Who do you want to be?

This past week I attended a 6 day long leadership institute in Los Angeles hosted by the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) Conference. Needless to say, I learned A LOT, and as cheesy as it sounds, it changed my life. :)

One of the things that continues to resonate with me (maybe because it is imprinted on the back of the shirt we got...) is a very simple and yet complex question, "Who do you want to be?"

Prior to this institute, you asked me this question and I would quickly reply with a long confusing roundabout answer of where I've always pictured myself career-wise and why but how that's changing and now I don't know... -_-

But as we began the discussion of deciphering the question I realized there was more to this question than the simple WHO you want to be and answering with a possible career choice. The concept of integrity and being true to our core values continued to emerge time and time again. (Integrity we then defined as when your values, thoughts and behaviors are in alignment. The topic of values is another complex conversation we will leave for another blog post...) By the end of the conversation and with the clearer concept of what the question was actually asking we all discovered who we wanted to be as individuals and how we wanted to be remembered: as people and leaders who lived out our values in everything we did, living with integrity in our leadership positions, future careers, with friends and family, etc.

Reflecting on this question more I thought it appropriate as career advice and wanted to share with you guys because we often get caught up on on being who someone else wants us to be or living out someone else's values.

I challenge each one of you to decipher this question for yourself taking into consideration what your core values are and how you can represent them with integrity. This will also help you whether you are still questioning your career choice, considering a change in career or simply need a morale/energy boost in the career you've had for years now.

Don't be afraid to think about it... ;)

~Rosie

Summer Internships!

Hey guys!

Are you looking for something to do over the summer? Are you looking for a summer job or even better a internship to gain some experience? Well its that time of the year again when many companies are looking to hire summer interns. CHECK OUT DONSCAREER for postings of internships in the bay area and also come into see us during drop-ins so we can check out your resume and cover letters.

We also have a workshop to help students find internships:

Last Chance for Internships Workshop

When: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Where: Fromm Hall, Maier Room

Description:

Learn how to get an internship and why you should have one.

• The Best Internship Resources
• Paid vs. Unpaid Internships
• How much should you be paid for an internship?
• Get a full time job from your internship
• We will announce fresh, never before seen internships during the presentation!

So get your internship on this summer! There are a lot of opportunities out there.

Aloha,
Nate

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

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

Summer!!!

Aloha Everyone,

Welcome back to school! I hope everyone is looking forward to the new school year! Time to seems to be flying, I can't believe I am a junior already. So how was everyone's summer? Well I just wanted to give you all a heads up on how my summer went.
This summer I went to New York/New Jersey and interned at Northeast Private Client Group in May and June. They are a smaller private advising company, with higher end clients compared to bigger companies like Fidelity and Northwestern Mutual. It was a great learning experience and I gained so much from the people there. I attended appointments and meetings with the president and a few of the directors. I also put together financial portfolios and serviced the clients needs. During my last days at the company I was offered a job with the company upon graduation. They stated that I would work in New York for a few months to a year than move to Hawaii to create a new client base.
Many internships turn into jobs so I would suggest putting your best foot forward at all times, because you never know what could happen. I also would recommend if you're ever given the opportunity to take a job in New York, to take it. It is an extrodinary experience and a world on its own. So break out of your comfort zone and try something new, something different and grow. Not to mention it would be something great to put on your resume.
After interning with Northeast Private Client Group I came back home to Hawaii in June and interned at the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau(HVCB), under the Hawaii Tourism Authority for the rest of the summer. It was also another great experience meeting people in Tourism and working in Waikiki. At HVCB I got to work on a few projects dealing with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) that is coming in November and a new project that I created which was a green meeting planners guide for Hawaii coming out next quarter.
On weekends or when I had free time I would spend time with family and friends eating at all the local spots or going to the beach. It was an amazing summer and I gained so much experience and a better perspective of the world. So get out there and look for those internships and if you need any help come into our office in the UC building 5th floor for some advising.

I hope everyone had a great, fun filled summer!

Aloha,

Nate

What do you want to talk about every day?

Hello!

The semester is coming to an end and summer is near. Did you truly enjoy your classes to the fullest this last year? Is your chosen major what YOU want? A simple way to find out is by asking yourself, "is this what I really want to talk about every day for the rest of my life?" If your answer is yes, you're on a great path to your future and kudos to you! If the answer is no, you are not alone!

It is hard enough to decide what you will do for the rest of your life before you even get a chance to explore and it's even harder to pick when you're only 18 years old fresh out of high school. An important thing to remember as well is that 'nothing is forever'. Even if you did declare a major on admission but you are realizing it is not what you expected for whatever reasons, it is ok to change. Don't be afraid of change and know that you have support every step of the way!

If you find yourself pondering the idea more and more, I suggest to give yourself some time to do some reflecting and soul searching. There are many resources out there that can help you in your journey of discerning your future and the Career Services Center is definitely one of them. Our career counselors would be more than happy to have a conversation with you and aide you in your process.

Be curious with your options!

Rosie

GRAD SCHOOL???

Are you thinking about going to grad school? Do you think it’s right for you? Is it needed for you to reach your ultimate goal? Need a game plan? Come into the Career Services Center on the UC 5th Floor if you answered yes or even hesitated to answer one of these questions. We have things that will help you in the tough process of grad school from exploring, to planning, to the application and more. Grad school is both important and expensive, not to mention a huge decision. If you are having trouble laying out your options or making a life changing decision come to meet with a counselor that will help you determine what might best fit you as an individual. Our office also provides handouts and online resources about the test process and different grad schools. You can also check out the Career Service Center Graduate School Link  for addition information or to start your grad school process. Don't hesitate, were only an appointment away! So Drop in and ask for some help. We welcome every student with open arms!

-Aloha Nate

THANK YOU LETTERS!!!

Thank you letters! How important do you think they are? To be honest, they are extremely important and believe it or not most people never think of writing a thank you letter after an interview. There are a couple of reasons why they are so important. First, it is a great way to show gratitude and thank the employer/recruiter for taking the time out of his or her day to meet with you. Second, which is the most important reason, is a thank you letter puts your name and face back into their minds when they are trying to make a decision on who to choose for the vacant position. Third, it shows you want the job while giving you a last chance to say a few things that you might not have mentioned in the interview. Lastly, if the position comes down to two people that have the same qualifications and one wrote a thank you letter and the other did not, most times than none the applicant with the thank you letter will receive the job.  

When writing a thank you letter you want to write it as soon as possible after your interview. It might also be smart to send them a thank you email as well the day after the interview just in case your letter gets lost. In the thank you letter you want to include when your interview was, what you talked about, something you never mentioned, and that you are still interested in the position. 

After thinking about what you need in your thank you letter, the question now becomes should I hand write it or type it. This is a very controversial issue. It honestly depends on the employer and what they like. I personally will always send hand written thank you cards because it is more personal and that’s who I want them to remember me by. For me the hand written thank you letter has helped me numerous of times in getting jobs and internships because the employer liked how personal I made them. But on the other hand some people like the professional thank you letter, typed and printed on resume paper. So when it comes down to it, it is ultimately up to you unless you are in KO's Hospitality class where it is required to type your professional thank you letters for the class. So ultimately decide depending on the situation you are in and no matter what you choose your thoughts and considerations in writing the thank you letter is more than enough! If you need some help writing them or want us to look over your thank you letters bring them in to drop in hours Monday-Friday 11am-2pm located on the 5th floor! 

Aloha- Nate

ELEVATOR PITCH!!!

Have you ever wanted to approach someone and talk to them at a career fair, group networking event, or even at a random venue like an elevator but did not know what to say? Or even what to do? Do not worry you're not the only one; this is one of the toughest things to do. Everyone has some kind of problem when they are trying to pull words out of thin air, while feeling comfortable when introducing and talking to their ideal employer or business partner. The perfect way to solve this problem is to create an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is normally a 15 to 30 second speech or pitch of who you are, what you do, why you're the best, and your call to action. This short summary speech of who you are will help break the ice and start communication in the lines of a possible job opportunity or future business endeavors.

The elevator pitch got its name because individuals who were seeking a job or future business endeavors would try and get into an elevator with a executive. In doing so they had a opportunity to talk to the executive from the first floor to the ideal top floor with no interruptions and no possible way for the executive to get out of the conversation. The elevator pitch can be used whenever you are meeting anyone but was ideally to get your foot in the door and land yourself a job. It is a great way to introduce yourself and give a summary of who you are. So if want to create one but do not know where to begin, this website will help. It is a basic template where you answer questions and it formats your elevator pitch for you. Website: http://www.15secondpitch.com/new/index.asp But it is essential to be prepared before attending an event and you should practice your elevator pitch now because you never know when it might become useful. So if you need any help creating your specialized elevator pitch, come into our office on the UC 5th floor during drop in hours which are 11am to 2pm Monday through Friday. Your elevator pitch could possibly land you a job that you could never imagine! 

Aloha- Nate

BSN or MSN ??

Hello!

I think we can all agree that spring break came and went too fast!! Can you believe there are only a few weeks left until the end of the school year?! Many of you will be graduating this May with a Bachelor's degree in your major while some of you are still considering continuing your education for a Masters degree or even Doctorate. Power to you! As a nursing student, I have a few friends who are 100% determined to earn their Masters in the Science of Nursing (MSN), and I have also encountered those who ask me what the advantages of an MSN are and the difference between a BSN and MSN. There are a few main points to consider when making the decision of what degree to pursue. First and foremost, recruiters have stated that having an MSN does not give you any advantage in a hiring pool of RNs with only a BSN. The only thing recruiters do say is that an MSN gives you more room for career advancement once you are hired to work in a hospital, but does not necessarily mean you will be hired in a higher position right off the bat. As far as pay rate goes, there is also not much more significance for someone who has their MSN over someone who has their BSN since they are all considered equally in the same pool.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue a higher degree should come from the desire to pursue a higher education and be more knowledgeable in your field of study. Doing more research on your own before making the final decision is always helpful as well. Also remember that you are highly encouraged to discuss your plans with a career counselor in our office. Good luck to you all in whatever you decide to pursue in life! 

Rosie Ceja

Major Blues

We’ve been getting a ton of students coming in who want to change their majors. They say stuff along the lines of, “Well my parents think I should do this, but I don’t know what I want to do…” Or, “I want to be an artist, but how will I make any money?”

Here’s the skinny guys- not only do you need to talk to us, but you can utilize all of the awesome resources we offer. Did you know we have a website? It’s chock full of amazing information, like a handout for EVERY major on campus, detailing what you can do with you, what industries you can go into, what additional skills they require, etc. And not that we advocate choosing a career path solely based on salary, but we suggest that you also check out our resources on salary information.

One general thing you can be doing is actively keeping your eyes and ears open too. What does that mean? It means taking some classes that don’t have anything to do with your major that peak your interest- if you’re a bio major and have always been interested in policy advocacy, consider taking a politics class for instance. Talk to professors from your and other various departments about the things that interest you and form a rapport with them. If they know you and your interests, they’re that much more likely to look out for you if they see something of interest. You also don’t need to limit your networking with professors or people you know on campus. You can set up informational interviews with companies or organizations that you think are awesome, and that might help you narrow down what majors your interested in.

Have a great weekend,
Seghel