Associate Articles
Gearing Up For Exit Counseling: Valuable Resources for Students
by Michael Henderson, Texas Guaranteed
Soon enough, another spring semester will be coming to an end. Students will flood the office to sign up for exit counseling, seek advice on future money matters, and ask for assistance on finding summer employment or their first job after graduation. Get a jumpstart on your preparation by taking note of these valuable Internet resources that offer a great start for students.
Managing money to repay loans
Despite the availability of a wide variety of resources, a surprisingly high percentage of college students find it difficult to manage their money. Getting them to develop effective money management skills is critical, especially if they are carrying a high debt load.
A great resource for students is available by visiting www.AdventuresInEducation.org, and selecting "College," "Finance Your Education," and "Managing Your Money." Once there, students can find templates and advice on how to prepare budgets for use during school and after graduation. Useful tools on repaying student loans and seeking loan forgiveness are also available.
Preparing for the job search
Get a job! The phrase takes a special meaning each spring season, as continuing students seek temporary summer positions and spring graduates prepare for their first plunge into the full-time job market. Before you send them into the "real world," however, get them to polish up their resumes, practice their interviewing skills, and find great sources for the best jobs.
For advice on these topics, direct students to www.AdventuresInEducation.org, and tell them to select "College" and "Get a Job." This section is filled with information about how to find jobs, write a resume, and prepare for an interview. Students can even use one of the sample resumes provided to help them build their own.
Finding the right job
Once the resume is complete, the shoes are polished, and the practice interviews are done, students will want to know where they can find out what jobs are available. In addition to networking, searching newspaper classifieds, and visiting college placement offices, remind them that online job banks are useful places to look for what's available.
One service, www.JobGusher.comTM, is specifically geared to students. Employers who post their positions on JobGusher are seeking students for a variety of internships, seasonal and temporary work, and other career opportunities. Students can set up search agents, participate in online job fairs, and get frequent updates of jobs that employers are seeking to fill immediately.
Getting the word out
So what's the best way to give students information about these resources, you ask? That's the easiest part. To get free bookmarks, posters, and brochures in English or Spanish about www.AdventuresInEducation.org, send an e-mail to communications@tgslc.org. Brochures and posters about www.JobGusher.com are available by e-mailing mary.mcclanahan@jobgusher.com.
Don't forget to order plenty for students who attend your spring series of exit counseling sessions and presentations!
Michael Henderson is a National Account Representative with Texas Guaranteed (TG) serving schools in the RMASFAA region. He may be reached at (800) 252-9743, ext. 2883, or by e-mail at michael.henderson@tgslc.org. Additional information about TG can be found online at www.tgslc.org.
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