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Showing posts with label graduation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graduation. Show all posts

press forward.

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Over the past week or so, I've been discussing the transition from college to the real world with several current and past students from my alma mater. One of my friends expressed anxiety as she approaches the transition. Another friend expressed how difficult it was for her post graduation to move on and began working. My boo's parent expressed how difficult it is for recent graduates who are expected to pay their student loans on entry level salaries.  As I had these conversations I knew I had to write about how I personally transitioned from class to corporate. 


The beginning of spring semester I was absolutely terrified of graduation. I was under the impression that I would have an internship in philadelphia for the summer for the beginning half of the semester and then I discovered the internship was given to someone else. I was devastated. I drove my friends crazy trying to put together every little piece of my future. I had to have a plan. 

I must of applied for 20 jobs or more pre-graduation and went on 3 interviews that were all unsuccessful. Other seniors I knew began to get offers who had less experience then I did and I got really discouraged. Graduation quickly approached and I prepared to move out of my apartment and back into my parents' house. I had built an entire life in Reading, PA that I had to give up and move back to a place that I had nothing established in. I didn't have a job, car, friends, or money saved at home. 

Graduation was the best day of my life. As I looked out at all my families from SGA to my sisters in Alpha Delta Pi. I felt so loved by everyone in the crowd. It was amazing to see everyone who was instrumental in my success. As I walked across the stage that day, I smiled at my family and I knew that I had picked the perfect place for my undergraduate education. I couldn't of asked for a better experience. 

Life took an unexpected turn when I had to be admitted to the hospital for a routine procedure gone wrong. To make things worse I entered the hospital on my birthday. I was so discouraged, but my spirits were raised when I got a phone call for my first job interview. Little did I know that this would be one of many interviews, all would leave me disappointed and unemployed. I finally started working for a local hospital in food service based on my past managerial experience. I was so happy to be employed, but hated being in food. After three months of being employed part time at the hospital, I prepared for
my student loans by searching for a second job. Instead of a second position, I found a job as a marketing assistant around the corner from my current job. How ironic? I'm in love with my job now and have gained so much experience. My company is small which allows me to learn many different skills and act in different  positions. 

I'm now seeking a second job to pay for my crazy loan bills and save money. At the end of the day, I can't complain. I am blessed. I know many people who are still working retail or haven't been able to find a position making enough money to afford their loans. Even though it's difficult, my problems are solvable with hard work and discipline. I'm telling you this because post graduate life can be discouraging at first. Applying to jobs and getting turnt down or not finding a positioning your field can be hard to handle. You may feel like giving up. You may reminisce and want to go back to your college days.

Don't look back. Press ahead. 
The biggest mistake you can make is thinking that what's behind you is better than what's ahead. College was a building block to opportunities. These opportunities wouldn't have been available to you without your degree. Know that those four years weren't in vain and whatever you're doing now  is a building block to bigger and better things. It's okay to be broke in your twenty's because you're establishing yourself. My biggest advice to bony graduates and further graduates is: 

1) getting a job is a job. You'll only get out of it what you put in it 
2) don't fret at small beginnings, they make big endings 
3) Work hard. Save your money. Don't forget to have fun. 
4) memories are okay. envy is not. 
Remember college, don't be envious of those who are still in college 
5) Grow. 
Even after six months you won't be the same person and that's okay. You're officially growing up. 
6) no matter what look towards the future and not at the past 

-amb 

interview 101: steps to prep

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i'm preparing for an interview tomorrow so, i've decided to share with all of you some important tips and tricks. we all want to be interview ready. preparation is key. if you don't prepare for an interview, you're not  serious about employment. searching for a job is a job and you much treat it as such.

STEPS TO PREP


  1. you are a salesperson. 

what are you selling? yourself. think of yourself as a product with benefits and drawbacks. the company is a consumer with wants and needs that you seek to fulfill. you want to highlight why they need you and why your product is better than the competitors. 

2. know your resume. 


you need to know everything about your product. thus, you should memorize your packaging. go over your resume until you know it front to back. they're going to ask you about things that you've listed so be prepared to answer without looking. 

3. rehearsal typical interview questions


there's some questions that they going to ask...guaranteed. prepare for it ahead of time. it will prevent you from going through an awkward moment of umms and silence. also, it will increase your confidence knowing that you already have half the interview memorized. good preparation is key to success. you'll feel better and do better if you prepare for what's coming. 

some typical questions include:
tell me about yourself
what are your strengths?
what are your weaknesses?
can you review your work history for us?
tell me about a time where you had to resolve a conflict
why do you want to work for our company?

here's an example of how to answer the question "tell me about yourself"

my name is alysha bellamy and i recently graduated with honors from albright college in may of this year. i graduated with a degree in business marketing. i always was curious about the role that marketing and advertising plays in convincing the consumer to go from interest in a product to purchasing a product. now i recognize that i would like to pursue a career in advertising where i can help transfer a company's vision into the mind of the consumer. i believe my strong communication skills, leadership, and creativity will help me in this pursuit. 

4. know WHO and WITH WHOM you're interviewing


a) research the company before the interview. look at reviews of the company as well as their website for information and potential questions. they're going to ask you, as listed above, why you want to work for them. this step will help you answer that question. they most likely will also ask what you know about their company. gather as much information as possible so you can give a complete and full answer. if they've provided any company literature, read it prior to the interview. they may ask about it.

b) know the name of who you've spoken with and who you're interviewing with. nothing is more embarrassing then not knowing who you are interviewing with when getting to the office. furthermore, your custom cover letter should be addressed to this person

5. based on your research, have questions for the company


this interview is just as much about them getting to know you as you getting to know them. ask questions! as many as you can. make sure you have a understanding of what the job and company are about. asking questions shows that you're intrigued, listening, and seriously considering employment.

here's some good questions i like:

how will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? by whom?
can you explain what a day in the life of the position would be like?
what sets this company apart from its competitors?
when and why did you start working for this company?
is travel required for this position?

tricky business ---->> compensation questions
some say let the employer bring it, but i think that it is only fair for a potential employee to know the salary and compensation package for the job they're applying for. 
prepare for this conversation by researching online what this position typically makes. good resources are sites like glassdoor.com
base your expectation on these numbers factoring in your education and experience.
know what you're worth, but be realistic. consider the worth of the entire package aka your benefits and retirement not just your annual pay. 

6. check your online presence 


keep your online persona clean. moderate your twitter, facebook, instagram, vine..etc for inappropriate content. i don't care how private your page is or what fake name you put it under, they will search for you and find you. 

7. pack your bag properly

you'll need: multiple copies of resume and cover letter, a pen, a note pad, business cards(if you have them), porfolio( if you're in a creative industry), copies of recommendation letters or your degree if necessary, and the name of who you're interviewing with

8. get there EARLY 


15-20 minutes early is excellent. make sure to provide extra time for your commute, finding the office, and checking in. if there is any paperwork to fill out prior to interviewing, that may take time too. 

9. say thanks 


after the interview, mail or email a thank you to your interviewer. make sure you have some method of contact information to do so. it's a good practice and it shows you're respectful and appreciative of the interviewer's time. 
fun fact --> i got my thank you cards at staples for $3.99, they're fun colors that show off my personality and i handwrite them. 

10. follow up


don't leave the ball completely in their court. ask for a timeline for the consideration process then follow up. if it's been a week, its absolutely appropriate to call and inquire about your application's status. you are your own advocate. don't stalk the company, but don't go with the flow either. 
 

need more information?

i referenced a few things i read in passive panda's article about interview tips. it's an awesome read with tons of helpful tips and tricks. see it here

rock that interview! go in with confidence and own it. a successful interview is one part preparation and one part finesse. hope i helped with one portion. 

-amb 

midday encouragement

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Here's some encouragement I found last week that really lifted my spirits. I've been re-reading this day after day and its really empowering. Success is about persistence paired with positivity. What could you accomplish if failure wasn't an option? If you were truly focused on the prize? 

Think on that today!

-amb 

unemployment: making the most of your time.

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"things to do after graduating college" 


i typed this phrase into google several times. there are many lists of things to do after you graduate college. 
you can travel. you can work. you can apply to graduate school. you can start doing yoga. 
there were many suggestions. the lists, in my personal opinion, were either too real (THERE'S NO JOBS OUT HERE SO GET USED TO BEING BROKE) or too soft (become a hippie until you figure something out). 

i'll save you the trouble of sorting through the good, the bad, and the ugly. here's my very short list of things to do after college that i believe kill two birds with one stone. everything on this list will benefit you in your future career while giving you something to do for the moment. don't you love accomplishing multiple things at once? 

things to do after graduating college
  1. volunteer
benefits: 
  • valuable experience that i can now list on my resume.
  • keeps you busy and out of the house
  • a variety of experiences keeps you well rounded and thinking
  • may produce things you can use in your portfolio
i volunteer weekly at my mother's job. she works for a busy church office that can always use help. in total, i've accumulated three years of  office/administrative experience that i can now list on my resume. you can list skills and experience that you've gained from hobbies and/or volunteering. find a place where you can volunteer that is relevant to your future or that will help you acquire favorable skills. if you can't find anything relevant, volunteering is an excellent answer to the question "what have you been doing since graduating college?". 

2. network 

benefits: 
  • builds your social network 
  • collecting leads for potential employment 
  • building bonds in your local community 
approximately eighty percent of jobs aren't advertised consequently, you have to get out and learn about opportunities. networking is key to accomplish this. ask around to your peers, neighbors, family, and friends about opportunities or people they know that can lead you to opportunities. many sororities and fraternities have message boards where members exchange information. alumni associations for college also have forums. check out linkedin to connect with these organizations. keep your profile up-to-date. i've had several potential employers check my linkedin profile. join a club for professionals in your industry and attend events. be sure to bring business cards and copies of your resume! 

3. exercise or any personal improvement activity

this one may sound ridiculous to some, but it's important to take care of yourself and your health. number three is really any activity that will lead to your personal improvement. do things that will allow you to grow as a person whether that's fitness, learning to cook, taking a trip, or being social. 

when you do get a full-time position you won't have as much free time to do things that truly make you happy. identify those things now and pursue them so that when you do step fully into adult life, you are developed. personally, exercising and cooking relieve stress and place me in a positive mindset. i feel that when i get a full-time job i'll do these activities as my break from office life. 


overall:
 i think all post graduates should be realistic, yet positive. don't be discouraged if you don't get any bites at first. i received fourteen rejection letters before my first interview. as the days go by, stay positive. the job search is a process that requires you to put work in. you have to do your part. someone once told me that searching for a job is a job. it's all about the hours and effort you put in. hard work pays off.

 number four is try, try, and try again. keep reaching for your goal whether it be employment or graduate school. opportunities are on the horizon for those who are hungry. 

this is post grad life. 

-amb

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so you've graduated, congratulations!
now what?

three weeks ago, i asked myself the same exact question. in the weeks leading up to graduation i wasn't excited like my classmates. i was nervous. i was scared. what would i do now that my schedule wasn't made for me? i would no longer have the responsibilities of a college student, but rather the duties of working girl.

what does that even mean?

a lot of my friends were annoyed with my sometimes ridiculous desire to have my whole life mapped out before graduation. they called it unrealistic and said it was okay not to have everything figured out. funny thing is...they now are feeling the anxiety and uncertainty that i was feeling about the future. everyone wants a plan, something that they know is going to work out.

so, being the intellectual that i am, i decided let me research post graduate life. i kept thinking there has to be a resource for recent graduates. i didn't really find one. i found clothing blogs about what to wear to interviews. there were articles here and there listing advice for recent graduates however, there was not a single source that i found for the total package. after seeing dozens of hopeless, depressing statuses and tweets i decided to create a blog where i can share tips and tricks i have found. i'm going to document my journey while passing along any helpful information i find.

this is "from class to corporate: #postgradlife"

-amb