Experts point out that gerontology today offers a variety of career choices even beyond healthcare. Scruggs says that the rise in aging Americans is creating demand for transportation providers, elder law attorneys, financial planners, social workers, geriatric care managers, and even funeral directors. In fact, she predicts that the aging of America will ultimately have an effect on all careers--even those that are not directly related to the elderly.

"The population shift of older Americans is going to impact you," she says, "regardless of your field of study."

Hiring Expected To Improve For New College Grads

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

March 11, 2011

A survey has found that hiring for the class of 2011 should be stronger this year than last.

This month, the National Association of Colleges and Employers released a study indicating that about 53 percent of employers surveyed intend to hire more college graduates from the class of 2011 than last year. In the organization's fall survey, less than 50 percent of employers said they expected to increase hiring of new college graduates.

"At the outset of the 2010-11 academic year, the outlook for the class of 2011 was already significantly better than what we saw for the class of 2010," noted Marilyn Mackes, NACE's executive director, in a statement. "This new poll is additional evidence that the job market for new college graduates is opening up."

Some college and universities have already noticed an improvement in recruiting and hiring of college graduates. According to U.S. News & World Report, 47 percent more employers attended career fairs at the University of Michigan in 2010 than in 2009. Similarly, the University of Virginia welcomed 14 percent more companies to fall career fairs.

"We have seen an uptick in our attendance both by students as well as by employers at our fairs this year," said Kendra Nelsen, director for student services at the UVA Office of University Career Services, who was interviewed by U.S. News. "It's not huge and dramatic but it's reflective of the little uptick in the job market."

The Detroit Free Press confirms that college career services directors have seen a rise in recruiting for jobs in insurance, personal finance, retail, engineering and government work. The fields with the most growth appear to be information technology or computer science.

"Sometimes we don't even have enough students for the requests that are out there," said Theda Rudd, associate director for career services at Michigan State University, who was quoted by the Detroit Free Press.

Last October, MSU's science and technology job fair attracted 21 percent more businesses than in 2009. The university's business job fair, meanwhile, saw a 14 percent increase in the number of companies recruiting.

NACE also reported good news for college graduates in February: For the first time since 2008, average starting salary offers to college seniors rose 3.5 percent over last year. Offers to accounting majors, for example, increased 2.2 percent to $49,022, while offers to electrical engineers rose 4.4 percent to $61,690.

Despite these improvements in the job market, experts cautioned that a full recovery is still far away. "We're not at the level that we were in 2007," pointed out Edwin Koc, director of strategic and foundation research at NACE, to U.S. News. "Because of the recession years, it's a long way back to that level, and we're not quite there yet."

Compiled by Yaffa Klugerman

Sources:

"Brighter Job Outlook for Class of 2011," U.S. News & World Report, March 9, 2011, Katy Hopkins

"College Hiring, Recruiting Activity Jump in February: NACE Index," NACE press release, March 3, 2011

"Jobs in Michigan: Small, Midsized Businesses are Hiring College Grads," Detroit Free Press, March 6, 2011, Chrissie Thompson

Publishers Expanding E-Textbook Offerings

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

March 11, 2011

Leading textbook publishers are striking deals to make more titles available electronically for students.

The Wall Street Journal reports that McGraw-Hill Company, for example, just signed an agreement with the interactive textbook start-up Inkling to make books available for the iPad. Over the next year, McGraw-Hill expects to convert its top 100 undergraduate titles and medical school curriculum into e-textbooks with interactive features.

Inkling has already struck similar deals with publishers such as John Wiley & Sons and Cengage Learning. "Now that we've proven that we can actually do something that demonstrably better than the print book," said Matt MacInnis, the company's founder, who was interviewed by the Journal, "publishers are signing up."

As a further sign of e-textbook growth, CourseSmart, which offers digitized versions of print textbooks, announced this week that the University of Michigan will be testing e-textbooks as a means to improving student performance. The pilot program will include five courses and nearly 200 students who will be able to access e-textbooks as well as course assignments, homework and syllabi.

"As a large, forward-thinking public university, we continue to look for new ways to improve the learning environment of our faculty and students," said Susan Hollar, curriculum integration coordinator for the UM library, in a news release. "We are evaluating the pilot program and will make recommendations regarding campus directions for e-textbooks. We want to help our campus make informed decisions about new technology tools."

The Journal points out, however, that the pricing of e-textbooks still remains an issue: CourseSmart, which tends to offer straight conversions of printed text, typically sets e-textbook prices at about half the cost of printed versions. But McGraw-Hill, which expects to offer more interactive features in its e-textbooks, said that its Inkling versions will be priced at about 80 percent of the print cost.

In a related story, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Project MUSE Editions and the University Press E-Book Consortium (UPEC) will team up to "collect, host, and market scholarly e-book collections to the library marketplace."

UPEC includes the University of Nebraska Press, New York University Press, the University of Pennsylvania Press, Rutgers University Press, and Temple University Press. The partnership with Project MUSE will be called the University Press Content Consortium (UPCC), which will market collections of scholarly publications to libraries.

Compiled by BrainTrack.com Staff

Sources:

"CourseSmart Partners with University of Michigan to Provide Integrated Access to Digital Course Materials," PRNewswire.com, March 8, 2011

"For Libraries, Merged University Press Group Becomes Big Player in E-Book Sales," The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 10, 2011, Jennifer Howard

"Publishers Expand E-Textbook Offerings for Classroom," The Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2011, Yukari Iwatani Kane

Demand For Truck Drivers On The Rise

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

March 10, 2011

The trucking industry has been adding jobs and growth is expected to continue.

MLive.com reports that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking companies added 11,200 jobs in February. Noel Perry, a consultant with FTR Associates, noted that the industry expects a shortage of about 150,000 drivers by the end of this year, and as much as 400,000 by 2012.

"There's always a demand for good drivers," said Walter Heinritzi, executive director of the Michigan Trucking Association, who was quoted by MLive.com. He added that many of the current truckers are age 55 and over. "There is expected to be a huge turnover of drivers in the next five to 10 years as those drivers start to retire," he said.

Mike Hinz, vice president of driver recruiting at Schneider Training Academy in Wisconsin, agreed. "Even if the rebound is half of what people say, there will be a driver shortage," he told The Oshkosh Northwestern. While he has not noticed many baby boomers retiring lately, that could change.

"Trucking is a hard business," he said. "It's a great business, but it's tough, too, so as you get up there in age people sometimes choose other careers to have the right balance in their life."

For the unemployed, trucking can be a good option. Drivers can make $40,000 to $80,000 annually and companies say that demand for quality drivers is increasing.

"Right now we are seeing a big jump in job orders--the largest jump in 12 months for drivers and owner operators," said Annette Carpenter, CEO of TruckersAmerica, in a press release. "There is a major focus in the mid-western states, but we feel that within the next six weeks it will be nationwide. This week alone we have taken orders for 95 drivers that we need to fill within two weeks. Truck drivers are in such high demand right now, and realistically have little to no reason to be unemployed."

But the high turnover rate for truck drivers is partially due to its notoriously difficult work conditions: Drivers often need to spend long hours on the road away from family.

"But view the glass as half full or half empty," said Carpenter. "A trucker is either away from home but supporting the family and lifestyle choices, or home watching TV waiting for a local job."

Compiled by BrainTrack.com Staff

Sources:

"As Baby Boomers Retire, Jobs Likely to Open Up," The Oshkosh Northwestern, February 13, 2011, Nathan Phelps

"Ready for a Life on the Road? Demand for Truckers is Picking Up," MLive.com, March 9, 2011, Jackie Headapohl

"The Truck Driver Shortage is Back," WebWire.com, March 9, 2011

Student Coaching Can Improve Retention And Graduation Rates

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

March 10, 2011

A new study has found that individualized coaching to college students can help keep them in school and ultimately help them earn their degrees.

The study was conducted by Eric P. Bettinger, an associate professor of education at Stanford University, and doctoral student Rachel Baker, and was based on the student coaching services provided by the company InsideTrack. The researchers reviewed academic records of close to 14,000 students from eight institutions, and compared groups of coached and non-coached students.

The findings, which are being published today by the National Bureau of Economic Research, clearly indicated that coaching helped with retention and graduation rates: After six months, the coached student group led the non-coached group in retention by about 10 percent, and by almost 12 percent after 12 months. At 18 months, the coached group led by 15 percent. Moreover, the results were consistent even when the researchers controlled for age, gender, SAT and ACT scores, GPA, and scholarships and grants.

"The results are clear: Coaching had a clear impact on retention and completion rates," Bettinger said in a statement. "And not only does coaching improve the likelihood students will remain in college, but expenditures on coaching are much smaller than the costs of other methods to encourage persistence in college."

Inside Higher Ed agrees that the study noted that coaching may be one of the most cost effective ways to increase student retention. The price of the coaching was about $500 per semester per student.

One of the study's more interesting findings was that coaching tended to impact men more than women. That conclusion is particularly significant, since men tend to have lower enrollment and graduation rates.

"If we look in broad literature, we struggle to help males stay enrolled and engaged in school," noted Bettinger in an interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education. "The effects here were clear. Active outreach towards male students, happening on a one-on-one basis, in the privacy of their e-mail account or cell phone, was really effective for these kids in this study."

Compiled by Yaffa Klugerman

Sources:

"A Close-Up Look at Student Coaching," The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 9, 2011, Eric Hoover

"Stanford Study Shows College Student Coaching Improves Retention and Graduation Rates," Stanford University School of Education press release, March 10, 2011

"The Power of the Nudge," Inside Higher Ed, March 10, 2011, Scott Jaschik