tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41156293374705788162023-06-20T06:20:05.346-07:00What Should I Do With My Life?The day-to-day experiences of career counseling interns at Carnegie Mellon UniversityCMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-578410660597137532011-10-25T09:04:00.000-07:002011-10-25T09:05:36.364-07:00Come so far, got so far to goby Rachel<br />
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So it's my first blog post, yay! As my second full month as a CCI here at the CPDC (we love our acronyms!) draws to a close, I've been reflecting back on how far I've come. Today, at the suggestion of one of the career consultants, I made a spread sheet to keep track of how many appointments and what type of appointments I've had so far. I've only been seeing students on my own for two weeks, but I've already had 9 students! Then I counted up the resumes I reviewed before the Fall EOC, and realized I had reviewed 17 in the month of September. It seems with every appointment something comes up that I'm not entirely sure of the answer, but I'm starting to realize that this isn't a job that I could learn from a book or from power points; at a certain point you have to jump right in and learn baptism by fire style. Looking at these numbers, I realize that while I still may have a lot to learn, what I have learned is starting to weigh heavier on the scales. <br />
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While I'm helping to guide students on their way to having successful careers, I'm also realizing this internship is helping me develop my own career. An area I've always struggled is asking for help when I've needed to. I'm learning, especially in the career field, that there's always someone that can help you come up with another resource and a different angle to look at a student's issue from. Even with everyday tasks, I have umpteen great resources right outside my door to help me expand my knowledge. Even if career services isn't the direction that I ultimately go in student affairs, the skills I'm developing in this office will help me wherever I go.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-91169403498283694232011-10-10T08:13:00.000-07:002011-10-10T08:13:08.821-07:00We're Baaack!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">by Christin </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">The summer is over…aaand so is September (WHAT?!)…and the <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/about-us/career-counseling-internship/index.html">Career Counseling Interns </a>have returned to the CPDC!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>September is a crazy month in our office, which explains the delay in posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t here last September, so the madness this year was all new to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Two weeks ago, we had a week full of job fairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally, 4 fairs in 4 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the weeks of preparation that led up to the madness we christened “Career Week”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can imagine, this meant chaos (good chaos, but chaos none the less) for both our staff as well as the student body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that things have started to calm down a bit, I’ve had a chance to reflect on my summer and what the coming year will hold.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This summer, I had a completely different internship experience-I interned in Recruitment for a different university in the Pittsburgh area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was really excited for this opportunity as I wanted to do something outside of career services, and see if it was a good fit for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly cannot speak more highly of my experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned an insane amount in a short period of time, and was given responsibilities an intern would typically never have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really had to step up to the plate, and looking back, I am really proud of everything I accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also saw a lot of similarities between the student Recruitment process and one’s Career Development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than being about the numbers, it was about helping students to find their “fit”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can definitely see myself working in Recruitment/Admissions when I graduate, and I’m excited that I now have the skill set and experience to make that possible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After my experience this summer, and coming back to CMU and diving right in, I feel like I am finally coming into my own in the field of Student Affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day, I get better at and more comfortable with what I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to excel, and I feel like I’m finally at a place where I can focus on continually improving in order to better serve our students. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m excited for this year-We have a new batch of great CCI’s, I am working with a new College (Tepper!), I have a number of goals I want to accomplish, and I have a better understanding of where I want to be, personally and professionally, in 7 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I GRADUATE in 7 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, technically, 6 ½ months. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There’s a lot that needs to happen in that amount of time, and a lot of decisions that need to be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m insanely nervous about where I’ll be (I’m a J!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need a plan!), but I’m also really excited to see what ends up happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-1236059117375592972011-05-11T11:23:00.000-07:002011-05-11T11:23:24.589-07:00The Secret to Finding the Perfect Jobby Jake<br />
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No Pandora today, instead I'm streaming the new <a href="http://soundcloud.com/manchesterorchestra/sets/simple-math-album-stream/">Manchester Orchestra</a> album, <em>Simple Math.</em><br />
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Okay, everyone, I'm ready to share the secret. I've been searching, applying, and interviewing for full time Student Affairs jobs since December. I've been following SA Tweeters, reading their blogs, and reading the blogs they read. I've had my ear to the ground and turned over every stone (except heavy ones). At the end of the day, I've found an answer...<br />
<br />
<strong>There is no secret.</strong><br />
<br />
Sorry, y'all, but it's the truth. Construct the perfect resume. Write the perfect cover letter. Apply to the perfect job in the perfect location. At the end of the day, you will be united with the right job.<br />
<br />
<strong>There is no perfection.</strong><br />
<br />
Every job will have its downside to go with its upside. Every location will lack something. Every supervisor will have a flaw. There really is no such thing as a <em>perfect</em> job. Sorting through those flaws to find the best fit is how we determine which job is the <em>right</em> job.<br />
<br />
Every resume and cover letter will be viewed differently. One person on the search committee may value a creative resume with superb writing while another will be in search of facts and content. One person may prefer your experience as an RA while others may be more interested in your first prize for raising sheep for wool during your internship in Scotland. Why put in the job description that I should have a sense of humor if I can't make sarcastic remarks in my cover letter? Dates on the right or the left? Who cares!<br />
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This internship is ending and I'd like to share the one thought that reigns supreme in the career search and the search for meaning at-large:<br />
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<strong>Be true to yourself.</strong><br />
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Let's face it, search committees can sift through the BS, so why bother giving it to them. If you don't want to work by yourself, then apply for jobs where you'll work on teams. If you can't stand working outside the city, then apply to jobs in metropolitan areas. If you are allergic to cats, then avoid the apprenticeship with the cat farm down the street.<br />
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You'll land the job that fits because you genuinely want to do that work in that place with those people. Some of us may have to settle for a less-glamorous job at the start, but keep shooting higher and higher because that great fit may only be an application away.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-5950950048379325822011-05-10T11:49:00.000-07:002011-05-10T11:49:55.089-07:00Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Christin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wow, it’s been awhile since I have posted anything here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this is the interns’ final week at CMU, so I figured I should finish out strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe how quickly this school year and internship have flown by!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to be obnoxiously cliché, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbR7axof1wk&feature=related">life moves pretty fast</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Come on, you know my cheesy comment was worth watching a Ferris Bueller clip…) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m halfway done with my graduate program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m starting a new internship at the University of Pittsburgh next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Don’t worry, I will be back at CMU and blogging again in the fall!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few months I will start to search for full-time jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eep!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And crazy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a graduate student, I sometimes feel as though my life is in a constant state of flux.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every few months I have new classes, new internships, new professors, and new classmates. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I am very blessed to have all of these varied, rich opportunities and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know that they will add a lot of strength to my resume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I sometimes struggle, because living with all this change is not my preferred state of being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hair-do, study habits, wardrobe, my order at Chipotle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For better or for worse, I rarely ever change these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or most things in my life, really.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m a “J” on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (<a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/explore/assessment-tools/index.html">MBTI</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means I like order, structure, schedules, and predictability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do I simply like these things, but living in a predictable, structured manner is my strong preference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps me to operate best, to get things done, and to exist in a sane manner.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Clearly, change sometimes rattles me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, it’s kind of ironic that I am going into such a dynamic field of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I think my crazy life as a graduate student is preparing me to embrace a changing world and live with the ambiguity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve found the more I am forced out of my comfort zone, the more I am given the opportunity to grow and become a better version of myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I find myself pleasantly surprised in being able to say that I am excited for the changes that lie ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m excited to have a new experience at Pitt this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m excited to come back to CMU in the fall and have a different experience than I did this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am learning that change is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to remind myself that variety is the spice of life, there is a plan, and all of this will benefit me greatly in the end!</span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-32771418419723869402011-04-21T10:58:00.000-07:002011-04-21T10:58:41.629-07:00The Job Search is Scaryby Jake<br />
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Pandora station: <a href="http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/">Arcade Fire</a><br />
<br />
Days have been coming and going in the ongoing progression toward graduation (May 1) and my first full-time job in Student Affairs (TBD). That's basically the only way I can describe it. One day ends and another begins with a new set of to-dos and a list of cool jobs to apply for. With school days approaching their (terminal?) end, at least that to-do list will begin to feature "go to a museum" rather than "type a paper about some higher ed topic". <br />
<br />
The work doesn't stop, though. Every day I encounter a college that I hadn't thought of or considered for employment and they happen to have a job in one of my interest areas; career counseling, residence life, student activities, admissions, academic advising. With every new job discovery comes a new sense of urgency that I <em>must</em> apply for this job <em>today</em> or I will not be considered. Rarely is this actually true, but I have certainly applied for a few jobs (especially in ResLife) that have been posted for months without an end date, but have already moved forward with the interview process.<br />
<br />
I am a nostalgic person, clearly, so leaving home, family, and friends is a difficult pill to swallow. I think I've consumed it, though. It's become clear that it is unlikely I will be in Pittsburgh this time next year (or in a few months), so I just have to suck it up and think about the benefits that come with a new experience. As I've written on my personal blog in the past, I have fallen in <a href="http://johnjacobnelko.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-signs-point-west.html">love</a> with the idea of <a href="http://johnjacobnelko.blogspot.com/2009/08/leaving.html">leaving</a> on several occasions. This feeling can certainly come and go with the coming and going of actual opportunities. I think it's just easy for me to think about leaving now because I don't have any interviews on my plate at the moment, so there's no tangible thought of "what would it be like to live in _____".<br />
<br />
It's scary to start something new. It's exciting, too. Starting over, finding new friends, creating a new life, these things are all invigorating and exhausting. On one hand, I know that I'll miss my friends, church, family, and life in Pittsburgh. On the other hand, I can't wait to check out a new music scene and hopefully be hundreds of miles away from any performance by Motley Crue or the Clarks.<br />
<br />
The most important thing I'll say today is that you should be excited about the job and location every time you apply. The thought of moving would be a whole lot scarier if I were applying for jobs I didn't love in cities I wasn't excited about living in. Sure, 40 hours of your life is a long time so you should enjoy your job, but even the coolest job won't get me to Cleveland. I'm only applying for jobs I'd enjoy in cities that I'd love. I know that if I want a change I can always come back in a few years, but I'd rather hold on to that chance of falling in love with somewhere new.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-36746553239306563142011-04-08T12:25:00.000-07:002011-04-09T08:26:57.395-07:00Social Mediaby Jake<br />
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Pandora station: City and Colour<br />
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Last week was the <a href="http://www.myacpa.org/">ACPA</a> Conference in Baltimore, MD. I went to the conference with a cohort of Pitt students as well as a few co-workers from CMU. I've been thinking about something profound to bring back from the conference, but I'll just map out a few important things that have stuck out to me in the week since.<br />
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<b>The Internet is big.</b> <br />
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I went to a few seminars on social media to learn how we can utilize different applications in the office and in the job search. I am currently preparing a presentation for the office about the things I learned, but there are so many different applications that can be useful that are available for free online. Besides the old-reliables like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">Youtube</a>, and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, there is a whole collection of media devices that can be useful in the workplace. <br />
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<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/">LinkedIn</a> is a professional social networking tool utilized by over one million users.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.polleverywhere.com/">Polleverywhere</a> can be used to take polls using text messaging or Twitter that can be displayed right in a powerpoint.<br />
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<a href="http://about.me/">About.me</a> is a site where you can create a simple online business card. <a href="http://about.me/jakenelko">Here</a>'s mine!<br />
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<a href="http://www.doodle.com/">Doodle</a> is a site that can help to coordinate meetings.<br />
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<a href="http://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a> is a simple web page creator.<br />
<br />
These are all useful resources that an intermediate computer user can utilize in making their office more hi-tech, efficient, and exciting.<br />
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<b>The world is small.</b><br />
<br />
That being said, social networking has made this a very tiny place. I am currently involved in a job search and have had a few interviews, but I don't want to mention any of them with the fear of showing bias for one which might take me out of the running for the others. Social networking devices like Twitter are fun to use in sharing exciting news, but the Internet has made the world small enough that I know employers can read everything I'm putting online.<br />
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With this in mind, we must brand ourselves. <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a> yourself; see what comes up. Are you writing things on Twitter and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Blogger</a> that you wouldn't mind a potential employer reading? Did you remember to take down every embarrassing picture from Facebook? Do you still have that <a href="http://www.myspace.com/">Myspace</a> account with your high school girlfriend's pet names written all over the comments? These are some things that need to be addressed and double-checked before the job search gets too intense.<br />
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The old school hand-shaking of networking still exists, though, so you had still better be on your best behavior in the real world. These professional networks on sites like LinkedIn still have to start with the real in-person interactions of the past, so put your best foot forward. And try to wear a tie.<br />
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For more information about using social media in Student Affairs, check out the research done by <a href="http://www.reyjunco.com/">Rey Junco</a>.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-1713756416056502002011-04-01T12:20:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:21:27.292-07:00Developing as a Professional<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Christin</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the many things we focus on here at the CPDC is fostering students’ professional development through a number of different means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Professional development” is such a broad term, and it can refer to a number of different things: college coursework, attending workshops, informal learning opportunities, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truly, in almost every interaction with students, I am seeking to help them develop professional skills and values which they will use in their careers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Earlier this week I had the opportunity to engage in some of my own professional development by attending the <a href="http://www2.myacpa.org/">American College Personnel Association</a> (ACPA) national convention in Baltimore, MD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This conference is geared toward practitioners, educators, and graduate students in the student affairs field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what to expect, as this was my first major student affairs conference, but I was definitely excited.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So how was it?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My response to people who ask about the conference has been pretty standard: “I learned a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met a lot of new people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had fun.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great answer, Christin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Really, though, I DID learn a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a huge nerd, but since I’ve been back in school I haven’t been as excited about learning as I hoped or expected I would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, attending this conference and going to sessions about current research in the field of higher education re-ignited my desire to learn, think, and generate new ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I again felt like that undergrad I once knew (all of two years ago… I’m so nostalgic) who loved to think about the “big questions” and generate her own thoughts about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve even started to develop a possible research topic if I ever decide to get my PhD: relating Baxter-Magola’s Model of Epistemological Reflection to students’ spiritual development and religiosity…I know, you’re immediately intrigued, right?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also DID meet a lot of new people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always telling my students to network, network, network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally, I just say that and leave them to figure out how to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Kidding).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this gave me an opportunity to practice what I preach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For an introvert like me, <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/support/successguides/pdf/networking.pdf">networking</a> is hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it’s important and totally worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came home with a ton of great new ideas, contacts, and LinkedIn connections all from engaging in a little bit of networking.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In these ways, the conference was refreshing; I was reminded of why I enjoy this field, and I was able to share that experience with 3,000+ other people who feel the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the conference was also totally exhausting! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late nights, early mornings, day-long sessions, and an infection I picked up from the hotel (yeah, disgusting) really wore me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But despite that it was such a worthwhile professional development experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m in the daily grind, I forget how important opportunities like this are, and this week was a really good reminder.</span></span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-64676823292502470312011-03-24T08:25:00.000-07:002011-03-24T08:25:12.624-07:00My Heart is in the Work<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(or alternately titled, One Reason Why Internships Are Great!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By Christin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last week was Spring Break for both Pitt and CMU, so I was off from both school and my internship for an entire week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What in the world did I do with a whole week off you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could tell you that I spent it in some warm, tropical location, sipping on frozen drinks with little umbrellas and getting a nice tan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No such luck for this poor grad student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, between watching an entire season of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lost</i>, baking delicious coconut macaroons, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">briefly</i> cheering on Pitt in the Big East Tournament, I had a lot of time to veg and think about things.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One thing I kept thinking about was how thankful I am to be doing a job which I enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I enjoyed this internship, but it wasn’t until I got excited to come back after a week off that I realized it really is a great fit for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a job that I can get excited about and really dedicate myself to.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This caused me to reflect on a quote from Carnegie Mellon’s namesake, Andrew Carnegie, who said (like this blog title) “My heart is in the work”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even a financial tycoon like Carnegie, who was surely raking in major dough, recognized the importance of enjoying what you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess that it wasn’t all about the Benjamins for Carnegie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it really shouldn’t be for anyone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Obviously one’s career is not the entirety of one’s life (though I suppose it definitely can be if you want it to), but we each will spend some 40-odd years in the working world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a mighty long time to be working for the weekend.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe I’m naïve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, having graduated from undergrad only 2 years ago, I haven’t been working for very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ve come in contact with people who love their jobs and those who don’t, as I’m sure we all have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m convinced you should do something you enjoy and have passion for—something where you can put your heart into your work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, you may not find what that is immediately, and my post may therefore be frustrating for you to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest assured that I am in the same boat, and some of what I am saying comes from a place of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still a student, and I am still trying to find a career where I can put my heart into my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This process certainly isn’t easy, but it’s worthwhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And this is why I think internships are great—they allow you to try a certain job, gain valuable skills and experience, and see if you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actually enjoy </i>the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re open and diligent, you’ll find something you enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You always have time to explore, try new things, and change direction.</span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-63448069395871262732011-03-16T11:04:00.000-07:002011-03-16T11:04:09.449-07:00Post-Spring Break Thoughtsby Jake<br />
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Pandora station: Copeland<br />
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We've entered the stretch run for the school year. All that's left in each class is a final project. The job search is in full swing with a dozen applications hitting the ethernet jungle this weekend. Spring break is over, which means back to the grind, but it also means I'm only a couple months away from big changes.<br />
<br />
The biggest decision when interviews and job offers come along will be whether I stay in Pittsburgh or leave for a city on my short-list (Boston, Philly, Seattle, Portland, Denver, and SoCal at the moment). I've spent my whole life in Pittsburgh, which makes this an increasingly difficult decision. Everything I know is here; my family, my friends, my church, my alma mater. Looks like I should stay, but poetic justice has me leave. <br />
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"Why on earth would I want to stay even longer?" my inner-artist asks. Because it's safe? That's a poor reason. Because I want to develop the roots I've planted? Getting better. Because I love Pittsburgh? Makes sense.<br />
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Who knows where I will have opportunities when graduation rolls around. I'll be happy to get a few interviews and an offer or two. Pittsburgh has a much lower cost-of-living than the other cities mentioned, which would be great for me to build up some savings and pay back loans for a few years before re-evaluating. On the other hand, I'm young and not tied down to Pittsburgh, so now is probably the best time to leave.<br />
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I visited Seattle two summers ago, Philadelphia last semester, and Boston last week. These are three great American cities for very different reasons. They each offer different things that are attractive for the young, single, artful Christian male. In a way, each city felt like home during the visit. Each city offers a young, hip crowd of musicians and artists and beer-enthusiasts that I'd fit in with. Each city would bring along a new, exciting adventure. Each city would get me closer to the ocean.<br />
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Am I ready to start over? I don't really know. Sometimes I feel ready to try something new and different, sometimes I am terrified to leave what I love. The best part of the whole equation is that I believe in a faith that tells me God has a plan. He'll guide me to the decision and I can just be along for the ride. This thought makes everything seem simpler, but taking the decision out of my hands is a scary thing. You only live once, though, so we'd better make the most of it.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-63095960151394713102011-03-03T13:17:00.000-08:002011-03-03T13:17:37.013-08:00Career Detoursby Jake<br />
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Pandora station: The Format<br />
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There's a saying that I've heard from several of my Christian friends and that is "if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans". Whether you believe in God or not, I feel like this statement can ring pretty true because our plans rarely work out the way they are supposed to. <br />
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My high school self thought that I'd be married and working for ESPN by the time I was 26, but that <em>clearly</em> is not where I am in my journey! This isn't to say that I am not accomplished because I did not realize these goals, but instead that through the different trials and turns in my life I have developed a new set of goals which may not even have everything to do with a career.<br />
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In our consultant meeting today one of my colleagues, Renee, brought a new <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/support/successguides/index.html">Career Success Guide</a> to our attention from our website, which deals with "bridge year" options (link coming soon). These include a lot of short-term internships and jobs that give students experiences that may be related or unrelated to their field of study. I jokingly said that I should look through these ideas for myself, until I realized that that wasn't such a crazy idea. In the past week I have started looking at some alternative options with organizations I have a particular passion for. Unfortunately the <a href="http://www.ijm.org/">International Justice Mission</a> and <a href="http://thementoringproject.org/">The Mentoring Project</a> do not have paid internships and <a href="http://www.linkglobal.org/">Liberty in North Korea (LiNK)</a> doesn't seem to pay much to anyone who doesn't know some Korean. Other options exist, though, and I have several of them spelled out on a sheet sitting in front of me.<br />
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There is a certain excitement that comes with being thrown off of your planned path. For the Js out there (Judging, Myers-Briggs Type), having the structure of a plan is what helps you sleep at night. For the Ps(Perceiving), though, your engine fires up when you hear of opportunities that are seemingly unrelated to your unintentional path. <br />
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Dear Js: <em>This is not a bad thing!</em> Keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground because opportunities are everywhere, you've just got to be ready to open the door when they come knockin'.<br />
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My advice is to give opportunities a shot. There's always been a part of me that wants to give it all up, move to Asia, and do whatever I can to help shut down human trafficking. This may not be a feasible option considering I don't have a lot of the qualifications for jobs that will let me do this and pay off my student loans, but you'd better believe I'll keep searching for ways to contribute. <br />
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Until then, I'll work on doing my part to raise awareness in the States. I don't really have a plan, but I've learned that making a plan isn't always the best use of time, anyways. Right, ESPN?CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-81431106920854247812011-03-01T11:31:00.000-08:002011-03-01T11:33:42.849-08:00Thinking like an Interviewer<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Christin</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(Am I supposed to add a Pandora station, too? Right now it's "Celtic Woman". That's potentially a little bit embarassing..)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lately, I've had interviewing on the brain. This is almost certainly a result of spending at least 50% of my work time over the past two weeks doing interview-related things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I participated in a few days of interviewing for new interns and student staff, gave a presentation on interviewing skills, met with students for mock interviews, and had Career Counseling Intern (henceforth referred to as CCI) training on interviewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that time of the year, I suppose!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What is most interesting is that in most of these experiences I have been able to get a view from the “other side of the table”, if you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This opportunity has been incredibly enlightening and has given me a new perspective, both personally and professionally, on interviewing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I always used to think I was a good interviewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose that’s because almost all of the interviews I have had produced favorable results, and because I felt positively about them once they were over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I distinctly remember a time when I told my college roommates, “I love interviewing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just like having a good conversation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not quite.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Contrary to popular belief (or maybe just my belief) interviewing is not a completely intuitive process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the interview is your opportunity to show the employer who you are as a person, there’s also a formula you ought to follow, and a way interviewers are looking for you to both act and answer questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to make them want YOU over all of the other applicants, and doing this takes a certain amount of preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a number of things to consider, and it can seem bit overwhelming to think about!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I dressed right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is my body language?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are my answers to their questions strong enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I really qualified for this job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they like me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/support/successguides/index.html">Career Success Guide</a> on <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/support/successguides/pdf/interviews.pdf">Interviews</a> has a lot of good information on how to approach interviewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the most important advice I can give would be to practice, practice, practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a list of common interview questions and literally write out your answers to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Practice those answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know yourself and what points you will want to make about your strengths and successes ahead of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know the company as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Don’t just take a quick glance at their home page, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do some thorough research!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing this will cut down on a lot of that crazy pre-interview stress and anxiety.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am not saying to be someone who you aren’t just to nail an interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above all things, be yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But be yourself in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">professional manner</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interviewers want to see the kind of person you will be when you come to work every morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-42321696486472943922011-02-22T08:49:00.000-08:002011-02-22T08:50:22.701-08:00On The Blog Title..<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Christin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve never really blogged before, so getting into this whole deal is new to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I love writing, so I figured a blog entry would be the perfect way to plow through my Friday afternoon fatigue (side note: I obviously wrote most of this blog on Friday afternoon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know if I write a whole book on here Jake will make fun of me, so I’ll try not to get off track!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over the past month or so we had been dragging our feet about getting this blog up and running…mostly due to the fact that we couldn’t come up with a good blog name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trying to think of something clever, fun, and alliterative that rhymed with “career”, “adventure”, or “journey”, but when Jake suggested the current title, I thought it perfectly described what we do here at the CPDC as well as the state of my own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also serves as the perfect topic for my first blog entry EVER!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The age old question of “what should I do with my life?” is something I still continually ask myself, even as a graduate student and intern in the Career and Professional Development Center, of all places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you are thinking, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shouldn’t <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>she</u></b> at least have some idea of what she wants to do with her life?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the day and my current situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m incredibly fickle, so there are some days when I’m sure about my life and have a clear direction and other days where I haven’t a clue.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There was a time when I sincerely wished an email that told me what I should do with my life, and how I should do it, would show up in my inbox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But over the past few years I have found, and continue to find, that the career journey is infinitely as important as the destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The confusion, the indecision, and the apprehension toward decisions about one’s future are all normal feelings to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would venture to say not having all the answers is even good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It forces you to be introspective, to try new things, and to step outside of your comfort zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know this has been incredibly true in my own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The risk-taking, new experiences, and feelings of being uncomfortable have all led to my own self-discovery, particularly in figuring out my own calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am finally starting to figure out what exactly “I should do with my life”, and every experience I have had, both good and bad, had helped me to do this.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know I risk sounding cliché, but life is a journey, and one’s career path is no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is at a different point on the map, and takes a different route to get to their destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now time for my CPDC related shameless plug…There’s a reason that one of our office’s many resources on career exploration is called <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/students-alumni/GPS/TartanGPS.html">TartanGPS</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps you focus on your own career exploration through the lens of a journey, and it meets you where you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So be okay with where you are, and trust this whole process!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you reflect on your own journey, I hope you’ll enjoy reading about mine as I continually seek to discover “what I should do with my life”.</span></div>CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-47344804145347629722011-02-18T12:26:00.000-08:002011-02-18T12:26:17.313-08:00Searchingby Jake<br />
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Today's Pandora station: <strong>Tokyo Police Club</strong><br />
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The job hunt is in the early stages for me these days. In putting together cover letters and revising my resume, I find nothing but stress. For me, it gets to the point where I just give up, say "this is good enough", and pray for a response. When all is said and done, I will be matched up with the right job and there's not much more I can do besides what I'm already doing.<br />
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Lot's of confidence coming from an intern who gives out this advice, right? The fact is, though, that we don't have <em>all</em> of the answers! I met with a pair of students today looking for internships this summer and felt those exact sentiments. There's no simple 3-click method to magically find a pool of jobs you should apply for. We have to get out there, do the leg work, and find them. We have to find the institutions we want to work for and keep an eye on their job postings. If that means that you go to Lockheed Martin's website every day starting 6 months before summer, then that's what you have to do. If that means that I'll look on the University of Washington's website and find nothing I'm qualified for once a month for the past two years, then that's it. No one's going to do it for us or just call us up and say "hey, I know you never applied for this perfect job, but do you want it?".<br />
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So, it takes a lot of faith. A lot of faith in the system that your qualifications will get you the right job. A lot of faith in yourself that you can find that job and market yourself well. A lot of faith that some luck will point you to the right website or person on the right day. We can't get too far without doing anything, but we won't get everywhere all by ourselves, either.<br />
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Days like today need some good tunes, which is why I pickedTokyo Police Club. Upbeat and fun. It's so nice outside and I can't wait to feel upbeat and fun on my bike ride home! At the end of the day, whether I have a job in line or not, I can still ride my bike down the street and enjoy the cool breeze. In the moment, that ride will feel better than any dental plan or 401k could.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115629337470578816.post-71582676316466148322011-02-09T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-09T12:14:12.568-08:00An Introduction of Sortsby Jake<br />
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Today's Pandora station: <strong>The Strokes</strong><br />
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Oh hello! My name is Jake. You can read about me in the <strong>About Jake</strong> section, naturally.<br />
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Today is Wednesday, the first of my three-day week as an intern in CMU's <strong>Career and Professional Development Center</strong>. It's hard to drag myself out of bed on Wednesdays (you know, my Monday). I don't have to get up early for anything Sat-Tues, so Wednesday is the toughest. I also bike to work, or walk in the winter, so the single-digit temperatures today made my electric blanket seem like <em>heaven</em> this morning. There's no better way to become alert in the morning than by walking a mile and a half in 8 degree breezes, though. I think that's the main reason I can avoid coffee all day!<br />
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Today is not like normal Wednesday because my schedule is full of appointments with students preparing for tomorrow's career fair, the <strong>Employment Opportunities Conference</strong> (EOC). I've been busy all day since my first appointment at 9am and I'll be working til the (my) bell at 3:30. My appointments today are almost exclusively to help students prepare their resume for tomorrow's phenomenon that is a career fair. Most of the students today met with me last week and wanted to schedule time to review their adjustments, so the second half of our appointment is usually an explanation of what tomorrow will be like.<br />
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Shake hands. Smile. Eye contact Suit and tie. What's your year? What's your major? Why do you want to work for us? What are some projects you've done? Scan the room. Map out your route. Make sure to do your research! You'd better know what internships Google is offering before you give them your "elevator speech"!<br />
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It's a game, the career search. Not only do you have to do impressive things to <em>put on</em> the resume, but you have to <em>present it well</em>, along with a cover letter, then clean up and <em>present yourself well</em> at the career fair. Maybe then you'll get an interview! <br />
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Then there's the <em>interview</em>. Do it all again. Be ready to map out your biggest strength and weakness. Think about a time you faced adversity and overcame. Can I talk about when I played on a sprained ankle in the state championship? Or maybe when I was paired with the lazy kid in class for our final project? I don't know if "not killing your partner" really counts as "overcoming adversity"...<br />
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It's all a game that we have to master. We are all salesmen when it comes to the job market, which is why everyone has to be able to communicate well, no matter your field. <br />
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The most interesting aspect for me is that I'm on both sides right now. I'm telling students how to prepare for the job search, but I'm job-searching myself as graduation approaches. I look forward to sharing part of that journey with you, so you might figure out your own path.<br />
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Give the advice, then take your own. Hopefully I'm giving good advice.CMU CPDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10428181545743656383noreply@blogger.com1