Monday, October 31, 2011

They SAY we're too young.

Some use the excuse, “I’m too young, they’ll never hire me!”, so much that they actually believe it. University of San Francisco’s Davina Adjani, has encountered ageism and challenged it every time. Miss Adjani began interning in  high school with her start at Autodesk Inc. back in 2006. Since then, she has managed to intern at (to name just a few) CBS Radio, Energy 92.7, and Ryan Seacrest Productions in her years here at USF.
These days, Davina is not interning because she landed a job this past year (with an actual office and door with her name on it, might I add) as the Online Content Coordinator at Clear Channel Radio in San Francisco, California. Luckily, this full time student and employee was able to clear some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for me.
***
Name: Davina Adjani  
Age: 21  
Major: English  
Minor: Media Studies Date of Graduation: May 2012 Position at Company: Online Content Coordinator
Favorite dessert:  Vanilla ice cream with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt- sounds peculiar I know, but it’s actually QUITE amazing!

How does your age affect your work environment?  I wish I could lie and say that I’ve never encountered people in the industry, who haven’t based my experience off my age but I have- it is inevitable. However I’ve learned that I am the one who is in charge of how much my age will affect me at work- no one else. My advice is to never say “I am only (insert number) years old”, at work as an excuse or reason for anything- you are not your age- you are your experience and you are your intentions.

What is Clear Channel Radio? Clear Channel Communications, Inc, is an American media company that serves 150 cities through their 850 radio stations. We recently just launched iHeartRadio which is a social media networking application in which people can listen to some of their favorite local and world renowned artists. We also had the iHeartRadio Music Festival back in September hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Elvis Duran, which included many artists such as Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj.
 
How has interning influenced your career path?  I have dealt with many different types of environments, bosses, and have encountered different types of situations.  Some of these situations have been fun and yes I admit it, some have been very uncomfortable! However each internship has helped me figure out what I truly want career-wise and as corny as it sounds, in life. I also have met some of the most amazing and life changing people during each of my internships and for that, I am forever grateful.

Future Goals?  I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea! What I truly believe is that you are your intentions as long as you work hard and show commitment, fate will bring you the opportunity your experience has prepared you for, at the right time. What I have learned is despite what I plan; fate seems to always upstage me! So I’m just enjoying the ride.  

Advice?  My boss at Ryan Seacrest Productions, Tony Novia who is Ryan’s right hand man and who really looked out for me while I was in LA always used to say to me, “You know what Big Dee, persistence wears down resistance,” and I have found that to be very true! However if there is one thing I can really emphasize is don’t waste too much time knocking at a locked door, for you may be missing the 10 other doors that are opening right behind you. * 

It’s never too late to update that resume and get experience in the field you want to enter or simply want to explore! Snag an internship, get a job, and let us help!

--Victoria

Keep Up With the CSC!
Twitter: @USFcareer
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http://www.usfca.edu/csc/



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

BEST FRESHMAN RESUME


Hey Freshman – do you want prizes, everlasting fame in the Career Services Center, and the glory of being a winner? Of course you do. But how?!

The answer is easy: participate in our 2nd annual Freshmen Resume Writing Contest. The top three entries get prizes listed below and the first place winner will also get their resume proudly displayed in our updated Resource Guide utilized by students past and present. 

When: The competition takes place from October 20th – November 20th; Winners will be announced December 1st.

How: Submit your best resume to careerplanningpeer@usfca.edu by midnight on the deadline day (11/20/11) to enter.


Requirements: You must be a current Freshman. A minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 drop-ins with our office are allowed to work on your resume formatting and content. Drop-ins happen every weekday from 11am-2pm. You must mention in the drop-in you are submitting to the contest to be eligible.

Prizes:  1st - Amazon Kindle e-book reader and resume featured in our new Resource Guide 

             2nd - iHome speaker system with built-in subwoofer 
             3rd - USF leather portfolio 

Easy, right? Right. So what are you waiting for?

Monday, October 17, 2011

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY & GRADUATE SCHOOL ESSAY WORKSHOP

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY-WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 5-6:30 pm, FROMM HALL, MAIER ROOM

A panel of 4 Psychology professionals discuss their educations and careers.

Questions include: What type of degree did you pursue and why? What's the difference between a PhD and PsyD? What are the pros and cons of having a private practice vs. working at a non-profit or educational institution?

GRADUATE SCHOOL ESSAY WORKSHOP, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th, 5-6:00 pm, FROMM HALL, MAIER ROOM

Want to write a winning personal statement but are unsure of where to begin? Not sure how to tell your story of why you are applying to grad school? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, then come to this workshop to gets tips and tricks on how to write a personal statement that will get noticed and remembered!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Your Major!

Hi Guys

I just noticed that Spring 2012 classes are up and ready to view. So do you know what classes you're going to take?

Picking classes is normally a difficult and long process by itself, but if you are having trouble and start asking yourself questions like, "Is this major right for me?" it makes it about a thousand times harder. There can be a lot of different questions that make it difficult when picking classes. For example, questions like, is this something I see myself doing after I graduate? Is my major worth the investment? Is this going to make me happy or rich? Is this what I want to do or is this what my parents want me to do? or even a question like, will I like the job opportunities that are related to my major and what are my options? These questions not only make it a thousand times harder but you probably want them answered sooner than later.

If you are in the same or similar situation do not worry, a lot of other college students are unsure and in similar situations. But you're going to have to do something about it if you want these questions to be answered. The first thing would be to do some research, go on to our website USF CAREER SERVICE CENTER WEBSITE . If you still need more help come into our office on the UC 5th floor to get some guidance and answers. You can call us to set up an appointment with a counselor at 415-422-6216. We also offer assessments that could help you better understand yourself making it easier to figure out your next steps in the journey of life.

Here is also an interesting article about majors, what you can do with them after you graduate and 5 degrees worth your investment. Take a look!
YAHOO ARTICLE

Don't be shy, come visit us, we would love to be part of your journey!

Aloha- Nate

GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREER FAIR

Do you know your career plans after you graduate? Perhaps you are thinking of going to Graduate School or looking for a job? Attend the Graduate School and Career Fair and get connected to Graduate School Programs across the nation and meet Employers looking to hire USF grads!  There will be over 80 Graduate School programs in attendance including UC Hastings Law School, Columbia University School of Journalism, UCSF School of Pharmacy, Boston College and many more.  Apple Retail, Target, and Oracle are just a few of the 30+ Employers that will be present. The fair will take place on Tuesday, October 18th from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Gleeson Plaza. In case of rain, please proceed to the McLaren Complex.  Bring your questions, and if you are looking for a job, don't forget your clean and polished resumes!

Graduate School & Career Fair

Attention Students:

The Graduate School & Career Fair will be taking place next week!  If you are thinking of going to Graduate School or looking for a job, attend the Graduate School and Career Fair and get connected to Graduate School Programs across the nation and meet Employers looking to hire USF grads!  There will be over 80 Graduate School programs in attendance including UC Hastings Law School, Columbia University School of Journalism, UCSF School of Pharmacy, Boston College and many more.  Apple Retail, Target, and Oracle are just a few of the 30+ Employers that will be present.  Bring your questions, and if you are looking for a job, don't forget your clean and polished resumes!

Stop by the Career Services Center to get your resume checked BEFORE the Fair!  Stop by UC 5th Floor 11am-2pm for Drop-In Counseling or call 415-422-6216 to make an appointment.

Details for the Graduate School & Career Fair:
Date: Tuesday, 10/18/11
Time: 11:00AM-2:00PM
Location: Gleeson Plaza (in case of rain proceed to McLaren)

University of San Francisco
Career Services Center
2130 Fulton Street, UC 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94117
www.usfca.edu/career
415-422-6216

Monday, October 10, 2011

Interviewing Questions


Hi Guys,

I know "On Campus Interviews" have begun and everyone is trying to prepare but I wanted to share an article I just read on Yahoo YAHOO ARTICLE This article could possibly help you out and give you insight on some questions you might be asked during an interview. The article title is "10 Companies with the Toughest Interview Questions" and it talks about what companies are known for their extremely hard questions.

For example at Red Ventures they ask their interviewees questions like "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" or even "Tell me a joke."  There are also companies like Bain that ask questions like "What is the revenue of an inner city Sydney gym?" for an associate consultant position. Its a really interesting article that takes interviewing to a new level so take a look! If you need any help with interview preparation or just want to talk about interviewing, you know where to come the CAREER SERVICE CENTER on the UC 5th floor for drop in hours 11am - 2pm Monday through Friday. Also check out the new tab on your USF Connect account called “My Career Plan” for some interesting internships and hot jobs!!

Aloha,

Nate

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Success!

       Happy October!   
Have you met USF Alumna, Sarah Hirsch? Well, you should know her. Ms. Hirsch is an alumn very near and dear to our hearts here at the Career Services Center (CSC). She worked all of her four years at the CSC (2007-2011) and even helped to start and oversee the CPP (Career Planning Peer) program until she graduated last May. So, if you ever stopped by drop-in hours, you may have had the honor of getting your resume/cover letter checked or received sage interview advice from her.
        Although I knew Sarah for only a semester, it was clear that she was going to use all of her acquired CSC skills to land a job after graduation. Today, she works at a rising tech company, Square. The company was co-founded by the co-creator of Twitter (Jack Dorsey), and  has the former Executive Vice President of Paypal (Keith Rabois) as their COO; not to mention Larry Summers and other advisors on their Board of Directors.  A few months ago Square received another million dollars in funding, and have been mentioned in numerous news outlets (The New York Times, Forbes, The Washington Post to name a few). To check out more about Square take a look at the press page on their website.
       Apparently, this company is a pretty big deal. Sarah was oh so kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few lingering questions I had about what she's been up to, post-grad: 
_______________________
Name: Sarah A. Hirsch
Age: 21 
Degree: B.A. Communication Studies, Emphasis on Interpersonal Communication, Minors: Gender and Sexuality Studies; Child and Youth Studies
Super Power of Choice: flying or mind control

What is Square? Square is an incredible startup company in San Francisco that, in essence, allows anyone to be able to take a credit card payment on their mobile iOS or Android device. The application and card reader are free (just download the app from the app store, create an account and a reader is sent to you) and the only fees involved are a 2.75% transaction fee per swipe. Refreshingly simple. What this means is that those who historically could not accept credit cards due to the complication and cost (babysitters, farmers market vendors, caterers, food trucks, small business owners) are now given a platform to compete with the big guys. The goal of our company is to put people in business. Personally? I've used it when out to dinner with friends – a large bill comes and someone "didn't bring cash"? That's fine, just pay me with your credit card instead!

Will you please tell me a little bit about what you do? I'm an office admin at Square, Inc., which honestly means I do a little bit of everything. I coordinate office supplies, I help plan and execute office events. I communicate with caterers and food vendors, I create mailing slips and field questions on packages, I communicate with the building manager on facilities issues, I write fun office-wide emails about security and policy, I setup for our weekly all-hands meetings, I help manage our reception desk... I'm even working on creating a twice-weekly in-house smoothie bar (which means sourcing fruit, researching and buying the best blenders, creating a menu, etc.) I'm a project organizer/event coordinator/facilities manager/copy writer/help desk. The fun part about being an office admin in a tech start-up is that we've got an incredible amount of freedom – tech start-ups in particular strive to make their offices fun and exciting places to be, and we're the people who are tasked with making that happen.

Greatest thing you've learned while being out in the "real world"?
What you majored in during college means surprisingly little – in fact, it's fascinating how just a few months out your entire college experience just becomes a small "blip" in your overall history and life story. The things you've done and the people you know become far more important.

How did you get end up getting a job at Square?
Networking! Several people in my friend circles were employees at Square, and the timing for my need of a job and Square's need of a new admin assistant synced up perfectly.

What’s the best way to network? Be truly interested in other people and their stories; never stop asking questions. Be positive and engaging. Don't underestimate your social circle or your family circle – there's often possibilities there you would never expect. Maintain your connections via LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help and put your job search out there. Informational interviews x10.

What do you wish you would have known while studying at USF? With the exception of a few professions, don't get so caught up in having the perfect grades and picking the "right" major. Choose classes that fascinate you, join clubs and really participate in other campus activities, volunteer A TON, and try having a part time job or two. Really experiment more with jobs and internships. Start a project that's interesting to you – photography, writing, programming, guitar, whatever. Have fun. Cook more. Read (for pleasure) more. Be nice to others, and maintain friendships you have.

Lastly, where would you like to work for the rest of your life (or industry, basically where do you want to end up?) I used to know the answer to this. Two months out of school, everything has changed. Check back with me a few months down the road and see.
_______________________

You never know what's ahead of you! See what’s out there, and let us help.
--Victoria

::: Keep up with the CSC! ::: Follow us on Twitter, @USFcareer ::: Friend us on Facebook, USF Career Services :::
Rosie
rosie

Rosie is an outgoing Junior Psychology major who has worked in the office since her Freshman year. She wears multiple hats including president of her sorority Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. and Vice President of Internal Affairs for Greek Council. As a very involved student leader she is a great resource for all things USF
Nathan
rosie

Nathan hails from the tropical state of Hawaii. When he is not in his business suit for his business classes, he is just "chilling" and bringing the Aloha Spirit to the office. He has worked for the Career Services Center for three years and has extensive experience with other internships including his most upcoming internship with Bank of Hawaii in summer 2012