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Debating Your Way to Career Success: The Hidden Benefits of Joining a Community College Debate Club
This article highlights three key reasons why joining a debate club in community college can significantly boost career prospects. It explores how debate activities enhance public speaking skills, critical thinking abilities, and networking opportunities, all of which are valuable assets in the job market.

While joining any community college club can help boost your chances of employment after graduation, students participating in debate clubs tend to possess even greater hiring odds!

A community college’s debate club teaches members how to research, articulate arguments, and clarify ideas. Subsequently, individuals actively engaging in debate club activities are often more prepared to speak clearly during interviews, demonstrate a professional presence, and clearly explain concepts and abilities. Indeed, there are many reasons why debating in college can lead to you debating all the job offers on the table post-graduation!

Matthew Lynch, writing in The Advocate, states: "Research, reasoning, and even public speaking skills are just a few of the many benefits that come with learning to be a good debater. From planning your argument – even if it’s one you disagree with – to choosing your words with care, debating can prepare you to take on any challenge life may present to you.

Debating is, by no means, the same thing as engaging in a full-blown argument. Instead, you will have to prepare a compelling, concise argument, which will gain support and backing, rather than simply attacking your opponent blindly."

Networking with the Professional Community

While each community college’s debate club may focus on its unique topics, most debate clubs strive to boost students’ investigations of community and social issues.

For example, Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC), located in Panama City, Florida, is one of the many community colleges providing students

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Earn Your Film Degree At Community College

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Earn Your Film Degree At Community College
Learn about how you can pursue a degree and career in the entertainment industry by starting at your local community college.

A career in Hollywood may very well begin at your local community college. With an array of Film Studies programs, community colleges have trained many industry professionals in bringing a story to life on the silver screen. Designed to teach students about the history of film or the production of modern entertainment mediums, Film Studies programs allow students to pursue an exciting career pathway.

Understanding the History of Bluegrass Film

Students enrolled in Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) discover new skills and perspectives in entertainment courses offered at several BCTC campus locations in Kentucky. As BCTC explains, the Film Studies programs and classes are designed to promote the history and significance of film in America.

Offering classes that provide students with unique perspectives from around the world, students taking Film Studies courses discover how the film has been used to shape our world, providing each of us with our own set of cultural meanings and understandings. As BCTC further explains, “Any student entering the workforce today will encounter people, ideas and cultural habits from multiple cultures around the world; having an awareness of these different values is a valuable skill in all professions.” With the various Film Study courses, BCTC strives to teach students the necessary skills to recognize and decipher these many cultural meanings. As the film has become a strong media that influences and reflects the world’s unique cultural values, learning how to recognize these global

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Careers: Maritime Careers

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Careers: Maritime Careers
Explore the captivating world of seamanship jobs and maritime careers. From becoming a deck officer and mastering navigation skills to overseeing ship operations, discover the rewarding and adventurous opportunities available in the marine industry. Learn about the essential role of ship crews and explore the path to a successful career at sea through comprehensive maritime training.

With a versatile curriculum that adapts to changing economic forces, community colleges offer engaging and interesting academic pathways. If the sea has always called to you, consider pursuing a degree in sailing and seamanship. Students interested in learning to sail and operate a boat for entertainment, or students interested in professionally pursuing sailing as a career pathway, can take advantage of an array of opportunities at community colleges across the country.

Sailing Towards a Degree in Orange Coast Community College

Students attending Orange Coast Community College (OCC) in Newport Beach, California, can dive into the adventures of the open sea in the unique School of Sailing and Seamanship program. At OCC, students can pursue courses in sailing for entertainment and fun or to become prepared for career pathways and jobs. With classes ranging from youth sailing to adult certification, OCC tries to meet the needs and interests of a diverse student audience. Elective courses in sailing include classes such as Basic Cruising, Yacht Keeping and Maintenance, Introduction to Sailing, Introduction to Keel Boats, and many others.

For individuals interested in a professional sailing pathway, OCC offers a variety of degree and certification programs. Specifically, OCC students can enroll in the Professional Mariner Program, US Sailing Certification Program, and US Coast Guard Captain’s Licensing Program, alongside many other professional options.

Students enrolled in the Professional Mariner Program will engage in courses such as Boat Handling Basic Skills, Marine Safety Training, Navigation for Deckhands,

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Careers: Winemaking

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Careers: Winemaking
If you enjoy wine, learn more about how you can earn a college degree in winemaking and wine tasting at your local community college.

While some may believe that wine tasting is simply an enjoyable hobby, an after-work indulgence, or a unique cultural phenomenon, the art of wine is truly much more. Today, as the interest in wine continues to grow, students across the country are now pursuing this art as the main focus of their college studies. In community colleges across the country, students can study the art of wine tasting, making, and product distribution, which leads to an array of related careers.

Even amidst stressful and uncertain economic times, the wine industry is proving to stand strong, according to MSNBC. Recession-proof careers in the wine industry are continuing to grow. With myriad options and stable job security, the art of wine can open up incredible new pastures for today’s community college students.

Viticulture and Enology

One of the primary careers in the wine industry begins right at wine’s roots. Viticulture and Enology involve the study of grape growing and winemaking. Available at many regionally specific community colleges (especially in areas conducive to growing grapes), students can earn their degrees by learning about the complex details of wine harvesting. From Napa Valley College in California to Piedmont Community College in Virginia, students are preparing for a lucrative career at the core of the wine industry.

This video describes the winemaking program at Napa Valley College.

For example, students attending Surry Community College (SCC),

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The Secrets to Success at Community College Job Fairs

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The Secrets to Success at Community College Job Fairs
Capitalize upon the secrets and strategies of enhancing your job prospects and career opportunities at a community college job fair.

Job and career fairs offer students various convenient, useful, and potentially lucrative opportunities. Considering that many community college students preparing for upcoming graduation are uncertain about how to apply for jobs, establish networks, and even get a single proverbial foot in the door, job fairs provide an excellent alternative to the traditional search.

Instead of the traditional approach, which mandates that students independently seek out jobs and send in resumes, a community college job fair brings employers to the students. Job fairs are large congregations of employers seeking new college graduates to become part of their staff. Typically, job fairs allow students to meet leaders in their career field while allowing students to submit their resumes to multiple employers at one big event. Some students attending job fairs are even hired for jobs on the spot!

Community College Job Fair Tips

Every community college provides its students with annual, biannual, or even monthly job fair events. As Lenoir Community College, located in Kingston, North Carolina, asserts, these job fair events are intended to help all students. “Anyone can use a job fair to make contacts, distribute resumes, and explore new avenues of employment.” To take advantage of the many benefits of job fair, prepare yourself with the key tips for success.

Prepare and Edit Your Resume

Before attending your job fair, ensure your resume is easy to read and completely error-free. As your resume is the only source of information by which employers can often

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