5 Tips For A First-Generation IT College Student

As a first-gen student, you face expectations unlike any other. You’re trying to figure out how to make your parents proud, how to make new friends, how to live on your own for the first time. There’s no denying it’s tough, so we want to make it a little easier. 

Get ready for campus life by reading our five tips for being a first-generation college student below.

1. Apply for Scholarships 

If you’re a first-generation college student, you may have additional financial stressors others don’t. Thankfully, there are great scholarships out there specifically for you — and plenty are offered by former first-gen students. 

Jasdeep Singh created a scholarship in honor of his parents, who valued education and helped their son through secondary schooling. Apply to as many of these opportunities as you can to help alleviate the financial burden college places on you. 

2. Get Involved 

College isn’t just about locking yourself in your dorm and studying — it’s a time to have fun and discover yourself. 

Joining clubs, attending school events, and participating in campus activities will help you feel more at home. Fostering your social life is almost as important as handling the academic side of things (just ensure you find a nice balance). 

3. Understand Your Limits

Chances are, you’re on your own for the first time. You’re away from your routine and juggling a schedule that revolves solely around you. There’s no denying it’s difficult figuring out what and who to prioritize. 

The trick is to prioritize your physical and mental well-being. This may mean saying no, denying an extra project, or opting out of a social situation. Burnout is very, very real, and taking on too much puts you at risk. 

4. Assess Your Study Habits

Don’t base your study habits on those around you. Your roommate may be able to absorb all their info from the lecture alone, leaving him plenty of time to party. But that doesn’t mean your brain works the same way. 

In your first semester especially, take the time to determine what method of studying works best. You may have solidified certain habits in high school, but as college coursework is more involved and requires advanced understanding, your study sessions will need to keep up. 

5. Network

Some people with connections — they’re legacies, their parents were in a particular sorority or frat, etc. — and some don’t. If you’re a first-gen student, there’s a high chance you’re in the latter group. But don’t panic; college is the perfect way to make the connections you need. 

Picture-perfect academics isn’t the only way to jumpstart your career. A 2016 survey concluded 85% of jobs are filled because of networking. 

So, don’t be afraid to attending dedicated networking events. Have that elevator pitch in your back pocket. And, for the love of all things good, take advantage of your professor’s office hours! Before you know it, these foundational relationships may present you with a career path. 

Final Thoughts & A Bonus Tip

It’s time to let go of the expectations you think others have of you. College is a time to discover your interests and explore potential career fields you’ve never thought possible. So, meet new people, join fun clubs, and explore your hobbies in full. 

It’s challenging to decide what you want to do at 18, even more so when you feel the pressure to make your family proud. But chances are, they already are. Use this opportunity for yourself and see what the future holds. 

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4 Tips For Great Employee-Manager Relations

It’s no secret that not every employee gets on with their boss.

There can be a wide range of reasons for this, from overbearing managers who don’t listen to employees to inefficient leadership structures leaving those lower down the ladder unsure about their job roles and responsibilities.

Forbes reports that 58% of managers never even received training on how to carry out their role, so it’s no wonder there are issues.

However, for your business to flourish it’s crucial that your workforce is united and everyone can work together, from the most senior member of staff to the most junior. To help you achieve this goal, we’ve come up with four ways to make your employee-manager relationships and communication levels as good as possible.

1. Smooth Management Transitions

There’s nothing worse as an employee than a manager who clearly doesn’t know what they’re doing. To prevent this, you must provide new managers with an appropriate level of training and support as they start their role. This will help employees to trust their managers, and help the managers to feel more confident in their position and less likely to be overbearing or timid.

For an in-depth investigation of this topic, you can read a report by UConn MBA Jasdeep Singh which explains exactly how to best carry out this crucial task.

2. Regular Feedback Surveys

One of the best ways to find out what employees and managers think about their relationship is to regularly survey them. This will allow you to quickly discover any issues and remedy them before they cause a more serious rift.

If you’re worried that employees may not feel comfortable responding honestly if they have problems, a great idea is to make the surveys anonymous. This way staff can reveal how they really feel about relationships between employees and management without fear that it will harm their job prospects or relationships with colleagues.

3. Take A Training Course

Although there are many things that you can personally do to improve relationships between management and employees, sometimes contacting a professional is the best way to remedy a serious issue.

You don’t need to work out thousands of dollars to find an effective service. There are plenty of free human relations and communications courses offered online by Ivy League universities and important organizations, helping you and your term to learn for free.

4. Try Teamwork Activities

Sometimes the best way to help your team bond is to take them out of the office completely. Allowing them to work as a team of equals in a situation that isn’t work-related can help them to wind down and have fun, as well as improving team relationships.

You don’t have to pick a traditional team activity like outdoor pursuits for this to work. Sometimes simply sitting down to have a meal as a team can help employees and managers to get to know each other as people and build respect.

See Your Team Growing Stronger

If you want your company to work efficiently, it’s always best to ensure that employees’ needs are being met and relationships between general staff and managers are strong.

International consultancy firm KPMG has reported that as of 2019, only34% of HR leaders are confident in their ability to transform the workforce in the digital era, so prioritizing this will help you to stand out from the crowd and improve your chances of business success.

By using these four simple tips you can help to build a strong and successful team, and see your company flourish.

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Understand The PMP Certificate And Its Perks

Many consumers are interested in improving their education so they can achieve more in life. Nevertheless, a lot of people will never take the first steps. Those interested in earning more money and getting more done should learn more about the Project Management Program. Completing this program will give you a certificate that you can use to earn more money. Once you’ve obtained this certification, you’ll be able to use it to obtain valuable jobs and earn more. What is the PMP program all about? Why should you complete this course? You’ll find out in the guide below.

What Is It?

First, consumers should learn more about the program management program. What is it about? A project management degree will prove to be a valuable asset for any engineer. By completing this course, people will gain the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to be a very effective manager. A bachelor’s degree in program management will provide you with skills that you can apply to a variety of sectors including healthcare.

By completing the PMP program and obtaining PMP certification, you’ll be ready to manage a project efficiently and effectively. The demand for people who can manage and people projects is increasing immensely. With that being said, you may benefit immensely from obtaining your certification.

How Long Will It Take?

When deciding to improve your education, you cannot rush the process. You have to understand that it can take a long time to get the certification. With that being said, you need to be ready to work hard for the long haul. How long will it take to obtain a PMP certificate? In most cases, it will take more than 6 months to complete the course and obtain the certificate. This may seem like a long time and it is.

Nevertheless, your efforts will pay dividends in the long run. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be able to get your certificate and earn more money for yourself and your family.

How To Obtain A PMP Certificate

You’ll want to obtain your PMP certificate as soon as possible. This will be valuable but it is a big commitment. Do you want to obtain real-world experience that can be used to your benefit in the long run. Before you can obtain this certification, you need to meet several requirements. You need to obtain a 4-year degree. Then, you need 36 months of experiencing leading projects and 35 hours of project management education.

Alternatively, you can have a high school diploma, 60 months of experience leading projects, and 35 hours of project management education. In addition to this, you’ll need to complete the PMP exam. As long as you’ve prepared for the exam, you’ll be able to pass the exam without any issues whatsoever.

Benefits Of Being Certified

At the end of the day, obtaining a PMP certificate will make your life much better. It is estimated that the median salary of PMP holders in the United States is 25% higher than people without one. Suffice to say, your efforts will pay dividends in the long run. If you work hard and complete the exam, and start a job like a website analyst, you’ll earn your certification and you’ll make more money. At this point, it is estimated that the world has more than 1 million PMP certification holders. This is a universally recognized knowledge so you can use your skills anywhere in the world.

In addition to this, you should know that this certificate will help boost your confidence. Once you’ve obtained the certificate, you’ll be ready to conquer the world and make more money.

Steps To Get Your PMP Certificate

You’ll need to follow a few steps before you can obtain your PMP certificate. Once you’ve met the requirements, you will need to apply to take the exam. The cost depends on the provider but you need to be ready to pay a little more. Then, you’ll need to take the exam. As long as you’ve prepared, you’ll likely be able to pass the exam without any issues. Since you’ve paid a lot to take it, you’ll want to make sure that you pass.

And, you have to remember that the process doesn’t end when you’ve received the certification. You’ll need to work hard to continue your professional development to maintain your certification.

 

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