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Project management is crucial for any modern business as it ensures that risks are properly managed and mitigated before they lead to a crisis. s

A project manager’s role is multi-dimensional; for example, it includes task completion, achieving business goals, and competing in the marketplace. These tasks may seem commonplace and essential parts of any business, but the fact of the matter is that these require hard skills and are all about competence.

It isn’t easy to complete projects within the set deadlines and budget. That’s why most enterprises hire dedicated professionals who are trained to do the job. As a result, project management has become a core practice for organizations looking to excel in these times of constant change. Product optimization, system deployment, process building, process reengineering, new service initiation, software development, and marketing strategies are just a few of the processes that project managers handle.

Back in the day, the success of these projects was measured on productivity and organizational goals, mostly achieving time and budget targets. However, today’s diverse market conditions and global competition necessitate new approaches to using projects as competitive tools.

This makes their job even more challenging for first-time project managers, as their role has drastically changed over the last few years. New technology, trends, and practices have come into play. This means that managers must be well-versed in the latest project management trends, software, techniques, and implementations to be successful at their jobs.

Almost every project begins with a business viewpoint and a target in mind, usually improving performance and playing an important part in the overarching strategy for success. So it’s no wonder that project managers are increasingly expected to concentrate on digitalization, leadership, financial prowess, and so much more.

If you want to become a successful project manager, this guide will help you recognize the key skills required to be a successful project manager. Read on.

Dedicated Leadership Skills

A project manager brings direction to the team and the project, ensuring everything is in place. Without a proper project manager, a team is like a lost ship without a sailor; the boat might be moving with the flow of water, but there is no direction, power, or intention to its movement.

Their leadership encourages and facilitates team members’ best efforts. This guidance and vision are always directed at the team as the project managers ensure that clear borders of responsibility are established among the group with designated tasks and deadlines for everyone.

There’s no doubt who’s in command of a task when you have a project manager to guide it to fruition, even if you are using related tools. Since project managers are solely responsible for the success or failure of these efforts, you can count on them to implement a well-structured process and keep the entire team in line.

Strong Communication Skills

Communication is a dynamic element, and its presence is vital for the successful accomplishment of business goals. Knowing the organization’s vision, mission, and objectives is critical, but presenting them to team members succinctly is much more important.

To communicate your opinions, needs, deliverables, and goals to clients, team members, vendors, and stakeholders, you’ll need strong communication and interpersonal skills.

According to a PMI report, 90% of a project manager’s time is spent on communication – with the clients, the production teams, managing finances, and so much more. Poor communication skills can undoubtedly disrupt the project costs and schedule.

That’s why businesses hire dedicated project managers to ensure good contact for the timely delivery of projects.

Today, most project managers establish groups for making communication more effective with the help of communication tools for conventional spaces. They can also be expected to a diverse range of resources, including social media platforms and emails, to smoothen and strengthen communication. However, in every case, having the right tools at the disposal of the team is essential.

Risk Management Skills

Risk management is a crucial stage of project management. It entails identifying, analyzing, and responding to risk factors throughout the entire project. A project manager should be proficient and competent in risk management to ensure successful delivery.

Given this, the number of project managers incorporating risk management into their projects is steadily growing. If you want to be recognized as a better project manager, you must understand and implement risk management strategies in all that you do.

Time Management Skills

A project may be postponed due to time management or scheduling problems. Project managers practice time control and scheduling to ensure that their assignments get completed on time.

Also, you must know how to successfully organize a staff so that they can work together to accomplish a shared purpose in total unity and unison. It is useful for organizing, delegating, and administering a group of team members in a manner that facilitates collaboration, dispute resolution, performance evaluation, and overall project success.

Problem Solving Skills

Every project has its own set of challenges; some are avoidable, whereas others are inevitable and uncontrollable, such as distance creep and unanticipated threats. At the same time, many other issues could be attributed to poor preparation or execution. As a good project manager, you must have a systematic approach to solving these problems when they arise.

To effectively solve challenges, you can use the following problem-solving steps to ensure that you are on top of the situation:

1. Identify the problem
2. Evaluate the causes
3. Create solutions
4. Choose the right alternative
5. Take appropriate action.

Developing expertise to deal with concerns and challenges that arise when working on challenging projects is important for every project manager.

Project Planning And Management Skills

Project management is highly preferred as it keeps everything organized and in place. However, to keep everything in its rightful, you need a plan.

If project management is not well-managed, project deadlines can be set optimistically, leading to late delivery and ultimately over budget.

To be a good project manager, you need to negotiate for reasonable and achievable deadlines. Projects completed and delivered with tight deadlines often compromise the quality of work. A good project manager also focuses on the quality being offered.

Moreover, when it comes to project distribution among the team, a project manager should plan and distribute the tasks through a realistic schedule with objectivity.

It is important to embrace all the skills mentioned earlier and create a clear process for the production team and the client. This will help in the tracking and quality assurance process.

Quality Controlling Skills

The primary purpose of hiring a project manager for any organization is to ensure maximum quality for the clients. The project manager highly emphasizes the organized workflow, which ultimately results in better quality even under enormous pressure.

A dedicated project manager ensures enough time and resources to deliver the designated project and quality-testing the outcome at every stage.

A good project manager should know how to establish gated phases and assess the outcome for quality and the right way to achieve good ROIs

These are not just 7 skills but 7 phases of project management that you need to ace to become a successful project manager.

To get started, here are a few quick tips to help you practice and understand the project management skills:

1. Note all the project details
2. Identify the project
3. Identify the team requirements
4. Take responsibility for the project
5. Work with authority
6. Gain your team’s support
7. Define complex project milestones
8. Establish active communication and support lines
9. Choose the right tools for maximum productivity
10. Manage the underlying risks
11. Test the project multiple times for quality assurance
12. Evaluate the project
13. Submit the project
14. Value the feedback from the client
15. Review

Wrapping Up

Without a project manager with proper management skills, teams and clients are subject to dysfunctional and chaotic administration. It may lead to ambiguous priorities, high risk, low-quality project delivery, projects that run over budget, and late completion of projects.

Great project management is important since successful projects are led by project managers who have received extensive training. Walking in for a project management role without the necessary skills can harm your reputation and career. Therefore, you should opt for good project management courses like the ones offered by MCI Institute. They are offering one of the best Project management courses online Australia.

Good project managers bring together happy and empowered people who feel their job counts and are motivated to do their best. Meanwhile, the team guarantees to deliver a quality project that produces real ROIs and results in happier clients.

 

The invention of the world wide web has changed how our society functions. From healthcare to finance, the internet has revolutionized every industry. However, the educational sector has had the most radical change in recent times. In the last few years, educationists moved from traditional classrooms towards online education. It was inevitable to think of conventional classrooms during the pandemic.

Both the mode of instruction and the ways of interaction have undergone an enduring change. And educators faced many issues during the online transition. When tragedy struck a year ago, few people were ready to make the shift efficiently. But, even before the pandemic online learning was on the rise. More than 3 million students enrolled in online programs during 2019. And six million students were taking one online course as part of their degree.

Teachers are using online tools to connect with students. Recorded lectures, discussion forums, and apps such as zoom have replaced traditional classrooms and schools. Furthermore, the move to distance learning has highlighted the gaps in education. Many people are skeptical of this change in the mode of instruction. And undoubtedly, it is a daunting task to disregard years of tradition for something new. But, the future is online. This shift has brought an unexpected change in marketing strategies as well. Online marketers have a well-thought plan on the matter. With a mix of SEO tips and digital marketing techniques, educational institutes are trying to improve enrollment facilities. The latest digital marketing strategies are focusing on making online education even more popular.

Advantages of Online learning:

Online learning has many advantages. Not only does it make life easier for the students, but it also makes it easier to teach. We will consider both these types of benefits and reasons why online teaching is the way forward in education.

Advantages for the student:

1. You can study whenever: The foremost advantage of online learning is you can read whenever you want. No matter if you are a night owl or a morning person, you can make your schedule. Research shows that everyone has distinctive sleep patterns. Therefore, everyone is efficient at different times. With an online class, you can study at your convenience and routine.
2. You can study from anywhere: Perhaps one of the most significant differences in online classrooms is that you can read from anywhere. The only thing that you need is a computer or mobile device and a reliable internet connection. You can write paper online laying on your bed. Furthermore, you save on added expenses such as commuting to college and accommodation. And you do not have to venture out in inclement weather.
3. You meet people from different countries: An online classroom is a truly global experience. You may have students coming together from all corners of the world to study the same subject. Therefore, you will have an enriched learning experience and meet with diverse people.
4. You can become comfortable: Many people find large classrooms intimidating. With an online classroom, you have one degree of separation from others. Therefore, you will be more comfortable speaking in an online classroom. You can also discuss things with others on online forums and chat rooms. Furthermore, online courses make it easier for teachers to engage one on one with their students. Research suggests that 90 percent of online instructors find online classes better to connect with their students.
5. You can work and study simultaneously: Students often have to choose between continuing education and earning a livelihood. Fortunately, online schooling makes things easier—a majority of people learning online work full time. Online education makes it easier to juggle a career with education. You can build your schedule and choose your hours.
6. Hone your IT skills: Online classes use new technology. So, students access online tools such as voice calls and animations. Most of these online tools are relevant in the job sector as well. Therefore, learning these skills can make you a better employee.
7. Less expensive: Quality education does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Most online courses are cheaper than traditional degrees. Since you do not invest in classroom materials, you will save on costs. The same is correct for transportation and accommodation. Online colleges also offer cheaper tuition rates as they do not have the same expenses.
8. Variety of options: Online schools offer several programs. College students can learn anything online, from management to astronomy. So, there is something for everyone. You can also choose your level of education. Opt for a certificate, a diploma, or a degree.
9. Learn at your pace: While we have mentioned flexibility, we did not say how you can choose your own pace. Not everyone studies at the same speed. Some people have better cognitive skills, while others do not. With online classes, students can set their own pace and choose their mode of learning. They can learn by watching a video, reading a paper, or listening to a lecture.

Advantages for teachers:

1. Time and location: Teachers do not have to rush to a specific time or place. They can decide to teach from anywhere in the world. They can also choose their timing.
2. Teaching opportunities: Unlike traditional classrooms, there are many various modes of education. Teachers can teach students through videos or audio. They can also connect with students from different backgrounds.
3. Better student engagement: Online teachers state that students are more engaged in an online atmosphere. Non-traditional classrooms allow students to have some on one time with their teachers. It also increases student learning and improves their understanding.

Conclusion:

Online teaching is the way forward in education. As the world continues to become more digitalized, we need to adapt to the education sector. Nearly 90 percent of students believe that an online classroom is better than traditional learning centers. However, every student is not well-suited to an online experience. For example, mature students find it challenging to adapt to a virtual classroom. Furthermore, children suffering from attention disorders might not respond well to online learning. Therefore, every student must decide on their own if the online school is the right choice.

 

Graduation time is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. Whether getting a high school diploma or an MBA from a prestigious university, graduating during the time of COVID-19 is a momentous accomplishment.

So, you are thinking of moving from State school to a Private senior school? Change can be hard, and it can be scary. New environment, new teachers, new friends, new everything. While making the move can be daunting, it can also be exciting, if you are prepared! In this blog, you can find 5 top tips to help you in your move from State school to Private senior school!

Application process

When applying to Private School, there is usually quite a detailed and highly competitive criteria that needs to be met. This means you cannot leave it until the last minute or leave it to chance, preparation is really key here to secure your spot.

First, get yourself familiar with the admissions criteria and alternative options, for example, some private senior schools offer bursaries or scholarships. Whichever way you decide to apply, prepare yourself for a rigorous process. Most Private schools need not only an application, but some include tests and interviews for both parents and students as well. Time to brush up on those skills!

Most Private schools will use the Common Entrance Examination to determine admission. You can read about this on their website. This will give you direction on the test and what you can prepare, perhaps investing in a tutor, online courses, interview coach or an exam strategy could give you an advantage.

Plan ahead

Don’t leave things up to chance or last minute, make sure you have everything planned and in place ready for the move, to ensure a seamless transition. From uniform, to stationary, to travel to and from school. Make sure you / your child knows the form of transport, what classes they have and which buildings they need to go to!

Visit the school

It might be a good idea to visit the Private school you wish to attend on more than one occasion before starting, this way you can get yourself / your child more familiar with the environment, buildings, teacher and peers. This can help reduce the fear and anxiety your child might be facing in the run up to the move, or on the day! And to the point above, can really help to know where your child is going on their first day and gives them an idea on what to expect! You can usually do this on various open days that the school hosts, or organise private visits.

Speak to parents/children

Making time to get to know the other parents and children at the new Private school can also be very beneficial to both you and your child. Your child is already going to be quite distressed, moving school, away from their current school friends. So, being familiar with some of their peers in advance can help boost confidence and self esteem.

Happy child = happy parents!

Extra curricular

If there are any activities your child enjoys, sign them up! The more time they spend at the school, doing the activities they enjoy and spending more time with their peers can really boost the quality of their academic experience.

Hopefully these tips come in handy with your new move. Good luck!

 

To ensure a safer, better future, an organization should build leaders rather than followers for itself.

With the ever-rising technological advancements and companies expanding their business globally, competitive leaders’ need is evident in all professional fields. For every beginner to begin their success journey, there has to be a leader to guide them.

Therefore, no organization or company would want to put their future success and growth at stake. With companies scrambling for solutions, the need for leadership development is more crucial now. The question is, how can one build leaders for tomorrow? The amalgamation of various critical skills and abilities allows us to make future leaders.

Why do we need to train leaders for tomorrow?

The new generation will face a whole new set of rules and challenges compared to the ones faced by leaders today. If you wish to prepare future leaders, there are specific ways to mold them. Preparing for whatever difficulties life will throw at them, navigating their way to success.

The methods and business tactics used in the past by older generations are rendered invalid and nullified by this generation. Consequently, making it tough to practice leadership skills in the current era with outdated guidelines.

Since the future leaders will be different, working in various circumstances, teaching them the same leadership approach would be inappropriate. Instead, they need proper training to adapt to an unfamiliar and unexpected plethora of events. Simultaneously, applying innovative, improvised, and better problem-tackling strategies to prove their leadership skills. Many online leadership degree courses are available to incorporate robust leadership traits. It allows you to learn new things at your time’s convenience while helping to enhance leadership characteristics.

To save the next generation of leaders from the uncanny circumstances, today’s leaders need to develop tomorrow’s leaders. Fortunately, companies are taking steps like arranging conferences and competitions to devise creativity skills among their employees due to rising awareness.

Five Ways to Build Leaders for tomorrow:

“A smooth sea doesn’t make skillful sailors,” That is why the new generation needs to be prepared and trained to bring out the best in them.

However, it is not as straightforward and easy as it sounds. It needs collaboration and creativity to build technical methods and management theories on which the leadership skills will base. Creating various tools will enable future leaders to succeed in a more competitive world.

Here are a few ways to build future leaders:

Start with giving them an enthralling vision:

Nobody would want to walk down a blind path with no clue of where they are going. Therefore, create a purpose or a goal, which the new generation can believe in, compelling them to work on it. They should hone their skills, and success would occur inevitably.

Instill the importance of speaking clearly and confidently in every context. Because when a leader speaks passionately, it helps them connect with the employees and inspires them to work efficiently.

Education and technology go hand in hand:

To instill leadership skills in the new generations, you need to work from the start, beginning now. Provide them the right tools, education, access to the latest technology, and knowledge about professional developments. All of which are essential to light the spark of leadership in them.

Apart from advanced schooling and education, career counselors can play a crucial role in polishing every individual’s talents and skills. Many teenagers or even those who have enrolled in colleges get skeptical about choosing a career. That is why counseling can help them lead to their road to success.

Even for the current employers, there are specific online courses. Plus, arranging creative competitions can help their staff develop excellent leadership skills.

Provide access to personal development techniques:

Self-care and personal development are an integral part of any excellent leader’s skills. Employees and the staff should be motivated to learn how to tackle their life problems. Because if the mind is not at peace, there will be no good leadership vibes resonating from a person. They can be encouraged to eat right, work on themselves, meditate, and take some time to rewind.

Companies can even deploy tools such as exercise, breaks, and flexibility during working hours. In these conversation sessions, everyone can speak bravely and freely to release their stress, assuring good mental health.

Teach them the importance of networking and staying up-to-date:

For any great leader, it is essential to keep an eye on their competitors and surroundings. They should be flexible and confident enough to adapt readily to the changes and face the challenges that come their way. Networking and engaging with colleagues and competitors allows you to stay informed about the changes accordingly.

Thanks to the internet and technology taking over the world, staying connected with people is possible. Some tools and apps help you keep in touch and bring you the latest news from all around the globe. They even allow you to coordinate with experts in the relevant field, aiding you to achieve your goals.

Provide career development opportunities:

The jobs making it to the list of top ten were unknown to the past generation. Similarly, as we are unable to foresee the future, nobody knows whether the best jobs of today will exist tomorrow or not. Therefore, organizations should provide their employees with user-friendly development and training opportunities. Ensure a fail-proof future and allow the employees to adapt quickly to recent changes.

Skillfully adapting to the new-world changes, ever-evolving technology, better opportunities is not only suitable for learners. Instead, it is essential for all employees, employers, and staff; in short, all organizational stakeholders.

Conclusion

The most important future asset for any company or organization is not their empowering brand or advanced technology. Instead, it is the human talent, work on growing them and turning them into skillful leaders. Further, such leaders can benefit your organization in a manner that will stay with you forever.

Every year, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts the standard recruitment process for Regional Rural Banks across India.

This selection process is widely known as IBPS RRB recruitment, and many aspirants apply for posts of Manager, Assistant Manager, Senior Manager, and Multipurpose Office Assistants.

The IBPS RRB selection process takes place in multiple stages, usually culminating in an interview. You should qualify for each exam to move on to the next phase, and it is solely based on the cut-off marks released for the particular year.

Read on further to know how to calculate the IBPS RRB cut off for the particular year.

Phases Of IBPS RRB Cut Off

According to the IBPS RRB notification, the exam and the selection process for aspiring banking officers will occur in three stages. Depending on the IBPS RRB cut off& marks obtained in each stage, the candidate will move closer to the final selection process.

The three stages in the IBPS RRB selection are:

• The Preliminary Exam for Assistant officers and Officer Stage 1
• Single Exam for Officer Stage 2 & 3
• The Mains Exam for Assistant officers and Officer Stage 1
• The Interview Round

Deciding Factors for the Cut Off

The cut off for the IBPS RRB exam is determined based on several factors like:

• The difficulty of the paper
• Total number of vacancies available the current year
• Number of candidates taking up the exam
• Last year’s IBPS RRB cut off

How To Calculate Cut off

The IBPS exam administration considers the previous years’ RRB exam scores to calculate the current year’s cutoff marks.

Once the results are published, the first step you have to do is check your scorecard. The result card contains different sections, including the overall score and the aspirant’s qualifying status.

Cross-check and confirm if these details mentioned in the scorecard are valid.

• Name of the candidate
• Roll number
• Post applied
• Category
• Section-wise marks obtained
• Maximum aggregate marks
• Cut off score for shortlisting

The Normalisation of the Score to Calculate Cut Off

As the question paper’s difficulty varies for every session, the IBPS exam authority normalises the scores to maintain fairness among all the aspirants. This normalisation procedure helps compare the merit and score of the candidates who took up different exam sessions.

The IBPS RRB cut off is calculated using the equi-percentile method. With this method, you can calculate the corrected score you obtained in the Mains and Prelims exam. The marks up to two decimal points are taken into consideration to determine the cut-off.

The exam authority shortlisted the candidate based on the cut off and considers them for the next rounds of the selection process.

The following steps are carried out to calculate the marks for preparing the merit lists:

• The Main exam marks are normalised, and the scores above 40% are used for the next stages.
• The scores above the IBPS RRB cut-off are used to shortlist candidates eligible to be interviewed.
• The common written normalised score takes up 80% priority, while 20% is allocated to the interview.

Total Weighted Score of Online Single Exam

The online single exam is conducted for the candidates aspiring for the Officer scale 2 and 3 posts. Those who are aspiring for Assistant Officers and Officer Scale 1 posts do not have to take up this exam.

It is conducted as an alternative test to the Preliminary exam, and the candidates who qualify in this are directly eligible for the Interview stage. IBPS uses different methods to determine the total weighted scores for the online single exam, which is different from the equi-percentile method.

Finally, based on the cut off marks for the current year, the IBPS will release the list of eligible candidates to attend the final phase of the selection process- The Interview round.

 

 

Source

Have you ever dreamt of having a job where you can make a difference in other people’s lives within your community? Are you an honest, empathetic, thoughtful, and careful listener? If yes, then becoming a counselor might be the best possible career choice you can make. It is the job of a counselor or therapist to change an individual’s life through emotional assistance. The counseling field is fulfilling and flexible, which is in demand these days, making it a career choice that one should consider. The essence of a counseling-based involves active and excellent listening skills while being non-judgmental and compassionate with your diagnoses. A counselor will always be there for anyone who needs guidance in hard times and wants to overcome the challenges of harmful, negative feelings.

Suppose you want to be a successful counselor. In that case, you need to have strong interpersonal skills, especially acceptance, empathy, and dedication to help those in need. People might end up coming to you to acquire assistance with their relationships, mental health, careers, and other pressing issues. Through a counseling career, you will affect the lives of people in a meaningful and positive way. However, that is one of the numerous reasons why you should consider becoming a counselor yourself. Listed below are a few more that will make your decision a whole lot easier.

1. Countless Opportunities to Bring Change Into People’s Lives

The more expertise you have, the more opportunities you will have to work with people personally to leave an ever-lasting impact on their lives. Effective counselors can break down barriers regardless of gender, age, race, or educational background.

You can work inside community-based organizations, hospitals, or clinics or even practice privately if you attain the proper credentials. You can help people overcome and navigate trials such as relationship issues, trauma, depression, workplace stress, loss of loved ones, and much more. Many states in the USA require a campus-based or online master’s in counseling if you want to work in the counseling or psychology field. So, earning yours will be crucial to getting your foot inside the door.

1. A Counseling Career Will Give Your Life a Feeling of Relevance

People often switch careers and enter the counseling world because they want to give their lives meaning. Counseling allows you to connect with different people from different walks of life. It will enable you to help them through the most challenging and difficult moments in their lives.

Keeping them in mind, can you think of anything else that could be more meaningful than putting others before yourself? We certainly cannot!

1. A Career in Counseling Allows for Continuous Personal and Professional Growth

It is not only your patients on clients who will experience growth from your therapy sessions. You will grow as a person and professional too. From a personal perspective, helping and assisting others through their struggles will allow you to address your issues. Who knows, you might be facing a problem with your personal life that you can handle when you sit with a client experiencing the same pain or issue.

1. The Counseling Field Continues to Grow Rapidly

With job prospects at an all-time high, it may be the perfect time for you to enter the counseling field. Employment in counseling is on the rise, with around 57.1 percent over the previous year. Compare that to the 10.9 percent growth in other career options, and you will be working in a field that is evolving at break-neck speeds.

Furthermore, over the coming five years or so, the counseling field’s employment rate will rise around 3.2 percent per year, adding up to 16 percent in total. That is far greater than any other career choice out there.

1. You, Will, Be Well Paid

When working in the counseling field, you can enjoy a high-income, depending on your area of expertise in the field. Let us take the example of a social worker’s job. In actuality, their roles correlate with those of a counselor. A social worker supports individuals and large groups through the same difficult times that a counselor does. They counsel these people, be it children or adults, and protect them from harm, just like a counselor does. They act as advocates and guides and maintain a professional relationship with people in need, again, just like a counselor does.

You can consider it as a highly specialized field of counseling with a more hands-on role. Suppose you want to become a social worker and provide counseling to those in need. In that case, the first thing you should do is acquire a masters in social work online or through a physical university. After that, expect to earn a salary of around 50,000 dollars per year on average.

1. You, Will, Become a Great Listener

If you know that you feel comfortable when other people confide in you, then you, my friend, were made for a counselor’s job. You will have the opportunity to empathize with others and understand the importance of your client’s confidentiality. However, you will not know how to listen, what to say and when to say it without the proper knowledge. So, enrolling yourself in the right counseling course or degree will teach you to become a good listener and teach you the skills to become a great counselor.

Conclusion

Do these reasons entice you to consider a career in counseling? Do not wait and get started now with a career that will give your life a purpose, excellent job security, and increased job growth. While equal parts rewarding and challenging, such a field is full of life-altering and positive experiences. The more dedication and hard work you will put into it, the more fulfilling it will turn out for you.

 

It is almost impossible to study in today’s economy without a part-time job supporting your expenses. College tuition is increasing every day, and student loans are hard to pay off. So when there’s no other way, students have to choose to overwork themselves by juggling a job and their studies.

Balancing academic routine and work take up so much time that they get barely any time left to enjoy their personal life. It is one of the most significant issues present-day students face. They have to spend a lot of time studying and working due to various high expenses and low wages. But we are going to discuss how you can balance studies and work alongside. Some tips are:

1. Develop a schedule

Making schedules may seem like the most restricting and boring thing to do. But they can help you achieve maximum efficiency and secure free time after all your work completes. Now we aren’t saying that you have to schedule your food breaks and restroom breaks too. But consider making a schedule of classes, work time, and dedicated study times. You will find you spent a lot of time dreading work or procrastinating instead of utilizing that free time to relax and have fun.

2. Look for flexible jobs 

Now we understand that not everyone can have the job of their dreams with low work hours and high wages, and flexible schedules. But part-time jobs still offer plenty of flexible options that can relieve you in stressful times. So look into positions that are a bit more flexible than others, where you can have the opportunity to work at different times. Lessen your load whenever needed, and have the option to get leaves. Finding such a job may seem like searching for a job utopia, but it is not as impossible as it looks. When you hunt for jobs, make it clear that you are a student and demand some flexibility. You will be surprised at how accommodating recruiters can be.

3. Study online 

Once you complete your bachelor’s degree, you have no option but to find a full-time job to support your expenses. But just having a bachelor’s degree may or may not quench your thirst for education. You may want to study for a master’s degree so that you can find better job opportunities and prospects for career growth. But managing a full-time job along with studies can be challenging. That is why we recommend that you opt for online degrees. For example, if you are working as a family service worker, but you aim to become a mental health counselor, you will need a master’s degree. Enrolling for MSW online no GRE will provide you with the option to study alongside your job with a flexible schedule. But remember not to overburden yourself. Only take the burden you can carry because it doesn’t matter if you complete your degree a year later. Your social life and health matters, and overburdening yourself can be dangerous.

4. Decide your priorities 

Not having your priorities set straight can become a significant obstacle on your path to success. But mostly, it can become an obstacle when you have to manage your education and job alongside. Maybe you spend too much time with your friends when you can designate that time to study and finish your assignments. Perhaps you spend the whole weekend partying, leaving you with no room to catch up with your studies. Having a healthy personal life and having fun is just as important as working. But doing too much of anything can have negative consequences. So prioritize your education, as you are investing money and efforts into it. The second priority should be your job, as you have to earn to keep up your expenses and work towards your career. And third comes your personal life. Straightening your priorities will allow you to accomplish a lot of things quickly.

5. Work smart and not hard 

Hard work is necessary, but working smart is the way of the successful. There is no point in slaving away all day and cramming up your books throughout the night. It will leave you exhausted and drained. You will eventually realize that you can only keep up this routine for a short amount of time. But working smarter can help you perform better and still find time to relax.

You can work smarter by changing your study methods. Make notes during classes and short notes and index cards when you are free. Study during your commute times instead of running towards the library each time you have to study. Record lectures for understanding and listen to them while you lie in your bed. There are many other ways to work smart without having to work too hard. They can help you solve all the time-related issues, perform better, and balance your work and studies successfully.

Conclusion 

Students in the present times are working harder than previous generations because they don’t have the liberty of enjoying a healthy economy. They are struggling to stay afloat and find a living in this competitive market. There is no easy way out of this. So sometimes, you have to give in and find ways to balance your life. Finding ways to balance your work and study life will train you for your professional life, and you will have a better work-life balance.

 

Gone are the days when you could get hooked up to a decent workplace with secondary or higher secondary education. Today, graduation is the minimum requirement to gear up for professional life. Therefore, nailing the right college or university is critical. Earning a degree from a mediocre institution will do no good to boost your career. Going for any insignificant option will only end up wasting precious resources like time and money.

However, being fair to the undergraduates, picking the right university is easier said than done. Youngsters get often enticed by the lofty promotional campaigns, which cloud their judgment to a great degree. But that does not mean one can’t avoid getting misguided. We have compiled a list of fundamental questions. By throwing the following questionnaire to the administration, you can paint a clear picture of the respective institution. The insights will empower you to take the pitch-perfect decision:

• Do you offer the program I want to study?

What is the point of going to a college or university that does not offer the course you like? So it would help if you asked this question right off the bat. Though you can get this information on the official website, it does not harm to double-check. Admirations typically have numerous plans in the pipeline that do not get updated on the websites. What if they introduce some changes in the course down the road or remove it altogether? Hence, you are better off warding off all the confusion right from the get-go.

In case you have not yet outlined the final course, you must have some options buzzing in your head. For example, you are interested in social sciences. However, you may face difficulty making up between political science, anthropology, and social work. It would be wise to inquire about all the possible choices of the future. Sometimes, the admission staff’s explanation could help decide what could be the best fit for you.

• What are the requirements for admission?

Students can quickly dig up questions like how long does it take to get a bachelor’s degree or what measures they need to take to secure good grades. But they remain aloof about admission criteria. Depending on the university and course, they could slightly or drastically vary. A specific percentage from the previous qualification, test, and interview are generally the prerequisites of admission at this level. Knowing the admission benchmarks beforehand can come in handy in the preparation process.

• Why should I opt for your university?

Most of the students refrain from asking this question because it triggers the staff to activate PR mode. But you can catch them off guard through follow-up questions and extract honest feedback. If you find the information unreliable, turn to the current or old students. Their experiences will enlighten you about underlying factors.

• Can I take online classes?

Online classes have hit the helm of popularity. More so, after the surfacing of the infamous coronavirus. If you are doing a part-time job or engaged in other commitments, attending physical classes may be a challenging task. Thus, asking this question is pertinent.

We know that more and more educational institutions are tapping into e-learning of late. But not all universities or colleges utilize top-notch technology to get the job done. Consequently, students end up getting lackluster online classes with poor visuals and distorted voice quality. Make sure you request demo classes to evaluate standards.

If you can’t make yourself physically available in the class even once in a while, ask whether the management undertakes assessments online or not.

• How much do you charge for rent?

A vast proportion of students are not fans of online classes. They would instead enjoy the campus life. If you are one of them, coming to terms with the accommodation costs is very important. It usually happens to be a decisive factor.

Not all institutions provide accommodation facilities. In that case, look for a place that is not too far from the university. If you live far away from the university, travel costs could balloon up quite significantly.

• How often do you allow access to the university resources? What measures do you take to keep them up to date?

Every science student has to go to the lab frequently. If the university does not offer a flexible schedule to use the lab supplies, it is a red flag. Likewise, suppose a social science student does not have access to the library 24 hours. In that case, it could cause inconvenience, especially during the exam phase. Furthermore, it would help if you also asked about the budget that management spends to upgrade these facilities.

Back in the day, libraries received as much as nearly 2.84 percent of the overall university budget. But the amount has shrunk in the recent past. According to experts, if a university spends less than 2 percent of its budget on the library, it will fail to meet students’ requirements. Being well-versed with the figure could complement the decision-making process.

• How culturally diverse is your university?

A culturally diverse atmosphere offers multiple benefits to students. For example, it shapes up your personality to adjust to people having different opinions. This quality will prepare you to lead employees coming from various backgrounds in a professional setting. Under a comprehensive study, a multicultural environment sparks creativity, which is the essence of every profession.

That is why you must give weightage to the diverse environment while cherry-picking a university. It is good to ask this question upfront. That said, you should roam around the campus personally to observe the level of diversity.

• What employment opportunities will this course open for me?

It all boils down to the career prospects. The management has a knack for answering this question unrealistically. So, you may be aware of the job opportunities that might have nothing to do with your course. For proper validation, you should ask the management to provide the employment record of those who have graduated from this course.

• What support services do you provide?

Support services refer to platforms that cover loopholes of students. For instance, if you are eager to get admission in arts but do not feel confident about writing skills. The support services tend to bridge such academic gaps.

The Final Verdict

Going to a college or university is hands down one of the pivotal decisions for any individual. It has the potential to influence our entire life. So, you can’t afford to set a foot wrong here. By walking the tight line of the questions mentioned above, you will surely increase the chances to stumble upon the ideal institutions.

Although we might not imagine it, today’s lifestyle can breed many problems for our mental health. It might feel as if we’re more connected than ever. In reality, we are growing away from each other, and our interactions are increasingly superficial.

Everyone today has a hectic life. It can be easy to neglect our mental health and instead drown ourselves in work. So, it’s no surprise that, at times, we can start feeling isolated, depressed, and anxious. Counselors are, therefore, more immensely in demand. Counselors act in various capacities and work with a different set of people and their issues. They can help us sort through our problems and lead a more fulfilling, happier life.

A career as a counselor can be incredibly gratifying, as it allows you to connect deeply with clients. It enables you to help people get their lives back on track and create coping mechanisms to prevent future problems. However, becoming a counselor comes with immense responsibility, so the profession comes with high skill requisites. Keep reading below to learn the skill requisites of their job and how you can get started.

GET YOUR DEGREE

The first step to becoming a counselor in any capacity is getting your degree. A bachelor’s degree is the first step to starting your career. It gives you the basic knowledge of all psychological areas and prepares you to pick an area of interest. However, you cannot begin practicing as a counselor with just a bachelor’s degree.

A master’s degree is what prepares you to start your counseling career. Your master’s degree is where you pick an area of specialization. Counselors work with incredibly diverse populations, and you need the right skills to work with each demographic. Counselors work in school settings as marriage counselors, substance abuse counselors, or trauma counselors. Most master’s schools for counseling require students to take the GRE for admission. While there are some benefits of taking the GRE, it can also be an additional entry barrier. If you feel so, you can opt for online school counseling programs no gre to make getting your degree more manageable. Your master’s program can give you the skills you need to work with your chosen population.

COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP

Theoretical knowledge isn’t all you need to kick start your counseling career. Counseling is an incredibly subjective career, and you need to learn how to apply classroom-based learning to real clients. Internships allow you to work in a variety of clinical settings and learn from experienced mentors. You can learn the best ways of dealing with different clients and can help you develop greater competency. An internship allows you to work in a supportive yet challenging environment. You get to learn the necessary skills for successful counseling. You can develop essential soft skills, such as empathy, rapport-building skills, and self-awareness.

Also, an internship is the best place for you to develop contacts before stepping out into the job market. It also allows you to gain invaluable experience and present yourself as a holistic, well-rounded candidate. You can also get an opportunity to explore your chosen area and decide whether it’s something you can pursue.

GET YOUR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

A master’s degree is an essential prerequisite to becoming a counselor, but it isn’t all you need. Professional certifications are vital for you to practice legally across all states. Without licensure and certifications, you don’t have the right to practice and face persecution if caught. All health and human services professionals need to adhere to the necessary laws for licensure in their states. These laws help uphold public safety, as they keep any bad practitioners away from clients.

Getting your professional license requires you to fulfill the necessary prerequisites for experience, education, and you may need to sit for an exam. Once you have your permission, you can start your private clinic or work with several organizations as a counselor. It’s also essential to adhere to the code of ethics determined by your jurisdiction’s psychological governing body. Having a licensee allows you, clients, to have greater faith in your ability, as it shows them that the state has vetted you and declared you capable. Once you have your license, you are free to practice.

STAY UPDATED

Therapy and counseling are constantly changing fields, and you need to stay updated to provide your clients with the best care. Psychology is continuously developing, and researchers are coming closer to finding the causes of many mental health disorders. We are also continually studying the human mind to figure out the effects of different stimuli. When counselors have updated knowledge, they can better understand their clients and help them better.

Furthermore, you also need to always keep updating your educational portfolio due to state regulations. To maintain licensure, you need to stay updated on the latest research, therapeutic models, and other developments. Attending workshops, training sessions, seminars, and following the latest research is an excellent way to stay updated. Furthermore, you can opt for a doctorate to further advance your career. You can also work in several settings, such as clinical practice or education, to gain knowledge in all forms. A doctoral degree, in particular, allows you to open the door to new career opportunities. You can work as a mental health advocate, researcher, or supervisor. You can also pave the way for better treatment protocols and help improve patient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Counseling is an age-old profession that has evolved immensely in recent years. As our lifestyles grow increasingly stressful, we have a much greater need for therapy and counseling. If you face any behavioral or emotional challenges, know that counseling may be the answer. It is a profession designed to help human beings embrace their humanness. It helps us accept our flaws and develop healthy coping mechanisms. By following this list, you can learn how to be a counselor and play a positive role in your client’s lives. Furthermore, you can assume a leadership role and help improve psychological outcomes immensely.