May 15 2013
Leave a comment
Business Student, Daily Life

A New Journey Begins: Life After College

Are you feeling the pressure of entering the real world? The class of 2013 will be entering one of the strongest job markets since the recession. This is big news for colleges, employers, and most of all…students. So, what happens next? Written by Juliet Rocco

images“What are you doing after graduation?”

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this, I’d be able to pay off the interest on my student loans. I’ve been taking five classes for the past three months, which has demanded more of my time than most people can imagine. This also means I haven’t had much time to apply to places and look around online for job opportunities.

It’s overwhelming with the amount of opportunities that there are for graduating marketing majors. A simple search on indeed.com with my zip code gave me more options than I could imagine. Sorting through everything is a task that needs more time and patience. I want to make sure I’m applying to places that I feel I qualify for and fit my own needs.

Everything’s gonna be alright: It’s perfectly alright to be a little selective and know that there are certain factors in the job search to filter your results. For me, half of the suggested jobs were either in sales or administrative fields. I am NOT an aspiring telemarketer, and I certainly will not be an administrative slave lost in paperwork and scheduling other people’s lives.

I’ve worked hard for four years and have had fantastic internships that have given me the skills and confidence necessary to land a rewarding full-time job. A motto that I like to follow is, “Never settle for less than you deserve”. I’ve used this motto for most of my life, and I’ve accomplished a lot by following it. I don’t consider myself an “entitled” Gen Y member of society, as many stereotype us to be. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am.

Know what you want: If it takes me a little longer to find a job I truly want, I am perfectly ok with that. There shouldn’t be any pressure of finding something right away just so you can quickly quiet your curious friends and relatives.

While my first job may not be perfect or ideal, I do want it to satisfy certain needs: a social work atmosphere, health benefits, decent commute, and challenging but rewarding work. These qualifications for my job search are personally important and realistic.

Current blog avatar
Tagged , , ,
Apr 17 2013
Leave a comment
Business Student, Daily Life, Student Life

Making the Most of Your College Experience

The fear of the unknown begins to set in once you realize you’re graduating high school and starting fresh in a completely new environment. Here’s my blunt advice on making the most out of your experience at college and appreciating it. Written by Juliet Rocco

imageYou’ve been accepted, now what? It can be scary to think about starting with a clean slate and being surrounded by thousands of people you don’t know. I moved 300 miles away and didn’t know a soul. It was also my reach school, so I knew classes would be more rigorous. Going away to college was one of the scariest, yet best life decisions I’ve made.

Here’s my honest advice for you:

Get involved: From the very start, I made sure I got involved in clubs on campus. Moving past my introverted personality was the biggest challenge because I had always been quiet in high school and never really voiced an opinion. Once I got to college, everything changed. I was living on a co-ed floor with over 60 other kids who were mostly business majors like myself. This made it incredibly easy for me to meet people and make friends.

Fraternities and sororities are also great for you if you like a structured group dynamic and are already very social. Intramural sports teams help you stay active in continuing to play the sport you love. Find a club, student group, sport or any other type of  group to get involved and meet lots of awesome people.

It’s OK to be homesick: The first three months was the longest period of time I was ever away from home and it was definitely an adjustment for both my parents and I, as well as my best friends back home. The great thing is everyone is connected through social media, Skype, and texting. Use it to keep in touch, but focus on making close friends freshman year so that you also have people to hang out with plus options of who you want to live with the following year.

You’re going to gain weight: Let me tell you something, gaining weight freshman year is no joke. I’ve been petite my entire life, but in just three weeks, I gained seven pounds! This was from all the carbo-loading cafeteria food and comforting myself with as much dessert as possible. Thankfully, I was able to shed the pounds off quickly once I realized those eating habits were not healthy.

Grades, GPA and classes: It’s not the end of the world if you get a bad grade or have to withdraw from a class in your first or second semester. Consider this year an adjustment period and the classes are probably going to require more effort than high school if you were not taking a lot of AP or honors classes. It’s important to stay on track and talk to your advisors if you feel like you’re falling behind and don’t feel confident in classes. There’s a lot of academic support available.

Changing your major is normal: In my case, I knew what I wanted to major in by senior year of high school and was very happy with my decision. A lot of other people switched within the first year or two though because they realized they weren’t happy. It’s better to change your major now, then push through school graduating with a degree you didn’t want and a job you hate. Think of it as protecting your happiness in the long-run.

Takeaway: College is a period of major growth and gaining independence. This is your crash course into adulthood. You’re 18 years old and have the rest of your life to figure out what you want to do. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, just work hard and have fun.

Current blog avatar

Tagged , , , , ,
Mar 20 2013
Leave a comment
Business Student, Careers

Using the Power of Networking to Land an Internship

If you’ve been applying to countless job applications online and your finger is about to break from hitting the ‘Send’ button one more time, you should read this. Find out how I landed my internships in unconventional ways. Written by Juliet Rocco

logos“What am I doing with my life?” By the end of April 2012, my success of landing a co-op proved fruitless. Even after filling out tons of job applications, sending out cover letters and going on a few interviews, I didn’t have a co-op lined up for the summer.

If I had any hope of graduating on time by May 2013, I would have to find a summer position.

Networking without realizing it: My big break came in early May. I received a phone call from Herb at Dale Carnegie Training to schedule an interview. He was recommended by my co-op advisor, Emily, who had my resume ready on file. Emily and I had met a couple of times and networked at a few events together. I was also in the RIT Student Ambassador program which worked closely with the Co-op & Career Services office. By forming that relationship early on, I was able to stand out as a good candidate for a job.

The second big break: Right before my call from Dale Carnegie Training, I had just interviewed with the New Jersey Devils for their internship program. This opportunity was something that happened by pure luck though.

Here’s the story: I decided to enter in the Devils’ Drop the Puck Playoff event back in April. To my surprise, I was one of the 100 out of over a thousand random entries selected. To be honest, I’m not sure why I entered in the first place, because I’ve been living in Rochester and there was no way I could make it down for a game (the Devil made me do it).

My parents went instead. My dad, being the extrovert he is, chatted it up with a guy who happened to be a marketing executive at the Devils. He got his business card and sent me the information. I emailed him within the next few weeks, expressing my interest in the internship, and attached my resume. He sent my information to HR, and I received a call within the next few days.

When it rains, it pours: My phone interview with the Devils went great! But Dale Carnegie offered me a paid position on the spot, which left me in shock initially. I didn’t know what to do. Did I wait to get the phone call back from the Devils and hopefully start during their playoff and Stanley Cup run? Or should I take the offer with Dale Carnegie because they needed an answer within a few days? This was one of the toughest decisions I had to make.

In the end, I chose to work with Dale Carnegie as their marketing coordinator and was blessed to get another interview opportunity with the Devils, leading up to my internship with the organization in the fall. I learned so much from both of these experiences and feel incredibly confident going into my next challenge.

Takeaway: The power of networking happens when you’re least expecting it sometimes. I learned that forming relationships with people and networking outside of your area of study broadens your reach. People are more likely to trust a candidate if they come from a reference that they have done work with previously or have a solid relationship with. Focus on networking, and not just becoming another name in the online application system.

Current blog avatar

Tagged , , ,
← Older posts
%d bloggers like this: