By: Stephanie Grebe
Today, I was walking to class and I was shocked by a conversation going on behind me. Two girls were discussing how they were fine with getting a "D" in stats, because it isn't worth trying to do well on the final. One of them said, "When I interview for jobs, it isn't like the recruiter is going to care about me having a low GPA this one semester, I can explain that! I'd rather go to the cactus tonight!"
This really made me think. We spend all semester working hard, but for some reason when the sun comes out and the weeks wind down, students stop coming to class and putting in the extra effort. Are they burnt out? bored? or just lazy?
Many employers are now listing a minimum GPA requirement on applications, generally around 3.25. However, many may not even look at resumes that don't meet their bottom line. According to Yvonne Harvey Williams' presentation during Career Week, many employers aren't even considering candidates under 3.7 or 3.8. Why? Because with this economy they don't have to! Now, more than ever, entry level resumes need to be standing out amongst the hundreds of other applicants. A low GPA is not the way to win over a future employer.
My response to those girls is that, you may not get the opportunity to explain a low GPA to a recruiter if you get cut before the first interview. GPA reflects your work ethic, your academic strengths, and your ability to follow through. There are always classes and areas where a student will struggle academically, but that doesn't mean they should give up. There is one more week left in the semester before finals, and my advice to students is to finish strong. Don't let senioritis (or sophomoreitis or even freshmanitis) prevent you from potentially getting the job you've worked so hard for.
Showing posts with label Stephanie Grebe Purdue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephanie Grebe Purdue. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Still No Job?
By: Stephanie Grebe
As Grand Prix week comes and goes, there is really only a few weeks left before Spring semester comes to an end. Do you know how you are spending your summer? Don't fret! If you still haven't landed your perfect job or internship, there are still many opportunities to network and interview before May rolls around!
As Grand Prix week comes and goes, there is really only a few weeks left before Spring semester comes to an end. Do you know how you are spending your summer? Don't fret! If you still haven't landed your perfect job or internship, there are still many opportunities to network and interview before May rolls around!
- LACD Networking Happy Hour- April 20th 6:30-8. This free event will bring in business leaders from around the state who are ready to mingle with Boilermakers. Students should come ready to network, learn, and find potential job/internship opportunities.
- Just in Time Job Fair- April 19th 10am - 3pm. With over 50 companies interested in students of all majors, this is a wonderful opportunity to find jobs or internships for the summer!
- No Fear Job Search- May 11th 10am - 3:30pm. This interactive job search workshop will help students perfect their professional brand, networking skills, and interviewing materials. While this isn't a career fair, this event will get you in tip top shape for future interviews!
- LACD is hiring interns! If you are a Communication, Professional Writing, or VCD major looking for a summer or fall internship, look no further! LACD provides a hands on internship that gives you incredible real life experience in design, event planning, marketing, and more! (Plus, you may even be able to write these fancy blogs)
- Hungry Boiler is hiring interns! If your are a design, communication, or marketing major, this could be the internship for you! Hungry Boiler is looking for a Graphic Design and a Marketing/Promotion intern right here at Purdue. If you are looking for real world experience in a fast growing company, apply to Hungry Boiler!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
5 Weeks to Go....
By: Stephanie Grebe
I have never had so much uncertainty in my life. In a little over a month I will be graduating from Purdue, the place I have called home for the last 4 years. With that graduation comes the start of a new life that has yet to be defined. It is a scary thought to not know where your life is taking you and how your endeavors will pan out in a professional setting. The excitement of getting a college degree is quickly being overshadowed by the ambiguity of the future: where I will work, where I will live, what I’ll be doing, who will be there with me?
As I write this blog in a computer lab, out the window I see a tour group of incoming freshman. They are standing eagerly with their parents, thriving on the excitement of being on a real college campus. I remember being in their shoes not too long ago, ready to dive into my college education. I remember that excitement of wondering what classes I would take, if I’d be smart enough to understand a professor, if I would make new friends, if I could get an A…
Looking back, I’m amused by the fears I had. Of course I could understand a professor! But the reason I was scared was because it was unfamiliar. Every incoming freshman had the same apprehensions, which reminds me that every graduating senior has them too! Though my anxieties are about different things, the uncertainty is the same.
To me, this is reassuring. In college, I was able to overcome these fears in a blink of an eye by establishing myself as a strong, successful student by taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. Through activities, internships, classes, and organizations, I created a life here at Purdue. As this next chapter looms overhead, I am going to take this same approach. Graduating is an accomplishment that I am excited to achieve. I cannot wait to take advantage of the next opportunity that comes my way, and will remember that this anxiety will pass. Every graduating senior is feeling this pressure, the key is to take that excitement and run with it!
I have never had so much uncertainty in my life. In a little over a month I will be graduating from Purdue, the place I have called home for the last 4 years. With that graduation comes the start of a new life that has yet to be defined. It is a scary thought to not know where your life is taking you and how your endeavors will pan out in a professional setting. The excitement of getting a college degree is quickly being overshadowed by the ambiguity of the future: where I will work, where I will live, what I’ll be doing, who will be there with me?
As I write this blog in a computer lab, out the window I see a tour group of incoming freshman. They are standing eagerly with their parents, thriving on the excitement of being on a real college campus. I remember being in their shoes not too long ago, ready to dive into my college education. I remember that excitement of wondering what classes I would take, if I’d be smart enough to understand a professor, if I would make new friends, if I could get an A…
Looking back, I’m amused by the fears I had. Of course I could understand a professor! But the reason I was scared was because it was unfamiliar. Every incoming freshman had the same apprehensions, which reminds me that every graduating senior has them too! Though my anxieties are about different things, the uncertainty is the same.
To me, this is reassuring. In college, I was able to overcome these fears in a blink of an eye by establishing myself as a strong, successful student by taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. Through activities, internships, classes, and organizations, I created a life here at Purdue. As this next chapter looms overhead, I am going to take this same approach. Graduating is an accomplishment that I am excited to achieve. I cannot wait to take advantage of the next opportunity that comes my way, and will remember that this anxiety will pass. Every graduating senior is feeling this pressure, the key is to take that excitement and run with it!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Spring Cleaning: Clean up your email etiquette
By: Stephanie Grebe
It’s officially springtime! And you know what that means, spring-cleaning!
A few weeks ago, my blog focused on how to clean up your email inbox. Now that you’ve had time to put those tactics in to play, it is time to focus on cleaning up your email etiquette. Since emails are often brief and concise, we tend to use informal language. What we need to keep in mind is that informal is not a synonym for lazy. Today I’m going to talk about 4 email tips that will help clean up your etiquette.
Punctuation
Failing to use the proper punctuation is not only lazy, but it can often change the meaning of your entire sentence! We’ve all heard of the infamous “It’s time to eat, Grandpa,” punctuation example. Without the comma, it is much more shocking! In a professional setting, this can make or break your position within a company. Take the extra time to ensure your sentences are grammatically correct. This shows the receiver of the message that you are responsible and detail oriented. It also ensures the message is not misinterpreted.
Don’t Skip Steps
Even though email can be less formal, that doesn’t mean it should be incomplete. Subject lines, greetings, and closings are imperative to setting the tone of the email, and getting your message across. That doesn’t mean you should be lengthy and wordy. A simple “Dear Kate,” gives an email a more personal touch before getting down to business. Because tone is hard to interpret via email, use every resource you have to communicate your message.
Going on and on and on and on
Emails are intended to be brief. Keep them that way. A great way to do this is to break up your paragraphs and use bullet points.
BCC vs CC vs Who Sees?
Be cautious about your use of BCC and CC in the work place. These email tools have a reputation for creating tension between coworkers. CC can be a great tool for team work in an office, but an unexpected CC can often feel intrusive and confusing. Be sure to thoughtfully use CC and understand its implications. BCC should only be used in select circumstances. This tool can make receivers feel uncomfortable and deceptive. Use BCC only if there is a major problem in the work place.
It’s officially springtime! And you know what that means, spring-cleaning!
A few weeks ago, my blog focused on how to clean up your email inbox. Now that you’ve had time to put those tactics in to play, it is time to focus on cleaning up your email etiquette. Since emails are often brief and concise, we tend to use informal language. What we need to keep in mind is that informal is not a synonym for lazy. Today I’m going to talk about 4 email tips that will help clean up your etiquette.
Punctuation
Failing to use the proper punctuation is not only lazy, but it can often change the meaning of your entire sentence! We’ve all heard of the infamous “It’s time to eat, Grandpa,” punctuation example. Without the comma, it is much more shocking! In a professional setting, this can make or break your position within a company. Take the extra time to ensure your sentences are grammatically correct. This shows the receiver of the message that you are responsible and detail oriented. It also ensures the message is not misinterpreted.
Don’t Skip Steps
Even though email can be less formal, that doesn’t mean it should be incomplete. Subject lines, greetings, and closings are imperative to setting the tone of the email, and getting your message across. That doesn’t mean you should be lengthy and wordy. A simple “Dear Kate,” gives an email a more personal touch before getting down to business. Because tone is hard to interpret via email, use every resource you have to communicate your message.
Going on and on and on and on
Emails are intended to be brief. Keep them that way. A great way to do this is to break up your paragraphs and use bullet points.
BCC vs CC vs Who Sees?
Be cautious about your use of BCC and CC in the work place. These email tools have a reputation for creating tension between coworkers. CC can be a great tool for team work in an office, but an unexpected CC can often feel intrusive and confusing. Be sure to thoughtfully use CC and understand its implications. BCC should only be used in select circumstances. This tool can make receivers feel uncomfortable and deceptive. Use BCC only if there is a major problem in the work place.
Friday, March 25, 2011
What happens when you Google YOUR name?
By: Stephanie Grebe
It is no secret that the first thing an employer does when they look at a job applicant is Google them. Within seconds, Google can dig up more dirt than you even know you had! From newspaper mentions to awards, blog posts to social media, if it is out there… Google will find it.
So how do you control the content in your top fold so employers are getting a clear representation of YOU? I learned this the hard way. When I Googled my name, several unpleasant things arise.
1) A German Dancer who shares my name with some pretty risqué costumes
2) A young teen who is all things MySpace
3) An open forum discussing a Stephanie Grebe who apparently steals for drug money
None of these are true, nor do I want an employer’s first impression of me to be a dancing drug dealer. So how do you fix this? Personal branding. By creating a unique personal brand that you use on your resume, cover letter, social media, business cards, portfolio, etc., you can control what content can be related back to you.
For example, my brand includes the name of my university, Purdue. On all of my professional documents, Purdue is proudly displayed by my name, helping to distinguish myself as a Purdue University student. When an employer includes that in my Google search, the results are drastically different. They include my blog posts, pod casts, social media, accomplishments, and portfolio. It is much easier to use your brand to control your content, instead of trying to track down all the Stephanie Grebes of the world and asking them to clean up their act.
Other suggestions for creating a brand is using your middle name, maiden name, or even your branding statement. Don't be shy, create a strong brand that is representative of your work, and start using it to create a professional Google identity. My last tip, Google yourself a few times a week to help monitor your online identity!
It is no secret that the first thing an employer does when they look at a job applicant is Google them. Within seconds, Google can dig up more dirt than you even know you had! From newspaper mentions to awards, blog posts to social media, if it is out there… Google will find it.
So how do you control the content in your top fold so employers are getting a clear representation of YOU? I learned this the hard way. When I Googled my name, several unpleasant things arise.
1) A German Dancer who shares my name with some pretty risqué costumes
2) A young teen who is all things MySpace
3) An open forum discussing a Stephanie Grebe who apparently steals for drug money
None of these are true, nor do I want an employer’s first impression of me to be a dancing drug dealer. So how do you fix this? Personal branding. By creating a unique personal brand that you use on your resume, cover letter, social media, business cards, portfolio, etc., you can control what content can be related back to you.
For example, my brand includes the name of my university, Purdue. On all of my professional documents, Purdue is proudly displayed by my name, helping to distinguish myself as a Purdue University student. When an employer includes that in my Google search, the results are drastically different. They include my blog posts, pod casts, social media, accomplishments, and portfolio. It is much easier to use your brand to control your content, instead of trying to track down all the Stephanie Grebes of the world and asking them to clean up their act.
Other suggestions for creating a brand is using your middle name, maiden name, or even your branding statement. Don't be shy, create a strong brand that is representative of your work, and start using it to create a professional Google identity. My last tip, Google yourself a few times a week to help monitor your online identity!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Stop your E-mail from being an E-mess
By: Stephanie Grebe
We are all guilty of it... 256 emails in the inbox: 4 from Mom that I will respond to later, 2 from group members who I don’t have an answer for, and 250 from my favorite stores/web pages/Facebook that I don't think I'll ever open.
Today, let’s knock out the e-clutter by mastering a few simple digital organization techniques. I have 4 easy steps to help you reclaim your inbox and organize your life! Why? Because do you really want to tell your employer that you accidentally deleted their memo thinking it was a Mafia Wars invitation on Facebook?
1. Act on EVERY email: Too often, we make an e-mess out of our e-mail. I am no exception. I use to open emails, finish reading them, and move on to the next. Sometimes, the clutter would sit in my inbox for days, weeks, or even months. Unopened Bath and Body Works coupons and bank statements would often overwhelm important messages.
So my step one to becoming digitally organized is to act on EVERY email. Whether you erase it, respond, or save it to a folder, it is important to finish what you start. Some people use the method of tagging, which is a good tactic if you are extremely proactive and follow through. But for most of us, you’ll be amazed at the time you save by simply finishing each email you open. Instead of marking it as “respond later,” just respond now and file it away! It will be easier to find the information you need, and you’ll stop wasting time digging through your inbox.
2. Utilize folders: They are there for a reason, so start using them! The more specific you are, the easier it will be to organize and find things. Instead of labeling a folder “summer internship 2010,” you can make an individual folder for each project you work on. This is key to being organized, and is too easy to NOT take advantage.
3. Unsubscribe from clutter: Step three is another no brainer that we never take the time to do, unsubscribe. Again, I am guilty. It seemed like I use to get 10 cooking emails every day from every cooking site I’ve ever visited in my 15 years on the Internet. Instead of crowding my inbox with emails I never even open, one day I did the unthinkable, I unsubscribed. It takes an extra minute of your day, and saves you frustration and space in the long run. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
4. Divide and conquer: This has been the most useful e-organization tip I’ve received: have different email addresses for different purposes. This may be common sense when you get into the professional world and are provided a company email address. But, until then, separate your inboxes. I have found it very helpful to have 3 email addresses
a. Personal
b. Professional
c. Junk
I never even have to check the latter; it is just there for when I need to sign up for web pages I am not particularly interested in. It is amazing to check my junk email every few months, and see the thousands of spam/newsletters/SPECIAL OFFERS I avoid.
Plus, having different personal and professional emails is a great way to keep your professional and personal life separate online. That way, if you are dying to have the "PartyPlaya911" e-mail address (which is a whole other issue), it will not be shared with your colleagues or employers.
This is only a start to being organizing your e-mess. With just a few steps, these will knock tons of time off your daily email routines and keep your e-mail professional!
We are all guilty of it... 256 emails in the inbox: 4 from Mom that I will respond to later, 2 from group members who I don’t have an answer for, and 250 from my favorite stores/web pages/Facebook that I don't think I'll ever open.
Today, let’s knock out the e-clutter by mastering a few simple digital organization techniques. I have 4 easy steps to help you reclaim your inbox and organize your life! Why? Because do you really want to tell your employer that you accidentally deleted their memo thinking it was a Mafia Wars invitation on Facebook?
1. Act on EVERY email: Too often, we make an e-mess out of our e-mail. I am no exception. I use to open emails, finish reading them, and move on to the next. Sometimes, the clutter would sit in my inbox for days, weeks, or even months. Unopened Bath and Body Works coupons and bank statements would often overwhelm important messages.
So my step one to becoming digitally organized is to act on EVERY email. Whether you erase it, respond, or save it to a folder, it is important to finish what you start. Some people use the method of tagging, which is a good tactic if you are extremely proactive and follow through. But for most of us, you’ll be amazed at the time you save by simply finishing each email you open. Instead of marking it as “respond later,” just respond now and file it away! It will be easier to find the information you need, and you’ll stop wasting time digging through your inbox.
2. Utilize folders: They are there for a reason, so start using them! The more specific you are, the easier it will be to organize and find things. Instead of labeling a folder “summer internship 2010,” you can make an individual folder for each project you work on. This is key to being organized, and is too easy to NOT take advantage.
3. Unsubscribe from clutter: Step three is another no brainer that we never take the time to do, unsubscribe. Again, I am guilty. It seemed like I use to get 10 cooking emails every day from every cooking site I’ve ever visited in my 15 years on the Internet. Instead of crowding my inbox with emails I never even open, one day I did the unthinkable, I unsubscribed. It takes an extra minute of your day, and saves you frustration and space in the long run. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
4. Divide and conquer: This has been the most useful e-organization tip I’ve received: have different email addresses for different purposes. This may be common sense when you get into the professional world and are provided a company email address. But, until then, separate your inboxes. I have found it very helpful to have 3 email addresses
a. Personal
b. Professional
c. Junk
I never even have to check the latter; it is just there for when I need to sign up for web pages I am not particularly interested in. It is amazing to check my junk email every few months, and see the thousands of spam/newsletters/SPECIAL OFFERS I avoid.
Plus, having different personal and professional emails is a great way to keep your professional and personal life separate online. That way, if you are dying to have the "PartyPlaya911" e-mail address (which is a whole other issue), it will not be shared with your colleagues or employers.
This is only a start to being organizing your e-mess. With just a few steps, these will knock tons of time off your daily email routines and keep your e-mail professional!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
I may be social media obsessed...
By: Stephanie Grebe
After Social Media day of Career Week, I cannot seem to read enough about the future of communication. Technology that I use to write off as personal is now turning professional, and there are new techniques every day to marketing yourself online. Here are my top sites I am following to stay updated on the role of social media in my professional life.
1. Social Media Today is my new favorite blog site. The content covers all aspects of social media including techniques, trends, what to do, what not to do, and opinions. According to their page, "Every day, we provide insight and host lively debate about the tools, platforms, companies and personalities that are revolutionizing the way we consume information." Anyone can sign up to blog, and it is a fantastic way to learn the hot topics of social media. I love following them on Twitter and Facebook.
2. Mashable is a fantastic news source for all web technology, and social media is just one of their many areas of expertise. This blog site is a great way to stay updated on the newest technology information, and they are incredibly active on Twitter!
3. Kyle Lacy is a social media marketing expert, who authored Twitter Marketing for Dummies. After he came to speak at Purdue last week, I started following his blog. He has a very unique voice and provides information that is currently and relevant to our generation. On his blog, he breaks down social media so anyone can understand! He is also very interesting to follow on Twitter because he retweets other social media guru's blogs.
After Social Media day of Career Week, I cannot seem to read enough about the future of communication. Technology that I use to write off as personal is now turning professional, and there are new techniques every day to marketing yourself online. Here are my top sites I am following to stay updated on the role of social media in my professional life.
1. Social Media Today is my new favorite blog site. The content covers all aspects of social media including techniques, trends, what to do, what not to do, and opinions. According to their page, "Every day, we provide insight and host lively debate about the tools, platforms, companies and personalities that are revolutionizing the way we consume information." Anyone can sign up to blog, and it is a fantastic way to learn the hot topics of social media. I love following them on Twitter and Facebook.
2. Mashable is a fantastic news source for all web technology, and social media is just one of their many areas of expertise. This blog site is a great way to stay updated on the newest technology information, and they are incredibly active on Twitter!
3. Kyle Lacy is a social media marketing expert, who authored Twitter Marketing for Dummies. After he came to speak at Purdue last week, I started following his blog. He has a very unique voice and provides information that is currently and relevant to our generation. On his blog, he breaks down social media so anyone can understand! He is also very interesting to follow on Twitter because he retweets other social media guru's blogs.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Resumes Resumes Resumes....
By: Stephanie Grebe
The first event is called "Keeping Your Resume Out of the Circular File aka Trash Can," by Lisa Lambert-Snodgrass, Career Development Director. This will break down resume building from the beginning and walk you through the best way to showcase your experience.
If you already have a good start on your resume, you can take it to our Resume Review, where the CCO will be helping students tweak some of the details on their resumes.
These events are both in PMU 118 on Monday, February 21st. Don't let the thesaurus ruin your resume! Visit cla.purdue.edu/LACW for the full schedule of events and to register!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Win an iPad while landing a job? Sign me up!
By: Stephanie Grebe
Liberal Arts Career Week is quickly approaching, and the Career Development interns have been hard at work to award you for your professional development!
We have some incredible prizes that are sponsored by local businesses that any student who attends 5 of our 18 events will have the opportunity to win!
Boiler Cribs has been generous enough to provide us with our grand prize, an iPad! Working with Marc from Boiler Cribs has been such a blast. He is so enthusiastic about Career Week and the opportunities available for CLA students. We are so excited to be working with them. Check out Boiler Cribs to see their fantastic housing options near Purdue’s campus!
Hungry Boiler has also been an incredible supporter of Liberal Arts Career Week. Not only are they sponsoring the two receptions for our guest speakers, Yvonne Williams and Kyle Lacy, but they are also sponsoring the week! You can come meet Nick from Hungry Boiler at our Speed Interview Boot Camp AND check out their booth at The Professional Forum. While you are working to get your resume in tiptop shape for Career Week, make sure you check out hungryboiler.com and order some brain food!
Hot Box Pizza is providing two grand prizes of FREE breadsticks for a year! They have also donated several pizza vouchers and will be sponsoring our Get Linked In Event! Make sure to swing by the BRNG Lobby on February 23rd to meet the Hot Box team and thank them for supporting Liberal Arts!
Marco’s Pizza has donated another fabulous grand prize. Listen to this: FREE pizzas for an entire year! One lucky student will walk away with 24 pizzas. We are so impressed with Marco’s and hope everyone checks out their webpage (it makes me hungry just looking at it!)
Our final grand prize is a suit and personal shopping session provided by JC Penney! This grand prize allows you to pick out the perfect suit for your interviews with the help of the West Lafayette JC Penney team! What a fantastic supporter!
Along with these grand prizes, students have an opportunity to win gift cards from Arby’s, Boiler Market, Bruno’s, Hot Box, Wabash Landing Movie Theater, AJ’s, All Fired Up, and Marco’s.
So get your business suit and resumes ready, because the Career Development team is ready to reward your professional success!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Snowmageddon 2011!
By: Stephanie Grebe
This week, our team had a very interesting obstacle, SNOW! 
The blizzard truly shut down the Purdue community for 2 entire days. Campus was closed, power went out, and our team had trouble staying connected. This was a very interesting dilemma, because the LACD team is always in constant contact with one another. We are also preparing for a HUGE event in 3 weeks, Liberal Arts Career Week that consists of over 18 events and 2 nationally acclaimed guest speakers. We need all the time we can get!
It made me realize that while the team dynamic is so important in a work environment, it is also crucial to be independent and self-motivated. Sometimes disasters happen; there are sicknesses, vacations, weather, and other unforeseen circumstances that can compromise a team's communication and success.
My lesson of the week is to be able to pick up the pieces individually in an emergency. We learned that as a team we need to communicate enough that if a member had to leave, we could continue with our progress. During the snow storm, our interns were able to individually continue with their work, and used their discretion to problem solve.
As a whole, I was proud of what we were able to accomplish individually. Though it definitely affected our work, it did not destroy our progress. Being able to critically examine a situation and not let an emergency stop work is key. The LACD team survived Snowmageddon 2011.
(nothing can stop our fearless director Lisa from getting to the office)
Friday, January 28, 2011
If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be and why?
By Stephanie Grebe:
I was at a group interview for an internship a few years ago when we were asked a bizarre question: If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? The faces of the candidates went blank and we looked at one another completely stumped. Why would an employer care about how we identify ourselves as kitchen equipment?
Questions like this have come up more than once in my interview experiences: if you could be any animal, what would you be and why? What talk show host are you most similar to? What would you do for a Klondike bar?
While these questions initially seem silly and irrelevant, their purpose is to show personality, creativity, and lighten the mood. You only have a few minutes to really win over an employer, so it is crucial that you utilize these moments, including the personality questions. The fact of the matter is, they really aren't interested in what utensil you say. They want to hear the rational you use to support it. This is not just a chance to be funny or cute, this is a change to display your strengths!
Example: I would say that I'm a spork. I have always been incredibly versatile and can adapt to different situations, and with a spork, you can use it as both a spoon AND a fork!
Example: I would be a measuring cup. I am always very precise with my work and make sure I am always reliable. A measuring cup is consistent and dependable.
Example: I would be a blender. I really love mixing things up and trying new things. I am never afraid to jump right in and love being adventurous.
Whatever you do, don't just answer the question. Draw upon your professional experiences and qualities to support whatever answers you give. Just saying "I'd be a spatula," isn't going to cut it.
What not to say: A young man that was interviewing with me responded with "I'd be a knife, because I'm cut throat." Needless to say, he did not get the job.
I was at a group interview for an internship a few years ago when we were asked a bizarre question: If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? The faces of the candidates went blank and we looked at one another completely stumped. Why would an employer care about how we identify ourselves as kitchen equipment?
Questions like this have come up more than once in my interview experiences: if you could be any animal, what would you be and why? What talk show host are you most similar to? What would you do for a Klondike bar?
While these questions initially seem silly and irrelevant, their purpose is to show personality, creativity, and lighten the mood. You only have a few minutes to really win over an employer, so it is crucial that you utilize these moments, including the personality questions. The fact of the matter is, they really aren't interested in what utensil you say. They want to hear the rational you use to support it. This is not just a chance to be funny or cute, this is a change to display your strengths!
Example: I would say that I'm a spork. I have always been incredibly versatile and can adapt to different situations, and with a spork, you can use it as both a spoon AND a fork!
Example: I would be a measuring cup. I am always very precise with my work and make sure I am always reliable. A measuring cup is consistent and dependable.
Example: I would be a blender. I really love mixing things up and trying new things. I am never afraid to jump right in and love being adventurous.
Whatever you do, don't just answer the question. Draw upon your professional experiences and qualities to support whatever answers you give. Just saying "I'd be a spatula," isn't going to cut it.
What not to say: A young man that was interviewing with me responded with "I'd be a knife, because I'm cut throat." Needless to say, he did not get the job.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
What do I type into Monster.com?!?
By Stephanie Grebe
A Liberal Arts major has a strong competitive advantage in today’s economy. We are jacks-of-all-trades with skills that can be applied to a variety of career paths. While our majors do not directly translate into careers, we have a broad education that exposes us to language, communication, history, culture, diversity, math, and science. The versatility of this education allows us to be adaptable and experienced in as a professional, instead of specializing in one particular field.
While this is a powerful benefit, I have found this freedom and versatility can be incredibly frustrating when it comes to searching for a job. I cannot type “communication” into a search box at monster.com. I cannot type “political science” or “English” the way an engineer can just enter their major. Where do I focus?
What I have found is that, while a Liberal Arts major does not always translate directly into a career, it helps us develop a wide range of transferable skills that are applicable to a variety of careers. So when searching for positions, I personally can search for “Public Relations and advertising and event planning and external relations and social media and global and international…” The list of my passions and experiences are endless, making me qualify for a variety of positions.
Liberal Artists must really focus on their strengths and passions, but also be willing to embrace their broad education. Don’t be afraid to highlight what makes you unique and use a Liberal Arts degree to your fullest advantage.
A Liberal Arts major has a strong competitive advantage in today’s economy. We are jacks-of-all-trades with skills that can be applied to a variety of career paths. While our majors do not directly translate into careers, we have a broad education that exposes us to language, communication, history, culture, diversity, math, and science. The versatility of this education allows us to be adaptable and experienced in as a professional, instead of specializing in one particular field.
While this is a powerful benefit, I have found this freedom and versatility can be incredibly frustrating when it comes to searching for a job. I cannot type “communication” into a search box at monster.com. I cannot type “political science” or “English” the way an engineer can just enter their major. Where do I focus?
What I have found is that, while a Liberal Arts major does not always translate directly into a career, it helps us develop a wide range of transferable skills that are applicable to a variety of careers. So when searching for positions, I personally can search for “Public Relations and advertising and event planning and external relations and social media and global and international…” The list of my passions and experiences are endless, making me qualify for a variety of positions.
Liberal Artists must really focus on their strengths and passions, but also be willing to embrace their broad education. Don’t be afraid to highlight what makes you unique and use a Liberal Arts degree to your fullest advantage.
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