Hello everyone. How are you doing?
My name is Jessica and I’m currently a sophomore, English major at Scripps. I am passionately in love with art, and this year, I’ve made it part of my New Year’s resolutions to teach myself how to paint! In my free time at the 5Cs, I love swing dancing with my friends on Friday nights. I’m also president of the Claremont Soul-idarity Club, where we talk about health, wellness, and spirituality.
I’m a new blogger at CP&R this year. This semester, I’ll be writing about my experience with the Fullbridge Program (FP) over winter break.
So what exactly is the Fullbridge Program?
Fullbridge is a hands-on program aimed at getting liberal arts students a foot in the door when it comes to the business world. This is the first time Scripps and Occidental College (Oxy) have worked together to host FP.
To give you a better idea of what exactly it was I did at Fullbridge, I’ve decided to make each weekly posting a detailed (and hopefully, interesting) itinerary of what I did each day. I’ll be sure to include pics and fun stories.
That being said, today will be a little less exciting. I’m going to talk about the FP application and preparation process, which I hope will apply to other applications and opportunities you encounter along the way.
Application
The Fullbridge application included a few essay questions, but a resume was not required. I spent several (two to four) hours writing responses to the essay questions. I would recommend writing a draft and going back to edit it with fresh eyes after a couple of days. Working in stages can seem less daunting than tackling it in one sitting.
Skype Interview
The interview was actually my first-ever Skype interview, so I followed some basic tips from Google. Here’s my version:
a) Lighting: I positioned a table lamp next to my laptop, as well as an additional floor lamp next to my seat. Make sure the interviewer can see your face! If your face is hidden in the shadows, it might as well be a phone interview (which often happens!)
b) Phone: Is this a bad thing? Yes and no. While you may not lose points, employers who specifically request a Skype interview want a face-to-face interaction. Your interviewer will be much more impressed if you can pull off a trouble-free Skype session!
c) Internet: Don’t depend on Wi-Fi. Use an Ethernet cord. If you don’t have one, borrow one several days before the interview.
d) Sound: If possible, use earphones or headphones instead of relying on the computer’s mic. Over-the-head (those big ones) headphones work best.
e) Location: If possible, it’s recommended you set up in a quiet room (your dorm, perhaps) without interruptions or distractions. Ask your roommates—pretty please—to turn down the music for 30 minutes. Most people are pretty chill and understanding about this kind of thing.
f) Posture and Position: I’m only 5’1’’ so I propped myself up on a pillow and a folded-up blanket to ensure I was level with my computer sitting on the desk. Do not interview with the laptop in your lap! If you do this, it will make it look like you’re looming over your interviewer the whole time. Awkward. Don’t do it.
g) Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3: Ask a friend/significant other to Skype with you a few minutes before the interview. Check on lighting, sound, etc. Kindly ask your friend ahead of time in case he/she/they/etc. doesn’t usually wake up that early.
Have any questions? I’d love to answer them in my next post.
Tune in next time to hear about my first day at Oxy and the Fullbridge Program. In the meantime, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. (Please send me a message if I don’t already know your name and school. Thanks.)
Hi Jessica!
Your skype interview tips are very helpful, however I have a couple of questions regarding the actual interview.
– During the interview, was it a very formal interview or more on the casual side of the spectrum?
– What kind of questions did they ask? Were they a mix of both personal interests and career goals?
– This question is not interview related, but I have heard some mixed reviews for Fullbridge. After completion of the program, did you come out feeling more confident and prepared for business?
Also, I am aware you are assigned a coach. After the program, were you able to stay in contact with them?
Hello and thank you for reading. I’m glad you found this blog post helpful.
1. The interview was pretty casual, which I wasn’t happy about, to be honest. I dressed in business formal, but the interviewer did not. I thought this a bit unprofessional of the interviewer. I would still recommend you dress in business casual at the least, since the interviewee always has to live up to expectations in order to have a competitive edge. Just because someone else is unprofessional doesn’t mean you should reciprocate in such a manner.
2. They asked very general questions: a) Tell me a little bit about yourself. b) strengths and weaknesses c) etc. d) didn’t ask about career goals, as far as I remember. Keep in mind that interview questions may change at any time.
3. I personally didn’t feel more prepared for the business world, given my unique knowledge of it (both my parents work in finance). However, it solidified my choice not to pursue a career in business, which was helpful in its own way. Keep in mind that my goals for this program were probably different than that of others, and that you don’t have to pursue a business major or degree in order to participate in this program. What I did take away from it was a sense of what it was like to dress in business attire every day, work full-time (8-hr days), collaborate with people my own age in a non-academic setting, and work on a computer for almost eight hours in a row every day for two weeks. These are experiences I could not have gained otherwise, and I’m glad I didn’t have to spend several years of my life in order to figure out my feelings and compatibility (or lack thereof) with these aspects of a career. I also got to network with many people, including students and professionals alike.
4. I have added both coaches on LinkedIn, but have not corresponded with them at all. If one feels inclined to keep in touch, it is very much possible. It’s a personal choice, I think.
I hope this answers your questions. Feel free to continue asking more, on this post or any other.