A Balancing Act

 By Jayne Harris    

     With two jobs, two internships, and moving weekend on the horizon, I’ve been pulling my hair out in a frenzied attempt to cram everything into a much-too-short 24-hour day.  Far too many things to do, too many places to be, and too many people to make happy…but you’ve heard it all before.  Every college student is stretched to the limit and overwhelmed (and if you’re not, share your secrets), but it’s hard not to feel alone on your most stressful days.  With the first day of the semester less than a month away, we all need the tools to tackle stress and stay in touch with reality. 

     They always say hindsight is 20/20 – and truer words have never been spoken.  I wish I knew my first few semesters of college what I know now in terms of time management and organizing my schedule.  By including everything, even workouts, cleaning, and sometimes showers on my schedule, I found I can accomplish more in a day than I imagined was humanly possible.  On those days that you feel like the world and time is against you, it’s not only important to schedule meticulously, but also to remember yourself and the importance of your health and well-being. 

     On my worst days, I never let stress become an excuse to eat poorly or skip exercise.  Good nutrition is a key to feeling healthy under stress and the endorphins released during exercise are a much better pick-me-up than the caffeine in soda or coffee.  At the end of your day, take 30 minutes for yourself before bed to read (not a textbook!), paint your nails, or watch TV – whatever you want to do.  It’s important to take time for yourself in order to manage your stress and remember that you’re worth it.  Additionally, I plan to start turning ignoring every text and e-mail that my phone receives after 9:00pm.  By only taking phone calls, you’re ensuring the communication is necessary…no texts just to see what’s up or spam e-mails!  And when you feel completely overwhelmed, alone, and all of your friends are busy, remember that sometimes you are your own best friend – you know yourself better than anybody else does.  Trust yourself and remember: if you know you won’t be worried about it two weeks from today, try not to worry about it now and keep your sights on the finish line.

Open-iated

By Jayne Harris


I'm certain that I'm not the only person who's felt that sharp pang of humiliation after sharing an opinion or idea - only to be told that it's "stupid", "wouldn't work", or for it to be ignored completely.  Why would somebody ask for your opinion or idea if they're not open to it?  After thinking that perhaps my opinion was wrong and my ideas were ridiculous, I realized that an opinion simply cannot be wrong and while an idea may have flaws, it is still valuable.  I started to observe people in meeting and business settings, taking note of the traits exhibited by those who seemed to have a natural command of the room.  These people had a tendency to show the same traits and had similar habits in their verbal and non-verbal communication.  Determined that my opinions and ideas wouldn't be undermined again, I took note:

1)  Powerful people take up more space.  It's as simple as spreading your papers out on a table when you go into a meeting and not timidly confining yourself to a tiny 10x10 inch section.
2)  You don't need to qualify your opinions and ideas.  When you state them, do so confidently and concisely without saying "Well I think that maybe...", "I suppose it could I guess if..." or any other phrases that weaken your statement and distract from your words (this includes verbal fillers such as um and like).
3)  If it's a big meeting, consider standing up when you speak to command attention and ensure that all eyes (and more importantly ears) are on you.
4)  When you're not speaking, make sure you're taking notes or looking at the current speaker - it shows you're paying attention and being respectful, which will likely be reciprocated on your turn.
5)  Practice!  Even if you only have a two-minute window to share your ideas, you can make the most of your time by speaking concisely and not stumbling over your words.

Above all, don't be one of those people who belittle the opinions and ideas of others.  Being open to input can benefit your company/project and improve the outcome.  Open-iated, not opinionated!

Background Check?!

By Jayne Harris

The thought of a current or future employer running a background check on you is incredibly daunting, even if like me, you've never even had a speeding ticket.  Screening applicants is becoming increasingly common, along with the review of social networking sites like facebook and Twitter.  I was under the misconception that a background check revealed your past residences and any criminal history, but if you read the small print, you're more than likely granting an employer the right to look at your credit reports, work history, and in some instances, medical records.  Your credit history and medical records can't actually hurt your chances of employment though, right?  Wrong - some employers will view poor credit as a reflection of irresponsible behavior (especially if the job involves access to the companies finances) and serious medical problems may lead an employer to not hire a candidate as it could increase their health insurance costs.  It seems invasive and excessive, but if you thoroughly know your background there will be no surprises and you can be prepared to talk honestly about your history.

Heather Huhman recommends "running a background check on yourself" to make sure your history is correct and that there aren't errors in your past employment.  She also stresses the importance of being honest on your resume, as a background check will reveal untruthful information.  While her article details background checks in the realm of employment, it's not unheard of for graduate (and select undergraduate) schools to screen their candidates.  Do they factor background checks into their final decisions?  Apparently only if there is history of a violent crime that could pose a threat to the safety of other students - it varies from school to school.  

They say if you don't know your past, you don't know your future - in this case, that seems incredibly true!  Have you had a background check from an employer or school?  Share your experience.

Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

By Jayne Harris

...when asked this during an interview this past week, I explained that I wasn't receiving enough hours for summer.  It's better than telling the truth (see #2 in the article linked below), but I could have prepared a stronger answer if I had been anticipating the question.  Questions that catch you off guard can 'make or break' your interview - from my experience as a hiring manager, I've compiled some of the worst interview answers ever given:

"Your application was rather vague, could you elaborate on your extracurricular involvement?"
I'm Bob Smith, I'm 20, I go to Purdue, I'm studying science, I like sports.
Yes, I know.  Your application told me ALL of these things.

"Why are you interested in this job?"
I just really need money right now, I'm trying to pay off an underage drinking ticket.
...TMI

"You interview was at 3:00.  Do you mind telling my why you're 10 minutes late?"
Yeah I thought it was at 3:30 so I'm early.
To be cliche, I wasn't born yesterday!   

Why would people give answers of this nature?  Perhaps they were caught off guard (or really need an appointment with LACD!), but these thoughtless answers cost them the job.  Granted, it's a part-time job, giving many people the feeling they don't need to act in an "adult" professional manner; however, your level of professionalism should always be high, regardless of whether you're interviewing at McDonald's or Microsoft.  Instead of telling me they need money to pay off a drinking ticket, candidate #2 could have said, "I would like to have a part-time job in college.  It would help with expenses and improve my time-management skills as a student and employee" - very candid and honest, yet professional. 

Read "What You Should Never Say in a Job Interview" by Alison Green.  You may think some of them are obvious, but it can only improve your interview performance.

Be Prepared, Not Surprised

By Jayne Harris

If you've ever been asked to "tell me about yourself" in an interview for anything more than a part-time job, your interviewer was likely inexperienced or unprepared.  Some interviewers will just talk and not let you get a word in edgewise to elaborate on your qualifications.  Having the skills to identify the approach of your interviewer can give you valuable insight into their expectations and allow you to give tailored answers that showcase you in the best light.

I was once interviewed by somebody who spent over 30 minutes talking about the position in so much detail I could have started the job that day and performed well.  After reading this article, I now know that interrupting in a polite manor could have been to my advantage.  I was eventually able to highlight a few points on my resume; however, I left feeling the interviewer knew nothing more about me than the information my resume had already presented.  This can leave you questioning your chances of getting the job and lowering your confidence in future interviews.

In addition to "the talker", I've also had interviews with people who seemed to not care whether I was there or not; I felt like they wouldn't notice if I started singing or stood up on my chair.  How do you respond to their apathy?   Just make sure you maintain your enthusiasm and are polite - mimicking their attitude won't serve you well.  They'll remember you as dull and disinterested, likely not realizing that was the vibe they were sending you.

Invest the time in reading and understanding the interviewer types in the article so you can be prepared for your next interview.  Have you ever experienced "the brash", "the heroic", or any of the other styles in an interview before?  Share your story and reactions.

Your Office Door Is 2-Way

by Jayne Harris

We all know an employee who simply loves their job and raves about everything - from how 'cool' the employees are to how 'awesome' their office chair is.  For every work-loving person we know, we likely know five more people who hate their job and continuously complain about everything from the boss to the color of the carpet.  In his article, Why You Should Keep an Open Mind About Your Career, Curt Rosengren stresses the importance of not thinking only in black and white.  This type of thinking can block you into a corner (or your office) and cause you to lose sight of the fact that you can walk out of the door - just like you walked in.  

Rosengren's article is targeted at career professionals; however, college students working part-time jobs should heed his advice.  If your boss is unprofessional or your job isn't flexible to your class schedule, you do have the right to look for other jobs (just make sure you do it at home, not work!).  He states that the words, "always, never, have to, and can't" can be the culprit, keeping you in the same routine that you've been fed up with for months. Most part-time jobs are "at will", meaning you can leave when you want without providing a reason.  Be courteous and give a formal two-weeks notice to ensure you stay on good terms with the company.  If your new employer asks why you are leaving your previous job, don't ramble about how horrible your boss was - be brief and honest.  Adopting an open-mind now will allow you to carry the attitude into your post-college career and avoid you feeling stuck on the wrong track.

Get Your Foot 'In The Door'

By Jayne Harris


Today I was introduced to a new networking site that utilizes facebook to help you with your job search by telling you where your friends have worked and are working, in addition to job openings at those companies.  I initially thought this was a less-professional version of LinkedIn; however, after reading the article, In The Door thoroughly impressed me.

As the article mentions, LinkedIn can't always be fully utilized by our generation as many of us are students and have few professional contacts.  In The Door is targeted to us - the generation with more friends than are true on facebook.  It's not what you know, so find out who you know using In The Door - I signed up and was presented with 51 companies in my network who are hiring.  Some were hourly positions such as Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, but Ford, Apple, GE, United, and Delphi were also on the list.

It's important to note that I'm not somebody who adds every person I ever make eye-contact with on facebook.  Those 51 companies came from just 200 friends.  Sign-up and share your thoughts!

Summer Better Than Others

By Jayne Harris

It's true, some are better than others and this article on ways to use summer to your career advantage from U.S. News writer Andrew Rosen is definitely on the better list.

In High School, going to the pool everyday and perhaps working a part-time job was perfectly acceptable; however, college students need to take the initiative to seek career-relevant jobs and internships instead of scooping ice cream.  Without a full course load and extracurricular activities to worry about, students have time to focus on their personal brand by compiling documents such as a resume, vitae, and portfolio.  By preparing these ahead of time, you'll only have to make minor updates before a career fair - not panic because they're not complete.

Rosen's list includes 9 items directed at career professionals, but the list can be altered to fit any college student.

#1:  Catch up on professional reading
#2:  Make new contacts
#3:  Get outside
#4:  Skip the casual dress
#5:  Meet the temps
#6:  Reorganize
#7:  Take career inventory
#8:  Apply for jobs
#9:  Flex your leadership muscle

All college students should heed the bold items on the list and those working or holding an internship can utilize the entire list.  Rosen's article can be found here and is a must read for those twiddling their thumbs this summer!

Getting Personal

By Jayne Harris

Our generation complains when internet service is down for less that fifteen minutes and thinks the world is ending when a cell phone has no signal.  A generation of technologically savvy 20-somethings, we rely so heavily on the internet and our cell phones for communication, many of us don't even know where our local post office is.  The lack of face-to-face communication is incredibly apparent in our generation...how many of us have texted somebody in a different room of the same apartment or house?!

Using technology to communicate with others can be an indispensable resource - just yesterday I participated in a conference call with people in over 20 different states.  On a broad scale, technology does bring us closer; however, in our personal lives we're becoming separated by such heavy use of impersonal communication.  This impersonal attitude toward communication often extends toward more professional arenas.  Do you know the names of your coworkers or the secretary in your advising office?

Miriam Salpeter's article How Learning Names Can Boost Your Career is a fantastic resource for tips and tricks to use to remember names and makes a lasting impression.  How do you feel when somebody can't remember your name or calls you something that doesn't even start with the same letter?  It's frustrating and makes you feel like that person wasn't paying attention to you.  Salpeter quotes Lee Silverstein, who made a strong and valid point when he said, “How often have you heard the excuse ‘I’m not good with names?’…What the person is really saying is, ‘I don’t have the listening skills, or the patience, to remember people’s names.’ Remembering someone’s name shows you care.”

Salpeter doesn't mention using social media to help remember names, but it can be an additional tool.  If you just met a group of people, write down their names.  When you get home, you can look for their profiles on facebook to put a name with a face one more time (you usually don't have to be 'friends' with someone to see their name and picture).  You can do this before you meet people for a second time to refresh your memory and avoid an embarrassing forgetful moment. 

Whichever method you employ to help you remember names, it's an investment in your career and your personal brand that will communicate that you pay attention, are personable, and that you care.

Willing to Relocate?

By Jayne Harris

Thousands of graduates nationwide have turned their tassels, hung up their cap and gown, and already moved out of their college apartments.  Some have landed jobs in the area, some have relocated out-of-state for a job, and some are living at home again - hello curfew!  Yahoo! Finance republished an article from the Atlantic magazine detailing the top cities for college grads...and not a single city in the mid-west made the list.

Raleigh, North Carolina was the closest city on the list to Indiana and it's approximately 11 hours away - does this mean we'll start seeing mass migration of grads?  The article emphasized the percentage of residents with a college degree as the main ranking factor, one that should be considered, but in conjunction with the cost of living and job opportunities.  The article can't give a single good reason for living in #8, Riverside, California other than the weather!  After reading through the reasoning for including each city on the list and considering the distance of each city from Indiana, I found this list far more reasonable and appropriate for mid-west grads (even if it is a couple of years out of date).

The CNN list ranks cities that are much closer to Indiana, with Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati making the list.  Additionally, this list provides the average cost of rent for each city - practical information that may actually be considered, as for most of us the weather won't be a definitive factor when a job offer is on the table.  Already the clear favorite, the CNN list triumphs again with it's fantastic #1 pick - Indianapolis, Indiana.  Indy boasts the cheapest rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $625/month in addition to being close to home for many who aren't quite ready to live on the other side of the country.

There you have it, evidence that 'top cities for grads' are actually all over the nation, making these lists quite subjective.  Job offers may come up all over the country, but it seems clear that graduates can stay as close to home as is comfortable - and if that happens to be Riverside, CA, at the least you'll have a fantastic tan.

Week Two at LACD:  Editing the career handbook is now completely underway and progress is being made at a steady pace.  I'm starting to really grasp what Lisa is looking for and understanding how LACD can benefit students - it's a wonderful resource that all CLA students should utilize!

'Fluffing' Your Resume

By Jayne L. Harris

Activities and organizations are a crucial part of any resume, showing that you are not just a strong student academically, but are well-rounded and involved on your campus.  That said, many of my friends are going into their senior year with the realization that they did not get involved early enough and don't have extra-curricular activities to enhance their resume and personal brand.  Some are opting to join anything with a call-out in fall (communication majors in hydroponics club?!), while others are joining organizations where you simply have to pay to be a member.  Great solution, right?  Wrong.  "Fluffing" your resume is a major mistake - here's why:

Anything on your resume is fair game for an interviewer to ask you about, meaning that it is essential for you to be passionate about your involvement.  If you can't talk about an organization's purpose, how the organization benefited you, and your contribution to it, you should reconsider putting it on your resume.  Having two organizations that you committed to and preferably held a leadership role in will outshine four organizations that you paid to be in, but never went to a single meeting.  Simply put, if you didn't care about the organization, your potential employer will notice your apathy when you try to compile an answer about it.

Even if you didn't get involved early it isn't too late - but make sure you pick organizations you can commit to and take on leadership roles when they're available.  Purdue's Get Involved website is  a fantastic resource - as are your friends, advisor, and professors.  

On my first week as an LACD intern:

I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience as I am using my talents and challenging myself to write in a completely different style than I am used to - one that is creative, yet informative.  I'll blog more about this next week when I have spent more time in the office and had a little more experience!