Saturday, December 8, 2012

Tips for Organizing Ideas and Fostering Innovation

By Corinne Feight

In the spirit of our entrepreneurship day coming up in February during our Career Week, I wanted to address some simple ways to inspire innovation and organize your potential thoughts. Organization could be the reason an idea makes it. Many companies have places that hold all of these ideas, but many times these places are chaotic; therefore, making it difficult to find information inside if not impossible. A sense of organization not only keeps things straight, but also shows any employees that their ideas are not simply thrown into a black hole, never to come out again.
According to Nadia Goodman, a reporter for Entrepreneur Media, Inc., there are four ways to organize your ideas effectively and drive innovation.

  •       Discuss ideas in a central location. Start by creating a central space where you collect and share ideas. Make sure you're using a dynamic tool, with built-in opportunities for collaboration and feedback.  
  •       Label your lists of ideas. To keep ideas clearly organized, streamline them by topic. You might set up broad categories, such as "customer requested features," or specific ones tailored to a project or goal. Breaking ideas into smaller groups helps you process and select the ones that best suit your business. 
  •       Make sure a leader owns each list. For each list of ideas, establish a point person who will take ownership—someone who is an integral part of the team that would act on those ideas. For example, ideas to improve your website's infrastructure need to be collected and owned by the team responsible for maintaining it. 
  •       Treat your idea bank like an inbox. To prevent a backlog of ideas, address each one as quickly as possible. Dismiss the ideas that are definitely not viable, then move any that have potential into specific follow-up categories. Some may need immediate action while others may need more input before you can make a decision. As you make decisions, be sure to communicate them back to the organization. Knowing which ideas were chosen and why will make people more likely to share their thoughts in the future.
Keep these in mind over winter break and don’t forget to come to our many programs in February on this day!
Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/225133#

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Saying Goodbye


By: Teri Grimes

I made it! Four and a half years later of hard work, and I’ll graduate in about a week with an honors dual degree. I’ve accepted a job offer in Chicago and now have less than a month to pack all of my things, find an apartment, and get settled before my start date of January 3rd. In the beginning of my college career it seemed like I would never be able to take all of the required classes, but now real life is hitting me right in the face. In just a few short days I’ll be sitting in Elliot hall listening to a commencement speaker and waiting to hear my name called.

But what about what the commencement speaker isn’t telling you? What are you supposed to expect for life after college? The Wall Street Journal released an article in April that caught my eye, and is becoming even more relevant now. It’s titled “10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won’t Tell You” by Charles Wheelan. It included some points that I agree are important for us December grads to know:

1. Your time in fraternity basements was well spent – Enjoying College and becoming a well-rounded person is important for post-graduation happiness and success. You never know where your good connections could help you network either.

2. Some of your worst days lie ahead – Although you’ve just achieved something great by graduation, there’s no doubt that some stress and failure lies just shortly ahead. That’s not saying you can’t overcome it, because you can and will.

3. Don't make the world worse – Remember that you don’t always have to be finding a cure for AIDS to change the world. You could be changing it every day with what you do in your career, so don’t make it worse.

4. Marry someone smarter than you are – Two incomes can help to alleviate stress on relationships, and luckily you’re about to be in a room where all the smartest people are wearing cords around their necks!

5. Help stop the Little League arms race – Do things just because it’s fun to do, and realize that not everything in life has to be a competition.

6. Read obituaries – You can learn a lot about a person’s life from their obituary, and sometimes it’s important to remember that everyone has a different journey and can still be successful after a few wrong turns.

7. Your parents don't want what is best for you – Sometimes your parents want what they think is a safer option, because they don’t want to see you fail. Make sure you’re pushing yourself to be the best person you possibly can.
8. Don't model your life after a circus animal – Working constantly for a little reward isn’t a good way to live your life, and it won’t make you happy.

9. It's all borrowed time – I know the Wall Street Journal wouldn’t put it this way… but in the words of some of my peers, “YOLO.”

10. Don't try to be great – You can’t control your own luck, but still remember that you don’t get what you wish for, but what you work for.

It’s been real, LACD fans. I’ve enjoyed my semester of giving career advice in the best way that I can, and learning a lot while I’m at it. Don’t forget to look me up some day when you’re applying for jobs too, I’d be happy to continue career coaching for as long as I can. Good luck to you all!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Personal Branding (Part 2)

By Sarah-Jean Murray

In the first part of this series, I talked about creating your personal brand and using that brand to market yourself to potential employers. In this part, I will be talking about social media in particular and how it can help you even further when promoting yourself and looking for a job. Social media has become more and more important in this digital age in networking, finding job postings, and connecting with potential employers. You may think that people aren't visiting your pages on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, but you are mistaken. Employers are using social media more as a tool to scope out what you're like as a person and what you enjoy.

  • Blog - Last week I discussed having a portfolio or a website to show off your skills and previous work experience but having a blog in the mix can also be beneficial. The blog should be under your own name so that it can be aligned with your brand. This can be a way to show employers you can write clearly, professionally, and that you have something to say to the world. You can blog about what your passions are, your hobbies or talk about articles related to your major and interests. Posting at least once a week and using tags will ensure that your blog is being seen and being read. Those who blog will have a higher asset that those without a blog because blogs rank higher in searches and lend expertise to your name. 
  • LinkedIn - Having a LinkedIn profile goes without saying. This profile combines your resume, cover letter, references and a moving database of your networks all in one convenient place. This is an excellent way to promote yourself and your brand. LinkedIn is also a great tool to use for following companies and finding jobs. You can apply directly to these jobs using your profile, convenient and easy. 
  • Facebook - Almost everyone has a Facebook profile but often people (especially college students) don't realize how Facebook can affect their professional life. Keep your profile clean with a decent profile picture without nudity, obscene gestures or alcohol containers. Turn off the option that allows others to see tagged pictures of you if your friends have a habit of tagging you in unflattering pictures. Even if your profile is only view-able by friends, employers searching for you can still see your profile picture and cover photo. You can choose to restrict viewing on your profile or use your profile as another way to showcase your previous and current work experience and education. 
  • Twitter - Twitter is a great micro-blogging tool where you can post quick updates or share links that interest you. Many people choose to have two separate accounts, one for daily use and one for professional use. The daily use account can be set to private so that you restrict viewing on your profile and tweets. This is a great idea if you tend to be "expressive" in your tweets and would rather not have potential employers (and the rest of the world) see. Keep your professional twitter clean and use a profile picture that matches your LinkedIn profile to keep with your professional brand. You can also use the themes and colors available in Twitter to go along with your brand. 
  • Email Address - Many people underestimate the importance of having a professional email address. Using Gmail is recommended because its integration with Google+ and GTalk allows for easy communication and networking. Your email address is a great opportunity to promote your brand, professional emails usually follow the formula of 'firstname.lastname@gmail.com'. Using your tween email address of hockeyduckylover_599@hotmail.com is definitely not recommended.
  • Pinterest - This social media site has grown tremendously over the last year with more and more users every day. Since this site is public everyone can see your pins and likes however, this is a great way to show your brand. You can use Pinterest as an inspiration for you blog posts and as a way to showcase what you're really interested in. Do you love Art & Photography? Pin it! Show the world that you're a well-rounded individual with ambitions, goals and passion. 
What do you do next? Apply for jobs! Get your brand out there. All of these tools can help you promote yourself and your skills and help you land that job you're looking for. 

Source: http://mashable.com/2009/02/05/personal-branding-101/

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

13 ways your resume can say you're unprofessional

By: Samantha Werry

"No offense, thebigcheese@domain.com, but if nobody has told you yet, we're telling you now: That e-mail address is not making you look particularly professional." 

Everyone wants to be as professional as possible when creating your email, right? Well there are some items on your resume that make you seem unprofessional even though your writing is to the T. Some people do not even think of these sort of topics being unprofessional. Below are 13 things you need to watch out for to make sure you do not sound unprofessional.

1. Random/cute/shared e-mail accounts
Unprofessional e-mail addresses are just one way of sending hiring managers the wrong message. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to have everything be serious and understandable to the person reading it. The quote above tells the hiring manager that the person does not take himself professionally enough, but instead, tries to be funny or cute. E-mail accounts are free and can be what ever you want them to be, but make sure you keep it consistent to your name as to make it easier for them to remember you.

2. Failure to proofread
"Deidre Pannazzo, executive director at Inspired Resumes, said it's 'amazing' how many people submit resumes that contain 'numerous typos and misspellings.'" Yes spell check is there to help you, but it cannot get ever piece of information you misspell. Say you are trying to type 'of' but type 'in' instead. The best thing you can do is to have someone proofread it for you. They are not used to what you are trying to say and will actually read it. Also, our Peer Partners here in Liberal Arts are here and more than willing to help you with your resumes. So use them for help!

3. Bikini pictures
If you attach an image along with your resume, HR can even discard the resume all together. When people do this, it sets themselves up for having a reason to be prejudged. HR tries to solve this problem by simply discarding the resume to avoid this.

4. Unprofessional voicemail
If your resume is strong enough to get a callback from an employer, you better have a good voicemail set up incase you cannot reach your phone at the time they call. This will solidify their judgement on you and make them feel even better if you are consistent. If you have a crazy voicemail that you are singing your information, you make yourself unprofessional. It can be fun for some occasions, but if your trying to get a job, it will look bad and actually hurt your chances.

5. Lazy words, 'ect.'
Do NOT use ect on a resume. It shows you are too lazy to actually take the time to fill out the qualifications. It makes it seem like you are lazy and just do not have the time.

6. Cookie-cutter resumes
I know it seems easier to have one resume and cover letter for all the jobs you are applying for because, lets face it, finding a job is hard and takes a lot of time. But trust me, it is important to take your time to make sure you are being specific to the company and job description.

7. Everything but the kitchen sink
Basically, if you have information that takes up over 2 pages, they will not read it. The hiring managers do not have time to sit their and read all applications if they are that long. Keep it short and to the point as much as possible.

8. Listing a spouse as a reference
9. Not spelling out the name of an employer or school
10. Not providing a city or state for an employer or school
11. Omitting the area code from a phone number for a reference or employer
12. Providing only a first name for a supervisor or reference
13. Including phone numbers that are no longer in service for references or employers

Source: http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/13-ways-your-resume-can-say-im-unprofessional

Monday, December 3, 2012

How to Utilize Your Winter Vacation (Professional Style)

By: Maureen Corbett

As winter break is quickly approaching, I'm sure I am not the only college student who can't wait to run home, jump into my favorite pair of sweatpants, and not leave my bed until January. As tempting as this might sound however, there are much more useful things you could be doing with your time. One goal that every college student should have over this break is to develop yourself more professionally. Here are some useful tips to help you get the ball rolling:

1. Search for Summer Internships
Don't wait until April or later to start looking for a position over the summer. Post companies will already have hired students and won't be interested in taking on anyone else. So while you are doing nothing over break, make sure to make a list of places you would be interested in working and start filling out some application.

2. Update your Resume
Your resume is almost never complete. There are always ways that it could be improved or tweaked. So utilize your time the next couple of weeks to really work through it and make sure it is the best it can be. Have your friends and family look over it, or take it to a professional and get their opinion. Your resume is your main tool that can help you market your abilities to potential employers, so make the most of it.

3. Volunteer Locally
Community involvement is extremely important in today's work force. Volunteering your time to an organization you are passionate about can show employers that you are not afraid to go the extra mile. It is a great thing to be able to put on a resume, and it will also make you feel like you did something productive over break.

4. Network
Reach out to professionals in a field that you are interested in. Ask if you can do field research or job shadow an employee for a day. This will allow you a peek into the every day life of that profession and help you get a sense of if this is the right job for you. There are other ways you can network as well. Create a LinkedIn account or update your existing one. The more people you know, the more possibilities that are potentially available to you in  the future.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

What's your color?


By Yameng Zhang

Once we are graduating, it is essential to know yourself and more importantly, to know how to let others know you.

Color is a good way to start. We all have our own understandings for different colors. 7 colors, you can always find one that fits your goal.

Red is my color. Red is the color that will stands out, it is intensive, it means passion, excitement and it is the signal of “stop”.

Red is what makes me a bull, I know people wants me to stop, it brings me all kinds of obstacles. At the meantime, because when a bull sees red, is gets all excited, red gives the determination and stimuli to break through the barriers.

There are so many things about colors, and they depend widely on our mood, personality and our target audiences.

It is never too early to figure out who you are and what makes you special. Start to know yourself by picking one color and try to express your philosophy of your understanding to others.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Protecting Your Privacy

By Corinne Feight


According to a journalist at Forbes magazine, Kashmir Hill, we are forgetting to do even the simplest things to protect our privacy. Yet what may seem like ease of convenience to us actually allows others to access our personal information by just the click of a button. We need to be more cautious, especially in this extremely technological world. Hill provides ten easy steps to help us maintain our privacy and stop the casual intruder.

1.     Password protect your devices: Smartphone, iPad, computer, tablet, etc.
So what if it’s a little inconvenient? Hill states that this is the digital equivalent to leaving your home or car unlocked. Maybe no one will notice, but what if someone does? They have access to all of your e-mails, your call history, your pictures, and your text messages. This is not even to mention that many times people leave their social media sites logged in on their Smartphones and computers. That’s a lot of access for someone, even if they only get five minutes.

2.     Put a Google Alert on your name.
This takes seconds to accomplish. If you visit this site, you can have any mention of your name sent to you by e-mail. Hill recommends entering your name, and variations of your name, with quotation marks around it. This will help you monitor what is being said about you online.

3.     Sign out of Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc. when you’re done.
This will help prevent someone from later sitting down and logging into your accounts. People forget to do this daily—many with less extreme consequences like status changes; however, most people do more than just post a status while they’re logged in. Take this off of your list of things to worry about.

4.     Don’t give out your e-mail address, phone number, or zip code when asked.
Stores will often ask you for this information when you are making a purchase. You can say no. Don’t feel bad. If you do, just say that your number is unlisted.

5.     Encrypt your computer.
According to Hill, encrypting your computer means that someone has to have your password (or encryption key) in order to peek at its contents should they get access to your hard drive. On a Mac, you just need to go to ‘Setting Preferences,’ ‘Security,’ ‘Privacy,’ and go to the ‘FileVault’ tab. Choose ‘Turn on FileVault’ and you’re done. PC users can use Bitlocker.



6.     Gmailers, turn on the 2-step authentication in Gmail.
This simple little step turns your phone into a security fob—in order for you Gmail account to be accessed from a new device, a person needs a code that’s sent to your phone. This means that even if someone gets your password somehow, they won’t be able to us it to sign into your account from a strange computer. Just make sure your phone battery is charged and be wary when travelling abroad. Hill says that as an alternative you can just turn off this setting when you are abroad or phone-less.

7.     Pay in cash for embarrassing items.
This guarantees that a purchase will not be tracked back to you.

8.     Change your Facebook Settings to ‘Friends Only.’
While many people have already done this, plenty of Facebookers still have not. Especially as students, we need to be extra careful of what we are putting online. It is a tough enough job market as it is. Don’t make yourself more vulnerable. Also, if your settings are ‘Custom,’ watch the ‘Networks’ you may be sharing with.

9.     Clear your browser history and cookies on a regular basis.
Consider changing your settings so that it is automatically cleared every session. On a Mac, clicking on ‘Private Browsing’ in your Internet toolbar easily does this. Hill states that this will reduce the amount you’re tracked online.

10.  Use an IP masker.
Every time you visit a website, you leave information behind in the form of IP information. You can mask your computer’s footprint, which at the very least gives away your approximate location and service provider. You can download software to do this or use a browser-based option.

Don’t let yourself fall into these easy traps. Start protecting your online presence now!


Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/08/23/10-incredibly-simple-things-you-should-be-doing-to-protect-your-privacy/2/