Cerritos High School College Info: October 2008

Include your volunteer work under a heading such as "Work Experience" or "Business Experience" along with any paid work you have done. Just because you don't get paid doesn't make the work any less relevant or important.
Give yourself relevant titles for your volunteer work. Remember, you are performing important tasks and your position is more than the label "volunteer." If you help raise money, then you are a "Fundraiser." If you are responsible for maintaining a membership list and activities, then you are a "Membership Coordinator."
List the duties you perform. Make the descriptions accurate and professional. For example, "Responsible for exercising the special-needs dogs" is much more descriptive than "dog walker." Todd writes articles for a local environmental newsletter and lists his duties as "Part-time writer of environmental articles for a monthly newsletter. Responsible for conducting online research, conducting telephone and personal interviews, and fact checking."
Explain any leadership qualities or skills you have acquired while performing your volunteer work. Did you have to learn a new skill, such as CPR or wildlife handling? Do you train other people? Are you responsible for coordinating others' activities? Don't overstate what you did, but make sure to give yourself credit for the talents and skills you have gained.

Tips for the interview

Because interviews are such a critical part of your job search, you want to get the most out of each one. The following Do's and Don'ts are presented to help ensure that your interview is a success.

The Do's

The Don'ts

Why people don’t get hired

The "Do's" - Your behavior and how you communicate

Display confidence through your posture, dress, walk, energy, and eye contact.
Shake hands firmly but only if a hand is offered to you first.
Let the interviewer start the dialogue.
Listen carefully.
Welcome all questions, even the difficult ones, with a smile.
Develop answers in your head before you respond. If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be repeated or clarified. You don't have to rush, but you don't want to appear indecisive.
Give honest, direct answers.

The "Do's" - The attitudes that you express

In answering and asking questions, you want to demonstrate that you are:

Willing to work. Give examples of your productivity on past jobs.

Committed to learning. Demonstrate this through examples of learning experiences (independent study, professional development, education, workshops, etc.). Your plan for future development also communicates your commitment to learning.

Flexible. Talk about how well you work with others and how you can adjust and fit into a new environment without complaints or special requests.

Willing to contribute. Emphasize what you can do for the company.

The "Do's" - How to end the interview

A professional positive end to the interview is another way to ensure your success. Now is the time to remind the employer of why you are qualified for the job.

Restate any strengths and experiences that you might not have emphasized earlier.
Mention a particular accomplishment or activity that fits the job.

The end of the interview is also the time to let the employer know if you are interested in the job:

If you want the job, say so!
Ask when the position will be filled.
Find out if there will be additional interviews and when the employer plans to make a decision.
Indicate a time when you may contact the employer to learn of the decision.

Finally, be courteous and end the interview on time.

The "Do's" - Following up after the interview

The steps that you take after the interview are important too. For example, take time to:

Evaluate the interview. What went well in the interview? How can you improve?

Record your follow-up plans. Write the date and time for your next contact with the employer so you do not forget to follow through.

Send thank-you letters or notes to each person with whom you interviewed.

The "Don'ts" - Why people don’t get hired

There are many reasons why people fail to get hired:

Poor personal appearance
Application form or resume is incomplete or sloppy
Overly aggressive behavior
Lack of tact and courtesy
Lack of maturity
Lack of interest and enthusiasm
Nervousness or lack of confidence and poise
Failure to ask questions about the job
Responding vaguely to questions
No eye contact with the interviewer
No genuine interest in the company or job
Lack of planning for career; no purpose and no goals
Over-emphasis on money
Unwillingness to start at the bottom
Negative attitude about past employers
No sense of humor
Arriving late for the interview
Failure to express appreciation for interviewer's time

Career: Volunteer/Internship Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

American Red Cross – Long Beach: Lakia Pearson (3150 E 29^th St., Long Beach, CA 562-595-6341)

· High School Students (Ages 16 and over)

· Aquarium of the Pacific: Shannon Penna (100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802: 562-590-3100)

· Family Volunteering (Ages 8 to 16)

· VolunTEENs (Ages 14 to 16)

· Gift Store, Aquarium Host and Exhibit Interpreter (Age 16-18)

· Service Learning (High School Students)

Boys and Girls Club of Cypress: Kristin Entsminger (10161 Moody St. Cypress, CA 90630: 714-527-2697 X. 203)

· High School students (Ages 16 and over)

· Volunteer positions: Part-time Recreation Leader and Part-time Tutor

Cerritos Recreation Services Division: (18125 Bloomfield Ave., Cerritos, CA 90703: 562-916-1254)

· General Volunteers (Ages 13 and over)

· Online form available to print and mailed to Recreation Services Division/City of Cerritos: P.O. Box 3130, Cerritos, CA 90703

Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park: Cynthia Navarrete (12340 South Street Cerritos, California
90703: 562-916-8550 X. 322)

· General Volunteers (Ages 16 and over)

El Dorado Park: Andrea Lang (2800 N Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, CA: 562-570-3225)

Kaiser Permanente Hospital: Sandy Thibodeaux (9400 Rosecrans Ave. #3300, Bellflower, CA:562-461-3000)

· General Volunteers (Ages 16 and over)

· Requires a 6-month commitment of at least 4 hours per week

Kaiser Permanente Hospital: Volunteer Services – Kathleen (1900 E 4^th St., Santa Ana, CA: 714-279-4179)

· High School students (Ages 15 and over)

· Servicing the areas of: Anaheim, Santa Ana, Tustin

Long Beach Museum of Art: Bianca Velasco (2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90803: 562-439-2119)

· High School students (Ages 16 and over)

· Volunteer work only available in May during the Children’s Festival – total 8 hours

· Applications will be accepted in the beginning of April

Los Alamitos General Hospital: Helen Sylar (3751 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720: 562-799-3557)

· High School students (Ages 16 and over)

Los Angeles Community Hospital: Nancy Gutierrez (13222 Bloomfield Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650:562-863-4763)

· High School students (Ages 16 and over)

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Martha Thomson (5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027:323-644-4703)

· General Volunteer (Ages 16 and over)

· Community Service Volunteer (Ages 13 and over)

· Internships available

Los Cerritos YMCA: Adam Franco (15530 Woodruff Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706: 562-925-1292)

· High School Students (Ages 14 and over)

· ROP Opportunities/Internships available

Museum of Latin American Art: Susan Beckley (628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, CA 562-216-4119)

High School Students (Ages 14 and over)

Contact Susan for 4-page application and to schedule one-on-one interview

Santa Ana Zoo: Tish Flynn (1801 East Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92701:
714-647-6575)

· High School Students (Ages 16 and over)

· Applications can be picked up at the Zoo

· Areas of volunteer work include: Animals, Clerical, and Special Events

Seal Beach Clean-Up: Kim Masoner (1^st St. and PCH, Seal Beach, CA:
714-647-6575)

· High School Students (Ages 16 and over)

· Applications can be picked up at the Zoo

· Areas of volunteer work include: Animals, Clerical, and Special Events

SPCA- LA (Animal Shelter): Volunteer Services (7700 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA: 562-570-7722)

Youth Volunteers (Ages 12-16 and must be accompanied by an adult)
Volunteers (Ages 17 and over)
Must dedicate a one-year commitment with a minimum of 8 hours per month
Forms available online: http://spcala.com/volunteers/voluninf.shtml

Whittier Presbyterian Hospital: Patricia Cortez (12401 Washington Blvd., Whittier, CA: 562-698-0811 X.
2425)

High School students (Ages 16 and over)
Now accepting applications for the summer quarter

Internship Opportunities

Some examples of companies and organizations that have specialized high school internships include:

Sciences and Engineering:

US Department of Energy
http://www.eren.doe.gov/bro/neen/resources/doe.html

Locations: Across the United States
Deadline: Rolling

Each summer, 365 U.S. high school students are selected to attend the DOE's High School Science Student Honors Program. Two week programs are normally held at seven DOE laboratories: Argonne National Lab, Brookhaven National Lab, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, and Pacific Northwest National Lab.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
www.nasajobs.nasa.gov
Locations: AL; CA; FL; MD; MS; OH; TX; VA.
Deadline: Varies with program.

There are at least 200 different programs open to high school interns, including work in robotics, biomedicine, earth science, space propulsion and satellite communications.

Advertising/Public Relations

Ackerman McQueen
www.am.com

Locations: Fairfax, VA; Irving, TX; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK.
Deadline: Rolling

Ackerman McQueen is an advertising agency that specializes in food, outdoor and recreational products, technology and national associations.

Levine Communications Office
www.levinepr.com

Locations: Beverly Hills, CA; Las Vegas, NV; New York, NY; Washington, DC; London.
Deadline: Rolling

Levine specializes in representing celebrity clients and former interns are regularily placed in PR departments throughout the entertainment industry.

Print Media

American Society of Newspaper Editors, (ASNE)
http://www.asne.org/index.cfm?id=553

Location: Across the United States Deadline: Rolling

The web site lists 54 newspapers, major urban dailies as well as smaller, local papers, that accept high school interns across the country.

Business/Economics

American Management Association
www.amanet.org

Location: New York, NY
Deadline: Spring and Fall: Rolling; Summer: April 7

Interns gain experience in training and development, human resources, general management, marketing and market research

United States Department of Commerce
http://www.commerce.gov/

Location: Washington, DC
Deadline: Rolling

The department promotes and protects America's economic growth and international trade. There are a total of 17 different

College: Private Colleges Information

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

Dartmouth College, Hanover

Duke, Durham

Emory, Atlanta

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame

Brown, Providence

Stanford, Stanford

Vanderbilt, Nashville

Columbia, New York

Georgetown, Washington

Northwestern, Evanston

Tufts, Medford

Cornell, Ithaca

Boston College, Chestnut Hill

Bentley College, Waltham

University of Chicago, Chicago

Gonzaga, Spokane

Emerson College, Boston

Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles

Santa Clara University, Santa Clara

Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh

Marquette, Milwaukee

George Washington Univ., Washington

Boston University, Boston

New York University, New York

SSR/SENIOR TIMELINES

Scholarship Files (Senior Timeline and SSR Forms)

College: CSU Information

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

ELIGIBILITY INDEX FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS

College: UC Information

UC SANTA BARBARA

QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC MERCED
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC IRVINE
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S M AIN PAGE

UC BERKELEY
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC RIVERSIDE
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC SAN DIEGO
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC DAVIS
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UCLA
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UC SANTA CRUZ
QUICK FACTS SCHOOL'S MAIN PAGE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

Welcome to the CHS Career/College Center

Welcome to the Cerritos High School Career/College Center Website!

By utilizing this site, you are actively investing in your academic and/ career future. The site will consist of 3 important segments: College, Career, and Scholarships. Under each heading, you will find useful information and links, as well as deadlines and important dates.

Cerritos High School College Info

Friday, October 31, 2008

Friendly Reminders

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Links for Parents

Career: Interesting Links

College: Interesting Links

Friday, October 17, 2008

Scholarship Information

Career: Resume-Building and Interview Tips

How to Make Your Resume Shine with Flexible Volunteer Activities