Chris Robertson

By: Chris The Graduate    Do you know what’s frustrating as a young adult wanting to get into the work field after high school? Employers always want a potential employee with experience. And even when you apply for an “entry-level” job, some form of experience still exists. But as a person out of high school with no job skills, how do you get experience and skills to pay the bills? Well from the stuff I have picked up over the years, it can spark a job. So we need to build our resume right out of high school. But with no job experience, we can still find great skills to add. First off, let’s think about all the things you have done over 4 years of high school. Clubs, volunteering hours, extracurricular activities, and even hobbies you have. All of these activities can help us build our resume and showcase our skills. It’s important to highlight our accomplishments and highlight the most relevant experiences. This will help us stand out from other applicants. For instance, if you have volunteered at a local animal shelter, you can mention it to show that you have compassion and a sense of responsibility. I remember volunteering for robotics and putting on my resume the skills I gained from doing this activity. And it really pulls people into my interest. And speaking of interest, I believe that hobbies are essential to put on your resume. Hobbies can be a great way to demonstrate your enthusiasm and show potential employers that you have a varied skill set. They can also demonstrate your dedication and commitment to something outside of your professional life. Hobbies can provide additional context to your resume and help employers better understand your personality and interests. For example, a hobby such as playing an instrument or participating in sports can demonstrate your dedication to learning something new and your perseverance in pursuing your goals. With this being said don’t just compile information into a Word document with a summary of everything you have done. Make the employer feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by what you have to offer. Make sure to keep the information organized and concise. Emphasize the most important points and provide evidence to support your claims. Proofread the document before submitting it. Have people you know and trust read and give you feedback and take feedback seriously. It is very much possible to be hired while you are in high school or coming out of high school. You already have what you need to add to your resume. Now all you need is to make things better and easier on the eyes. You can start by making sure your resume is up-to-date and free of errors. You can also add any extracurricular activities or volunteer work you’ve done. Finally, make sure to include any relevant skills you may have. It’s like putting the finishing touches on a painting: you need to fill in the details and make sure everything is in place before it can truly be appreciated. 

By: Chris The Graduate  In a past blog, The Future of AI and Careers, I talked about how AI has helped companies get rid of repetitive tasks in the hiring process. Then, I only focused on how AI aided HR in finding the right candidates for the job. But now, AI takes on most of the work of hiring. With AI streamlining the hiring process, HR professionals are able to focus more on the essential aspects of the job, such as interviewing and determining the candidate’s fit. But is this a good thing? How would this ultimately affect potential employees? How could this cause problems for employers in the future? Now as most know, we the people thrive on the source of AI and technology. So it would make sense that they use AI to aid and lessen their workload. This in turn will free up HR personnel to focus on employee development, training, and providing better support to current employees. AI can also be used to identify potential employees more accurately and provide them with more personalized advice. This could lead to better hiring decisions and fewer mistakes. In some instances, helping future employees with chatbots and helpdesk to receive great advice in ways that a normal HR could not do. For example, chatbots can provide personalized advice to potential employees based on their skills and experience, as well as provide tailored information based on the company’s culture, values, and goals. But seemingly can you trust all of what AI has to offer when looking for jobs? When we look to AI to be correct 100% of the time, we leave the process alone and let it do its work. But in reality, when it comes to hiring, how do we know if the AI hiring process is actually working? It’s important to have a way to measure the accuracy of AI hiring. This can be done by tracking the success rate of new hires, the retention rate of new hires, and the performance of new hires. Additionally, it’s important to have a way to monitor the AI hiring process to ensure that the AI is making decisions that are in line with company goals and objectives. For example, companies can track the AI’s ability to identify and hire a qualified candidate within a certain timeframe, or the AI’s ability to accurately measure a candidate’s skills. However, there are also some potential risks associated with AI hiring processes. For example, there is always the potential for bias in the AI’s decision-making, which could lead to the AI hiring candidates who are not the best qualified for the job. Additionally, there is always the potential for AI algorithms to be hacked, which could expose the confidential information of candidates.  As a whole, I think AI should be allowed to interfere with the hiring process in order to make it easier. The HR department should still have some control over what happens. AI should be used to narrow down the list of candidates, allowing the HR department to focus on interviewing the best ones. AI should also be used to help assess candidates’ suitability for the role. Finally, AI should be used to provide feedback on the hiring process as a whole. These measures should ensure that the hiring process is more efficient and successful.

By: Chris The Graduate  What is networking? How does it work? Why is it so beneficial? Networking is like dating, it’s all about finding a good match and making it last. And if it doesn’t work out, there’s always Match.com! But being a college student, I am starting to realize how important it is to talk to people and expand your mental contacts. It can be challenging to do it successfully. It is crucial to develop networking skills as a young person seeking a career among many professionals in the field. Networking allows you to build meaningful relationships and learn from other people’s experiences. It also provides the opportunity to create meaningful connections that can lead to future job opportunities. But how can we be realistic? So networking in my eyes is getting common ground with and communicating with professionals and all other types of people to receive information. Networking is a two-way street, so providing value when communicating with others is important. By sharing information, advice, or resources, you can create a mutually beneficial connection that will benefit both parties in the long run. Additionally, networking is a great way to gain insights into the industry or field you are interested in and find mentors and other people who can help guide you in your career. But let’s be real, this isn’t as easy as it seems. Some people just decide not to add to the conversation or even just are not interested. But don’t worry, you can always just walk away and start talking to the person next to you! Now of course, in order to network, you need a gathering of multiple personnel. This is why attending events or conferences is a great way to meet people. You can also join online communities or professional organizations. Additionally, you can always reach out to people you admire or know through your existing network. For instance, you could contact someone you’ve met through a mutual friend, or you could connect with someone you’ve met at a conference or industry event. You can also join a professional network like LinkedIn or attend online networking events. Finally, you can always try cold contacting people by sending them an email or a direct message on social media. My personal experience with networking is a perfect example. Before actually starting college, I attended orientation. At this event, I got to tour the college and get comfortable with the environment. But a major thing that I got to do was talk to upperclassmen and talk about what I could expect coming into college as a freshman. They all communicated what I needed to do in order to be successful. Also with this, they told me what not to do and how to stay focused and enjoy my time in college. And for only having a 15-minute conversation I learned so much and gained contact information just to help me in the long run  Overall, networking is beneficial in so many ways as long as you put yourself in the right position. Networking can also open up new opportunities, such as job offers or potential collaborations. It’s important to remember that networking is a long-term strategy, and you won’t get results overnight. But by staying consistent and being proactive, you’ll be sure to see results. Furthermore, networking can provide you with valuable feedback and support from others in your field, helping you remain engaged and connected. And don’t forget to have fun along the way! Networking should be an enjoyable experience, and it’s worth taking the time to build meaningful relationships with like-minded people.

  By: Chris The Graduate  There are a number of industries in the United States that tend to take shortcuts in order to increase the amount of sales and money they make. As a result, their own employees suffer from a lack of attention when there is a problem in the workplace, which negatively affects their own morale and productivity. Employees who are not paid attention to while working may experience burnout, depression, and anxiety. Employers who take shortcuts can also cause a lack of safety for employees, inadequate wages, and long hours, which ultimately leads to employee dissatisfaction and turnover. However, if employees come together to talk about these workplace problems at their company, then a union may be able to come together and improve the workplace conditions at the company. There are many ways in which a labor union can benefit its members, and this is one of them. There are several benefits to being a member of a labor union, but what are the true benefits? Labor union history started in 1866 in Baltimore, Maryland where workers fought to mandate an 8-hour work day. Since then, labor unions have secured a wide variety of rights and benefits for their members, such as better wages, health and retirement benefits, and improved working conditions. They also provide a unified voice in collective bargaining and negotiations with employers. Unions have also been instrumental in ensuring workers’ rights are respected and companies adhere to labor laws. Additionally, they have been key to fighting for social and economic justice. They advocate for safe and humane working conditions and ensure workers are treated fairly. For instance, in 2019, the United Steelworkers Union negotiated a $3.9 billion settlement with the U.S. government. This was on behalf of thousands of miners exposed to toxic coal dust for decades. This was the largest settlement awarded to miners in the nation’s history. It was a major victory for the union and showed the power of collective action to bring social and economic justice.  Anyone who works can join a labor union. The only exceptions are managers and company decision-makers. It was like a dam bursting after years of pressure being held back. It cascaded into a torrent that sweeps away years of injustice. Joining a labor union is like being part of a team – everyone plays their part to succeed. Russel Honore, a retired lieutenant general, once wrote: “Leadership means forming a team and working toward common objectives that are tied to time, metrics, and resources.”

By: Chris The Graduate  Since the late 1800s, jobs, and careers have spread to all parts of life in the United States. Starting back when you could make money digging for gold, now a career such as Computer Technician and Pharmaceutical Technician exists worldwide. In 2023, anything you can imagine is a career. Even though some are not put into the light, many are still significant to society. Today, we are going to list and analyze these underappreciated jobs and also discover how they came to be in the society we live in now.  Crime Scene Cleaner A career with an average salary of 35,860 a year, and is made for people that have an interest in Forensics and enjoy cleaning up. The career tackles cleaning up crime scenes and making sure the area looks cleaner than what happened before. Working with various hazardous fluids, this job requires PPE equipment and respiratory protection to keep you safe from harming yourself or anyone else. Being a Crime Scene Cleaner, hours tend to not be in your favor and are completely randomized depending on when cleaning is needed. From aftermath.com, professionals have said that “More than anything, a crime scene cleaner should have a strong commitment to the job and the families they serve. This includes exhibiting compassion and integrity while adhering to all health and safety regulations to protect everyone involved in the process. While challenging, crime scene cleaning can be incredibly rewarding work for the right person.”  Requirements: Scatology Scatology is the study of an element that every human and almost every animal produces in their lifetime, wastes from the body specifically feces. Scatology, or coprology, is a career based on experimenting and finding differences in types of feces from different animals. This is a benefit to society to improve medicines and cures for diseases that could hurt mankind. Major problems such as tapeworms and dysentery are all because of the career pathway. To many, having a career where you look at feces for hours might but unamusing. But for a career that has a salary from 65,000 up to 100,000s, studying excrement might not be too bad. Requirements:   Becoming a Scatologist is equivalent to becoming any other science major. A degree in biology and or medicine is recommended for coming into this career pathway. The people at collegecliffs.com confirm saying, “What scientists see in animal feces can reveal their diet and can tell where these animals have been. To become a cytologist, a degree in biology, medicine, or paleontology is your stepping stone towards becoming one.” Doula Maternity Caregiver This profession deals with caring for relationships between parents and newborn babies. As many know,  being a parent is not an easy job. But making around 35,000 a year, Maternity Caregivers help make parenting easier for both moms and dads so that they do not pull their hair out over the new addition to the family. The website pacisandpeachesdoulas.com is designed to explain the overview of a Maternity Caregiver consultation. “Your Doula or NCS’s main priority is caring for your new addition(s) and ensuring that both mother and baby are healthy and their needs are met. All of our doulas are trained, have a clean background check, hold current Infant CPR & 1st Aid through the (American Heart Association) and are also insured.”  Requirements:  In the Doula Maternity Caregiver world, many schooling hours and certifications are needed to pursue this career. They must attend classes such as Childbirth Education for 12 and Breastfeeding classes. On top of this, People seeking this career must assist 2 or more women in postpartum support which is depression after having a child.  Careers can spawn from anything that can be thought of and needs to be focused on. From Scientists studying animal waste to professionals who help decrease the stresses of having a newborn. In all, The world has an open sea of careers waiting to be filled. As mankind continues to expand, so will the demand for careers handling ideas that we possibly can not wrap our brains around.  Sources:https://www.aftermath.com/content/becoming-a-crime-scene-cleaner-what-are-the-qualifications/  https://www.pacisandpeachesdoulas.com/newborns https://www.naturalhealers.com/blog/doula/#:~:text=Typically%2C%20a%20birth%20doula%20needs,more%20women%20with%20postpartum%20support.