The Career Development Center Blog

March 12, 2013 is Girl Scout Day! On this exact day back in 1912, the first Girl Scout meeting ever was held with a group of eighteen girls in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled this group of girls because she believed that all girls should have the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Low organized service projects outdoor adventures, and enrichment programs to get girls out of the house and into the community to provide a helping hand! The mission statement of the organization is, “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Over 3.2 million girls and adults are active Girl Scout members and over 50 million are Girl Scout Alumnae. Now aren’t those some impressive numbers!

Being involved in Girl Scouts is something that can provide young women with many transferable skills to enhance their professional development. Some of these things include the girls gaining an understanding of themselves, their values, their knowledge and skills to explore the world, all of these things extremely important for future careers. Some other important things they discover are their development of critical thinking in real life situations and how to deal with various challenges they will face throughout life. The connections the girls make and the relationships they build are amazing! Healthy relationships then promote the girls to effectively cooperate with people and work well in teams. The biggest thing these girls gain is a sense of empowerment along with leadership. They become empowered to make the world a better place and gain the necessary skills of a leader in order to do so.

Girl Scouts isn’t just all about the wonderful cookies we all know and love to purchase every year when they start selling them, or about the uniforms the girls wear with the hundreds of different patches on them that we stare at in awe because we aren’t familiar with what they’re for. The organization is about girls becoming women and having the guidance and role models to hopefully become ones who will make a difference, even if it’s just a small one. Take Girl Scout Day, March 12^th, 2013 as a day to recognize and appreciate all that the girls in the Girl Scout organization do for their local communities all around the world!

Sources:

http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/girl-scout-day

http://www.girlscoutsindiana.org/Default.aspx?cid=ProgramOutcomes

Posted by Carly Larson, Career Services Assistant

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
Marketing and Client Service Associate
Maxim Global Wealth Advisors

Description:

We are an independent investment and financial planning firm serving globally oriented families from our offices south of Portland, Oregon. We are now searching for a talented and motivated individual to join our team in an entry-level position.

We build globally oriented investment portfolios and offer personalized retirement planning, primarily for cross-border families – both international families living in the U.S. and anyone abroad with assets in the U.S. Because of this unique specialty, we are exposed to a diverse set of financial issues which can make our work especially interesting and rewarding.

We are a small fast-growing company serving an interesting niche of families, who are generally located along the West Coast and internationally. Many of our clients are originally from Europe, India or Australia, so it is important that our staff be comfortable communicating with a multicultural client base. Candidates with international backgrounds or experience are strongly encouraged.

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

Are you feeling really panicked, stressed out, or fed up? With dead week and finals week right around the corner, how could you not be? Well hold it in a little longer and then this Saturday, let it all out! Each year on March 9^th Americans celebrate National Panic Day. Panic and stress are part of our everyday lives and unfortunately, you can probably count on experiencing them even more once you start your first full-time career-related position.

You may be feeling like college is so hard that anything else will be easy in comparison, that once you let go of all those topics you don’t care about, and once you aren’t trying to balance so many extra-curricular activities, coursework, and a healthy social life, sometimes in addition to a part-time job, then you will be able to relax and just focus on your one new job. Well what we must realize is that this will be a whole new environment, with all new people to feel out and engage with and impress. You will also most likely really care about this job and being successful within your new company. In college you could start fresh every term and did not have to worry about getting fired for making a little mistake or having average or below average performance.

I do not mean to discourage you, most people love being out in the “real world” and it is that hope that you will continue doing well and be able to stay long term that this stress or panic comes from. What you need are some great tools in your belt to help you handle that work related stress or panic!

First, it is important to know some of the common causes of stress or panic in the workplace. That way you can handle them before they really start to bother you.

Miscommunication with your boss or coworkers
Increased pressure to perform without receiving increased job satisfaction
Being expected to give your fully best effort EVERY SINGLE DAY
Workplace bullying (less frequent, but it does happen, in multiple ways)
Some jobs are just more stressful – like when big decisions need to be made that will affect a lot of other people, or constantly working under a deadline.

Here are some of the most highly recommended tips in dealing with stress and panic on the job. They may seem really simple but have been proven to make a difference, so take them seriously:

Breathing Exercises: Stop your work for a while and take some deep breaths. This will help clear your head so you can put things in perspective. Deep breathing combined with some light stretching helps to calm your body and has been proven to decrease stress.
Take short breaks: You do not always need to be glued to your desk to be efficient at work or be seen as efficient by your coworkers. Get up and take a little walk or pick up a book for ten minutes. Do not think about your work tasks during this time. Again, it is all about rejuvenating yourself and clearing your head.
Prioritize: Make a list of all those things buzzing around in your head that you have to do, then decide which ones are the most important and put them in this order. Next, allot a certain amount of time for each one and make a point of getting it done in that amount of time! This will help you pace yourself, and make you let go of a really difficult task once you have given it your best effort.

If you are panicked due to a certain situation, or in dealing with another individual, here are some tips for calming yourself down:

Keep smiling: Just keep a smile on that face! The research proves that you can fool even yourself by keeping a smile on your face. When you are happy you smile, but it also works in reverse. Doing your best to make a genuinely happy face will trigger that emotion inside you.
Take a time-out: Apply the 10-second rule. It helps to just have a quick moment to gather your thoughts before you react. Swallow down that quick snap, literally swallow, and ask someone to hold for just a moment. Maybe go to the bathroom. Just grit your teeth and focus on that time to remove yourself.
Use the other person’s name: Using names makes everyone feel more responsible for their actions and makes everyone feel more connected to the conversation. It will also make you sound more sincere. Studies have also shown that saying someone’s name helps you to be more empathetic and really acknowledge the other person’s point of view.
Remember, taking graceful action is empowering! If the other person is acting immature or out-of-control, it will make you feel more in control of the situation to be the bigger person.
Vent outside of work: Write your feelings down then destroy the evidence. Share your woes with a patient friend, but be sure to let them share their problems with you as well. Ask someone you trust for an objective assessment of the situation. Then pat yourself on the back for rising above!

It is important to let go of your stress or anger at the end of each day. The nice thing about most jobs is that you do not have “homework,” so make sure you recognize that time outside of work is you-time, and do not let your to-do list distract you.

If you would like more tips about how to manage stress in the workplace, then check out this great posting on Helpguide.org

And of course, if nothing else works then just let it out! Saturday – run around in circles, pull your hair out, and exclaim “I can’t take it anymore!” Panic Day is your day!

Sources:

http://www.askmen.com/money/career_100/142_career.html

http://www.womansday.com/life/career-tip-keeping-your-cool-at-work-22001

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/work_stress_management.htm

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1580401,00.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/handling-stress-at-work.html

http://www.examiner.com/article/don-t-panic-march-9th-is-panic-day

Posted by Casey Anderson, Career Services Assistant

Job/Internship of the Week

Assistant Store Manager Internship
Ross Stores Inc.

Ross Stores, Inc. is an S&P 500, Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with fiscal 2011 revenues of $8.6 billion. The
Company operates Ross Dress for Less® (“Ross”), the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States with 1,051 locations in 30 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store regular prices. The Company also operates 95 dd’s DISCOUNTS® in eight states that feature a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20% to 70% off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at www.rossstores.com.

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: Tomoko Iwanaga

Major: Exercise & Sports Science- Pre-Physical Therapy Option

Year you graduated: August 2011

Graduate Program: Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at George Fox University

1. Tell us about yourself.
If I were a food product, my label would probably say the following: made in Singapore, product of Japan, and distributed in the United States. I was born in Singapore and at the age of three, I came to the United States. My exposure to diversity continued as my parents taught Japanese and raised me in their unique traditions.

My initial interest in the health care field was when I took Human Anatomy when I was in high school. I was soon fascinated by the way our human bodies are structured and organized. However, at that point, I was not able to specify what I truly wanted to become within the broad health field. As a start, I decided to take the certified nursing assistant (CNA) class when I was a senior in high school. When I started to work as a CNA and exposed myself to diverse health careers, I noticed that I was especially interested in physical therapy. I fell in love with everything about physical therapy. I strongly believe that physical therapy has an immense amount of power and potential especially when it comes to quality of life. I consider physical therapy as a medical treatment without any side effects. It is a preventative care by introducing proper exercises and healthy life style to the patients.

Now that I am finally making a huge step towards my dream, I will do anything to become a “good” physical therapist: someone who is dependable and can serve the community. Further on, I am hoping to specialize in orthopedic manual therapy (OMT) and geriatrics. My dreams and desires never end. I am excited for this upcoming opportunity and to start a new chapter in my life!

2. How did you prepare for the physical therapy school application process?
To obtain first-hand experience in the health field, I started to work as a med aide and as a care giver at West Hills Assisted Living. Working as a med aide was a great turning point for me. I became more confident, professional, and able to handle stressful situations more easily. Such characteristics are something that I cannot learn from just sitting in the class and reading textbooks. I was also able to meet with wonderful supervisors, who wrote great reference letters and even conducted a mock interview with me. I strongly believe that the support from them helped me to prepare for the application process.

To further prepare myself, I also volunteered as a coordinator at Community Outreach. Community Outreach is a multifaceted human service organization that provides hope for people who are homeless and low income by offering a wide range of medical services, including physical therapy. The best part of volunteering at Community Outreach was to be able to observe numerous inspiring physical therapists. Unlike other internship settings, Community Outreach was more flexible and allowed students to get more involved with the patients.

I believe my working experience as a med aide at West Hills and volunteering at Community Outreach made my application more competitive. Such experiences made me stronger as an individual and reassured me once again that a physical therapist is certainly what I want to become.

3. What advice do you have for others who are interested in applying to graduate or professional school?
Based on my personal experience, my biggest advice is to never compare yourself to others. When I got rejected to one physical therapy school last summer, I was extremely disappointed and confused. One of my friends who I helped with class assignments got accepted, and I did not. What about me was lacking? Feelings of jealousy, frustration, and all sorts of negative emotions took over me. The feeling of being left behind by my classmates and friends broke my heart into pieces. However, by taking a year off and working as a med aide, I have become more determined to pursue my dream. Looking back now, I can understand why I did not get accepted. I only put effort to become a “better applicant” and that was not enough. I believe the biggest reason why I was accepted this year was because I focused on becoming a better health care provider to work with my future patients. Everyone has their own different ways to accomplish their dreams. Some people are capable to go straight to graduate school after college. And some people like me need extra time to fully prepare for their dreams. The pathway that you think is the longest and most difficult is actually the shortest route to accomplish your dream.

4. Did Career Services assist you anyway? If so, how?
“Nice to meet you, my name is Jen.” I can still vividly remember when I first met with Mrs. Jennifer Busick. When she reached out to shake my hands and smiled at me, I knew I found the right person. At that time, I was overwhelmed and insecure with everything- school applications, GRE, family, job, etc. I felt as if I was walking in the dark, not knowing whether there would be any light waiting for me at the end. To change the negativity, I decided to make an appointment with Mrs. Busick at Career Services. Mrs. Busick has everything one can ask for: great listening skill, sincere, genuine, caring, knowledgeable, and many more. She not only helped me for hours to polish my application essays, but she also bolstered my confidence. Lack of confidence was what I struggled with throughout my life. However, she completely changed my mentality when I met with her a week before my interview at George Fox University.

“I want you to be yourself,” she stated. “What makes you special from the crowd is that you never give up. Enjoy your moment and tell them that you REALLY want this.”

Two weeks later after the interview, I received an acceptance phone call from George Fox University. I can say with confidence that I would have not been standing where I am at without Mrs. Busick. She has changed my life! My wonderful experience with her taught me an imperative life lesson-as long as you never give up, there will always be a light of hope at the end of the tunnel.

The Beloit Mindset List, created at Beloit College in 1998, is an annual publication that aims to reflect the world-views of the year’s entering college class. The appeal for this list is widespread, mainly because it’s helpful for those who wish to gain a better grasp of what our generation is all about: teachers, advisors, and even potential employers.

Ours is a generation largely disillusioned with the American Dream. We’ve grown up accustomed to recession and an ever-increasing unemployment rate. Gone are the days when a college education was a definite guarantee of a good job, and concerns over student debt are steadily mounting. These factors have led to a generation of young adults that are much more anxious and risk-averse than their predecessors, which generates criticism because we’re not doing things the way they used to be done. The problem is, we inherited a different world. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, a research psychologist at Clark University, says this about Generation Y: “I think part of the answer is that it does take longer to grow up than it used to…Older adults are still comparing them to a standard that really is obsolete and really not fair anymore.”

Ron Nief and Tom McBride, the authors of the Beloit Mindset List, have expressed their belief that generation gaps have always needed glue. That glue is what they aim to provide by making us aware of our differences while clearing up damaging misconceptions about the younger generation. Like many aspects of life, generations aren’t better or worse than each other, just different. Those differences can make it hard to relate to one another, which is challenging when there’s a generational gap between you and a professor or a potential employer. Awareness of mindset differences and what kind of impression you give off to the preceding generation is the glue that will connect you.

All-in-all, I’m proud of my generation. I’m proud of all the young adults paying their own way through college, which is more expensive than ever. I’m proud of the importance my generation places on family and work/life balance. I’m proud of how technologically savvy we are, leading to a curious and innovative generation. I’m also proud of the renewed focus on balancing ambition with finding what you love to do, rather than focusing on just making the most money possible. Dear Generation Y – be confident! There is such a thing as being too cautious if you’re never putting yourself out there. Dear Generation X – You helped raise us to be totally awesome, thanks! We’re all in this together.

Check out the most recent Mindset List.

References:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/generation-why-bother-not-according-new-research_n_1720033.html
https://www.beloit.edu/mindset/guides/
http://www.talkingaboutgenerations.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/xy111.png

Posted by Deirdre Newton, Career Services Assistant

Job/Internship of the Week
Management Trainee Summer Internship 2013
Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Description:

Sales/Management Trainee Summer Internship
Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Business Administration

It’s Business 101 on ten cups of coffee, and a one of a kind experience! As a Sales/Management Trainee Summer Intern at Enterprise, you’ll start learning what it takes to run a successful business from day one. It’s learning by training and doing in a team-oriented environment, not filing all day.

The pace is fast, the environment is fun, and you’ll be a decision maker from the start. Although you will not be managing others during your internship, you will take on some of the same challenges as first year professionals. Plus, you’ll enjoy a paid position that even has potential for bonuses and future career opportunities. Jump start your career!

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

The Winter 2013 Career Fairs are almost here (February 27th, University Wide and February 28th, Engineering)! Take advantage of this last weekend to put the finishing touches on your resume and 30-second infomercial. If you’re still debating whether you want to go or not, here are a few great reasons to stop on by.

If you’re a senior and still need to find a post-graduation job, what better way is there to find one than through the Career Fair? The employers come to you, and often they’ll also conduct interviews here on campus, no need for you to go anywhere. The Career Fair offers a large potential for reward with little cost of time or energy.
If you’re looking for a summer job, consider stopping by to chat with employers about internships. Internships are a great way to gain real-world experience in your field of study and are often either paid or offer a stipend. Participation in an internship might even help you decide whether a certain career path is for you or not, and could lead to a future job if the company likes you enough to hire you after you graduate.
Practice makes perfect! If you’re a freshman/sophomore and don’t feel ready for post-graduation life, use the Career Fair to practice meeting employers and networking. That way when it comes down to actually getting in the game, you’ll have a lot more confidence and be more prepared for what to expect.
If none of those reasons convinced you, then hopefully I can appeal to the most basic sensibilities of a typical college student – free stuff. Companies donate awesome prizes to win, and they’ll often also bring free goodies which you can pick up at their table when you meet them.

Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of meeting employers, they’re nice people and some of them are even OSU alumni! Just put your best foot forward and have confidence in yourself, and I’m sure the Career Fair will be a great experience for you.

P.S. Don’t know what a 30-second infomercial is? Check out our helpful guide to creating one and other ways to prepare for the fair.

Reference: http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/career_fair.gif

Posted by Deirdre Newton, Career Services Assistant

Job/Internship of the Week
Marketing Internship
Jim Kuhlman State Farm

Description:

This internship is well suited for the Junior/Senior who could see themselves owning their own business at some point, or simply wants to round out their experience and develop high demand, cross-discipline skills like marketing, sales and communication.
We’re loosely basing the internship on the book To Sell is Human, by Daniel Pink. In his New York Times bestseller, Pink discusses how our unprecedented access to information has changed the way business is done – whether you’re a software engineer, a CPA, or a pharmaceutical sales rep, moving people, ie. sales, is a major part of what we all do. We’re all in sales now.
Throughout the internship we’ll be referencing examples in the book, as well as coaching to the three qualities Pink highlights as critical to success in moving people: Attunement, Bouyancy, and Clarity.
Ideal candidates for the internship are great with people, enjoy autonomy when figuring out how best to reach a goal, have a competitive streak, and want to be mentored in a fast-paced business environment.

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

Valentine’s Day, like many other holidays, offers us a chance for reflection. We ponder our life choices, our current state of happiness, and what to do for our loved ones to show them how important they are. I’ve always been of the opinion that Valentine’s Day is not only a chance to show your appreciation for your significant other, but should also be a chance to show your appreciation for your closest friends and family who have always been there for you and probably don’t get thanked nearly often enough.

In fact, rather than being sad if you’re single this Valentine’s Day, take it as a chance to make the choice to change your attitude about the holiday. Being positive and not taking for granted all the good things you have going for you will undoubtedly become apparent in other aspects of your life, such as at work and at school. Take the time to appreciate your coworkers, schoolmates, professors, and bosses. It’s so much easier to be happy if you dwell on the positives rather than the negatives, and positivity can take you a long way in your professional development.

Also, holidays such as Valentine’s Day can offer valuable lessons when it comes to things like the job search or maybe advancement within your current career. Giving the same care and attention to your professional development as you would to your significant other can result in huge payoffs in the end.

Tailor your resume. Just like you wouldn’t give a regifted item to your significant other, don’t reuse the same resume/cover letter. Every time you turn in your resume, you should look it over and make sure it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for. You can even go so far as to use some of the specific language that’s in the original job description, to make sure that it’s obvious that you’re a good fit for the position.

Dress to impress. You probably wouldn’t go out for a romantic Valentine’s dinner without looking your best, so approach interviews as opportunities to “woo” the employer. Dressing your best to make a great first impression is almost as important as the entire rest of the interview.

Stand out. Let’s face it: flowers and chocolate aren’t exactly the most original gifts to give on Valentine’s Day. To really make the occasion memorable, you have to think outside the box. The same thing applies to your career: in order to get the job or be recognized for your hard work at your current job, you have to make the effort to stand out among your peers.

Be proactive. Relationships usually don’t just happen, they take a certain amount of work to initiate and keep going. Likewise, a career won’t just happen without any effort on your part. Take the extra step to follow up after you turn in your resume and after an interview so that you maximize your chances of standing out among your competition.

With these tips in mind, I hope you have a successful Valentine’s Day and some new ideas about your professional development!

Reference: http://spisolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/valentines1.jpg

Posted by Deirdre Newton, Career Services Assistant

Explore. Educate. Empower. Engage.

How Girl Scouts develops career skills

Job/Internship of the Week-Maxim Global Wealth Advisors

Get Ready For National Panic Day!

Job/Internship of the Week-Ross Stores Inc.

Student/Alum Spotlight – Tomoko Iwanaga

The Millenial Generation

Job/Internship of the Week-Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Winter Career Fairs are coming up – ARE YOU READY???

Job/Internship of the Week-Jim Kuhlman State Farm

What We Can Learn From Valentine’s Day

Contact Info