Experience an Informational Interview!

You always hear about the necessity of having a lot of work experience and that it is all about who you know.  Informational interviews can help lead you to success in the field of your dreams.  Professionals I have talked to have stressed to me the importance of networking early on in college, and I have taken that advice seriously.

A few months ago, one of the coworkers at my previous internship gave me the contact information of one of her friends from high school who happens to be the creative director at a major advertising agency.  With a simple email, I scheduled a meeting with her to conduct an informational interview.  During the interview I was able to find out more about what her position entails and I learned a lot about what it takes to be in the advertising industry.  

Even if you don't know someone who knows someone, it is really easy to go online and search a company in which you are interested.  Once you find the people in the department you have an interest in, go ahead and contact them to schedule an interview.  If those individuals are not too busy, then usually they are more than willing to meet with you .  A short 15 minutes of asking an employer questions could make a big difference in your future.  It is so important to know what questions you are going to ask ahead of time.  That helped me because every time there started to be an awkward pause, I whipped out another question I had written on a sheet of paper.  

Some good questions to ask when conducting an informational interview include:

-What is the title of your position?

-What does a typical day on the job consist of?

-What do you like best and least about what you do?

-What qualifications and experience does someone need to have to get a job in this field?

-What is an entry level position in this field?

-What are the best places to look for jobs in this field?

-How did you get started?

-What are the different salary ranges?

A good site where I found many of these questions, some of which I used in my own informational interview is located at the following link: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/infointerviews/a/infointervquest.htm

Informational interviews are so important because they help you develop professional connections.  In addition, you can find out more about the job and industry your contacts are in and the highs and lows of their jobs, all without the stress of an actual job interview.

Finding a job isn't as hard as it seems!

The rumor is true! In this downward spiraling economy, I found a job this summer. Yes, a job. Not an internship, but a paid part-time position at an insurance company. Like many other students, I needed to find someplace to work over the summer so that I would have some spending money and not sit around everyday doing nothing. Everyone kept telling me that in this economy it is almost impossible to find a job, even part time, but I was determined to find one anyway. The way I finally succeeded was through Panther Connect. The site is amazing and there are always new jobs being posted. Yes, you can find a good un-paid internship on Panther Connect to gain experience, but you can also find full time and part time positions, which are increasingly needed these days.
In my case, it was simple. I looked for a day or two for positions I was interested in. I found one that fit my schedule and my interest to work as a part time receptionist, and I sent in my resume. I got a call about 10 minutes later and scheduled an interview for that same day. By the next week, I had already received the call offering me the job. The company is a great place to work with wonderful people. It is also 5 minutes walking distance from campus and 10 minutes from my house. The woman who hired me told me that she only received a few resumes because the only place they posted the job was on Panther Connect, hoping to get a lot of interested students. If I had not looked there and instead looked elsewhere, I may have not gotten a job and certainly not where I am now… happily employed. I recommend Panther Connect for anyone who is looking for a job, and I know there are a lot of you out there. It was so easy for me to find what I was looking for by using the simple search and specifying what I wanted.
According to Timothy M. McKissock in his article “Finding a Job on the Internet: The Wave of a Future”, one of the most effective ways of locating career connections on the Internet is through job posting sites. What better way is there to find a job than an online site specifically for Chapman students with tons of employment opportunities?

Get Back In Focus for the New Semester!

The new semester of 2009 is beginning, and it’s time to start getting back into the groove of things. At least for me, getting back into focus is the hardest part of returning to school. I had such a relaxing winter break and so much less responsibility than during the school year. I have also spent a lot of time in front of the T.V. or out with friends, not having to think about an essay that’s hanging over my head or a test I need to study for. This type of thinking is hard to snap out of when classes begin. The first thing I do, right before classes start, is buy a planner. This helps me organize everything I have to do instead of getting overwhelmed and forgetting important dates and meetings. I also always look over my schedule before classes start to get a good idea of how much study time and work time will fit into my days. Getting a head start on planning is always helpful and can help relieve stress later on.
Many of us get that feeling of laziness, especially when we are still getting used to a new routine. On the days I feel lazy and don’t want to go to class because I still feel like it’s the middle of break, I will get up and work out or clean my house. Finding something productive to do helps me gain energy to carry out the other important tasks I have during the day. Sometimes, adding exercise into my new routine will motivate me to go to class, knowing there is something else to do besides school work.
I found an article online called “Beat the Back to School Blues!” that says it’s a good idea to think of all the positive points of going back to school. One in particular is tuning in to the fashion of the fall or Spring Semester to get you back into the spirit. Another positive is getting together with all the friends you haven’t seen during the break. Not everyone took a class over interterm, and it’s a good way to catch up about what has gone on over the past 6 weeks. Getting up and participating in activities or even planning upcoming events to look forward to on weekends are other good ways to adjust to coming back from a long break. To read this article, written by Terry Miller Shannon, go to: http://www.Teenwire.com/infocus.
The most important thing to remember when adjusting to a new semester is that you aren’t alone! I always try to meet up with friends for meals or just to hang out and talk about the new resolutions we have for the semester, whether they’re social or academic. I hope the tips I have supplied are useful to you because they have definitely helped me to get back in focus!