Combatting Networking Dread

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I know I’m not the only one who hates this lovely little reminder in CP&R’s Career Services Guide, but I also know it wouldn’t be in here if it weren’t correct. So I guess we have to talk about it…1. Ew, why?
Just thinking about networking makes me tired (#IntrovertLife) so my first tip is to check out Daysha’s fabulous tips on networking for introverts because I have no idea what I’d do without this advice.

2. No really, why?!
Why are you putting yourself through this? Because it makes a difference. Not connecting with the Scripps Alum working at your dream company could mean the difference between getting the job and not getting the job. I know that sounds harsh, but it can be true. When you know someone there, that makes you more than an application, more than a face-less piece of paper. It makes you a real person with personality, insight, and witty conversational skills. (Though I only get that last one if they catch me on a good day…)

3. How?
Yeah, this part is awkward. Reaching out to random strangers, or even worse, reaching out to people to reach out to random strangers for you, is awkward. But I try to remind myself that it’s worth it and that people want to help me. No one got where they are alone. Everyone has mentors and connections that helped them get a foot in the door, and that’s really all you need. From there, you’ll wow them all by yourself. So don’t be afraid to send that email to a Scripps alum or request an introduction on LinkedIn. You could end up with an amazing opportunity, and you don’t know until you try!

4. What do I say?
Ask for an informational interview! Or more specifically, ask for a chance to talk to them about their experience in *insert field, or position, or company here*. Then, when it comes time to have the conversation, bring in questions and brainstorm topics in order to avoid the deer-in-headlights look.

5. When do I do this?
Now. Like at this very moment. Drop everything.

Not actually. Networking can happen anywhere, any time. Yes, it’s best to network before you apply for a position because then you can mention that person in your cover letter to let the recruiter know about the connection, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. Informational interviews give you a chance to get the feel for the company and get a lot of your questions answered.

The hardest thing for me to remember when I’m networking is that I don’t have to do this alone. I’m very independent and I hate the idea of relying on someone else, especially with something as important as my career. But I try to take a step back and remind myself that most people don’t do this entirely on their own; and I know when I’m settled into my career, I’ll definitely want Scrippsies to reach out to me for help and guidance! So if you’re deciding whether or not to send the awkward email or not send the awkward email, send it. It’s time to take Lorelai’s advice (which we should always do anyway) and face the things we don’t like, because some day it could lead to making this phone call:

 

What You Need to Get a Job

Yes, this post is a little preemptive; I don’t have a job yet. But I’ve created a pretty good system. Hopefully, you can get some ideas or inspiration!

 Organization

Spreadsheet: I’ve applied for a LOT of jobs and started to lose track, having this spreadsheet made everything so much easier. I used Google Spreadsheets, but I’ve created a mini-version below!
Screenshot 2015-04-27 10.41.14

Dropbox: Save everything to a Dropbox folder. You can get it for free, and trust me when you FINALLY get those accomplishment statements just right, you don’t want to lose them to spilled orange juice on your computer. I use separate folders within my Dropbox to make sure everything is easy to find.

  • Burrito Resumes: CP&R teaches us to make a Giant-Chipotle-Burrito-Resume containing everything we’ve ever done on it, and I have one. However, I also found it easier to have a Recruiting Burrito Resume, HR Burrito Resume, and Diversity Burrito Resume. This way, I just open the one that is most related to the position I’m applying for, save it as the name of the new position and make edits according to the position there. Saves me a lot of time!
  • Current Applications: Any companies that have “Priority Positions” have a folder within Current Applications, which helps me remember what I still have to do.
  • Finished Applications: When I finish an application I move that folder from the Current Applications to Finished Applications and change the name of the folder to the name of the organization and the date (ex. Google (4/24/15)), to help me keep track of when I should follow-up about various jobs.

To Do Lists: I run my entire life through Tasks on my Google Calendar, so that’s no different for job applications. Every Sunday night I look through my priority positions and plan when to apply for each and I factor that into my homework schedule.

Networking

LinkedIn: Use the Advanced Search feature! It helped me find connections I would NOT have found otherwise. Click Advanced Search, enter the company name, and search for current employees. Then when you find a second-degree connection, ask your first degree connection to set up an introduction. Yes, it’s awkward. But I guarantee that it will be worth it. Plus, your LinkedIn connections almost certainly want to help you, or they wouldn’t have connected with you in the first place.

Talking: I mean just what I said, talk to people. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers about jobs you’re applying to or companies that you’re interested in. They might know someone there, they might have other connections, etc. By not talking about it, you could be missing out on those connections!

Back-up

Weirdly, I’m not talking about saving your applications in multiple places (… but do that too please). I’m talking about the people who back you up. Job searches are ridiculously frustrating and disheartening. There are constant ups and downs. Make sure you have those people who are going to scream and jump around your room when you get the interview you’ve been waiting for, and will find a way to get you there, no matter how inconvenient. Don’t try to start a job search without a person who reads every single cover letter to catch all your typos and constantly reminds you to flaunt your accomplishments. Most importantly, you need to have the people you can cry to when everything falls apart. These are the people who will relentlessly remind me that it’s all going to work out, even when it seems more likely that I’ll finally get my Hogwarts letter than have a job by graduation. These people let me mope and watch Netflix when I receive rejection notices, bring me chocolate, and post notes around reminding me that it’s going to work out eventually. I would not have gotten this far in my job search without them; don’t try to do this alone.

Double-Check Your Resumes

It’s crunch time when it comes to job applications, and that means little things get overlooked. Time to double-check your resumes and cover letters for these problems, because I definitely made several in the past week. Learn from my mistakes.

  1. Add relevant coursework! (Using titles people will understand, so no “Core III”, just call it “Sexuality of Citizenship in the U.S.”)
  2. Say more than what you did. (We all know servers serve food. Talk about communication with customers, organization, multitasking, etc.)
  3. Make sure your experience is in reverse chronological order. (Most recent up top!)
  4. Check your verb tenses! (If the job is current, use the present tense. If it’s an old job, past tense. Previous training or project for a current position? Still past tense.)
  5. Check ALL your numbers! (All of them. Several of my resumes say my current zip code is 91771, I only noticed last Sunday.)
  6. Seniors: ADD YOUR THESIS (in the Education section). It’s really very cool that you wrote one. Take some credit.
  7. Juniors: Yes, you can use your volunteer experience or club leadership experience on your resume. You’re not just making it longer either; these experiences helped make you the awesome candidate you are, so add them!
  8. Sophomores: Time for your high school to go! Use that room for some of your accomplishments!
  9. First Years: YOU HAVE A RESUME?! HERE’S A HUG.
  10. Not sure where to start? Check out the resume book and get inspired by current seniors and recent alums!
  11. Make it one page! (No science majors, not you.)
    1. Need more space? Make your margins between .5-.75”, make all paragraph breaks font size 5, don’t have one word taking up all of an entire                line.                                                                                                                 (^Like that. Don’t do that.^)(You’re missing ^ALL THIS SPACE^.)
    2. Need to fill space? Make you name BIGGER (you are the star of your resume!), add a skills section (computer, language, etc.), add awards (like Dean’s list or scholarships), and add relevant coursework!
  12. Consider creating your own template rather than using Microsoft Word’s. It doesn’t use space efficiently.
  13. Speaking of templates not to use, probably don’t use these.
  14. Don’t use the same verbs under every position. (Check your Career Services Guide for “Action Words”!)
  15. Lastly, feel free to tell your parents to blame me for this one: No. You don’t need an objective statement. I promise.

What It Means to Be a Senior

You might have noticed that it’s getting a little tense around campus right now. Midterms have descended upon us and finals don’t seem far off either. On top of all that, it’s almost summer meaning it’s time for everyone to solidify internships, volunteer work, and summer jobs and seniors have to come to terms with the G word (Content warning: DETAILS YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW. SENIORS DO NOT CLICK THE LINK). While I know everyone is stressed, I’m going to be selfish and focus on the seniors, but hopefully everyone can learn a little something about what seniors are dealing with right now. It’s hard to understand until you’re in it, but I’ll do my best…

Countdowns and LastsI took what is probably going to be my last exam in college last week. We’ve completed our last spring break. We’re working on our last research papers. We’ve attended our last Wedding Party. We’re counting down until thesis is due (and hoping time will slow down), until we get a job (and hoping time will speed up and bring that offer sooner), until Senior Week (and hoping thesis will be done and jobs will be acquired by that point), and finally until Commencement. Even though we try not to think about these things, we still do. About 20 times a day, at least. So if your senior friend is staring off into space with a terrified look on her face, don’t ask what they’re thinking, it’s so hard to say out loud.

Plans (ahem… Plans to have plans… or Plans to make plans to have plans…)

Don’t ask what our plan is for after graduation. Yes, it is a better question than, “Do you have a job?” “Have you heard back from *Grad School Name Here*?” “So, you should hear back from Fulbright soon, right?” But asking about our “plans” is not much better, because our plans never really feel like enough. We plan to get jobs, go to grad school, or get a fellowship, but until we hear back, this plan feels really flimsy. We plan to live in the city of our choice, BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE PREVIOUS PLAN DOESN’T IT?! We plan to stay in touch with all of our current friends, but when they aren’t 30 seconds away… what do we do then? Seriously. Someone tell me what to do about that.

Classes

Somehow, despite daily existential crises, we’re supposed to write papers, finish problem sets, do readings thoroughly, attend labs, and uphold our GPA while simultaneously dealing with everything you’ve read above. But if seniors are asking for extensions, they’re probably just being lazy… Let me tell you, senioritis is much more than not wanting to do work, it’s not having time to do work because of everything else we are expected to accomplish.

Life

Seniors have all of the above on their to do lists, but there’s one thing we desperately want to make a priority: our lives, not the future grown-up lives, not the past student lives, our current lives. We want to make the most of the time we have left with our friends, because after May 16th, we might not be in the same country, let alone the same state or city. We want to get two-hour dinners reminiscing about the fools we were first year. We want to sit out on Jaqua and admire that we might never live somewhere this beautiful again. We want to talk to our professors about more than the subjects they teach because this could be the last time we’re surrounded by so many intelligent people in all disciplines. We want to run to our mentors and ask, “WHAT HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN TO TEACH ME?! TEACH ME NOW BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE 6 WEEKS LEFT.” 6 weeks is nothing.

So go hug the seniors in your life, because they don’t know if you’ll be close enough to hug them after May 16th, take advantage of it now.

10 Things We Need Before Graduation (aka AnnE’s Graduation Registry)

It occurred to me recently that upon entering the Real World I’ll need to be armed with more than my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. So I’ve been soliciting advice from real live grownups (and created some of my own) about what we actually need to function in the real world.

FOR THE HOME:

1. A George Foreman Grill

I make really excellent cereal and Poptarts, but my talents end there, hence this recommendation. A George Foreman Grill has you covered for everything from a panini to chicken breasts, and BONUS, it’s really easy to clean.

George Foreman Grill

2. A rice maker

Rice is delicious, cheap, great with absolutely any dish, and really easy to make perfectly once you have one of these gizmos. Much adult. Very grownup.

rice cooker

3. A crockpot

Did you know you can just put food in a crockpot in the morning and when you get home you have a meal?! THAT IS SO COOL. This totally feels like cheating at adulthood, but I’m ok with that.

crockpot

4. A refined taste in alcohol

When attending a Happy Hour or cocktail party at work, it will no longer be appropriate to request vodka and Redbull, vodka and whatever-Crystal-Light-package-you-have-on-hand, vodka shots with orange juice chasers, or Natty Light. Put the “adult” back in “adult beverages” and learn to order something like a boring glass of wine and refrain from openly gagging when drinking a Manhattan.

5. Renter’s Insurance

This advice comes from one of CP&R’s own career counselors, Lesley Bonds, who watched the ceiling of her apartment fall down onto everything she owned because of a broken water heater in the apartment above her. She spent the next few months on friends’ couches until her apartment was repaired and had to pay for all of it herself. Needless to say, she highly recommends renter’s insurance.

6. Laundry know-how

Yes, this was supposed to be something we learned in college, but we didn’t. So, here’s how to fold a fitted sheet, here’s how to know what spin cycle and temperature to use, and here’s what all of those mysterious symbols on your tags mean.

FOR YOUR CAREER:

7. Financial knowledge

This requirement breaks down into 3 sections: budgeting, investing, and saving. We need to learn to budget because allegedly part of this whole career-thing is that someone is going to give us money every 2 weeks or so, meaning, we’ll need to start keeping track of how we spend it. Here’s a helpful guide for learning to budget (and another) (and another)! As for investing, it may not be as essential as budgeting, but knowledge of the stock market does seem to be one of the topics that is important at boring grownup dinner parties, so we should probably learn about it. (Here are a few other reasons investing might be important, in case you aren’t convinced.) Which brings me to the hard one: saving. As I said, money is going to be put into our account EVERY MONTH. THAT’S SO EXCITING, but according to my budget, I can’t spend all of it on ice cream and Golden Oreos… A lot of that salary is going to need to be saved for future expenditures like vacations and houses, but also for more prudent investments like retirement. This seems like a lot, but we still have 2 months and CP&R regularly hosts finance workshops that I highly recommend!

8. A baby lamb voice

If you aren’t lucky enough to know Grace Ditsworth, this title might not immediately make sense, so I’ll explain: Grace has a voice that can calm any pushy employer, annoyed parent, or overwhelmed student and quickly convince them that everything really will be ok. This voice will be absolutely necessary in any stressful work environment, airline confusion, and family engagements. DO NOT graduate without it. So far, I don’t have any references for how to attain it, but I’m hoping that Grace will teach an EPP class on it soon.

9. An (Updated) LinkedIn Profile

There’s much debate about this, so let me start of by saying, Pre-Med Students: no, I’m not talking to you; please don’t get frustrated with me. Everyone else, why not make one while you can still get help from Valinda Lee (Assistant Director of CP&R and Scripps’ Unofficial LinkedIn Master)? Pros: more and more people are using it these days; networking becomes super easy; and (my favorite part) there’s no one page limit! Cons: yet another thing to do.

FOR GENERAL SURVIVAL:

10. Bravery.

Let’s face it, there’s a theme to my blogs this semester: THE REAL WORLD IS SCARY. We’re leaving our very comfortable Claremont bubble and aren’t really sure about what’s ahead. But, as Rory not-so-eloquently states in the penultimate episode of Gilmore Girls, “There are a just a lot of things right now in my life that are undecided. And that used to scare me but now I kinda like the idea that it’s just all kind of… wide open.” So we’ll need to be brave and gain a sense of adventure.

 

… while keeping our parents on speed-dial and remembering that we can continue to make appointments with CP&R even after graduation.