At the Intersection of Liberal Arts & STEM

Written by Sarah Hornsby

Two heads are better than one.

With the collaboration of two or more different minded people something amazing can be happen.  If this is the case, what could come about if you get someone with a liberal arts degree, someone with a science degree, someone with a technology degree, someone with an engineering degree, and someone with a math degree to all work together?  The possibilities are endless.

To explore this topic further, you can attend At the Intersection of Liberal Arts & STEM at Purdue University.

• When: Thursday, April 10
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center

This free event is among a daylong series of events that will explore what can happen when liberal arts and science, technology, engineering, and math fields intersect.

The panelists of the discussion include:

• Bracken Darrell
• Leah Jamieson
• Charles L. Jones
• Jacqueline Jones Royster

The complete list of events can be found on their website.

Successful Before 30 - Blake Mycoskie

By: Maureen Corbett

To continue my blog series that follows professionals who achieved success with a liberal arts degree before turning 30, I’m going to point out a common thread between all these individuals. The past several blog posts have all featured driven people who can’t seem to keep their talents confined to one industry. I’ve featured actors who moonlight as rappers, government officials with TV talk shows, and an advertising agent whose passion lies with art and design. Today’s successful individual is no different. His name is Blake Mycoskie, but you know him as the creator of TOM shoes. Despite the fact that he has worked for and even founded a variety of companies during his young life, Mycoskie never fails to keep his passion for helping others at the heart of his work.

Mycoskie began his career as a dual major in philosophy and business at Southern Methodist University in Texas. After he graduated, Mycoskie launched his first successful business, EZ Laundry, in 1995. The company originally targeted SMU students who had no access to on-campus laundry or dry-cleaning services, but grew to eventually employ over 40 people, expanded to three universities, and generated nearly $1 million in sales.

After he sold EZ Laundry, Mycoskie gained experience in a variety of areas. Between 1999 and 2005 he founded an outdoor billboard company called Mycoskie Media, co-founded the cable network Reality Central, helped launch the driver’s education website DriversEdDirect, and was a contestant on the show The Amazing Race. Then in 2006 at age 30, Mycoskie started the organization Shoes For a Better Tomorrow, which was later renamed to TOMS. Since its beginning TOMS was an immediate success. Mycoskie was inspired to create TOMS because of the poverty he witnessed in Argentina during The Amazing Race, and was one of the first professionals to engage in a newly discovered business practice called social entrepreneurism. This for profit company operates on the one-for-one business model: for every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates a pair to children in need. Today, TOMS has donated over 10 million shoes and operates globally in over 1,000 stores.

For Mycoskie, even the success of TOMS shoes can’t make him stop his attempt to serve others. He has since launched TOMS eyewear which operates in the same fashion as TOMS shoes, and has also recently published his first book Start Something That Matters. For those students who want a career path that allows them to help others, Mycoskie is an excellent role model who shows that creativity and determination can get you anywhere in life.

Sources:

http://www.toms.com/blakes-bio/l

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100601/the-way-i-work-blake-mycoskie-of-toms-shoes.html

"Why do you want this job?"

Written by: C Raven Anderson

As May is quickly arriving it is important to know how to answer a very common, but often difficult question to answer. That question is "Why do you want this job?" There are many reasons that a graduating senior or even an underclassman wants a position with a company. They want the experience or the money, and many more.

Instead of boring your interviewer with these simple answers, use this question as an opportunity to package yourself as unbelievably rare and talented individual. Demonstrate the skills you have acquired, thus far in your college career, and how you plan to use those skills to benefit their company. Show them that without you their company will be at a loss. In an article written by Mary Hope, the founder of Mary Hope Career Success, she explains four steps that almost anyone can use to effectively answer this question. They are:

Step 1:

‘This is a great company /organization because…….’  Everyone likes to be flattered, so tell them why you think they are a good company, what it is you like about the company.

Step 2:

Describe the challenges of the role, even if it is a job that is pretty routine. What are the issues they face in getting someone to do the role well?

Step 3:

Tell them the things that float your boat, the things you have just been doing, the challenges you really enjoy and give some brief examples.

Step 4:

Think about why they might not want to hire you and refute their logic.

Now you know how to answer that ever so often dreaded question. To read the full article follow the link below.

http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/why-want-job-interview/

What Makes You Special?

Written by Shelby Oyer

We all know by now how important it is to make ourselves stand out from the crowd of qualified applicants vying for the same positions we want. While good grades, leadership positions and work experience are all great to have, a lot of people have them, making them no longer enough to land you the job. 

In his career blog, management specialist Phil Miller discusses qualities many hiring managers find attractive--qualities that will make you special and land you the job. 

Here is what he discusses:

1. Commitment and Drive
Employers want to know that you'll do what you say you will. A great way to show this is by having long-term commitments. It's great to volunteer but it's even better to do something like the Peace Corps. Even things like "marathon finisher" will show you have commitment and drive.

2. "Spark"
Engage the employer. Be present in the conversation and make the employer want to continue talking to you. This is a bit more subjective since all employers have different tastes, but just be your most engaging self and read the employer's body language to gauge their interest.

3. Curiosity
Have a sense of curiosity in how things work or how to improve them and yourself. You can show this through things like taking a class to learn a specialized program or attending a conference to discuss how to improve something within your field. Taking this initiative will be impressive to potential employers. 

4. Professional Passion
This ties in with the curiosity category. Having a passion for what you're doing will propel you forward in your field and stand out to employers; plus it will make your job that much more enjoyable. You can show this passion by taking initiative like above: go to conferences, subscribe to industry-related magazines and newsletters, or blog about your field, for example. 

5. Consistency
This will show your passion. If you have been working on something for a long time or in a certain field for a while and are able to talk about it at-length, it will show employers that you're sincerely interested in what you're doing. If you can't, they won't be convinced.

Read Phil's full article here.

What Should You Be Doing Over Spring Break?

Written by Sarah Hornsby

As spring break quickly approaches so does the half way mark for the semester.  This can be a scary time for current seniors who will be graduating soon because there is so much to do to prepare yourself professionally.  This applies to non-seniors as well.  Just because you will not be graduating in May or December does not mean that you shouldn't be doing anything to further your professional self.  College doesn't last forever, and before you know it you will be out in the "real" world.

Spring break is a great time to really focus on your professional self. 

Here is a list of things provided by NerdScholar that you should be doing over spring break:

1. Talk with family members
They are typically your biggest advocates in the job search. Students should also seek out family friends and acquaintances that are recent college graduates, Dawn Edmiston, a professor at Saint Vincent College, says. These people “can provide the best insight on what to expect in an entry-level position on a daily basis.”

2. Travel to cities you might want to work in after college
Networking over spring break doesn’t necessarily mean you have to miss out on spending time in new and exciting places. For those interested in moving to a new city, spring break is the perfect opportunity to meet people who work in your preferred industry there.

3. Don't discount volunteering
Volunteering is “one of the most effective ways to build connections,” Pickens says. Spring break provides the perfect time to devote yourself to such projects in your community or abroad. For instance, many universities and student-run organizations offer opportunities to spend spring break volunteering elsewhere, typically referred to as “alternative spring breaks.”

4. Take advantage of career center services
Since spring break is a time when most people are away on vacation, students who stick around should make use of career center resources then. It’s a time when, “guaranteed, you will be able to get an appointment for one-on-one career counseling, resume advice, mock interviews, or other services the center may provide,” says Susan Ramlo, a professor at the University of Akron.

5. Stand out from the crowd
Networking over spring break not only gives undergraduates a head start in the job and internship search, but according to Ron Culp, it separates you as a more serious job candidate to potential employers. “Most college students focus on relaxation during spring break, so it is to your advantage to request informational interviews and to network at this time,” he says. “Professionals will be sympathetic and try to meet with you, especially when they hear that you opted to see them rather than go to Cancun.”

6. Rebrand your online presence
It is crucial to make sure that your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and any other social media profiles are in check when beginning the networking process. An off-color profile picture can be the reason an employer doesn’t hire you, says Ramlo, so taking the initiative early on—like over spring break—will benefit your career choices down the road.

To read the entire NerdScholar article, follow this link provided below:

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/2014/expert-advice-network-spring-break/

Successful Before 30 - Kristina Krkljus

By: Maureen Corbett

Think your art degree or communications major won’t get you anywhere in life? Think again! 29 year old Kristina Krkljus received degrees in both fields at the University of Central Florida and is now a successful senior art director at the advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day.

 Upon her graduation in 2007, Krkljus held several internship positions including working at YPB&R, Y Partnership, and Crispin Porter+Bogusky. From these positions she obtained experience performing tasks such as media planning, rebranding, and developing marketing campaigns. During this time Krkljus also attended Miami Ad School and obtained her graduate degree in Art Direction in 2009. Since then, Krkljus has seen nothing but improvement and success as she climbed up to corporate latter.

Krkljus has had the opportunity to work all over the United States. She has experience working for TeamOne, whose claim to fame was the development and huge success of the Lexus brand. She also worked to develop the brand Levis for the public relations firm Edelman Digital, a branch from the world leading PR firm Edelman. Now, at TWBA/Chiat/Day in Los Angeles as the senior art director, she's an instrumental leader on brands such as Pepsi, Adidas and Crate&Barrel.

Krkljus’ greatest successes include the development of two Super Bowl commercials, working with David Beckham to create Pepsi ad campaigns, and landing on Forbes 30 under 30 list. A self-proclaimed hippie, she’s inspired by nature and her success comes from keeping her life in balance. Krkljus is an ideal example for students who are looking to find success in the art world, and her drive and creativity are key factors in her success. For Krkljus, the only place to go from here is above and beyond.  

To read more about Krkljus, visit these sources:

http://www.luerzersarchive.com/content/show/id/119

http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinakrkljus

Mentors are Valuable Assets

Written by: C Raven Anderson

Recently I have gone through some pretty big life changes. These changes have affected my mood and outlook on my future. I was falling behind in classes, work, and in my internship. I needed to snap out of my funk before I reached a point of no return. I went to talk to my mentor and also the Liberal Arts Career Development Director, Lisa Lambert Snodgrass, to help get me back on track. With careful self-management and a great mentor at my side I was ready to become the person I want to be.

From this experience I have learned how important it is to have a mentor who is willing to help no matter the situation, as well as give you the tools to use to make yourself a better person. In this post I will go over reasons why you should get a mentor at your first job, especially right out of college.

Andy Rachleff, an Executive Chairman at Wealthfront Inc., says “many great things can happen to you if you find a great mentor.” A few examples are you will learn valuable lessons that can apply to future positions, or if you mentor is promoted there is a possibility that if you are good at what you do you will be promoted along with him or her. Rachleff also mentions that “a truly superb mentor will never be threatened by your success.” Your mentor should be one of your biggest cheerleaders if you are successful. They are helping you along in your journey to becoming a talented professional. Your mentor should see your success as positive reflection, not as competition.

From my own experiences this semester, I know that when I get my first job out of college I plan on finding a great mentor to teach and guide me through the professional world. To read the full article written by Andy Rachleff, follow the link below.

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130206181727-56725-the-importance-of-mentors-to-build-a-successful-career