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Tricia Visser
Tricia Visser
 

 

 

 

 

I previously worked as a CNA making an annual salary of $15,000 a year. Although I found the work with the elderly rewarding, I often would struggle to pay my bills every month. After years of struggling to get ahead, I decided to do something about my situation. I did not have a college degree and at the age of 42, I wasn't sure if going to college full time would work for me since I was also working full time. I started to look at my options and researched the Choctaw Nation Career Development Program. In the past I had considered getting my CDL, and becoming a truck driver. It would offer something new every day, the demand for drivers is very high, and the pay can be good-if you work hard for it.  

 

 

I contacted Bettye Bolen at the Career Development program and started the process to obtain assistance. She helped me complete the needed testing and paperwork, as well as worked with my school in order to get me enrolled. I attended a 3 week training course at West Michigan CDL, Inc. The people there were great and very helpful. I then had to complete the training program and team driving probation period with my current company. It was difficult to leave family and friends during this process, but my mother was a HUGE means of moral support during hard times and often was there with some words of wisdom for me. My family also helped with my finances during this process, which helped to take away some of the stress of venturing out into a whole new field of work.

I am doing a lot better now financially. I can pay all my bills and still have money in the bank, and I have health and dental coverage. It's a huge stress reliever to know I am not forced to choose between paying bills, putting gas in my car, or buying food. I have completed the probationary programs at my new employer and have now been issued my own truck. I love traveling and seeing new places!

I want to say THANK YOU to the Choctaw Nation for allowing me the opportunity to make the changes in my life to better myself. The decision the tribal council has made to offer such programs is changing lives!  I also want to say a special Thank You to Bettye Bolen for helping with the process. My school had nothing but praise for how wonderful you were to deal with, and Stacy Hallmark who made it an easier process to complete.

 

Sincerely,

Tricia Visser  

 

Need Financial Motivation? Try a 'Phrase to Save'
by Betsy Talbot  
 
 Betsy and Warren Talbot sold everything to travel the world, and have been for five years. The following story is an excerpt from their book, "Dream, Save, Do: An Action Plan for Dreamers," where they explain one of the key strategies used to save for their trip around the globe.

 

With a $75,000 goal in mind and 25 months to reach it, we knew we had some pretty serious cuts to make in our spending. The more we thought about that number, the "numb"er we felt. More.

 

 
Scholarship Program is now open!
  
  We are happy to report that effective March 21, 2013 (today), the 2013 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program application cycle is now open! The application cycle will remain open through May 14, 2013.  The Application and Program Guidance can be found on the NHSC Website and contains all of the program requirements and details.

Highlights of 2013 NHSC Scholarship Program:

  • The NHSC Scholarship Program removes the burden of overwhelming educational debt, allowing health professions students to pursue their passion for primary care and serving the underserved.
  • For each year of financial support (up to four years) a Scholarship recipient serves one year (minimum two years) in an NHSC-approved site in high-need urban, rural, and frontier communities across the nation.
  • Scholarship support includes tax-free payment of tuition, required fees, other reasonable educational costs, and a monthly living stipend (taxable).
  • All students applying to the program must be a U.S. citizen or national and enrolled or accepted in an eligible degree program at a U.S. accredited school in Medicine: MD or DO; Dentistry:  DMD or DDS; Nurse Practitioner (Adult, Family, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatric, or Women's health); Certified Nurse-Midwife; and Physician Assistant.

 If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, the NHSC will continue to prioritize applicants who are from a disadvantaged background and applicants who demonstrate a commitment to continuing to serve communities of need after their service to the NHSC is complete.

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Career Connection Newsletter

April 2013                              choctawcareers.com

 

2013 Career Expo was a huge success!

 Here are some of the highlights:

 

  • 139 booth spaces filled with employers and training facilities
  • 30 employers hiring at the event
  • 26 companies offered internships
  • 1100 high school students registered to attend
  • Approximately 2,000 total attendance 

   

 

  

 

Thanks to all of our partners and volunteers who helped to make this possible!

Choosing A Career That

Will Meet Your Needs

 

When making decisions about your future career, there are many considerations that should be carefully explored and questions that should be answered.  It is very important to look at your work values, your current and transferrable skills, and your fascinations; but it's just as important to study job outlooks, projected salary ranges, and employment opportunities within the area where you wish to work and live.

 

All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2013 are the occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security. Some careers offer just the right mix of these components-for instance, the top tier is filled with tech and healthcare jobs-but the list also includes strong showings from occupations in the social services and business sectors. Even construction jobs enter the fray this year. Read more on how the best jobs are ranked, and check out the full list of the 100 Best Jobs in 2013.  Read more.

 

 

Study examines vocational certificates' big rewards

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

 

 

Good news for new high school graduates who don't think college-level algebra or freshman English is their thing. A study released Wednesday finds that certificates awarded through short-term vocational training programs can reap a bigger payoff than a bachelor's degree.

 

The devil, of course, is in the details. It's more true for men than women, for Hispanics than blacks. And technology fields are more lucrative than, say, cosmetology. But generally, short-term degree programs that focus on specific occupations can be "the fastest, cheapest way to get a job that pays," says Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

Certificates also have grown in popularity, particularly in the South and West, says the report, based on four federal data sets. One million certificates were awarded in 2010, up from 300,000 in 1994, the researchers found. Of all college degrees and credentials awarded in 2010, they calculated that certificates represented 22%. More. 

 

 

 

Monthly Career Advice...

 

How Appearance Affects an Interview

 

Some people say that only how well you do a job matters and that appearance shouldn't count.  Sounds good, but not true, especially when it comes to interviews. The interviewing manager will judge your appearance in the beginning, even if you graduated at the top of your class from one of the best schools and have an excellent work record. The interviewer's first impression will be formed before you get to the details of your school and work history.

Appearance is More Than What You Wear

You can empty your wallet buying interviewing clothes and still not make a good impression. Some appearance features are so basic that people forget - or haven't been taught - how important they are. Take care of these items before going on your first interview, whether you are male or female:

  • Get a shampoo and a good haircut. Stringy, medium or long, oily hair suggests you aren't clean. Old-fashioned or trendy hairstyles communicate that you don't understand business appearance.
  • Take care of your teeth. Invest in a whitening product at the pharmacy. If your teeth are crooked, broken, or decayed, visit a dentist a few months before you start interviewing so the problem can be fixed.
  • Stay away from onions and garlic the night before. Bad breath is repulsive. If you greet the interviewer with a good handshake and a big breath of garlic, the garlic wins and you lose.
  • Take a bath. Use deodorant. But stay away from heavy cologne or perfume. If you look good, but smell bad, your interview is over before it begins. Enough said.
  • Clean and trim your fingernails and scrub your hands the night before. Dirty, torn nails, and hands with worn-in grime communicate that you didn't care enough about professional appearance details.
  • Cover up the tattoos and body piercings. You'll have a better chance at the job if you wear long sleeves over the tattoo that runs across your wrist. As for visible piercings, remove them before you head for an interview. You want the hiring manager to be listening to your accomplishments, not staring at that round, silver ball on the side of your nose.

Display self-confidence

Within the first 60 seconds of an interview, your self-confidence - or lack of it - is visible. "Fake it till you make it" is a good guideline for showing self-confidence. You feel more confident when you act confident. Just make sure you don't come across as arrogant. To build self-confidence:

 

Do

Don't

Shake hands firmly

Start by apologizing for something

Sit up straight

Slump in your chair or fidget

Smile

Appear uncertain or scared

Make eye contact

Stare at the floor

Speak clearly in a pleasant voice

Mumble or speak too softly to be heard

Use body language to confirm interest

Appear nonchalant

 

 

What do you think the following statement means: "Image is everything, and perception is reality"? How does the statement relate to job interviews?

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Career Headlinesis a complimentary, weekly update on career-related topics from Career Solutions Publishing. Visit us at www.careersolutionspublishing.com or call 888-299-2784. 

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