Are You Ready for Your Interview?

By Michael Mustradi

As graduation nears, many seniors (such as myself) are scrambling to get their resumes and cover letters out to as many companies as possible to ensure that they will be employed after graduation.  Obviously, applying is only the first step becoming employed.  Your resume is nothing more than an advertisement for an interview.  So, an employer is interested in meeting you and sets up an interview date.  What do you do?

This article serves as an excellent check list before heading through the doors of a potential job opportunity.  Even though the list is self-explanatory, there are a few tasks that really jump out at me and should be a priority.

Review your resume.

This is crucial.  Not only should you know what is on your resume, you should know what you did not include.  The interviewer is going to want to know more about your experience and background, so review every position that you have had and be ready to go into detail about your successes.

Get back on-line.

This is an easy, yet effective way to really impress the interviewer.  Researching what the company has been up to recently, and being aware of some upper management names shows interest in the company and proves that you can do your homework.  Just glancing over the company’s website for 20 minutes can truly make the difference between getting the job, or getting the boot out the door.

Develop a list of questions.

Like the article states, the interview should not be an interrogation session.  The interviewee should be asking questions, too.  But, asking obvious questions that can be seen on the company’s website (going back to #2) is not effective and will actually hurt you in the end.  Instead, ask detailed questions about what your job description entails.  This shows that you are eager and ready to learn.  It will also keep the interviewer on his/her toes and will prevent a boring interview!

Gather your materials.

Getting a portfolio ready to go is essential before attending an interview.  The interviewer wants to see your work and wants you to brag a little bit about what you have done in the past.  Try to include a variety of documents from different positions if possible and be sure that everything is neat and in a professional briefcase or binder.

The entire list is a great way to know that you are fully prepared for the interview!  So, be prepared and be successful!

Accomplished

There aren't many feelings out there like the feeling of accomplishment. For the past three months I, along with the other LACD interns, have been busting our behinds on this year's Career Week. It was exciting watching the progress we made - donations we acquired, speakers we confirmed and businesses that registered for the Career Exploration Fair. Now, after many hours logged, Career Week is right around the corner and it'll be "Go-Time" before we know it.

When I first accepted the offer to be project manager for Career Week, I was a little nervous that I was about to take on too much. I already had another internship and I was taking 18 credit hours. Nevertheless, I was up for the challenge. The past few months have definitely had days that tried me, but I came out on top every time. That feeling, the feeling of accomplishment, is so gratifying and the perfect pick-me-up after all the work.

There was a time where I felt like I could have or should have done more, but now I know I should be proud of what I did and embrace that accomplishment, not try to brush it off. Every accomplishment, big or small, is something to be aware and proud of. Now, 2 days away from Career Week, I hope that the people who attend and participate in our events appreciate the hard work that went into it and learn something from the events to help garner accomplishments for themselves.

There is not just you.

By Yameng Zhang

When you are on your own, you are the one who make the decision, whatever the outcome is, you are the one who should take the responsibility for. That’s the easy scenario. When you are part of a group, you are safer because there are other people who can be blame for making mistakes, at the meantime, whatever the group has accomplished, you will be rewarded no matter how much you did distribute. However, the downside is, even you are not the one who made the mistake, you may be blamed for being part of its causes; even you are the one who did all the hard works, you have to share the glory with all the others because there is not just you.

At a wedding, you take vows, saying that you will not leave her/him no matter what happens. Teamwork works the same as a marriage but it is not romantic at all.

It’s a non-sweet commitment

The first day you became a team member, you are trapped. It means you’ve got to be at places, run errands and take responsiblities.

You promise your time.

Whenever you are late, you didn’t just waste your time, everyone’s time was wasted because you failed to keep your commitment of tardy.

You promise your energy.

You cannot say “no” just because you are tired because no one would be willing to work for your part so that you can take a nap.

You promise your capability.

If no one forced you to say “yes” and you said it, that means you’ve got what it takes to get things done. So, make sure you know what you can and what you can’t. Besides, never say “yes” just because it may make you look good.

You promise your ears.

There is no boss in a team, everyone should be a listener. The explanation is, believe it or not, there is never a best way to solve a problem. But the good thing is, the more opinions you hear, the more solutions you may have. So when things happen, you can pick one and do it your way. So, listen, always do.

You promise a good heart.

A good team is composed of bolts and nuts. Every bolt should be there for a nut because only when they are there for each other, nothing will fall apart. Help whoever it is in your team, so that when you need a hand, you can feel grateful.

You promise you won’t leave. 

There are times things just won’t work out as you thought it should. When that time comes, don’t be a quitter, don’t be a complainer, don’t be a crier, be a cheerleader. What to cheer for? Cheer for everyone kept their promises and made a good team.

How to Make the Most of an Internship with Little Direction

By: Julie Smith

This summer was the best one I have ever had in my life and a big reason for that was my internship. My internship was with the European-Atlantic Group, a non-profit political organization in London. I did not exactly know what to expect from this internship, but I was excited none-the-less.

My first day on the job was somewhat introductory, I got assigned a project here and there and after a few days, I realized that my daily tasks were going to be pretty simple.  Once I felt comfortable enough, I started to ask my boss for more tasks. He gave me a few extra things to do, but most were fairly mundane.  So at this point, I took it upon myself to do a few side projects on my own.

I used my knowledge of social media to develop strategic databases for our event guest lists, by extracting followers from Twitter. I created a Facebook event to promote upcoming things we were doing. I wrote template press releases and an email blast invitation. After I had all of these things perfected, I showed them to my boss.  He was so impressed that I took my own initiative that he took the time to listen to my pitches and understand what I had created.

At this point, my boss knew that I was dedicated to the job, so he gave me more opportunities to succeed.  He let me send out my email invitation blast, which was something that this traditional organization had never done before.  He also let me utilize social media. The biggest compliment however, was that since we had formed such a great bond, and since he saw how professional I had been, he gave me a huge task the night of our event. At our event, there was a Russian diplomat in attendance who my boss was really interested in getting a direct contact for. My boss assigned me the task of securing his business card. I was shocked he asked me, since I was just intern status and he had other colleagues present. I am proud to say I succeeded with that, but even more proud to say that I had worked hard enough to be give that opportunity.

The biggest lesson that I can take away from my internship this summer is to always go above and beyond what is expected of you. People notice what you do, and if you do something unexpected it bodes well in your favor. Do not be discouraged by an internship that might not be ideal, make the most of it!

Developing a Portfolio

By: Rebekah Beachum

Developing a great portfolio to showcase your work can be the make-it-or-break-it for a job you're applying for. Due to the overwhelming presence of the web, online portfolios and PDF portfolios are becoming more acceptable in addition to a traditional print portfolio. Despite the field you're going into, a portfolio that the employer or client can see while you're being interviewed is invaluable.  What can you do to make your portfolio the absolute best?

Get as much professional work in your portfolio as possible.

Clients and employers like to see how your skills relate to real life experiences (because that's what you will be doing...). If you have an internship, utilize those projects in your portfolio. If you don't have an internship, consider creating a project on your own that you would use. 

Continually update.

As you grow in your professional world, you will gradually gain experience that will be more beneficial to your future than projects you completed in the early stages of your career. Every so often, review your portfolio and think about what still represents the kind of work you do and what does not. If it doesn't, take it out!

Limit the number of projects in your portfolio.

Only use what you are most proud of. If you have 15-20 projects showcased and you would not think of five of them as your best work, take them out. Too many projects could overwhelm a client or employer, and could hurt your chances of scoring the job. 

Keep your layouts simple.

Color and flashy details may seem exciting, but they have a tendency to distract from the work that is actually being shown. Remember, keep the focus on the work, not the portfolio.

Get feedback!

We often don't see the smaller mistakes or miscommunications that we commit after taking the time to make a portfolio. Have a handful of people you trust look over it before you take it into the real world. Ask for honest and constructive feedback. Trust your gut instinct, however, and be sure you use your final say in how you want to present yourself to a potential employer.

LinkedIn Benefits

By: Maureen Corbett

Like most other typical college students, I spend a fair amount of my time on social networking sites. Between Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Tumblr, checking my email regularly,  and  my newest addiction, Pinterest, it's a wonder that I have time to get all my homework done. So a couple of months ago when someone suggested that I create a LinkedIn account, I thought they were crazy. When would I find time to manage another social media account? LinkedIn is for grown-ups anyways, I don't have nearly enough professional experience to create a proper business profile, right? 

It turns out that I was drastically wrong in my assumptions about LinkedIn. I eventually created an account and quickly discovered the endless benefits of using this new way of networking. LinkedIn has been around for a decent amount of time now, and it has quickly become the most commonly used professional social media site. However, only about 21% of college students have a LinkedIn account, and it can be assumed that an even smaller percentage of those students are actually active users. When college is a huge stepping stone to help launch students into a profession of their choice, it made me stop and wonder why more students weren’t taking advantage of this tremendous resource.

I came to the conclusion that most students must not be aware of all the benefits that LinkedIn can provide. Why else would so many be passing up this great opportunity? The main advantage of LinkedIn is that it helps users network professionally with people they otherwise would never be able to connect with. This can be greatly beneficial when searching for a job, as it provides a way to contact potential future employers. But even if you have found career bliss, LinkedIn can provide you with a way to summarize your professional accomplishments and share them with your colleagues.  Active use on LinkedIn helps you build professional relationships with the people you work with as well as promoting yourself professionally and highlighting your achievements. The small amount of college students on LinkedIn can also be used to your benefit. A LinkedIn profile can help you stand out among your peers and make you seem more professional. Many employers are impressed to hear when young students have a LinkedIn account because it shows that they are ready to jumpstart their career.

LinkedIn has greatly benefitted me in my job as an intern for the LACD office. As project manager of the Liberal Arts newsletter, Professional Pathways, it is my job every month is to contact a Purdue Alumni who has been successful in their career path and write an article featuring their accomplishments. Without LinkedIn, I never would have been able to contact several of the people I have written about. LinkedIn provides advanced search settings and group discussions that allowed me to connect with several Purdue graduates with backgrounds in Liberal Arts. After connecting with them on LinkedIn, it was much easier to ask them if they would like to be featured in the newsletter. Because of this, not only have I become more familiar with several Purdue alumni but I also know I have broadened my professional network by connecting with them via social media.

So to those of you who feel that you have no time to devote to LinkedIn, my advice is to make time. There are unlimited resources awaiting you just by using this social media site, and the career possibilities are endless. So do something to help benefit you career, and start by taking networking to a whole new level via LinkedIn. 

All About Trust

By: Nora Kish

I’m the kind of person that hates group projects. I hate having to rely on other people to do good enough jobs on their parts and how the summation of those parts will ultimately make up MY grade. I think it really just comes down to my inability to let go sometimes and trust people to do well.

The past few months I’ve been working as Project Manager for the Liberal Arts Career Week. It’s safe to say that Career Week is definitely one giant group project, much like any project in a work environment is. Being dubbed “Project Manager” put me in a serious predicament – I HAD to let go and learn to trust my fellow interns.

In the beginning, I tried to do everything myself; I thought I could and I thought I wanted to. I soon discovered that neither of those thoughts was true. Reality slapped me in the face and I realized that I absolutely could not complete such a large project all on my own and that I definitely did not want to try. My fellow interns were and still are an invaluable resource and I knew I needed to tap into them.

Project managing Career Week has really taught me how to delegate tasks and be more at ease with other people working on the same project with me. I’ve held various leadership roles in the past, but none were quite like the one I currently hold and none ever demanded the same level of needing to delegate. 

As our tireless efforts for Career Week start to come to a close, I can reflect on what I’ve learned throughout the project. I learned not only to let go of control, I learned to trust others’ abilities to perform and to perform well. But, more importantly, I’ve learned to trust myself more. Project managing Career Week has reaffirmed in me beliefs that had been beaten down from a previous position I held: I am capable, I am competent, I am a hard worker, and I can do a great work when I put my mind to it. Now, Career Week is less than two weeks away and seeing all of our hard work come to fruition lets me know that I put my trust in the right places. 

Feeling Stressed at Work?

By Lauren Farmer

It is easy to feel stressed out at work, whether it is a busy time for your company, you are stuck on a project, or there are personal issues getting in the way of work.  Especially in these winter months, it is easy to feel depressed and relate the bad weather to your mood at work. Here are a few tips on how to keep a positive attitude and not lose your mind when feeling stressed at work.

1. Stay optimistic- Keeping a good attitude is a common sense approach to feeling less stressed. Don't keep looking at the downside of things but focus on the positive and how to make the negative turn into positive. If you feel like everything is going wrong, try not to focus on "why doesn't anything turn out right" and focus more on how it can be fixed. Look at the big picture, because most likely everything will turn out fine.

2. Exercise and fresh air- Exercise is known to reduce stress and it is healthy for you too. If you are feeling stressed, go to the gym after work and run it all off. Focus the negative energy you are containing and let it out through exercise. Also, if you are at work and feel like you are going to explode from frustration, take a quick break from what you are doing and step outside for some fresh air and to gather your thoughts for a second.

3. Do things you love to do- Don't let work take over your entire life or you are bound to be stressed for a long time. Use after work or the weekends for time to yourself. Go to the movies, read a good book, take up a hobby, or any sort of leisure activity that will work for you. Do whatever makes you happy so it will counteract the negative stress you may feel during the week.

4. Stay organized and don't procrastinate- If you don't leave everything to the last minute and space out what needs to be done, then you will feel less stressed. Organize what you have to do and set deadlines for yourself. Prioritize what needs to get done first, set a time to be finished and move on to the next task. Not having everything to do at once will help reduce stress and by setting goals for yourself you can feel a sense of pride and self achievement once you complete a project.

5. Have family/friends time- Whether you go home to your family or friends after work, talk to them about what is going on and how you are feeling. Not only will you feel less stress from talking out what is bothering you but you can bond with the ones you love. Spend time with them either eating dinner, asking how everyones day went, playing games, watching movies, or anything to just spend time with them. Who else could you count on to make you feel better and less stressed then your loved ones?

Keep these few tips in mind next time you feel stressed at work and remember to stay positive and look at the big picture of what is important in life. You can be successful and happy with less negative stress in your life!

Office Makeover

By Michael Mustradi

All of us could use some organization and a little change.  Well, at least I know I do from time-to-time.  I recently read an excellent post about how to give your office a makeover at a decent price.  From organizing, decorating, and even lighting, this article pointed out that there are a few things that we don't realize could be changed for the better.

Organization in itself can really do the entire makeover.  If your desk is not a desk at all, and instead a mountain of papers, this paragraph will most likely pertain to you.  A filing cabinet is a quick and easy way to store papers that you may need in the future and works as a fantastic desk-cleaner-upper.  Adding a whiteboard is also a nice way to save on paper and visually map out your day.  This is exceptionally essential for visual learners.

If you find yourself squinting or feeling tired, you may not have the proper lighting in your office.  Improving the lighting can drastically give your workplace energy and help prevent eye strain.  So, open the blinds or replace the lighting system you have from the 90s.  You will be glad you did.

Arguably the most important item on this list is the USB cup warmer.  Whoever invented this should be given a Nobel Prize.  Seriously, no more cold coffee!  When you are swamped with work and totally forget that you have a delicious cup of java on your desk, it will still be warm when you feel you need a caffeine fix.

SEE or SAW?

By Yameng Zhang

I like happy endings, but the ones with unexpected endings have more memorable aftertaste, because nothing just works out like it does in fairy tales. Life has ups and downs, and that’s why it is more fun.

What I want vs. what I've got.

When it comes to job searching, it is all about interests and skills. When I was in high school, shopping was the thing that was always attractive. I wanted to be a designer so that I can go shopping for living. I learnt drawing and it was never good, I leant to use computer to draw but it only made me realize how lousy I could be at computers. Shopping was what I wanted, but I got nothing to go with it.

This is the deal between interests and skills— unless you learn it well, there is always more things you are interested in than things you are good at. In another word, interests are up while the skills are down, if you are lucky and hardworking enough, someday they can be balanced. At that point, you would be doing something for living which you are interested in.

What I want to do vs. what I should do

Desire is not something we can take control of, but is definitely something we can ignore. As a 22-year-old girl, I want to sleep whenever I want and hang out with friends. As a college student, tuitions are not paid for leisure, so staying up late and having dehydrated noodles should not be something I should be complaining about. This is the most fun part —either I do what I want to do and feel bad about myself afterwards, or I stick to what I should do and be proud of myself afterwards. There are more ups and downs in this part, since subjects and objects are always there and they are harder to handle. Time management is life management, if I can do what I should do, I can do what I want to do in the future, and it may be much more cheerful than I ever expected.

What I want vs. what I get

This is when I get the exam results, the news whether I get the position or not, and the outcome of what I’ve done. This is when the seesaw of "what I did" and "what I get" is finally balanced for sure. The fact is, if during the seesaw process, you learnt what you are interested in, you did what you should do, what you get will be the thing you wanted. No more hassel, no more twisting and no more wander, life is never a seesaw, it is a formula, by which you can tell what you will get.

The Infamous To-Do List

By: Julie Smith

Some of us love making lists, while others dread it. No matter which category you fall under, I think lists are absolutely essential to having success.  Lists keep you organized, help you to not be forgetful, make you feel accomplished and have so many more benefits. There are some steps to follow when making lists so that they do not become overwhelming or ineffective.  

The key to making sure that a list does not become overwhelming is to include both simple and daunting tasks. Put things on your list that are easy to accomplish so that you can cross them off right away. It is so rewarding to complete smaller tasks and then move towards the ones that will take more time.  Once you have completed your smaller tasks, you will be motivated to work even harder on the bigger ones at hand.

Ineffective lists often contain unrealistic goals. When making a list, be sure to make numeric goals. Such as, “write 5 thank-you notes.” Avoid things like, “write thank-you notes.” That is so vague and hard to know how many you actually have to write to be able to cross it off your list. Also, try not to make a “to-do” list that resembles a goals list. They are two completely different things, but both important for different reasons.  Make an effective list of “to-do’s” to accomplish things on your goals list. Try making a list that says, “apply for 8 positions, ” with the goal being to get an interview.

If you are a list guru, then you are probably familiar with these techniques and utilize them on a daily basis. If you are new to list making, then I suggest you start with the basics and move from there. I, myself was not big into lists until this year, but I have found them to be extremely helpful. 

Office Romance

By: Maureen Corbett

It's Valentine's Day, and love is in the air. One can't walk on campus today without running into at least one student organization selling roses, or avoid passing a starry-eyed couple holding hands as they walk to class. While relationships in college have always been popular, a growing number of people have been developing romantic relationships withing the workplace as well. In fact, a surprising new statistic reveals that 60% of new romances today blossom in the office. So while it may be tempting to make one of your cute co-workers your new sweetheart, there are also many downfalls to office romances that everyone should be aware of.

First of all, the main thing you risk when you enter into a relationship with a co-worker is a loss of professionalism. Any new romance can be distracting in some way, and you don't want to let that interfere with your career. Romantic feelings can also complicate the delicate balance between a boss and his/her subordinate. When you are romantically involved with a co-worker, favoritism can become an issue. Giving constructive criticism on work assignments can also present potential problems, as you may not want to critique a romantic partner. The main idea is that office relationships have the potential to negatively impact your working environment in many different ways, so do not enter into one lightly.

While dating a co-worker can be distracting for obvious reasons, breaking up with one can be even more problematic. Ending a relationship can create awkward, tension-filled situations that might make it hard to perform your job adequately. Upsetting the working/romantic balance you had with a co-worker can make a job you once used to love turn into a miserable working environment. On the other hand, some employees also find that they end up staying in unhealthy relationships for longer than they would have wanted, for fear of breaking up and ruining a professional relationship.

All in all, office relationships seem to have many serious consequences that should be considered before one enters into a fling with a fellow employee. Sometimes love cannot be resisted, but the main point is that before you start dating someone that you spend 40 hours a week working with, take the time to consider the downsides and how it could negatively impact your career.

It's All About Who You Know

By Lauren Farmer

As a graduating senior this semester, I have been in the process of searching for jobs and being more conscious about the workforce.  One thing I have realized that is important for most majors when searching for a job is that it is all about who you know.

Whether it is someone who can write you a recommendation letter, who knows lots of people in the workforce that they could put in a good word for you, who you have worked for in the past who was impressed with the work you did and can speak highly of you to others, a family member who is in the same field, or even some random person you met at a social event and you made a good first impression, that person can make a difference in you getting a job or getting a job that you want.  This is why it is very important to be social butterflies and put yourself out there.  Don't be afraid to bring up the topic of work and what your major is, because you never know if you are talking to the person who can get you the job you have been wanting straight out of college.  Also, if you already know someone who has connections with other people and/or businesses, don't be shy to ask them if they could recommend you to those companies. The worst thing they can say is, "I'm sorry, I can't help you." Its always great to get yourself out there and start branding your name as someone who is good at what they do and can make a great addition to the company you want to work at.

Apple or PC?

by Michael Mustradi

As Apple builds its empire and continues to overshadow the PC world, one question still remains.  Which is better, Mac or PC?  An excellent breakdown of this unanswered question is located here and provides interesting pros and cons to both machines. 

The pros/cons of owning a Mac

One of the most desirable benefits that come with a Mac is the security system.  PCs are much more vulnerable to viruses and identity theft and need an antivirus system for protection, while Macs come protected right out of the box.  Macs are also built to last.  Most Apple products have aluminum cases rather than cheaper plastic cases that come with PCs.  The higher-end Macs can handle a heavy workload much more efficiently than a PC, too.  Most design offices will rely on Macs to assist them in completing their best work due to the smoother, more durable operating system.  However, with these perks that Apple offers, comes a high price.  Macs are much more expensive than PCs, with less options and customizations.  Even though this issue is improving, many Apple products are not fully compatible with Windows products, making it difficult to share and work on projects between a Mac and a PC.

The pros/cons of owning a PC

The nicest perk about owning a PC is that you can go out and purchase a decent, well-rounded machine for less than $600.  With Apple, you would be lucky to buy one for around $1,000.  Not only is the price attractive, the selection is too.  Windows offers many different brands to choose from with each one having unique designs, specs, and power.  Not only is the machine itself cheaper, the numerous accessories that you can buy for a PC are much less pricey compared to the few accessories that Apple offers.  When it comes to troubleshooting, PCs are usually cheaper to repair, even though many users believe that PCs are more vulnerable to break down. 

In the end, I would say that one’s budget really comes into play when deciding on a Mac or PC.  A college student short on cash will most likely buy a PC to get them through college, while someone with a higher spending limit may want to spend a little more on a Mac.

Things happen.

By Yameng Zhang

When we prepare for interviews, we always follow some certain types of protocols because we assume everything would just go as we planed. But the truth is, things happen.

w  You are late to the interview.

A flood swept your apartment, the elevator crashed with you in it and your pregnant sister was not feeling well are acceptable excuses, while traffic jam on I-65, alarm didn’t work are not. Tardy not only makes you an annoying candidate, but also makes recruiters question about your responsibility.

If you have a legitimate excuse, call to inform the recruiters immediately, don’t wait till they call you or hours later. If you do wake up late or have no acceptable reasons, get yourself together, tell the truth and hope for the best. 

w  They call you by the wrong name.

“Dan, you went to a great university, that’s nice,” says the interviewer. Well, it is a good university I went to, but, I am John.

Everything goes well and you feel you are in good chance getting the position, so you keep the conversation flowing. Wrong choice. Recruiters see many applicants everyday, if you don’t make a solid impression, even though they intend to call you for good news, they may not be able to find your information because you are called by the wrong name. In addition, that can be just a trick the recruiters played to test your personality. Because the thing is, not correcting when people call you by the wrong name, it shows something about you.

When you know you are right, it is never shame to say it. Just interrupt saying “I know you see a lot of people everyday, it is hard to keep track with everyone. But I am John and it is nice to meet you.”

w  Your phone rings.

Your cell phone is the least thing you can take control of. It is a basic knowledge to shut your phone or switch to silent mode during interviews. You may never realize how much damage a phone can make until it rings in the middle of your interview. It may destroy all your fantasy with the outcome of the interview. What makes it worse is that you check it to see who is calling. Don’t look down the phone, don’t even glance who is calling, because the key is to let the recruiters know there is nothing more important than the interview. Apology, it is the only thing you can do in this case. Moreover, you’d better say you thought you shut it off, and never let it happen again.

Maybe you have a better way to deal with those things, since there is never a best solution when those things happen in interviews. There is no protocol to follow when it comes to interviews, because why the recruiters make interviews is to see who you are in person, and that is not something you can learn by going through protocols. When the bad things happen, react like you always do, it works or not, you did your best, that is the only thing that counts. 

Must Take Courses for Liberal Arts Majors

There are two classes that I believe every single liberal arts student should take. I would even go as far to say that most other majors should take them as well, but I will stick with liberal arts for the purpose of this blog post.

The first class is CNIT 136. This online class is a basic computer science class. In short, it teaches you everything you need to know about Microsoft Office. The course spends a few weeks covering Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access.  I have been using these software programs for years, so I thought I had a good understanding of them. After taking that course though, I realized how much more these programs had to offer.  As I have been applying for jobs, I have noticed a consistency in criteria for most of the open jobs. Almost all of the jobs I go to apply for require a candidate who is proficient in Microsoft Office. It is so nice to be able to put this on my cover letter, resume and even talk about it in interviews. It has also made some of my school assignments a lot easier. In short, I would recommend this course to anyone and everyone!

The second class, while more focused towards liberal arts and communications, is still a great class to take. This course is COM 252. The title of this course is “Writing for Mass Media.” Basically, you learn all the essentials for many different types of professional writing. You learn how to write a press release, news release, media release, radio commercial, memo and so much more!  Perhaps one of the most important aspects of this class though, is that it is intensive in teaching AP style writing. If you are like me, you grew up writing with MLA style, so the switch to AP has been sudden and sometimes frustrating. I was so happy that I took this course and really learned the ropes with AP style. Now I know it like the back of my hand, which has come in handy on numerous occasions, one of those being writing tests for my potential public relations jobs.

So I will leave you with this senior insight and hope that if you still have more time at Purdue that you will consider enrolling in these courses. I promise you will thank me later!

Punxsutawney Phil, I Do Not Need Your Setbacks

By: Maureen Corbett

Our beloved groundhog that we rely on heavily to predict future weather events saw his shadow last week. For all the winter-lovers out there this may be a good thing, but for the rest of us who don’t appreciate the cold this came as bad news. I know we have been experiencing some beautiful “winter” weather the past couple of weeks (if you can even call 50 degrees winter), but now that it has cooled back down it is somewhat of a disappointment to hear that there are still six more weeks of winter left.

This got me to thinking: How do we experience similar situations in school or the workplace? In every job you well ever experience, it is guaranteed that you will encounter setbacks and disappointments. However, the way in which you deal with these setbacks is an outward demonstration of your character and quality as an employee. Since we all get frustrated at some point when life throws us a curve ball, here are three simple ideas to help assist you though the rough patch:

1. Learn Your Lesson

Instead of getting angry at the world and victimizing yourself, take the time to assess the situation. Ask yourself what went wrong, and figure out what you can do in the future to make sure similar setbacks don’t occur.

2. Budget For Setbacks

When you initially start a new project at work, make sure you give yourself a little “wiggle room.” When you understand that unforeseeable problems may arise in the future, then you can budget this into your schedule. Calculate how long it would reasonably take to complete your assignment, and then give yourself some additional time in case of errors. That way, in case setbacks do occur, your project can still be completed in a timely fashion.

 3.  Move On

React as quickly as possible to your setbacks and move to make changes. Don’t dwell on the fact that the setback occurred, focus on how to fix it. If you keep your goal in mind and stay focused, I promise that you can overcome any challenge your job might throw at you. 

Teamwork: A Superbowl Working Experience

By Lauren Farmer

Hi all! This week I would like to share my work experience from this past weekend during the Superbowl.  This extra job that I picked up just for the weekend really opened my eyes to how a business works and how many great people it takes to make it all run smoothly.

Over the weekend I worked as a VIP hostess for St. Elmo Steakhouse in Indianapolis as extra help for the Superbowl since the restaurant was booked with reservations and celebrity private events.  It was such a great experience, one for the atmosphere of excitement for the Superbowl and two for the great work experience I gained from it.  So many people are needed for something as big as this world wide event and St. Elmo did a great job in making it very successful. Chefs, servers, bartenders, bussers, food runners, hostesses, managers, coordinators, owner, and even answering the phone are all a part of what made this business successful over the busy weekend. Without one of them, the whole operation would have fallen apart.

It was great to be a part of this establishment and see how a big business runs. I would highly recommend doing internships before getting out into the business world so you can see how things work and gain experience.  I am very glad I had this opportunity and I hope you all have one as well! And remember, it takes more than one person to make a business of any kind be what it is. So any job you may be aspiring to just remember that even if you have a small job and wish that you were something more important, your job is just as important to help the whole business run.

Be Healthy. Be Successful.

By Michael Mustradi

Too many people are more focused on their work and less focused on their health.  Most are either unaware or ignore the fact that making unhealthy decisions can sacrifice not only health, but performance in the workplace.  Obviously not everyone has the time to grapple a six-day-a-week workout program and maintain a perfect diet.  However, there are many enjoyable habits that one can get used to in order to improve their overall health.

Eat more often

Most would not associate eating more with being healthy, but eating smaller meals four or five times a day will keep your metabolism up and help keep you focused.  No matter how busy you are at work, always find time to fuel up your body.

Eat more protein

Consuming protein helps with hunger cravings since proteins take longer to digest.  Having a high protein breakfast, such as egg whites or a protein shake, will help you feel full longer and prevent overindulging.

Find an exercise that you love

Let’s face it.  If you try a workout program that you simply do not enjoy, you are not going to stick with it.  Instead, find something that brings you joy and that you look forward to doing.  Doing something is better than doing nothing!

Workout with a buddy

Find or convince a friend to workout with you.  This may not be as difficult as it sounds as many people may have the same goals as you.  Not only does exercising with a friend make the workouts more enjoyable, it helps build solid relationships.

Not only will you feel and look better, you will have more energy and be more focused when it matters the most.  These are only a few basic tips to get started, but they are essential to success.  So, do yourself and your career a favor and live a healthy lifestyle!

A career fair is a big party.

By: Yameng Zhang


As a new year begins, companies start searching for promising college students. Career fairs usually include company or organization tables or booths where resumes can be collected and business card can be exchanged. Job fairs are good places to meet many company representatives from corporations of all industries and sizes during a short period of time, also, to perform first interviews.

Too serious? Let me put it in this way, a career fair is a big party. Everyone dresses up, tidy suits and leather shoes. We show up at the party, mingle with different groups of people. You see a cute girl, you make your move to ask for her number. Well, it works the same in career fairs.


The only difference is, instead of a new date, you may get yourself a new opportunity at a career fair. And all you need is to get prepared.


Do research
Be aware of who is coming to the career fair in advance. 
View websites or ask the host(s) of the career fair to see the list of attending employers. 
Determine if any matches your career interests and you meet their requirements. 
If you find any attending employers fit you, research them individually.
For college students, check your schedule before the career fair day, figure out which company or organization you want to meet with and which one you really can.


Know yourself
Find out your strengths and have them stand out on your resume. 
Ensure there is no elementary error in your resume. 
Print multiple copies of your resume. 
Knowing which company you are interested in, make a cover letter for each of them. 
If you have any project you are proud of, put them all in your portfolio. 
If you are not a leader in any well-known organizations, you may not need a business card.


Get a professional look
You don’t need to dress fancy, colorful or sparkling. 
No last minute outfits. 
If you need to buy new professional outfits, black or grey is the safest color. 
Don’t go with a superman tie, don’t go with your mini skirt, don’t make yourself sexy, don’t let your clothes out shine you.


I know it may be hard since you are getting ready for the career fair while your roommates prepare for a Friday’s party. But you know what? After the party is over, while they are having a headache, you can be proud of yourself because you just made your first step for your career. 

Networking: The Do's and Don'ts

Networking: The Do’s and Don’ts

Do: Contact any and all connections you have

Don’t: Wait months to get in touch with a contact someone gives you

Do: Be forward in arranging a meeting/informational interview

Don’t: Ask for a job or position interview right away

Do: Dress up for your meeting

Don’t: Show up in jeans because it is just a coffee house- first impressions are everything!

Do: Make a little bit of small talk about things unrelated to the job you are seeking

Don’t: Get right down to business and expect them to have all the answers

Do: Ask what they look for in a potential candidate and what an average day is like at their office

Don’t: Whip out your resume and say, “I am qualified, hire me”

Do: Talk about things you are interested in doing in a potential job

Don’t: Rule anything out or say something like, “I’m only interested in…”

Do: Ask if they have an intern or entry-level program and how one would go about applying for it

Don’t:  Ask when you can interview

Do: Send them with a hard copy of your resume and a business card

Don’t: Rely on the fact that they saved the previous email copy of your resume you sent

Do: Thank them profusely. Mention the insight and advice they gave and how beneficial it was. Follow up with a written thank you note. Their address will be on the business card they gave you.

Don’t: not write a thank you note.

Do: Follow-up periodically. Even if you know they are not hiring until the summer, get in touch every month or so to keep your name fresh in their minds

Don’t: Wait months to re-connect and then expect them to help you out with a job

This is what has worked for me so far, and most of the networking that I have done has produced very positive results. Sometimes it isn’t what you know, but whom you know!