Project Description:

You are the administrative assistant for the college placement office and have been given a document on transitioning from college to a career. The document needs to be formatted and made into a visually attractive handout for the upcoming senior day on campus. In the following project, you will format the document in a two-column design, apply a document theme, apply and modify styles, include bullets, and view the document in Outline view.

Steps to Perform:

Step	Instructions	Points Possible
1	Download and open the file named exploring_w02_grader_a1_College.docx, and save it as exploring_w02_grader_a1_College_LastFirst.docx. Ensure that nonprinting characters is displayed.	0
2	Select the entire document, and change the font type to Times New Roman and font size to 12 pt. Justify all paragraphs and change the line spacing to 1.15.	6
3	Ensure that the insertion point is on the first paragraph of the document, Transitioning from College to Career. Create a paragraph style and name it Impt_Headers with the following formats: center-aligned, 22 pt font size, and a font color of Blue, Accent 5, Darker 50% (ninth column, sixth row). Apply the new style to the first and last paragraphs of the document.	10
4	Select the second paragraph of the document, Courtesy of the College Placement Office, and apply the following formats: italics, align right, 14-pt font size, and Blue, Accent 5, Darker 50% font color.	6
5	Apply Heading 1 style to paragraph headings, including Time Management, Job versus Career, Professionalism on the Job, A Current and Accurate Resume, and Recognize that Grads Get Entry Level Jobs. Note: The Heading 1 style should be applied to the headings above each paragraph, NOT to the list using the same text at the beginning of the document.	10
6	Modify Heading 1 style to bold and Dark Red (first color under Standard Colors) font color.	6
7	Select the list of the five issues that are key to making a successful transition located near the beginning of the document, beginning with Time Management and ending with Recognize that Grads get entry Level Jobs. Apply the first numbered-list format (1., 2., 3.), bold, Small caps, and decrease the indent so the numbers line up with the left margin.	10
8	Select the list of three time management suggestions, starting with Getting Sufficient sleep and ending with Avoid taking unnecessary time off. Apply the black, closed circle bullet to the selected text. Change the color of the bullet to Dark Red (first color under Standard Colors).	10
9	Apply the same red, closed circle bullet from step 8 to the list of five resume tips.	6
10	Select the entire document, except the first two paragraphs and the last paragraph, and display the selected text in two columns.	10
11	Insert the picture file exploring_w02_grader_a1_Professionals.jpg to the left of the paragraph beginning with Most seniors, although excited. Change the height of the picture to 1, and apply the Square text wrapping and the Soft Edge Rectangle picture style. Position the picture so that it aligned to the left margin.	10
12	Select the last paragraph in the document, Let the College Placement Office Help You. Apply an outside border using the default settings of single line, 1/2 pt, and Automatic color. Change the shading to Blue-Gray, Text 2, Lighter 80% (fourth column, second row).	6
13	Spell check and review the entire document. Only correct the misspellings.	5
14	Display the document in Outline view. Collapse all paragraphs so only paragraphs formatted as Heading 1 are displayed. Move the Professionalism on the Job section to above the Job versus Career section. Close Outline view.	5
15	Save the document and exit Word. Submit the file as directed.	0

Total Points

100

Transitioning from College to Career

Courtesy of the College Plaacement Office

Most seniors, although excited about graduation, are seriously concerned about finding and starting that first post college job. The reality of leaving the collegiate environment and role of student to enter the business world and becoming a productive employee can be stressful. There are several issues that are key to making a successful transition:

Time Management

Job versus Career

Professionalism on the Job

A Current and Accurate Resume

Recognize that Grads get Entry Level Jobs

Understanding these key issues and trying to face them before leaving college will make your post college expectations more realistic.

Time Management

The scheduling of classes after noon or only in the evening might not have prepared you for the eight to five (or later) hours of the business world. You cant hit the snooze on your alarm and show up to work forty-five minutes late. Additionally the long weekends and college breaks dont exist in most work environments. Vacation is accumulated and not a given for every holiday or snow day that occurs. In addition to your longer hours at work you will have to manage a social life. The days of staying up till three in the morning wont work when you have to be at work by eight. If you are employed and several of your friends are still in college you might have to learn to say no to events that could be considered unprofessional or prevent you from performing your job in a professional manner the next day. Understanding these time management issues and considering them before their encounter will help in the transition. Time management suggestions include:

Getting sufficient sleep

Arriving to work early

Avoid taking unnecessary time off

Job versus Career

Your first job might not be the dream job that you envisioned obtaining after four long years of college. Many first-year grads will change their job in the first two years. What is important is that you use this first job to figure what you really want to do. Some degrees are more flexible allowing a wider range of possible career paths. Others, like engineering, are very specific. Look for a position that you feel will match your academic and personal skills.

Professionalism on the Job

In college a certain amount of irresponsibility is the right of passage. The result might be a lecture from a professor or a bad grade. In the business world irresponsibility often results in being fired. You need to be dependable and a self-starter to succeed in most careers. As a team member, you need to be able to be relied upon to contribute, meet deadlines, and accurately assess the contributions of other team members. In most business environments missing a deadline is unacceptable.

A Current and Accurate Resume

Looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself. All resources need to be used and all leads followed. A resume for a current graduate should not be more than one page. Often the student tries to oversell his/her qualifications and leave the employer unimpressed. Your skills listed in your resume should be edited for each job that you are applying for and should indicate how this skill will contribute to the employers benefit. Stating that you were captain of the debate team is simply not enough to impress a future employer. Stating that the skills obtained as captain, such as organizing practices, selecting debate issues, and being a liaison between the faculty advisor, college administration, and other collegiate debate captains, says a lot more. Remember these five resume tips:

Keep your resume to one page

Edit your skills for each application

Use an easy to read font

Spell and grammar check

Make sure that your address and phone number are accurate

Recognize that Grads get Entry Level Jobs

Be realistic in your job expectations. In a bad economy, many jobs for college graduates are entry level and require long hours, lower than expected pay, and hard work. Dont walk away from a job offer because one part of the job description does not appeal to you. Consider the entire package and the potential to move beyond this entry level position.

Let the College Plaacement Office Help You!