The Career Development Center Blog

May 23^rd is National Lucky Penny Day. We are sure you have heard the phrase “see a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.” Well, that is the theme of National Lucky Penny Day! Common activities include walking and looking for pennies, and researching the history of the Penny. Fundraising has a lot to do with luck –speaking to the right people at the right time –but there is a good deal of strategy involved, as well. Here are some things to think about when you are fundraising for your group, event, or start up business.

A great source of funding is securing a sponsor or an investor. Ask for money –it seems so simple. The important things to remember when asking someone to fund your mission are to be knowledgeable, flexible, and creative. Know your goals and be confident in them. You need to sound like you are operating a well-oiled machine and instill confidence in whoever you are pitching to. Your pitch needs to be creative and engaging but not harsh. You should of course be tough and determined, but be adaptable and respectful too. You want to show them you value their time, but you want to show them you value your own time as well.

It’s important to be ready for any questions, but you do not need to come up with an answer for everything –be realistic. According to consultant Paul Graham, one question you do not have to answer is “how much money are you trying to raise?” You do not need to have a fixed number. You should tell them there are different options depending on how much they are willing to give or different routes the venture could take depending on how much money you obtain. The message should be, “we will succeed no matter what, but we will do it faster or better if we have more money.”

In fundraising it is important to keep learning what works and what does not. In working with sponsors or investors, get over rejection quickly, learn from it, and go in again stronger. With other projects, take note of things that seem to be a better fit for your donors and your company. Keep the ideas flowing. It’s important not to put all your trust into one funding project, but there is a point at which you can have too many. You need to be in complete control of your funding plans, and not being able to contribute a significant amount of time to them will cause them to fail.

For the smaller groups, there are many exciting fundraisers you can do through a simple Google search which will produce infinite results and ideas. It is great to try things that are unique –the car wash and the bake sale do not promote excitement like they used to. Creating funny fundraisers will encourage people to invest in your group or mission just because they trust you are innovative and organized. Some of my favorite new ideas I found within a moment of my search were “capturing” an individual who has to raise “bail” to be released, or planting plastic flamingo’s in a company’s or a family’s yard with a note saying you will remove them for a fee, and put them in another yard of their choosing. The possibilities are endless.

It is important to make appropriate sacrifices when you are fundraising. You are expecting others to give up their funds to you, so it is fitting that you will give some things up, as well. Do not hesitate to put a little of yourself into your own project or group –be willing to give up your cup of Starbucks for a while and put that money to your mission. Or be willing to put your time into a rent-me-as-your worker fundraiser. Do what you can to connect yourself to your goal. In doing this, you are building trust with others and inspiring them to contribute. Donors are essentially giving to YOU.

Hopefully you had a little luck this Penny Day and picked up a few. But for the rest of your funding needs, consider what options are out there, and remember the tips we shared.

Resources:

http://www.paulgraham.com/fundraising.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/national_lucky_penny_day.html

http://www.signupgenius.com/nonprofit/50-creative-and-easy-fundraising-ideas.cfm

http://www.franklycurious.com/index.php?itemid=1043

Posted by Casey Anderson, Career Services Assistant

Graduation is fast approaching for many at Oregon State, and with friends here and elsewhere attaining jobs, you may find yourself worrying and stressing over your lack of opportunities, or perhaps over your lack of a life goal in general. To you, the directionless majority, I am here to say, “Don’t worry. Stop stressing. Enjoy the ride.”

You have spent the last 4 years of your life attending class, studying for exams, and writing papers, and yet there is a good chance that what you majored in is now vastly different from your life aspirations. This is normal. This is ok.

I graduate next month with a Master’s in History, and yet now, after 4 years spent working towards a Bachelor’s and an additional 2 to get my Master’s, I know categorically that a career centered on History is not for me. This, too, is ok.

While many of us, including myself, are stressing over what our first post-college job will be, know that that job does not need to be the job you have for the remainder of your professional career. It is ok to try jobs outside of your comfort zone or away from your academic discipline. What we have learned in college is important and will continue to shape our personal and professional lives, and yet too often we allow our college education to shape and dictate everything about ourselves, sacrificing our creativity and personality along the way simply in order to obtain that first job that society approves of.

Don’t leave college thinking that your time here at Oregon State was a waste simply because you were unable to relay that newfound diploma into a high paying job. Look back on your time here as an experience in which what you learned outside of the classroom – living on your own, adjusting to a new city, meeting new friends – was just as important in shaping who you are and what you will do, as the courses you took and the pedagogical understanding you gained from them.

And to you, the few and proud who have a post-graduation job lined up, well you shouldn’t be reading this anyway. Get back to work.

Posted by Peter Rumbles, Career Services Assitant

To view this job/internship listing, you must be a currently registered OSU student and have an existing Beaver JobNet account. If you are eligible and do not have an account, register now. Beaver JobNet is a great way to get your job or internship search started. Meet employers from a variety of organizations.

Job/Internship of the Week
Summer Internship Quality Control Lab
CalPortland

Description

Job summary:
Engineering Intern Program: These summer internship assignments are open to students currently enrolled in a college-level Engineering, Concrete Industry Management or Construction Management program and working toward a degree in of these areas.

Duties:
• Assist in routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finish good and stability samples.
• Calibrate , validate or maintain laboratory equipment.
• Compile laboratory test data and peform appropriate analyses under supervision.
• Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures including data capture forms, equipment logbooks or inventory forms.
• Perform validations and transfers of analytical methods in accordance with policies and guidelines.
• Contribute to process-improvement studies.
• Assist with field testing and customer interface.
• Complete other project management assignments as needed at the ready mix plants and shops regarding productivity, maintenance, inventory and process-improvements

Education:
Junior level student in Engineering, Concrete Industry Management or Construction Management discipline.

Requirements/Qualifications:
• Academic success
• A passion for the Industry
• Geographic flexibility
• Demonstrated Leadership

Preferred:
• Any experience with SAP ERP System.
• Any industry specific certifications and training, i.e., ACI Concrete Field Testing

For more information on how to apply, check out the posting in Beaver JobNet.

Greetings from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

Just a few short months ago, I applied for an internship here at Disney World at the Disney College Program. I completed a web-based application and was then scheduled a phone interview. My head was spinning with confusion after the phone interview was scheduled, because I had never done an interview over the phone before. I have a very outgoing, cheerful personality, and I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to relay those characteristics over the phone.

I sat down with my roommates here at Disney World and talked to them about their own phone interviews and some tips they would give to those preparing for an interview over the phone.

If you already have a phone interview set-up, or are in search of a job where you could potentially have an interview over the phone, here are some tips from our Disney College Program experiences to ensure that you are successful:

Make notes ahead of time & take notes during: My roommates, Maddie and Amanda, say writing down potential questions and answers before the interview proved to be most beneficial to them. They both wrote down short bullet points in regards to common interview questions such as “Why are you applying for this internship?” and “What would you say your number one skill is?” This can be helpful in all interviews, however, over the phone you have an advantage and are able to have the notes in front of you, so making sure they are well written and thought out can be helpful. Dana Schwartz, of Come Recommended Blog, also suggests using a hands-free device in order to take notes on important key points during the interview.
Call a friend ahead of time to practice your interview on the phone: Being on the phone forces a barrier between you and the person on the other line. Something that my roommates and I all did was call a friend and have them ask us potential questions, not only to practice responding to the questions, but also to see how our voices sounded and were coming off over the phone. This can also be beneficial if you have a phone interview scheduled early in the morning, like I did. If your voice tends to be fairly scratchy when you wake up, waking up an hour or two before the scheduled interview time to call a friend and practice can relieve that scratchiness in your voice. (I called a friend the night before to practice, but didn’t call anyone the morning of my interview, so I hadn’t talked to anyone yet and my voice was still a little scratchy. It was frustrating to me throughout the interview, as I’m sure it was for my interviewer as well.)
Treat it like an in-person interview: Without the interviewer physically with you, it can be easy to lose that sense of professionalism. Dressing up as you would for an in-person interview can boost your confidence and ensure you are not losing that professionalism. The Come Recommended Blog also states that using a hands-free device can additionally allow you to use gestures that you normally would, helping you feel more natural and comfortable while on the phone.

In addition to phone interviews, our modern advances in technology have also caused a rise in interviews conducted over Skype. Skype interviews allow you to showcase a little more than phone interviews, but there are still some key tips to keep in mind:

Being familiar with proper webcam etiquette, such as looking at the camera rather than the screen and sitting up straight
Speaking slowly and clearly because of freezes and stalls that webcams sometimes endure
Being in a location with few visual distractions for the interviewer, such as a room with a solid background behind you

Whether you have a phone or Skype interview scheduled, or may have one in the future, the most important thing, like during in-person interviews, is to relax and be yourself! You want the interviewer to get a sense of who you are and how you will fit in with their company. On the phone and over Skype it may be a little more difficult, but with these tips and the right preparation, you will be just as successful as if you were in-person!

OSU Career Services offers a convenient room and webcam set-up if you need a place for your phone or Skype interview!

Reference:
Come Recommended Blog

Posted by Erica Evans, Career Services Assistant and currently interning at Walt Disney World in the Disney College Program

Job/Internship of the Week
KIND University Ambassador
KIND Snacks

Description:

KIND Healthy Snacks is seeking outgoing, charismatic people to join our team of KIND University Brand Ambassadors!

About Us: KIND Healthy Snacks is the company behind KIND Fruit & Nut, KIND PLUS and KIND Healthy Grains. KIND was founded on the principle of holistic kindness, and is proud to create new paths that avoid false compromises. Instead of “Or” KIND says “And”: healthy and tasty, convenient and wholesome, economically sustainable and socially impactful. KIND’s award-winning products and civic initiatives all stem from its desire to make this world a little kinder. In this spirit, the aspiration is for KIND to be not just a great brand of healthy snacks and foods, but a community and state of mind. (To learn more, please visit www.kindsnacks.com).

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Research, coordinate and host marketing events relevant to the brand and to the campus, partnering with like minded student organizations & local companies
• Seed and develop relationships with market/student influencers, ultimately leading to increased brand visibility
• Strategic coordination and execution of sampling initiatives, reaching students where they live, work, play and shop
• Development of strategic programming, resulting in increased brand trial and visibility
• Collaboration with Field Marketing Manager to determine market level goals on and off campus
• Assess and negotiate local media opportunities
• Communication of success stories, key learnings and other activities to marketing and sales management
• Timely planning and reporting
• Do unexpected acts of kindness for others

For more information on how to apply, check out the posting in Beaver JobNet.

Is there a specific company within your area of interest you have always dreamed about working for? Are you ready to start taking the necessary steps to get your foot in the door?

Than follow these tips of advice and you will be heading in the right direction to land that dream job!

Confidence is key! Whenever you are looking for a job and even more so when it is a job that you are very interested in it can be scary, but don’t take yourself out of the mix before it’s even started. Believing in yourself and your abilities and actually take the steps to apply. Of course it can be intimidating applying to a large company or an organization you have dreamed about, but take the chance!

Networking: Most jobs that are available are not posted anywhere; individuals refer those they know to contact the individual in charge of the open position. That is why it is incredibly important to build professional relationships and connections with those within your field and at the company you hope to work at.

This is the first step and one of the most important! Start setting up Informational Interviews and connect with those already in the field.

A Good Fit: Make sure that you research the company you are hoping to gain a job at; you may think that the job is perfect for you but the environment also has to be a good fit. If you get an interview ask the current employees what they like the most about working there and what their favorite part of the job is, this will give you insight into the environment and nature of the company.

Meet the Necessary Qualifications: In order to be suited for the job you have to have necessary experience and qualification or at least be able to speak to how your skills can transfer to the job responsibilities. Do your research on the background of current employees at the company; if their experience matches yours, you are likely to be more qualified for the job. Looking at the minimum qualifications will tell you right away whether you will be given an opportunity or if you need to gain more experience or different credentials.

Check out these References for additional tips:

http://www.lindseypollak.com/archives/how-to-get-a-job-with-your-dream-employer

http://blog.linkedin.com/2012/10/17/how-to-get-a-job-with-your-dream-employer/

https://sumigni.com/how-to-land-a-job-with-your-dream-employer/

Posted by Ciara Lynn, Career Services Intern

Job/Internship of the Week
Norm Thompson Outfitters
Design and Product Development Intern-Apparel

Description:

Design & Product Development Intern- Apparel

Position Summary:
Intern will participate in design projects, attend fit sessions and assist with general product development and quality assurance tasks.

Responsibilities:
• Observe and shadow apparel and tech designers and product developers in all aspects of product design, development and quality assurance
• Attend design review meetings with various departments
• Assist with design conceptualization and follow through
• Assist with garment measuring and construction review
• Assist with lab dip process
• Attend and participate in fit sessions
• Some administrative duties as assigned
• Exhibit professional conduct in all business relationships, actions and communications

Education, Training and Skills Required:
• Preferred academic major in apparel design, product development, apparel production or merchandising
• Experience in fashion or apparel environment
• Ability to work well in a collaborative environment
• Proficient in PC use and applications, including the use of Excel and Adobe
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

For more information on how to apply, check out the posting in Beaver JobNet.

Ready to get inspired for your job, internship, or career search? Each month we will spotlight an OSU student that has inspired us when it comes to their career development. Check out their success stories—besides inspiration, they also show that academic major does not have to restrict your goals and that there are many ways to define success.

Want to nominate an OSU student or alum for the Student/Alum Spotlight series? Or do you want to share your own success? Then please fill out this quick form and Career Services will contact the person nominated.

Name: Adam Fargher
Major: Electrical Engineering
Year in School: Junior
Internship: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

1. How did you find out about this internship?
This past Fall term, a Human Resources rep from BPA came and gave a presentation on BPA. In addition, several students already in the Pathways internship program explained their involvement, experience, and what they learned. I researched the BPA website and kept my eye out for the Pathways positions and once they were posted I immediately applied.

2. What will you be doing in your position?
I will being working in the transmission services department of BPA. The program has 3 rotations that students work in. Anything from projects, system operation, system design, and a field rotation as well. The interns in this program don’t just make coffee runs and photocopies. This program is structured so that interns dive in head first and gain hands on experience as well as receive organizational and industry knowledge that you just can’t learn from a textbook.

3. What advice do you have for others interested in finding an internship?
Advice for those looking for internships: First, ask yourself, “What am I passionate about and what kind of organization would give me experience in my major as well as get my foot in the door?” Then search hard. I scoured the web, googled companies and researched what they were about and if any positions were available, went to career fairs and industry nights, and read every single newsletter that OSU College of Engineering distributed to see if there were any new internship postings.

4.Did Career Services or anybody else assist you in anyway with your career development? If so, how?
Career services played such a huge role in this process. They supplied me with a plethora of resume and interview resources. I must have visited several times to make sure my resume was the best that it could be. One of the most valuable resources from Career Services was the mock interview. Jen Busick Stewart hosted a practice interview for me that was tailored specifically for me, the position, and my major. She asked the detailed questions that made me think about myself, skills, and experiences. My actual BPA interview would have been a little shaky if I didn’t put in that practice with Jen. The practice interview was critical!! My academic advisor also played a role and gave me some technical interviewing tips and advice. I also reached out to a friend of mine and as a professional engineer he gave me some solid advice on interviews and the industry.

Some of you may have never heard of LinkedIn before, so I will give you a little overview on what it is, then share a list of my top 5 reasons to get on it! For those of you who do know about LinkedIn bear with me a bit while I bring everyone else up to speed. LinkedIn is the world’s largest free professional social networking site, where you can connect with past and present coworkers, employers, companies and classmates, and make new connections through your current network.

Why YOU should get on it:

Establish Credibility – Having an account will allow potential employers to look up your profile to learn information not necessarily on your resume. You can add skills to your profile, which people in your network can then endorse, showing employers that other people also value your abilities. Also, employers can see your connections with companies, people, and professional associations, which can build a well-rounded appearance.
Build a Professional Network – LinkedIn allows you to connect with professionals within your field, whether you know them or not, with prior or current employers and coworkers, as well as classmates. Many of these connections can speak to your abilities, and may be able to give you professional advice or provide a connection for a potential job opportunity.
Learn about Companies – Use LinkedIn when you are applying for jobs or are preparing for interviews to learn about the company and the people who work there, to show you have done your homework. Or research companies and you may find awesome job opportunities, or make new connections. You can even use your connections to ask questions about companies that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to during an interview, such as, “Did/Do you like working for the company?” or “What do you dislike about your work?”
Discover New Opportunities – Your network (people and companies) have tons of knowledge just waiting to be called upon. You can start a discussion feed or create an update asking for opportunity information. Also, the more connections you make, the broader your network will get and the greater possibility for opportunities to arise when you aren’t even looking for them.
To be Found – It is nice to be able to be found by potential employers online, especially when you are building your network, and when you are prepared to make a great impression. Most of us would much rather an employer find our LinkedIn account than our Facebook or Twitter accounts, even if you have them private, or manage your content.

If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, you should definitely think about making one, especially since you will only benefit from it, and it doesn’t take much time to create or manage. LinkedIn provides many training tutorials to help you get started!

Posted by Sami Kerzel, Career Services Assistant

Job/Internship of the Week
Employer Relations Assistant
Career Services

Description:

Career Services seeks a Graduate Assistant or student to support a variety of employer related initiatives, including:

Career Fair planning and marketing and Event Coordination
GA will assist in coordinating and marketing quarterly Career Fairs to both students and employers
He/She will also help plan and attend other employer related events, such as Employer Advisory Committee Meetings

Communication and Marketing
GA will assist with communication efforts, such as an online employer newsletter, employer section of the Career Services website, social media efforts, and marketing for employer related events.
Duties will also include correspondence with employers regarding on campus recruiting and getting involved with OSU students and alumni

Program Improvement
GA will assist in evaluating company recruitment and programs, including Beaver JobNet (online career management system) and outreach to campus departments
Other duties as assigned, including participating in weekly staff and departmental meetings

For more information on how to apply, check out the posting in Beaver JobNet.

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Explore. Educate. Empower. Engage.

Lucky Penny Day – Fundraising Tips for Your Venture

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Job/Internship of the Week-CalPortland

Preparing for the Phone or Skype Interview

Job/Internship of the Week- KIND Snacks

How to land a job with your dream employer!

Job/Internship of the Week-Design and Product Development Intern-Apparel

Student/Alum Spotlight – Adam Fargher

Job/Internship of the week-Employer Relations Assistant

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