Finals are almost done and winter break is almost here. The month break that we have will be a good time for you to recharge, catch up, and experience. It will be a much needed break for everyone.

Some of you may feel the lack of energy and enthusiasm. Take some time over the break to really relax and unwind because college can be very stressful. You deserve to sleep in and do absolutely nothing for a couple days. It will help beat the end of the semester burn out feeling. A few days to recharge will be just what the doctor ordered!

Once you feel fresh and motivated, catch up on the things you feel you have neglected during the semester. Go ahead and start drafting that resume that you’ve wanted to start. Start looking for internships. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Get back into physical fitness if you haven’t been. Its really a good time to get back on track and do the things you’ve been missing out on.

Last but not least…Get out and experience! Make use of the month of freedom. Use this winter break to travel if you can. It doesn’t have to be far, just anywhere that interests you. Day trips are really nice ways to get out of the house. Hit the ski slopes and carve the mountain. Visit your local movie theater and see the new films. Go out with friends and family and just have a good time, you’ve earned it.

By the time the spring semester arrives, you should feel ready to tackle your course work. Use this time to rejuvenate and have a great time. Push through these last few days of school and then have a wonderful winter break!

Speakman 212 – 11:40am

Please join us for the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning Brown Bag session on Wednesday 12/11 from 9:00-11:30 in Speakman 114. DR. Carol Philips from the Teaching and Learning Center will discuss considering alternative ways of constructing a learning environment and to engage faculty in a discussion of how to more effectively teach American (TU) students.

Download the PowerPoint

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2008 Experiential Education Survey, almost 70% of employers extended post-graduation offers to their interns.  This means that having that internship will increase the likelihood that you have a job when you graduate.  Additionally, interns who accepted those job offers where more likely than their non-intern counterparts to stick with the organization/company.  This can probably be attributed to the fact that they were already familiar with the surroundings and knew what to expect.  There were less new job jitters and more confidence and familiarity.

Some students worry about graduating “on time” (meaning in 4 years).  But, today the average college student spends four and a half to five years completing their degree and FAFSA can last up to 5 years.  Not to mention the fact that students often change their major multiple times which can adversely effect the length of time spent working towards a degree.  So, “on time” is really relative.  Plus when you are a senior and are polishing up your resume to post for full-time jobs there should be no high school or earlier information listed, only expected graduation date from college, so no one knows how long it took you to work on your degree.  I have yet to have a student or employer tell me that the question “How long did it take you to complete your degree?” was asked during an interview.  Therefore, baring financial constraints, there is no reason a traditional aged student should not attempt to complete an internship or co-op.

If you are reading this or have read the other blogs about internships you might be thinking…What if I have to work or I can’t find an internship?  If you are working, find out if the company you work for has an office related to your major or volunteer to help your boss.  For example, you work at “X” retail chain as a salesperson.  If the corporate office isn’t nearby but you are a human resource major volunteer to help your boss when the next position needs to be filled.  Or if you are an accounting major and you work at “So and So’s Family Restaurant” as wait staff volunteer to help your boss balance the books at the end of the night.  If you don’t have a job or can leave the one you are at Patrick Combs (author of “Major in Success”) recommends that if you cannot get an internship try working for a temporary employment agency during the summer break.  You never know where these opportunities can lead. 

So, the short answer is YES! 

• Follow directions. Be careful to enter the correct data in the correct field.
• Ask for advice on completing the application from a company recruiter or an alumnus who may work at the company.
• Tailor your application information to the position. Don’t copy and paste text from your generic resume.
• Use key words, buzz words, and industry verbiage. Use the verbiage in the job ad as your model. Employers search on key words when they’re looking for people to fill specific positions.
• Create a skills-inventory section even if the application doesn’t require it. You might put this in a comments section.
• Include numbers and statistics if they are available. (Example: Counted five cash drawers daily; responsible for more than $10,000 per 8-hour shift.)
• Complete all fields—even those that aren’t required.
• If the company offers an optional assessment test online, take it. (One employer recently admitted that students who don’t take the optional assessment test are automatically screened out.)
• Make sure your resume can hold its own in a very simple format. Fancy bullets, text, italics, and bold do not convert well in an electronic application.
• If possible, spell check and grammar check your application before submitting it. Have an error-free application because this application serves as the employer’s first impression of you.
• Another use for the comment section: use it to demonstrate that you’ve done research on the company and the industry.
• Use quotes from letters of recommendation in your resume or cover letter.
• Followup your electronic application with a personal e-mail to the recruiter. A follow-up phone call is acceptable if the ad does not say, “No phone calls.”

You will see that they have some advice on how to followup.  Even if you are applying online you still need to be proactive in your job search and follow up with employers.  You can find the recruiters information through a phone call to the organization, through a contact you may have made at a career fair, or it may even be listed right on the company website or job posting.  It is important to make sure that you are taking the lead in the contact to the employer and not waiting to hear from them.

“TV doesn’t really seem to satisfy people over the long haul the way that social involvement or reading a newspaper does,” says University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson, the study co-author and a pioneer in time use studies. “It’s more passive and may provide escape – especially when the news is as depressing as the economy itself.”

I know personally when I tell people that I pick up a book occasionally I get weird looks. I get people questioning why I choose to read when I could watch TV. I had a friend in high school who read all the time and people would make fun of him. Its like the world makes reading look less cool nowadays.

From the General Social Survey, the researchers found that self-described very happy people were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers. By contrast, unhappy people watched significantly more television in their spare time.

I know when I talk to and meet new people I find it easier to smile everyday. Being social is a something that may force you to come out of your comfort zone but at the same time it could boost your happiness.  Read, Be Social, Be Happy!

Source:

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1789

I feel like the world puts alot of pressure on students to pick the perfect major from the start. But many students don’t always know exactly what they like or are interested in. I personally changed majors 3 times! But it was well worth it because I actually found something I like to do. Just imagine yourself doing a job that you are not interested in and have to live your life doing something that doesn’t mean anything to you.  Some of the happiest people are the ones that find a job that they enjoy or a job that has meaning to them.

Many people chose a major based on its potential earnings and thats not the sole reason why you should choose that major. Your major should be something that you have some passion about. I’ve met many people who love their job and to them its no longer work. Thats what you want to aim for. Some students feel like they can’t switch majors because of their parents will get mad. You have a whole life to live and you don’t want to go through the daily grind unhappy.

Make a promise to yourself to have an enriching career and life. Find what you love to do and follow it.

“COME YOUR HAIR!”
I know we all got this at some time or another. Our parents didnt like the outfit we were wearing or how we were presenting ourselves and did the “you better march right back up there missy and change that outfit!” type of thing! Well little did you know at that time your parents were helping you to make sure you were always making the best first impression possible. Networking is all about impression management and making sure that an employer remembers you when you walk away, not because of anything other than your optimistic personality, great questions and strong handshake! Remember you have to act the part to BE the part!

“ALWAYS SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU”
Being considerate and generous always bodes well for your professionalism. Employers will be looking at your encounters with others as a way to find the most qualified potential employees. It is important that you can be a client facing employee, working with those around you of all different skill levels and personalities. A warm thank you whether verbal or in a thank you card is a way to solidify the relationships you have just made and strengthen those you already have.

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT”
While growing up we all had a few bad days where we felt that nothing was going our way. We learned to rise up to the challenges and adversities in our paths and grow from them as people. This is the same for the career search that many of you are embarking on now. You will get out of it what you put in. If you are proactive and meet with employers in as many situations as you can, gain valuable experiences on an internship, and build your leadership skills in a student professional organization you are setting yourself up for many successes. These successes still wont come easy, but with work, life really is what you make of it.

“NEVER GIVE UP”
To go along with the tip above, networking and making the lasting connections that will eventually land you in the office of a hiring manager wont come overnight. It is important that you understand that patience in this situation will take you a long ways. Take the time to make each encounter with a potential employer valuable. In this situation it is definitely quality over quantity and handing out your resume to 100 employers at a career fair is far less valuable than making a lasting impression on 3 or 4 employers. Followup is key. After you meet an employer, make sure to request a business card, and send them a followup thank you letter and tell them that you appreciate their time and feedback.

“KEEP YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE”
During your networking and job search you will be involved in multiple events where your etiquette skills will be important. Remember what your parents told you about how to pass the salt, how to use your utensils and other things that are important during a meal. Many employers use some sort of dining experience to gauge their candidates professionalism in that environment.

We have had a few students who have questions on how to tie a tie. Hopefully this video makes it super simple for you!!

Leadership is Everyone’s Business
Leaders closest to us have the most influence.  77% of people select a family memeber, religious leader or teacher as their role model.  This means that everyone has the potential to be a leader/role model.  There is a current leadership drought in this country and 97% of organizations report significant leadership gaps which is why leaders need to start developing their skills and talents earlier in life, especially in college.  Learn this now, while you are in college, and get involved to start building your own leadership skills.

Credibility is still the foundation
What do people look for or admire in a leader?
HONESTY (89%)
COMPETENT (68%)
FORWARD-THINKING (71%)
INSPIRING (69%)

These characteristics have been consistent over 25 years with little variations in the percentages.  Credibility involves trustworthiness, experts, and dynamism.  Forward thinking is the hardest to develop and is what seperates colleagues from leaders.  He also mentioned that in order to be committed to anything we have to be clear about what WE value.

Looking forward is a prerequesite
The job of a leader is to clear the fog and explain to the team where they are heading.  Leaders need to paint the picture of the future so people can see themselves in it.

Challenge is the opportunity for leaders
Mr. Kouzes spoke about how challenge, difficulty, and adversity makes leaders.  In times of adversity it is the leaders that will emerge.

Trust is the glue that binds us
You have to keep working on trust and never take it for granted.

It takes practice and practice takes time
The best leaders are the best learners.  It takes 10,000 hours each year for 10 years for a leader to learn to be the best leader.  This means that a leader must spend 2.7 hours a day everyday for 10 years developing their skills and talents as a leader.

I hope you can take away from this list of universal leadership practices some skills that you can start working on to develop your own leadership skills, starting now.

 The women adminstrators and faculty of the Fox School had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Liz Dow, President of LEADERSHIP Philadelphia, and I wanted to share this information with you as well!

Liz completed a project called the “Connector Project” which aimed to find the connectors in Philadelphia.  For any of you who have not read The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell (which I definitely suggest you do) let me explain what a “connector” is.  Connectors’s are the people who “link us up with the world … people with a special gift for bringing the world together.”  Liz Dow has been called, by Malcolm Gladwell, Philadelphia’s #1 connector and she wanted to find others like her.  In completing this project, she compiled a list of CONNECTOR COMPETENCIES that all connectors have. 

CONNECTOR COMPETENCIES*
C     Community Catalyst
O     Other-oriented
N     Network Hubs
N     Navigating Mazes
E     Empowering Passion
C     Curious
T     Trustworthy
O     Optimistic
R     Results-achievers
S     Self Starters

Think about that list above and think of those in your life that holds those competencies, they may even be competencies that you hold (Find out if you are a connector HERE).  The important think to realize here is that the Connectors in your life are going to be the most helpful for you in your job search and in other areas of your life where it is important to know the RIGHT people.  We always speak about networking here in the CSPD and sometimes it is a daunting task but if you can find just one of these connectors amongst your friends, teachers, acquaintances, etc. than you will have opened up the doors to numerous possibilities.  Leverage your current relationships to help you as best you can.  Especially in this current economy, the people we know will be that much more important in your job search.  If you know anyone on THIS list than you are off to a great start!  Think about it….

*Copyright Liz Dow: President, LEADERSHIP Philadelphia