SAP is one of the world’s most innovative and successful business technology companies—which, unsurprisingly, makes it an excellent place to start your career in business or technology. Another thing about SAP that should surprise no one: Their SAP iXP (internship experience program) is consistently recognized as one of the top in the US.

We spoke to three SAP interns about their experience in the award-winning SAP iXp and what they got out of it.

Emery’s Storytelling Skills Carried Her To Success On A Key Global Team

The first thing Emery, a 2020 SAP Corporate Communications intern, noticed about the company was that they had no problem pivoting during a pandemic.

“I was supposed to be in Bellevue, but I couldn’t be more impressed with the way SAP kept the internship program for everyone but made it indistinguishable from the in-person program,” Emery says.

Emery studies communications and in her first corporate role she had tons of exposure to high-level leaders: She had the opportunity to write a leadership profile for an exec, start a joint podcast featuring Deloitte and SAP leaders, and run a remote event featuring the president of an SAP division.

“Just thinking about it makes me smile. It was so cool to be a part of that,” she says.

But it wasn’t just high-level people that made her internship special; it was the respect she was treated with and the combination of mentorship and challenges that helped her grow.

“It’s made me much more confident in my writing and public speaking skills from hosting that internship-wide coffee corner. It went really well and I’m so confident about my communications skills now. I learned so much corporate culture and speech, and I’d love to come back next year,” she says.

Joe Got To See His Work Turn Into Real Dollar-Value For The Company

Joe interned on SAP’s procurement team and immediately found a place for the principles he learned in his marketing classes. It was their job to get the right data and tell the right stories to get SAP clients and customers to continue and expand their relationships with the company. One of his favorite projects: working on FAQs for clients.

“Being able to actually write important questions for clients meant that I was able to actually win big clients for the team,” Joe says. “That’s a really good feeling.”

Of course, SAP’s iXp didn’t become a WayUp #1 internship program just by providing interesting work opportunities. Joe also had the opportunity to join a committee whose sole purpose was to provide a superb experience to all of the interns.

“I’m on this internship committee for the internship program and we help facilitate events,” he explains. “We worked with interns across North America to plan local and large-scale events.”

This was particularly cool for Joe, because he was simultaneously gaining a new type of experience and planning events that would benefit both him and his fellow interns. So whether it was hosting a cooking class or bringing in a guest speaker executive so that people could get a sense of the long-term career prospects at the company, Joe had an entirely new type of challenge that added to his list of skills and boosted his network.

Lindsay Had 3 Internships Before Getting Her Dream Role At The Company: Developing New Talent

Lindsay’s first two internships at SAP were on the Ariba team—SAP’s supply chain technology platform. She worked closely with a team of fellow interns on projects in the areas of customer and employee experience. And that latter function caught her attention. She loved making a difference for the team at SAP, which definitely helped in her last internship.

“In my last role, I worked as a Marketing intern on our Talent Development team. I had the opportunity to work with different leaders and executives to create informative videos, assist with the development of courses and facilitations, as well as create a brand for the team,” she says.

From there, she was able to move, full time, onto a team responsible for professional development programs for early talent: courses, events, mentorship. The very same stuff that helped her grow during her internships.

“SAP continues to encourage and help their employees be the best versions of themselves,” she says.

And that was as true for Lindsay as it was for all of the people she’s helped in the internship program: each engagement and every employee helped shape her career into something that utilized her talents and made her proud.

Now It’s Your Turn: Search For SAP Internships On WayUp And Apply!

In addition to offering all of these incredible opportunities—SAP is also one of the largest internship programs in the world. In 2019 alone, they hired 3,795 interns. So, find your place in life-changing program: search for internships at SAP on WayUp

The post What It’s Like To Work In SAP’s Award-Winning Internship Program appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If there’s one thing about Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) that stands out, it’s the type of work they do. They work on spacecraft, satellites, and technology that saves lives. And that goes for their interns, too. In fact, you might even work alongside an astronaut or one of their immigrant-turned-billionaire owners.

No matter what, you won’t forget interning at SNC. Just take it from these three interns.

1. Gracie Didn’t Get Coffee—She Worked Thermal Systems for a NASA Spacecraft

As an intern in SNC’s Space Systems Group, Gracie was able to work on one of the most exciting projects at SNC: the Dream Chaser^® spaceplane. Originally designed for manned flight, the Dream Chaser has since become an official NASA-backed cargo ship that will transport critical supplies to the International Space Station.

Incredible? Yes. Intimidating? How could it not be? Well, Gracie says SNC didn’t hesitate to ground big-picture goals and thinking with training and support.

“SNC expects results from its interns, but gives us all the tools to ensure we are supported along the way, such that the results are effective and we learn as much as possible,” she explains.

Whether it’s roundtables with former astronauts, one-on-one sessions with company vice presidents, or daily work with assigned mentors, SNC made sure Gracie and her fellow interns had what they needed, not just to boost their resume, but to contribute to high-stakes projects like the Dream Chaser from day one.

2. Ayotunde Spent Two Summers Working On a Mission to Save Our Species (And Getting Invaluable Engineering Experience)

For Ayotunde, a two-time SNC intern, working at SNC wasn’t just an opportunity to learn first-hand about aerospace engineering. It was an opportunity to contribute to saving the human race.

“SNC is one of a few companies working hard to progress humans into a more space-faring society,” he explains. “I truly believe that society will need to make a shift towards space in order to ensure a brighter, safer future and so I see all the work I do here as vital to our species.”

Beyond that mission, Ayotunde found a community of people who care not only about bringing humans to space, but also progressing his development. As a rule, SNC wants people who are willing to learn, and you don’t need to be a full-fledged rocket scientist when you start to work there. That’s why Ayotunde’s manager gave him so many opportunities to work on projects that would teach valuable skills.

“I’ve gained experience that most interns don’t get the chance to do. I’ve run my own tests, designed flight parts and test articles, and gained a lot of experience in what I’m actually interested in,” he says. “I had a very supportive team at each internship that was more than happy to help guide me while I adjusted to the group.”

Of course, it helped that he was doing exactly the type of work he dreamed of doing when he decided to major in Aerospace Engineering.

“When I first started working at SNC, it was my first internship within the space field, and work didn’t feel like work,” he says. “My overall happiness and excitement to come into work and continue my projects was extremely high.”

3. Abigail Helped Protect Her Country While Her Mentor Guided Her Growth

Abigail spent her summer 2020 internship in the Integrated Mission Systems group working on technology that helps protect national security in the United States. Some examples of this SNC tech include tech that helps counter improvised explosive devices.

“During my summer internship at SNC, I was working on a project that will be used for the protection of the United States. I loved the fact that I was able to make a useful contribution to the industry and that what I worked on was important,” she says.

In addition to the gravity of the work, her assigned mentor and the willingness of every employee to help her out made Abigail feel as though SNC’s program was a path to make even more of a difference in the future.

“They made sure I had everything I needed and were more than willing to connect me with people within SNC to help me achieve a better understanding of where I could possibly end up in my future career,” she says.

Of course, the internship was also an opportunity to connect with other people and have some fun, even in the midst of a pandemic. Whether it was through virtual intern events or a program-wide photo contest with prizes, SNC made sure interns still got the chance to build a network with their peers.

Where Could Your Career Go With An SNC Internship?

From engineering to software to finance (and beyond) SNC offers students of all backgrounds the opportunity to change their careers for the better—and do the same for their country and species.

Want to make your mark at an aerospace and defense leader? Check out open positions at Sierra Nevada Corporation on WayUp!

The post 3 SNC Interns Share What It’s Like To Start Your Career Working On Spacecraft And Satellites appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you’re interested in a top business role at a prestigious company, then you’ve probably seen the title “Analyst” while doing your research. And while there’s a wide range of roles that fall under that title, they all involve the parsing, arrangement, and presentation of data. Top businesses need data analysis to function and thrive.

As former Morgan Stanley CTO Tsvi Gal told the UPenn Wharton Business Journal, “We [may be] in banking, but we live and die on information…Data analytics is the oxygen of Wall Street.”

If you want to have a real advantage when applying to roles at banks, tech companies, and everything in between, then you should be learning data science. Here’s a quick look at how—through the help of Emeritus, an education technology company—you can get certified in data science or one of its applications (like machine learning) and finally get the internship or entry-level job you really want.

Get Certified—And Actually Trained—With Courses Run By Columbia, Dartmouth, And Other Top Schools

Emeritus’ mission is to help people learn—safely and remotely—the skills they need to succeed in STEM and business careers. But they’re not in this alone. Emeritus works with a network of experienced professors, business leaders, and elite institutions to ensure that the certificate programs they offer aren’t just theoretical.

In their data science programs, you’ll learn the skills necessary to extract, analyze, and synthesize the data that powers major business decisions. Depending on the specific course or track you select, you’ll learn the concepts and applications of business analytics, data visualization, gamification, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. 

These are the skills that recruiters at Big Four firms, Silicon Valley giants, and major banks are scanning your resume for. And with a certification from a name-brand institution on there, recruiters will be able to tell you really do possess them.

The best part is that most of these courses can be completed in two to three months—essentially, the length of a summer. Whether you’re tackling an internship this summer—or if you had one unfortunately cancel on you—this is the perfect time to get started on the skill set you really need.

How Data Science Skills Can Change Your Career

But like any good data scientist, you’ll probably need to see the numbers on this. Career site Glassdoor regularly marks Data Scientist as one of their Top 5 Jobs in America, noting a median annual base salary of over six figures ($113,309, to be specific). 

But whether you start in data science, data analysis, or even a more tech-heavy lane like machine learning, you’ll be building a career that can often lead to a C-level executive position or acceptance to a top MBA or master’s program.

Want to learn more about how to supercharge your resume—and your career—with a certificate in data science? Check out the courses from Emeritus below:

Applied Data Science with Columbia Engineering 

Professional Certificate in Applied Data Science with Dartmouth 

Applied Machine Learning with Columbia Engineering

Learn Python For Data Analytics

The post The Skill That’s In High Demand By Wall Street Giants And Tech Titans—And How You Can Get Certified In It appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Some internships are memorable because of the friends you make. Others are important for your career because of the skills you learned or the connections you made. And sometimes you get to do work that really makes a difference at the company—and in the world.

Luckily for Justine—an intern-turned-employee at PayPal—she got to make memories doing all of the above in her summer internship on the business operations team.

We spoke to her about her experience at the global payments technology leader. Here are some highlights.

#1: Creating A New Emoji For Venmo

The stuff of tech internship dreams, Justine and her fellow interns were all invited to participate in an “Emoji Hack” for Venmo—a nearly ubiquitous payment app that’s part of the PayPal family. Designed for interns of all functions, the hack teams were made up of PayPal interns from across various teams.

“They made it so that anyone, regardless of tech or creative experience, could participate,” she explains.

Not only was this an incredibly cool opportunity for Justine and her peers—but it was a great example of how innovative tech companies leverage teams with diverse backgrounds and functions to produce game-changing work. The teams came up with so many emojis that, even though Justine and her team won, plenty of the ideas ended up being valuable in the long run.

“We worked on the red cup emoji, which ended up winning the hack,” Justine says. “It just went live the other week, so now I can send it to my friends, which is really satisfying.”

#2: Creating An Innovation Tournament—And Coaching The Winning Team

An innovation tournament is exactly what it sounds like. Teams from around the world at PayPal compete to pitch different ideas that could change one of the PayPal products—and maybe even the world. The crazy part about this event is that the idea for it actually came out of another, earlier event, which Justine also won: the PayPal Intern Summit.

“Toward the end of the summer, the Director of Innovation put together an Intern Summit to work on projects, development, and brainstorm,” Justine explains. “The topic was: ‘How do we increase employee engagement at PayPal?’ We broke out into small teams and came up with ideas.”

Her idea was a global business case competition to drive both innovation and employee engagement at the company, aka the Innovation Tournament. The director in charge of the Intern Summit liked the idea so much that he helped make it a reality. Even though most of the tournament occurred when Justine was back at school, she still got to participate in a meaningful way when she returned.

“It was so cool to know that an idea I had when I was an intern became a reality at this massive company,” she says. “When I rejoined PayPal full time in September, I was able to become an advisor to the team that won. We’re now working on making that idea a reality, too.”

#3: Redesigning The Newsletter For A Multibillion-Dollar Company

Of course, it’s not all field day–esque events like hackathons and tournaments. Justine’s actual work was one of her favorite aspects of the internship.

As a member of the operations team, she was tasked with handling some critical aspects of the company’s internal communications. One of her favorite projects was redesigning the company newsletter.

“We made it easier to read, improved the quality of information, and increased engagement,” she says.

If you’ve never worked at a large corporation before, you might not know how big of a deal something like this is. These newsletters are essential sources of information read by thousands of people around the world. They create a sense of community and bring attention to important initiatives like volunteer efforts and events (like the Emoji Hack and Innovation Tournament). And Justine was able to make significant improvements to PayPal’s—all while working as a summer intern.

Internships Are Proving Grounds For Members Of The PayPal Team

What Justine—and so many of her peers in the program—realized was that the PayPal internship program wasn’t just a funnel for coffee runs and lectures. It was an opportunity to take on high-impact work in an organization full of people who loved to teach and test new talent.

“Now, the projects are more challenging, but the people and the culture are the same,” she says. “And that’s what I loved about PayPal in the first place.”

Want to make your own ✅ on a global technology company? Check out open opportunities at PayPal on WayUp right now!

The post Venmo Emoji Hacks, Innovation Tournaments, And More: My Summer Internship At PayPal appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

A benefits package is more than just health insurance options. It’s also a reflection of how a company views its employees and values their experience and engagement.

A great example of this: the benefits package at Lumen.

Lumen is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions to customers around the world.

Through their extensive global fiber network, Lumen provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. The company has a bold purpose to further human progress through technology.

But Lumen understands a great employee experience is the key to delivering a great customer experience —and these four benefits prove it.

1. They’ll Pay You Extra To Complete Wellness Goals

One of the coolest elements of the Lumen benefits package is its Well Connected wellness program. Basically, you can earn up to $600 for completing healthy actions that range from preventative screenings and condition management programs to fitness events like 5Ks. Even completing small wellness goals like meeting a step goal for the day or flossing your teeth counts!

Usually, a healthy lifestyle costs a little extra, but at Lumen, they make sure their employees are walking away richer for it, and not just in health.

2. They Help You Plan For Your Financial Future—And Your Present

For new grads, saving and spending at an appropriate level can seem like a daunting task, and that’s why Lumen’s online financial planning tools also offer advice and lessons on how to navigate the complex world of retirement saving, budgeting, and fiscal responsibility.

They also want you to be saving for retirement from day one, so they’ll automatically enroll you in the 401(k) program as a part of the onboarding process. But don’t worry, you can opt out at any time!

3. They Help You Balance Your Personal and Professional Lives —With Paid Time Off And Flexible Time Off Plans

When you’re a Lumen employee, you have the opportunity to rest and recharge with their time-off programs. Depending on your role, you may earn a generous Paid Time Off allotment or have the ability to take off as much time as you need—as long as you complete your work and have your manager’s permission—through the Flexible Time Off program.  

The collaborative team environment at Lumen helps ensure colleagues are supported during their time off. So, you can take that dream vacation you’ve always wanted to and get back to doing your best work.

4. It’s Not Just Stuff You Need, It’s Stuff You Want

Having fun and de-stressing is also a part of a healthy lifestyle. And that’s why Lumen helps you do that, too.

Lumen offers its employees discounts on items such as movie tickets and trips to Disney. They also offer partial reimbursement on gym memberships. So, whether you need to sweat out the stress on the treadmill or unwind on Splash Mountain, you can do it for less with Lumen’s programs.

And this is just the start of a great benefits package!

Want to learn more about what Lumen offers students and recent grads? Check out open opportunities at Lumen on WayUp!

The post 4 Amazing Benefits At This Tech Company (That Make It Perfect For Recent Grads) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

The good news about sales—especially at growing technology companies—is that it’s a meritocracy. The better you do, the more money you’ll make, and the farther your career can go. If you’re dedicated, driven, and talented, it’s a short path to a $100k salary…and beyond.

The problem: Getting hired isn’t a meritocracy. It’s often about having the right experience, the right internships, or—unfortunately—knowing the right people. When you’re a new graduate with potential than proof, those things can be hard to come by.

That’s why SV Academy was founded. Through a four-week, remote intensive training program that involves learning sales methodologies, tech platforms like Salesforce, social intelligence training, and personal coaching, you can become the perfect candidate for sales roles in tech hubs like San Francisco and New York City. And it’s completely free of charge.

Here’s a look at how three different people changed their lives—and their careers—through SV Academy’s Business Development Fellowship.

Lupe Paid Off Half Her Student Loans And Broke Six Figures In Her First Year

Lupe, who graduated from the fellowship at SV Academy in July 2018, was living in Madrid teaching English before her program started. She wanted to come back to the states, but living in her home city was prohibitively expensive, and she had student loans to pay off, too.

“I needed financial freedom and stability. I grew up in foster care, so I lived all over the Bay Area. I knew that education was my only way out, and being from the Bay Area, working in tech was the way to make money,” Lupe says. “And I knew that I once I got in, I’d be in, but I didn’t have a network in the industry.”

That’s when one of her professors forwarded her an email from SV Academy. It almost sounded too good to be true. A free, remote training course with job interviews at the end of it? But the concept wasn’t too unfamiliar for here.

“I knew a lot of people who were doing these bootcamps for coding, and this was the same thing for sales,” Lupe explains.

So she applied, got in, and began training remotely with SV Academy. She and her classmates were learning sales methodologies, emotional intelligence, and gaining experience doing hands-on homework and projects. It was hard work, and coordination was difficult at times, but that just showed Lupe how serious everyone was about making it in tech.

“I remember one time trying to make a meeting with someone in New York while I was in Madrid, and someone else was in Hawaii,” Lupe recalls. “It took about 400 calendar invites but eventually we got it right.”

Finally, after all of the coaching, training, and collaborating, she was ready to apply for jobs. SV Academy helped with that, too.

“They put your resume in front of recruiters, and the companies reach out to SV Academy to request interviews with you,” Lupe says.

And it wasn’t just securing interviews that SV Academy helped with. Every fellow undergoes rigorous interviewing, too.

“Interviewing is just another skill,” she explains. “We were taught to get our answers down to 90 seconds. We were taught to hit on certain strengths and points. They’d give you a cheat sheet to help learn about the products and the company.”

And when she finally arrived, Lupe was able to put those skills to good use and achieve the goals she had set out to: financial stability and freedom.

“I paid off $33,000 of my student loans in the first year,” Lupe tells us. “I made over six figures last year. The best part is that you’re working for yourself. If you decide to stay here a little longer and get an extra meeting, that’s money in your pocket. I grind. I let my reps know that if they need me I’m here.”

How Marcos Doubled His $45K Salary After Graduating From SV Academy

Like a lot of great salespeople, Marcos’ story is full of ups and downs. Growing up in New Mexico, he excelled at sports and school, but his real dream was a career in Silicon Valley.

“I remember reading Entrepreneur magazine as a kid and ‘thinking I want to be on the cover,'” Marcos tell us.

And so he made a plan and followed it. Get into school as a division-one athlete? Done. Graduate in three years as valedictorian of his state university? Check. So what was the hold up on his dream? The hard part, he realized, was that no matter how impressive his grades or his story were, his applications were still getting rejected—over 200 of them.

So, he decided to shelve his Silicon Valley dreams for a while and pursue another dream: professional sports. After becoming a nationally ranked triathlete and qualifying for Team USA, an injury forced him to reconsider a role in tech.

Without connections or prior experience, he ended up taking a role at a local tech firm in New Mexico. It was grueling work with little reward, and, without proper training, Marcos didn’t feel like he was building the right kind of experience. He almost considered giving up on working in tech altogether. That was until he heard about SV Academy through one of his college honors society newsletters.

“I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I knew I needed a way in,” Marcos told us. However, when he arrived, he instantly recognized that the fellowship was going to be useful. His athletic experience had prepared him for training like this.

“SV Academy aligns you with three coaches,” he explains. “You have a communications coach who’s going to help you build your brand, check your writing, and teach you grammar and syntax. The mindset coach is really about breaking you down and building you up. They try to find what your weaknesses and strengths are. This helps you develop your growth mindset and emotional intelligence, which are essential because sales roles face rejection a lot.”

The final coach is one who stays with you for a year after you graduate from the program and start your first job. Marcos’ coach was a helpful third-party mentor and sounding board. He even helped him negotiate his salary and angle for a promotion.

After every challenge he faced, Marcos was finally thriving in a Silicon Valley tech role—and he had doubled his salary from his first full-time job.

Rachel Used Her Journalistic Skills To Crush Her Quota And Soar To A Six-Figure Salary

“Before SV Academy, I was studying journalism at school, and I loved it, but I was nervous because it was such a turbulent industry,” Rachel, an October 2017 graduate of SV Academy, explains. “And I always had an interest in business because my dad was a small business owner.”

She wasn’t sure how to break into the business world, though. Her applications were consistently getting rejected or yielding no response.

“I had a non-traditional background. I was in journalism. I didn’t have any sales experience,” she says. “But I knew that if I had a shot to get in front of the right people, I would blow them away.”

As it turns out, the team at SV Academy thought so, too.

“I stumbled upon SV Academy through my honors society at CalPoly. I thought, ‘Sales is really scary, but I think I’d be good at it.’ Journalism is all about asking the right questions and making people feel comfortable enough to open up to you,” Rachel says. “Sales is the same way.”

Rachel was right about that. After the same training that Marcos, Lupe, and all of the other SV Academy fellows went through, she was so well prepared for the role she ended up taking that she was quickly promoted, breaking into the six-figure salary zone in just a year. In her first quarter as a fully ramped Account Executive, she hit 558 percent of her quota. But even after all of her self-driven success, she still credits SV Academy with getting her in the door.

“We did so much prep at SV Academy. We did at least three mock interviews with mentors in the SV Academy network. We had to get our stories down, what our strengths were, what was a challenge we had, and how we overcame it,” she explains. “We started to develop what the ideal profile looked like. That’s how you really get the job.”

Before They Got Their Start, SV Academy Got Its Own

SV Academy was created by a serial founder with a story much like those of his students. Growing up in government housing, Rahim Fazal didn’t have the resources to attend college. However, through a relentless desire to learn and an entrepreneurial spirit, he cut his own path into tech, founding a marketing tech company that would eventually be acquired by a multibillion-dollar software giant, Oracle.

When he co-founded SV Academy with tech executive Joel Scott, his aim was to give others the tools that empowered him: mentorship, knowledge, and an opportunity to make hard work count toward a fulfilling career.

But it’s not just the students getting a leg up. The team at SV Academy solves an equally pressing issue for tech companies: a lack of qualified, ready-to-go sales talent. Spotting high-potential salespeople is difficult—and tapping into that potential with the right training is even harder. SV Academy takes the guesswork out of the occasion, and companies pay to get connected with graduates of the fellowship.

If you want to join this ecosystem of coaches, leaders, and rising stars, apply to the Business Development Fellowship at SV Academy on WayUp!

The post I Went From 200 Rejected Applications To Making Over $100K In Tech Sales—Here’s How appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you overheard someone talking about a tech company with 300 million customers and 19,000 employees in more than 20 countries around the globe, you wouldn’t guess they were talking about Asurion. In fact, you may not have even heard of Asurion.

What’s even more remarkable is that you might be one of those customers and still not know about the company.

Asurion is a global provider of electronics protection and tech support that helps customers get the most out of their technology. But what makes them different isn’t just their massive scale and innovative products—it’s the way the company works for its employees.

Here are four things that set Asurion apart from other tech giants.

1. Asurion’s Genuine Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion Make For The Ideal Work Environment

Diversity. Inclusion. They’re not buzzwords for Asurion. They go above and beyond to both cultivate diverse teams and foster an inclusive environment. And not just because it’s better for business, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Asurion’s employee resource groups are a critical component of the diversity and inclusion mosaic. With ever-growing involvement and chapters around the world, these groups actively spark important, candid conversations that affect change throughout the organization. One such example is the creation of a transformative educational program called Active Ally. This interactive training helps equip interested team members with a how-to for being an effective supporter of their teammates who are part of the LGBTQ community.

But whether it’s to open minds or change policies, important conversations about diversity and inclusion happen at Asurion—and the company stands behind them, ready to act.

2. You Don’t Have To Leave To Grow

Asurion’s massive global presence and wide-ranging business model allow for personal and professional growth without ever leaving the organization. And there isn’t just one way to advance your career, either.

If you’re looking to move into management, their focus on mentorship and skill-growth will help prepare you for your next promotion.  

Even if you want to switch functions or fields—and go from marketing to product development, for example—there are opportunities to help other teams and see if it’s a good fit for you. Teams across the company can put out requests for extra assistance on projects, and Asurion employees, with permission, have the chance to assist with a different team. Essentially, you get to try out a new career path without leaving your job behind.

But what really sets Asurion apart from other companies is the ability to grow as either a leader or an individual contributor. You don’t have to become a manager to get title promotions, raises and increased responsibilities. If you want to move up as an engineer, for example, you can focus on a technical path, learning new skills and tackling more complicated problems on your way up.

3. They’re A Truly Global Organization—With Global Opportunities

Asurion works in 21 countries, and when you’re on their team, so could you.

Whether it’s through a product launch or a new office opening, Asurion’s rapidly expanding global business affords its employees opportunities to live and work in new places. If you’re a proven high-performer with experience and leadership potential, then you could request the opportunity to lead or assist a new team in getting off the ground in a fun, far-flung locale.

And that’s just one part of the “journey” that Asurion offers to members of the team.

4. Their ‘Journey Team’ Model Completely Changes The Way Work Is Done—For The Better

Most tech companies suffer from employee silos (programmers work with programmers, UX designers work with UX designers, and product marketers work with other marketers). This staggering separation of equally important talent can lead to lags in innovation, product deployment, and creativity. But more than anything, it can make work frustrating and boring.

That’s why Asurion employs an organizational structure called the Journey Team model. Journey Teams are groups of collaborators that all work on the same product or feature from start to finish, rather than tackling separate assigned tasks on their own.

Journey Teams produce final products efficiently by incorporating 360-degree feedback throughout the entire process. Individuals working on these teams gain exposure to the full scope of the project process and get a better sense of the company’s overall goals, which helps the deployment of future products.

And for someone early in their career, working on a functionally diverse team could help you figure out your next career move.

How’s that for a journey?

Want to see what else sets them apart? Check out opportunities at Asurion on WayUp!

The post 4 Ways This Multibillion-Dollar Tech Company Stands Out From The Silicon Valley Crowd appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Internships are learning experiences, but they’re also (usually) full-time jobs. And whether you’re a marketer or an engineer or a recruiter-in-the-making, you’re not just there to learn about your field. You’re there to practice it.

And at WW—the rebranded, newly tech-focused company once known as Weight Watchers—interns aren’t making any coffee runs. Under the guidance of mentors and expert managers, they’re working on projects that have a real impact on the WW product.

But don’t take our word for it. Hear it from the interns themselves. Here are five ways WW interns have seriously impacted the company—and their careers—for good.

1. Creating An Accessibility Lab To Open Their Product To Even More People

Leah wants to make the world more accessible—and her summer internship at WW gave her the opportunity to do just that. As a member of the WW Accessibility team, Leah was able to work on a proposal for a game-changing project: a dedicated Accessible Innovations Lab.

The project, at first, seemed a little daunting.

“This was my first time creating a proposal, but my manager provided invaluable mentorship and guidance throughout the process,” Leah said.

The lab would be a space where product and tech people could come to test their various designs and theories with accessibility devices to determine compatibility and optimize for accessibility. Beyond the benefits to the WW community members, Leah was able to learn some important foundational skills.

“We approached this problem in the same way that Product Managers do,” Leah said. “After speaking to numerous experts within WW, I was able to use the RICE prioritization model, create a viable product roadmap, classify our project’s MVPs (minimum viable products), KPIs (key performance indicators), and use them to plan for future iterations.”

2. Building Three New Features In An ‘Agile’ Environment

Srineetha worked as a Product Management intern on the Studio Tech team. They manage the WW app with millions of users around the globe.

“I had an amazing learning experience with a steep learning curve where I learned about everything from requirements gathering and UI/UX design to engineering and QA in an agile environment,” she said.

Agile is a method of tech product development employed by some of the world’s most lauded tech companies. Learning to be a Product Manager in an Agile environment makes Srineetha a competitive applicant for future roles at WW and beyond. And all that learning wasn’t taking place in a classroom setting, either.

“My manager was extremely supportive and gave me the freedom to lead the process, which I’m grateful for as I’m a strong believer in learning by doing,” Srineetha explained. “One highlight of my internship was deciphering the B2B side of the studio business by talking to stakeholders from across the world.”

3. Learning A New Programming Language And Working On The Android App

Swetha spent her summer internship working on the Android development team as a Software Engineering intern.

“I even had the opportunity to learn a new language called Kotlin during my very first task,” Swetha says. “My team was very supportive, which allowed me to make important contributions.”

Her professional development wasn’t just confined to technical skills either. Through networking events and Lunch ‘n Learns, Swetha was able to interact with and learn from various C-suite executives like the CEO, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. She and the other interns also participated in mock interview sessions to hone their skills for the post-grad job hunt.

“As a young female engineer in tech, I’ve found WW to be an inspiring work environment to be in,” Swetha said. “I’m confident that the skills and experience I’ve gained will help me find success after graduation.”

4. Contributing To The Codebase Of A Multibillion-Dollar Company

“One thing that separates WW from other companies is that we have a chance to contribute to the codebase of the company,” said Songren, a former AI Full Stack Software Engineering Intern.

A codebase is the selection of source code that serves as the foundation of a company’s tech product. And as a multibillion-dollar wellness technology company, contributing to the codebase isn’t a task they take lightly.

“Interns are not treated differently. Instead, we work closely with full-time employees,” he added.

Over the course of his internship, Songren was able to work alongside industry experts in the fields of AI and engineering—and the code he worked on became a part of that foundational codebase. How’s that for making a mark?

5. Improving The User Experience, By Talking To Actual Users

“This summer, I worked with the Experience Research team to conduct qualitative research by interviewing WW members,” another former WW intern, Ashten, said. “It’s been really rewarding to hear how WW has changed the lives of so many individuals.”

Even more so than that, Ashten gathered invaluable user experience data that she later had the challenge of compiling into actionable, impactful recommendations.

“Learning more about members’ needs through these interviews helps the Product and Tech teams design tools for wellness that really work,” Ashten said.

This hunt for valuable user data also provided her with a wealth of interesting and educative experiences.

“One of the highlights of my summer was attending studio workshops in the Bay Area,” Ashten says. “Although I arrived with the intention of simply recruiting members for research opportunities, I left feeling inspired by the community, the coaches, and the experience of seeing WW’s mission in action.”

Want to get inspired—and inspire others? Check out internship opportunities at WW on WayUp!

The post 5 Ways WW Interns Seriously Changed The Company—And Their Careers—For Good appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Not every story in the fintech world is the same. Even though most people who work in finance roles generally studied something like accounting, economics, or business, it doesn’t mean everyone did. In fact, some of the best people in the field are polymaths, with interests in both finance and technology.

Prudential—a financial services leader and a household name in the insurance industry—is full of stories like these. Their CEO and Chairman Charles Lowrey actually started his career as an architect. And that kind of intellectual diversity and entrepreneurial spirit is what makes Prudential so successful.

Here are a few stories of people who broke away from what they studied in college and found a new path for themselves—and their passions—at Prudential.

Bernardine: From Accountant To Developer

Bernardine started as an accounting major, but found that one of her favorite parts of the craft was the growing number of ways to organize and analyze data with digital tools. When she took an internship with Prudential, she found the perfect way to make this into a career.

“As someone with a non-tech background working in technology, I feel that the best thing I did was start at Prudential with an internship,” she says. “During this time I learned Tableau, the data visualization application for which I’m now a developer. I sat down with my mentor multiple times per week and learned a lot that way. I’m very grateful for that.”

This combination of informal and formal learning—through classes and training tools—allowed her to become a full-fledged technologist. Now, she works as a Tableau Developer on one of Prudential’s innovative Agile teams.

“Just knowing that my skills can span different parts of this business and that I can aid customers, customer service reps, wholesalers alike by displaying data insights in a visually creative way is really exciting,” Bernardine says.

And none of that would have been possible without the open and supportive culture she found during her internship.

Shannon: From Economics To Tech Talent Development

“When I attended Villanova University, I wasn’t someone who went into college knowing exactly what I wanted to do,” Shannon, who’s been at Prudential for almost three years now, tells us. And while she didn’t know exactly where her career would go, she knew what she wanted it to look like.

“I knew that I wanted to make a difference and serve as a resource to people. I ended up majoring in Economics and minoring in Communication. I thought this combination would prepare me well for working in the ‘business world,’” she explains.

While it wasn’t necessarily the “business world,” Prudential gave her an opportunity to do just what she set out to. After an internship in the Office of the CIO at Prudential, she found that she actually had a passion for technology talent development. Thanks to her supportive team, she was able to hone the skills involved and secure a full-time job offer.

Her current role puts her on the frontlines of talent development, where she places aspiring technologists into the right roles in the company’s summer internship program. Now, she’s a resource to both others and the business as a whole.

Abhinai: From Mechanical Engineering To Project Management

Abhinai did start on the tech side of things, but that’s not exactly where he ended up.

He studied Mechanical Engineering during college and planned on pursuing a career in the field. However, after a few internships across industries, he found that his interest in business was just as strong as his passion for technology. As you might be able to guess by now, Prudential gave him an opportunity to combine these and turn them into a career.

Abhinai now works on the business side of tech, implementing and managing new technologies that make life easier for his colleagues and the work they do more effective.

“I work on improving the employee experience by introducing and implementing new technologies,” he explains. “So this includes everything from building chatbots to help employees find information quicker or implementing the right survey tool to measure the employee experience.”

Despite his experience with business and tech, moving up on the Project Management team took a lot of learning on his part. But Prudential had his back the whole time.

“A major reason I decided to stay with Prudential was the supportive culture. My team and manager took the time to mentor and coach me. I took training and development courses offered to all employees, but the guidance from people I worked with helped me learn much more than I could have on my own,” he says.

Prudential Culture Is Built For Learners, Growers, And Doers

It’s no accident that Prudential is packed with stories like these. They seek top talent—not a predetermined list of skills and experience—especially when it comes to interns and early-career folks. And that’s a sentiment that goes all the way to the top.

Want to carve your own path at an innovative fintech firm? Check out open opportunities at Prudential on WayUp!

The post I Started Out As An Accountant, And Now I’m A Developer (And Other Non-Traditional Paths Into Finance & Tech) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Field Engineers design and deploy the networks and technologies that make things happen. And when it comes to T-Mobile—a wireless leader that’s spent the past decade totally disrupting the industry—making things happen can mean some pretty amazing stuff.

To get a better look at this less-understood engineering specialty—and life at a leading tech company—we spoke to Terry, a Senior Manager in field engineering at T-Mobile.

Here’s what he told us.

1. T-Mobile Wants To See You Succeed—And Do It On Your Own Terms

What makes T-Mobile different? Well, aside from their game-changing no-contract, no-hidden-fee wireless plans, Terry says it’s the way they approach success. It’s not just what’s good for the company. It’s what good for their people, too.

T-Mobile will work with you to accomplish your professional goals, even if that means going off the beaten path.

2. T-Mobile Is Going To Invest In You, Seriously

How does T-Mobile help you accomplish your goals? They invest in you through education, new opportunities, and training.

That’s actually one of the things that Terry has enjoyed most about his time at T-Mobile. As a manager, he’s seen countless employees take advantage of T-Mobile’s training programs and generous reimbursements for outside education. Not only does this make the organization stronger, Terry says, but it gives him a sense of pride to know that he’s helping his team accomplish their dreams.

“It’s actually one of the best programs I’ve heard of in the industry,” Terry says. “We’ll pay for schooling up to $5,200 a year. We have a number of people who are engineers going in to get their MBAs. That helps them become better engineers, because they understand the technology part of it, but it’s still a business, so understanding that side of it leads to better decisions on the technology side.”

In fact, Terry’s wife—who also works for T-Mobile—just finished her MBA. And, he says, she didn’t have to pay a cent out of pocket.

3. You’ll Become An Expert On Emerging Technologies—Like 5G

But it’s not just the formal education that helps people at T-Mobile grow.

They’re leading the charge to 5G. And that means everyone on the team is learning quickly about the technology that will come to shape the next wave of innovation.

“A year ago, none of us really knew about 5G or the technology behind it. We didn’t quite understand the capabilities of it,” Terry says. “As we’ve progressed through this year, we’ve all become really good at building, managing, and optimizing 5G networks.”

5G networks will allow for a new type of hyperconnectivity that can enable long-sought-after breakthroughs like fully autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and seamless communication. As a Field Engineer at T-Mobile, you’ll work directly with the implementation and design of the 5G networks that’ll make all of these breakthroughs possible.

This is great news for your career, because you’ll become an expert on one of the most important technologies of the next few decades.

4. You’ll Never Get Bored

You’ll never get bored as a Field Engineer because, according to Terry, you’re always tackling something new.

“It’s not like you sit in a cube and do a bunch of math. It’s really about communication. It’s really about consulting with your peers and with your teams. It’s about making the best decision possible for the network and the customers,” he explains.

Field engineers are the ones actually designing and implementing new networks, technologies, and capabilities for T-Mobile. There are new challenges and constraints posed by every project, and you’re constantly working with the latest technology. This also means field engineers can go a bunch of different directions professionally.

“One quote we have up on the wall is, ‘Wow, I didn’t learn this in school.’ And we take a sense of pride in that. It’s not just about using what you learned in school. If it was just about that, then this would be a boring job,” he says. “You’re learning something every day, and it keeps us motivated and entertained and on the cutting edge of what we’re hoping to deploy.”

5. They Want Work To Be Your Happy Place

All of these elements of the T-Mobile culture, Terry explains, are just part of the company’s commitment to making work a positive experience.

Terry’s team—and many others at T-Mobile—find success by learning from each other, counting on each other’s talents, and supporting each other personally. The environment at T-Mobile is just different, Terry explains.

“This is a family. It really is. I know people say that and it’s cliché,” he says. “But we depend on each other. The whole idea is to make this a happy place to work, and I feel like we’ve done a good job of that.”

Want to join the field engineering family? Check out open opportunities at T-Mobile on WayUp!

The post 5 Things I Love About Being A Field Engineer At T-Mobile appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

What makes a dream job? For many recent college grads, the answer is something along the lines of great management, stellar training, and making a difference. Most people also want exposure to a variety of fields and functions at a business so they can see what they’re best at and start planning for the long term.

All of these things are hallmarks of the Customer Support Department at Bloomberg. At least, that’s how Gustavo felt when he learned about the role during his job search last year. He found all that—and way more—when he came to Bloomberg’s Customer Support team.

What The Customer Support Team Is Actually Like

The signature of every Bloomberg early-career role is a rigorous training program. This was good news for Gustavo.

“The first time I came here for my interview was overwhelming because I shadowed someone who was very good at what she was doing,” he says. “I thought she had eight arms because she was doing so much so quickly.”

His first thought after that: “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.”

That was before he began the 9-week training program, which includes instructor-led sessions in a classroom setting, guided activities, coaching, online exercises and textbooks, study sessions with peers in your cohort, and, finally, exams to ensure you’re totally prepared for the role. The training covers navigation of the Terminal, the variety of products and services provided, and the procedures that make Bloomberg’s customer support unparalleled in the industry.

“By going through the training, you get a really good vision and you have tons of support,” Gustavo says. “You start to see how much you can accomplish when things are structured and layered in a way that’s easy to follow.”

What does the role actually consist of? It’s centered around the company’s flagship product: the Bloomberg Terminal. This is the hub of Bloomberg’s financial information network. That’s where the company’s clients and customers—which include everyone from college freshmen to high-level fund managers—access what they need to do their work.

As a member of Bloomberg’s Customer Support team, you’ll be fielding calls and message requests from clients—as well as Bloomberg’s 19,000 employees—in real time. Bloomberg Customer Support representatives are subject matter experts at handling general inquires as well as technical troubleshooting, while also escalating  problems to the right people. For example, they might redirect an inquiry regarding a financial analysis to the Analytics or Global Data teams, or accounting questions to Bloomberg’s Client Financial Services team.

It’s problem-solving, multitasking, and providing high-level support to Bloomberg clients all over the world. These are essential business skills most people don’t get to practice once a week in their entry-level roles. Gustavo and his peers do them every day.

Solving Problems—In More Than One Language

For Gustavo, one of the most appealing aspects of the job was being able to utilize his fluency in English and Portuguese . For customer support roles in the US, Bloomberg specifically seeks people who can speak both English and another language, such as Portuguese, Spanish, or French.

“It was a big attraction for me because, when I interviewed, I met 10 or 11 Portuguese speakers and I had just taken a course in localization, which is essentially working with products on a global scale for a specific language and target language markets,” he explains.

“Many of my calls are in Portuguese,” he explains. “There are a lot more Brazilian users than I expected. It’s actually a very large consumer base that we work with.”

‘Bloomberg,’ ‘Finance,’ And ‘Customer Support’ Don’t Mean What You Think They Do

Despite all of these challenges and opportunities, Gustavo says, he could have never pictured himself at the company before he arrived.

“I never considered myself someone who could work for a finance company,” he explains. “A lot of the people I talk to now were initially in the same boat as me, but many of us have realized just how many different possibilities there are at a company like Bloomberg.”

The wide breadth of opportunities at the company isn’t just covered by the terms “finance,” “technology,” or “media”–Bloomberg is truly a global information and technology company. The company is involved in so many initiatives that, no matter what he learns about the company, Gustavo is always surprised by something new.

“One day I was here eating lunch and I spoke to someone sitting nearby, and it turns out he was working on gun control through Bloomberg Philanthropies and I had no idea that we did that,” Gustavo says. “So, you find yourself having these conversations and realizing that there are so many opportunities in this company.”

At Bloomberg, taking your career to the next level really can mean anything. It’s just up to you to figure out what that is.

Interested in finding the perfect career challenge for you? Check out open opportunities at Bloomberg on WayUp!

The post Bloomberg’s Customer Support Is Unrivaled And You Could Be A Part Of This Global, Multilingual Team appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Insurance, benefits, premiums, networks, it can all be very confusing, but it really shouldn’t be. Healthcare is essential—and not just to being a productive professional. Regular checkups, access to care, and the peace of mind that comes with them are just a few of the most important things your benefits could give you—if you can figure out how to use them.

And that’s how Accolade made a splash in the market. They’re a solution to the multibillion-dollar waste problem in the fragmented US healthcare system. Their model is easy to use, highly personalized, and powered by a combination of intuitive tech and genuine human interaction.

How Accolade Made Health And Benefits Easier, Better, And More Efficient

For too long, healthcare and benefits systems have been weighed down by companies who rely too much on impersonal, robotic software or  humans with no ability to leverage tech. There was very little coordination between providers of care, insurance companies, and the people who actually needed help. Basically, you were either talking to a robot—or someone who didn’t know what they’re talking about—and neither of them could actually solve your problems.

And the resulting fragmentation has led to waste that totals in the billions every year.

All of these inefficiencies in the healthcare and benefits market created an opportunity to give people what they actually wanted—and needed—while actually saving money for both companies and employees. Following in the footsteps of other great 21st-century companies, Accolade combined innovative tech with live help from human experts to make a process that actually—and finally—works.

How does it work? When you’re a member of Accolade’s network, you can call or text them at any time with any healthcare question. Questions like, “Which doctor should I see?” or “I threw out my back. What should I do?” will be met with helpful, direct answers. Accolade’s recommendations are backed by a combination of real, human healthcare experts and cutting-edge technologies like smart analytics and machine learning.

Whether they’re helping their members use their benefits, get to the right doctor, resolve a bill, or manage chronic conditions, Accolade does it with smart, human helpfulness.

Working At Accolade Is More Than A Chance To Help Change Healthcare—It’s A Chance To Start An Incredible Career

It should come as no surprise that a company dedicated to the health of others is just as dedicated to the long-term happiness, development, and success of their own people.

“Accoladians,” as they’re called on Accolade’s three US campuses in Seattle, WA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Philadelphia, PA, are all a part of a culture that prizes diversity, collaborative achievement, and real impact. Company-wide days of service, a casual dress code, and a healthy work-life balance are just a few of the things that make Accolade’s culture another extension of their dedication to better health.

The company is particularly proud of the opportunities they offer new grads. By joining their Healthcare Associate or Coordinator programs, new members of the workforce are able to find their place in a high-growth, fast-paced industry. New Accoladians train with industry veterans, receive close mentorship, and become experts on the kind of tech that will define the industry for decades to come.

Plus, the customer-facing skills and product expertise they pick up can carry them to all kinds of careers in the tech space.

Ultimately, Accolade’s answer to the problem of healthcare inefficiencies is people like you. How’s that for high impact?

Eager to change healthcare for the better? Check out open opportunities and learn more at Accolade on WayUp!

The post This Company Turned A Confusing Product Into One People Love—And Made A Huge Impact appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Sierra Nevada Corporation is a lot of things. One of the largest female-owned defense contractors in the US? Yes. An aerospace leader playing a key role in the next phase of NASA’s missions to the International Space Station with their Dream Chaser^® spacecraft? Absolutely. But what you might not know about SNC is that they’re also one of the best places to start your career in the high-stakes aerospace and defense industry.

Here’s a quick look at some of the paths they offer college students and new grads with internships and entry-level roles.

1. Computer Science and Information Technology

While it might feel like we all need computers to survive, that sentiment is actually true for people in high-stakes situations, like navigating outer space or the cockpit of a fighter jet. Information technology and computer science are more critical than ever in these exacting environments, and that’s why SNC offers superb training programs, high-impact internships and fulfilling careers to people who have studied software engineering, product support, and information technology.

2. Engineering

If computers are the brain of SNC’s technology, then engineers are the ones creating the body. While engineers are obviously in demand at SNC, the company offers something unique to their structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers: The ability to work on a nimble, elite team alongside successful industry veterans.

And when SNC talks about working alongside industry pros, they’re not kidding. Your mentor might be an astronaut or a former military commander.

3. Business

SNC is in the business of exploring the final frontier and securing our nation’s safety, but they’re also a business. And businesses require professionals who are skilled in areas like operations, finance, and supply chain. Starting your technology business career with SNC is an opportunity to contribute to some of the most important goals in the world—and learn how to keep a successful, multibillion-dollar company running.

4. Emerging Technologies

If you’re an engineer, coder, or data scientist interested in the technology that defines today’s world, and also the technology which will define tomorrow’s world, then emerging technologies is the career path for you.

SNC is one of the best places to not only learn about and contribute to the advancement of new technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and next-generation cyber security, but also to apply these technologies immediately to the most pressing problems in the field.

How do you improve the unmanned vehicles of the future? How do you secure cyber-borders and confidential information? How do you predict machine failure before it happens? When you work on emerging technologies at SNC, you could solve these questions—and more.

Whether it’s the importance of the work or the “sky’s-the-limit” approach to personal development that you’re attracted to, SNC is the perfect place to start your career in aerospace and defense.

Ready for takeoff? Check out open opportunities at Sierra Nevada Corporation on WayUp!

The post 4 Ways To Start Your Career In Aerospace And Defense At A Multi-Billion Dollar Company appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Before Nico was a rising star in L’Oréal’s management development program (called “Pépinière” after the French word for a tree nursery), he was a college sophomore with a wide range of interests, a ton of ambition, and basically no idea how to get where he wanted to go.

That is, until one weekend during his sophomore year changed the direction of Nico’s career.

We spoke to Nico about his journey to the job he never knew he wanted at L’Oréal and how their Sophomore Seminar weekend program started his journey there.

How did you come to work at L’Oréal? How did you hear about the Sophomore Seminar?

So, really since I started college, I’ve been used to using both sides of my brain. As a freshman, I thought about becoming a designer, but I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into using just one side of my brain.

[Nico is referring to the idea that the “right side” of the brain is used for creativity, expression, and imagination, whereas the “left side” is used for more analysis, math, and logic.]

I went to NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. That’s where you make your own major. Mine focused on Fashion Business and Marketing. I also minored in Psychology. I took business and marketing classes but also mixed in a lot of interdisciplinary, theoretical courses.

My sophomore year, while I was interning at a media company as a marketing intern, I got an email from WayUp saying, ‘L’Oréal wanted me to apply.’  In full transparency, I thought it might’ve been fake. Why would they want me? I hadn’t really done anything yet. I was a sophomore!

But I applied, because, ‘Why not?’ At this point, I’m a sophomore and I’m trying to do anything and everything that will help me gain exposure into a potential career. So, I submitted my resume, cover letter, and a few short answers about why I’d be interested in the program.

Before I knew it, I was on this massive escalator in Hudson Yards heading toward this huge brass sign that said, ‘’L’Oréal.’ I was like, ‘Wow, there’s this huge company and they’re interested in me and value my input and opinion.’

What was the Sophomore Seminar program like?

The first day was a deep dive into the company. We had leaders come in from all four divisions: Consumer, Active Cosmetics, Professional Products, and Luxury. They talked to us about what they’re doing today; what the market has historically looked like; and what the future might hold.

That was the first day, then we did something called a “Retail Safari.” That’s when you go into a store and see what the consumer is seeing when they go to buy your products. We visited a Duane Reade, a Sephora, and a Bloomingdale’s.

It was so interesting to hear leaders speak on each of these brands in such a business-savvy way, and then to go into the stores and see the actual fruit of their labor.

The next day, we did a business case and debrief. The business case involved Garnier hair care products. It was about 30 minutes of work, then we all gave 5-minute presentations. It was all very casual, but you still felt like your opinion mattered, so you wanted to do a good job. After that the day was over, and I was like, ‘Oh, that was a great experience, but I’m not really expecting a career to come out of it.’

And that’s not because they didn’t communicate it to us where it could lead, but because I was a sophomore and I didn’t see the potential in myself that they saw in me.

Fast forward and it’s halfway through junior year. The HR business partners I met emailed me to say they were coming to campus for an info session with former interns. It was a great opportunity to learn more, so I applied. Two Skype interviews later, I received an offer to join the internship program that summer.

I was just over the moon. Coming from a non-business background, this whole recruiting world wasn’t very familiar to me. I expected myself to be a graduating senior looking for a creative agency or marketing job, but I was a junior who had already secured a summer internship like four months in advance, so that was a whole new world to me.

Tell us about your internship experience.

I was placed in the Luxe division on Lancome doing Consumer Relations Management, Loyalty, and Omnimedia. It was a wide breadth of subjects, but all kind of digitally based.

The summer internship combines two things: your day-to-day stuff and your final project. And L’Oréal is definitely there for you when you need them, but they also encourage you to forge your own path. That can be intimidating at first, especially if you’re someone who hadn’t been in a corporate environment before like me.

What did you do to secure a full-time offer? What made you accept?

After I figured out how to ask the right questions and find the right people, I really started to flourish and enjoy my time at L’Oréal. It can be daunting being in a class of something like 60 summer interns. It makes you wonder how you can stand out. But I realized that I just had to focus on myself and my work and hope that the company would see and appreciate that. And it turned out they did, so I got a full-time offer, which I was thrilled about.

I never saw myself working in a corporate environment. Something that I really came to value during my time at school was my sense of individuality. But I saw how committed L’Oréal is to developing you as a marketer and as an individual and I was trying to think of other companies that do that. Nowhere else really compared.

What has it been like since you started full-time?

If you receive an offer after your summer internship, you’re placed in the Marketing Associate Program—called Pépinière internally, which in English translates to something like ‘tree nursery.’ So, it’s really about this desire to develop and improve talent. I started three weeks ago, and it’ll have been a month of onboarding and training next week. My next step is to spend a month with my team. I’ll be with YSLBeauty.com. And then I’ll be placed in the field, doing a sales rotation. So, we go into stores where our products are sold and help merchandise them. We talk with not only consumers, but also our brand ambassadors in the store. It really helps us attain holistic knowledge about the buying cycle.

You know, we can make these decisions in the corporate office, but seeing the real-world ramifications of them is important. So, we spend four days a week on the sales rotation and then we spend one day in the office to keep tabs with our team and network with people outside our division. Throughout that time, we’re also developing a final project that combines what we learn in our sales rotation and what we’re doing at the office. It’s kind of like the interdisciplinary classes I took at school.

To come full circle, that’s one of my favorite aspects of working at L’Oréal: You get to use your left and right brain to develop this holistic picture. Because there’s no 2-D consumer, at the end of the day, everyone has a myriad of factors playing into their decisions. And I definitely feel like if you can develop interdisciplinary skills and apply them to the consumer journey, then you can create a happy consumer and a business that just works out better for everyone.

We’ll have our final presentation after that and then we slowly integrate into the company as Assistant Managers. And from there, the world is ours.

In your opinion, why should people who might not typically apply to L’Oréal consider working there?

They really look to new talent and new people within the company to disrupt in a meaningful way. They’re the number one beauty company in the world for a reason: They have processes and best practices that are running at full speed. But the only way these processes can stay relevant is to inject new perspectives and experiences into the mix. And, of course, the way to find these new perspectives is through new talent.

I didn’t want to be lost in a corporate environment—and I wasn’t. L’Oréal really gives you the opportunity to earn a seat at the table. Your input is just as valued and listened to as senior managers who have maybe been there for 10 years or more.

If you had asked me when I was a graduating senior from high school where I was going to be in four years, I could not have guessed it would be L’Oréal. Not because I was averse to it, but just because it wasn’t on my radar. To me, L’Oréal was L’Oréal Paris, which is just one brand. There’s this whole portfolio of brands that everybody knows, but people aren’t aware that it’s all part of this package that’s one brand—and that’s L’Oréal.  And I can see myself here for the long run.

Want to kickstart your career over the course of a weekend? Check out upcoming events and open opportunities from L’Oréal on WayUp!

The post How One Weekend My Sophomore Year Started My Career—A Q&A With A Marketing Rising Star appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Growing up, Kate always loved math and computers. So, when it came to finding a career, software engineering was a perfect fit. After graduating with a degree in Computer Science from one of the best engineering schools in the world, her passions ended up carrying her pretty far.

Nowadays, Kate is a Senior Vice President at FactSet, one the world’s largest FinTech firms and home to thousands of the best engineers, product managers, and tech professionals. As a tech leader at the company, Kate manages and provides guidance to plenty of up-and-coming engineers.

We sat down with her to tap into some of her wisdom about how to succeed in tech—and at innovative companies like FactSet in general. Here’s what she told us.

1. Learn To Solve Problems In Your Own Way

No matter how much you learn in school, a ton of essential engineering skills are learned on the job. That’s why it’s so important to find a place that gives you challenging work—and the freedom to approach it independently.

“Once I became an engineer at FactSet, my favorite thing about my job was the freedom and empowerment I was given to solve problems in my own creative ways,” Kate tells us.

While their business goals were usually the same, Kate was able to approach each client and engagement with her own creative way of thinking.

“I was told what our clients needed, and what we should build,” Kate says. “But how to architect, design, and implement a fast, efficient, reliable application was up to me. This freedom, empowerment, and encouragement is what helped me most as I grew throughout my career.”

2. Find Somewhere That Celebrates Your Successes

It wasn’t just that FactSet gave Kate challenges, it was that they recognized when she overcame them, too.

“I was given the space to innovate, and as I gained the trust of those around me, I was given the responsibility to design more complex applications, manage larger projects, and then lead larger teams,” Kate explains.

Growth requires both new skills and new experiences—and the only way to get the latter is to be given new opportunities. Or, in Kate’s case, to earn them.

“FactSet celebrated my successes and helped me grow by increasing my level of scope and impact in an incremental way that gave me the confidence to be successful in each new challenge and role in my career,” she says.

3. Cultivate Creativity, Aim For Innovation

Don’t be afraid to look for different ways of sparking your creativity. When it’s your job to innovate, you have to make sure you’re thinking outside the box. That’s why Kate enjoys the little challenges and events that FactSet sets up to help its employees cultivate creativity.

One such example is their annual 48-hour, no-holds-barred hackathon.

“While I love my current role, I do miss rolling up my sleeves and hacking something together,” Kate says. “Making an idea come to life through code is a real rush.  This is why I love the FactSet Hackathon.”

Teams of FactSet employees, on both the tech and business sides, come together to make something extraordinary. It doesn’t need to be FactSet or even finance related, either. Despite that, Kate couldn’t resist working on one concept that was pretty Factset-friendly.

“My project last year was to integrate FactSet with Salesforce in a way that the two applications could pass data back and forth and create a seamless workflow for our clients, who are often trying to juggle many different systems and applications all at once,” Kate explains. 

“About a year or so later, we’ve actually productionized the concept, and it’s now going live to our clients,” she says.

4. Don’t Forget To Breathe

Success is not a sprint (even though there are plenty of sprints along the way). And if you’re taking a long-term view on success, Kate emphasizes the importance of finding a healthy work-life balance.

“When I meet prospective candidates for FactSet, I make sure to let everyone know that we are a software company first and foremost,” Kate says.

Even though they’re in the world of finance, FactSet takes its lead from progressive tech company cultures. FactSet offers four weeks of paid time off to first-year employees (and that number only grows with time) and a ton of other health programs and benefits to help you stay mentally and physically fit.

“Our vibe and culture is relaxed and collaborative–different from what you might picture when you think of ‘Wall Street,’” Kate says. “Our people set us apart, and those people have lives, hobbies, families, and a good understanding of the importance of work-life balance!”

This employee-focused culture has attracted a wide array of talent, which is good, Kate says, for more reasons than the obvious.

“Innovation in tech hinges on diversity of ideas, and those ideas come from diverse individuals,” she tells us. “If you like solving problems, working with others, building new solutions, blazing the trail, then tech and FactSet are for you.”

Want to put Kate’s wisdom to work? Check out open opportunities at FactSet on WayUp!

The post 4 Tips On Moving Up In Tech—From An Engineer Who’s Made A Huge Impact At Her Company appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Unless you’re a FinTech aficionado, chances are you haven’t heard of FactSet. They’re a global, multibillion-dollar financial technology and data giant. They work with thousands of the world’s most important finance professionals to equip them with the data needed to make key decisions. But that’s just their business model.

One of the things that makes FactSet stand out as a company is their reputation as a superb employer. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the things that make FactSet such a special place to work.

1. You Won’t Have To Wait To Work On Industry-Shaping Projects

You don’t solve industry-wide issues alone. In fact, most companies can’t even solve them together. But that’s why FactSet is different. Their culture of teamwork and close collaboration means everyone—from entry-level employees to executives—has a voice and an ability to make an impact. This truly sets them apart from other tech companies. Yes, they’re home to thousands of the best engineers, programmers, product managers, and analysts, but their small, nimble teams don’t operate under strict hierarchies and slow processes.

One commitment they make to every employee: From day one, you’ll be doing real work as an equal partner.

2. They’re Seriously Focused On Innovation: From Hack-A-Thons To Grace Hopper

When you work in an industry where speed, scale, and unique analysis are what make your company competitive, innovation is pretty important.

FactSet helps foster outside-the-box thinking with events like their yearly 48-hour hack-a-thon—during which employees can work on any passion project they like, no FinTech component required—and their attendance of conferences like the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.

Events like this remind FactSet people that breakthroughs often come when you’re least expecting them and that learning to approach problems differently can lead to amazing results. If you’re looking for a team that’s not only open to but actively seeking the next great facet of FinTech, FactSet is the place to go and build your vision.

3. You’ll Join A Community That Makes A Difference

FactSet employees did 6,700+ hours of volunteering and community service last year. Their commitment to social causes centers around four philanthropic pillars: inspiring tomorrow’s engineers, elevating education, alleviating food insecurity, and protecting our environment. Everything from coding camps to park cleanups and food drives are available to FactSet employees in pursuit of these goals.

And on top of all that, these events are a great opportunity for members of the FactSet team to bond with their coworkers.

4. Their Benefits Are Designed To Delight

FactSet’s benefits package is guided by the same principle as their innovative teams: everyone is important.

From the start, FactSet employees get four weeks of paid time off in addition to nine company holidays. They offer free working lunch Monday through Thursday, snacks, and beverages in the office, in addition to wellness programs and gym discounts. Plus, they offer a 401k program with a four percent match, an employee stock purchase program, and referral bonuses. And, of course, they offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care at little or no cost.

If you’re like most people at the company, you’re also probably wondering about professional development. Good news: FactSet is a supporter of continuing education! For those seeking the CFA, FactSet offers bonuses to passing employees, paid time off to study, and exam cost reimbursements.

So, whether you’re looking to expand your skill set or deepen your impact, FactSet is the perfect place to kick off your career in the world of FinTech.

Want to learn more about building your own FinTech future? Check out FactSet on WayUp!

The post 4 Reasons This Global FinTech Company Is Perfect For New Grads appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Finding a job that combines impact with innovation isn’t easy, but that’s what Danielle managed to do when she became the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at L’Oréal USA.

Danielle has spent her career helping companies make sustainability a priority. She’s worked for fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment companies in the past, but she’s never had a better opportunity to make a difference than at L’Oréal. That’s probably because the company is the world leader in beauty and personal care, and between their 30+ brands, they’re also at the forefront of innovative sustainability practices.

We spoke to Danielle to get an inside look at some of the most exciting sustainability innovations under way at L’Oréal. Here’s what she told us.

1. Carbon-Neutral Manufacturing Powered By Renewable Energy

For any company, manufacturing physical products is an energy-intensive process, which can take a serious toll on the environment. In fact, the industrial production sector is responsible for 22 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. That’s why L’Oréal found a different way to power their US factories: renewable energy.

As a part of their effort to achieve carbon-neutral status at their 21 US manufacturing sites in 2019, L’Oréal pre-purchased 15 years worth of renewable natural gas. They also take advantage of a variety of other renewable energy sources like wind power, landfill gas, and solar energy.

Thanks to these efforts, Danielle says, “L’Oréal manufacturing will be running on 100% renewable energy.”

2. Sustainable Packaging Innovations, Like This One

SEED Phytonutrients is one of L’Oréal’s most innovative new brands. Not only does the brand’s line of personal care products utilize a unique cold pressed sunflower and camelina seed oil formula—both of which are sourced from local, organic farms—they’re also packaged in 100 percent recyclable materials.

Using materials like chalk, clay, and post-consumer paper, the team at SEED Phytonutrients created a bottle that is not only natural and recyclable, but beautiful. You can even keep the eco-friendly bottles in the shower; they’re that durable.

But for L’Oréal, SEED was just another step in a long line of environmental accomplishments.

3. They’re Going “Cradle To Cradle” With SPOT

Cradle to Cradle is an organization that certifies sustainably, ethically, and responsibly manufactured products. They ensure that products are made with clean materials, minimal carbon footprint, and can be recycled back into the economy. Essentially, they’re recognizing companies creating the production processes of the future.

And for L’Oréal, Danielle tells us, Cradle to Cradle’s superb standards are an important benchmark—which is why they created SPOT (the Sustainable Product Optimization Tool)—a sustainability analysis tool developed in partnership with Quantis and EY.

“The C2C certification mirrors our philosophy on developing products from concept to be sustainable,” Danielle says. “SPOT helps us evaluate our products in categories like formula, packaging, environment, and social impact.”

“Last year we launched five skincare products for Garnier Skin Active with the Cradle to Cradle certification,” Danielle tells us. “It was the largest certification of a mass skincare brand at that time. And we have a goal that 100% of our new and renovated products will have an environmental or social improvement by the end of next year.”

Making The Personal Powerful

“I joined L’Oreal because of the enormous opportunities to connect the dots for people who use these products all the time,” Danielle says. “Everyday people can move toward better environmental and social practices and make that come to life with the products that they know and love.”

Being able to transform L’Oréal’s iconic line of products was particularly powerful for Danielle, who’s been a life-long customer of the company.

“Maybelline Great Lash Mascara is something I’ve used since I was 14 years old, and I didn’t realize until I got here that that mascara was made in a facility that’s powered on solar energy,” Danielle says.

“It’s amazing that within our portfolio we have some of the most iconic products in the beauty and personal care space,” Danielle says. “And that they can also be symbols to represent positive impacts on the environment and mitigating climate change, to me, is really powerful.”

It turns out you can have a career that combines impact with innovation—and you can do it at L’Oréal.

Ready to write your own sustainability story at a company that cares? Check out open opportunities at L’Oréal on WayUp!

The post 3 Sustainability Innovations By L’Oréal That Are Making A Positive Environmental Impact appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Mary Pauline has worked in tech for more than 15 years. She’s worked in IT, managed developer teams, and now she serves as a Division Systems Officer, overseeing tech strategy for the company’s Consumer Products Division. And she’s spent nearly half of her career in a place you might not associate with tech: L’Oréal.

We spoke to Mary Pauline to get an inside look at what it’s like to work in tech for an innovative beauty company, the kinds of opportunities that exist for tech talent in the consumer products world, and how L’Oréal defies the stereotypes of tech culture for women.

Tell us about your current role. What does a Division Systems Officer do?

I began my L’Oréal career focused on supporting the sales function across L’Oréal USA and today I oversee our largest division’s technology strategy and portfolio spanning across marketing, sales, operations, and retail. Technology is contributing to the L’Oréal business in vast and exciting ways.

And you’ve been with L’Oréal for seven years. Where did you start out at the company?

I was handling project management for a US IT team that eventually became an Americas IT team. I led the creation and building of a mobile sales aid application in use by our field sales teams across the various L’Oréal divisions. I created internal portals for our various teams including our previous internal L’Oréal USA communications hub. And then I got this opportunity to take on a more strategic role, closer to the business, which is really exciting for me, but in my early years I needed to be more in the trenches to be able to do the role I’m in now.

Speaking of the early years, what kinds of opportunities do you see for entry-level folks in IT and technology at L’Oréal?

Technology project management is huge. Certainly, individuals that are studying tech but have that knack or skill to be able to translate it to the business community are essential. So, what we need and what we value a lot are individuals that can do that type of role, and become the middle-person between technology and the business.

We also have a variety of neat applications in use at L’Oréal. Salesforce is one of them. We’re also a big Microsoft technology shop. Digital has so many opportunities with the way e-commerce is growing and changing on such a frequent basis that any of those areas are great points of entry for technology folks.

Tell us about the company culture at L’Oréal. How does it defy the stereotypes about the exclusivity of tech culture, especially for women?

The company culture is extremely inclusive and welcoming to all, especially in the tech space. As a good example, I was on maternity leave for close to five months last year, and upon returning, I was given a promotion to this position that I’m in right now, because they knew I had the qualifications and that I would do a great job. And even though I wasn’t here and was caring for a newborn, I was still considered and thought of for opportunities, which in a lot of places wouldn’t be the case.

On the other hand, how does L’Oréal’s culture compare to the fast-paced nature of other tech companies?

It’s an extremely entrepreneurial company, so you have the ability to work on so many different things at any given point in time. Leadership is very eager for individuals to jump right in and contribute. The business relationships that we have built are respected, and IT does have a seat at the table. I mean, the fact that I sit on the management committee for the Consumer Products Division in an IT role is a huge testament to how technology is valued at the company.

We’ve made a commitment to make L’Oréal the number one beauty tech company in the world, and we don’t take something like that lightly. There’s a lot of investment behind technology, and you can feel it in the pulse of the company. It’s really exciting and keeps you on your toes.

This is a company with a huge history behind it. But what everyone’s seen from us in terms of consumer products, all of that innovation, we’re now doing the same thing from a technology perspective. It’s a complete transformation of how L’Oréal works. So right now is a really exciting time to hop on board.

When tech and business talent are considering their options, why should they consider L’Oréal?

It’s a very team-oriented culture. It doesn’t matter what level of the organization you’re in, everyone pitches in and participates to deliver and to get things done. Everyone’s always ready to hustle, you know? And there are so many different areas you can play a role in, because we’re a consumer products company, and that means there are so many ways we do business.

The work is certainly demanding and challenging, but it’s so exciting. The individual really sets their own path and makes sure that they’re doing what they need to do to be successful. That makes me want to bring my best self to work every day and really challenge myself. At the same time, there really is that mindset and that focus from leadership on identifying talent and finding the best opportunities for the individual.

Any advice for women in particular hoping to enter the tech space?

Keep up with your field, keep asking questions, and build the confidence to hold people accountable and work across a variety of teams.

The other thing I’ll say is, when you execute, when you deliver, that’s what earns respect. So you can have all the best relationships in the world, but if you’re not delivering quality work or follow-through, it’s not going to be respected if you’re not getting things done in a quality way, and delivering time and time again. That’s where the respect is going to come from.

What’s your elevator pitch for a tech career at L’Oréal?

If you love the beauty industry and have a passion for products that embody “beauty for all,” L’Oréal is a terrific place to have your technology career. We are fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and admired as the leader in the beauty tech space. We have the resources to be able to invest and advance in technology across all aspects of our business and we push ourselves every day to do more and do better.

Ready to put your tech talent to work at L’Oréal? Check out open opportunities from L’Oréal on WayUp right now!

The post What’s It Like To Work On Technology at L’Oréal? (This Female IT Leader Gives Us The Inside Scoop) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Nearly everyone has heard of Dow Jones. Whether it’s for their prestigious publications like the Wall Street Journal or their world-class data and analytics services, the company has made its mark on the business world.

Dow Jones has also made its mark as an employer, especially with their internship program. In fact, they were named as one of 2019’s Top 100 Internship Programs. To get a little more insight as to how—and why—the Dow Jones intern experience lives up to the company’s reputation for excellence, we spoke to a few current and former Dow Jones interns.

Here’s what they told us.

1. Work In The Financial World—With A Creative, Collaborative Culture

“The best part about working here is the culture. People want to see you succeed here,” Brandon, a Media Sales intern, explains.

He’s referring, of course, to Dow Jones’s celebrated culture of training and internal mobility. Whether it’s training to help you transition roles or mentorship from managers, Brandon says, “there is a team of people here in talent development who are constantly putting on training sessions and webinars for people to learn more.”

While that’s an opportunity most people don’t get until they start their first entry-level role, Dow Jones offers these trainings to their intern team members. And that’s just one example of how Dow Jones blends the fast-paced finance world with the collaborative culture of a media company.

2. High-Stakes Projects And Responsibilities That Genuinely Touch The Business

Of course, with great training comes great responsibility. And that’s one thing that every Dow Jones intern emphasized to us: You get real work, right away.

“At the Dow Jones internship, there is no busy work or coffee runs. Interns are given real projects that directly serve their immediate teams and business areas,” Winston, a two-time summer intern, explains.

One intern shared her work on a data analysis project that affected all new hires for a fiscal year; another told us about a new solution he produced for the Customer Data Platform. All of this responsibility, of course, is only possible because Dow Jones interns are treated like real members of their teams.

3. The Capstone Competition

Chief among that business-critical work is your capstone project—and the subsequent competition.

“All interns are given the opportunity to develop a new event, product, or marketing campaign for the Wall Street Journal’s Student Memberships team,” Winston tells us. “These group projects are then judged in two rounds by senior-level managers with the hopes that the best idea can be brought to life and implemented by the company.”

Not only can you help drive the business forward, you can also network and build a lasting reputation for yourself at the company.

4. Intern Events That Connect You With Senior Leaders (And Are A Ton Of Fun)

A rich calendar of events is one of the key features of Dow Jones’s elite internship program.

“Dow Jones also organized an array of events for the interns. These events were extremely informational and most of them had participation from our executive committee, which was a great opportunity,” says Eesha, who started an intern and has since successfully transitioned to a full-time role at the company.

So whether you’re attending professional panels packed with c-suite executives—including the company’s chief executive—or you’re going on a social scavenger hunt through downtown Princeton, you’ll be finding yourself growing as a professional, and as a person alongside your fellow interns.

5. You’ll Learn From Successful Pros In A Hyper-Competitive Space

“The media landscape is changing,” Brandon explains. “And that makes it a great time to join Dow Jones, because new people at the company can be a part of the innovation in the media space.”

With prestigious brands like the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Factiva, and Barron’s under the same roof, Dow Jones is responsible for a wide array of innovative and industry-leading business practices—and that’s something you can be a part of as an intern. Working alongside successful people in an industry that’s constantly shifting with the course of technology and consumer trends is the perfect way to practice for a fast-paced career.

“Dow Jones heavily invests in each intern to equip them with industry knowledge and professional skills to flourish in any setting,” Eesha says. “And one of the projects that help prepare me the most was analyzing pay data in the EMEA region and presenting that data to the VP of Recruitment.”

And the projects weren’t the only way that Eesha and her peers learned from experienced Dow Jones leaders.

“All of the interns were assigned a mentor for the 10 weeks,” Eesha tells us. “We discussed our not only our daily projects but also our career goals and path.”

6. Join A Culture That’s Diverse—In More Ways Than You’d Expect

With so many different business areas, diversity is a necessity for Dow Jones. As thought leaders in the diversity and inclusion space, they’re acutely aware of the business benefits that diverse teams can bring to a company—and what it takes to get there. That’s something that all of the Dow Jones interns noticed during their time with the company.

“The culture of Dow Jones encourages great people to be themselves. Each person is treated with kindness and respect,” Brandon says.

And that respect wasn’t just for differences in background or beliefs, it was a wider understanding that everyone’s unique skill sets and ways of thinking—throughout the company—contribute to the mission.

“There is a place for each person in the company whether they are in technology, marketing, newsroom, design, sales, etc. Each department and role is crucial to the success of the company,” he says.

Want to find your place in a diverse organization dedicated to your growth? Check out open opportunities with Dow Jones on WayUp!

The post 6 Reasons Why Interning At Dow Jones Is The Perfect Way To Spend Your Summer (And Start Your Career) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Jennifer knew she wanted a career in marketing. It was, after all, what she majored in and the focus of her graduate program. But she knew that people who become leaders require more than just one type of experience and knowledge to get there.

Finding a job after graduation that offered that kind of diversity of experience, people, and perspectives wasn’t easy, either. Then Jen heard about Citizens Bank’s Leadership Development Programs.

“I had an undergraduate degree in marketing and I was currently pursuing my MBA, so I was looking for something that had a rotational aspect so that I could learn more about other areas of business in addition to marketing,” she says.

The program combined all of her passions: community, learning, and—of course — marketing. Needless to say, she got the job.

But what exactly is a leadership development program — and how did its diversity of opportunities, exposure, and people offer Jen such a bright future? We spoke to her to find out.

What Is A Leadership Development Program?

Citizens Bank’s LDPs are rotational programs for recent grads that offer the opportunity to learn from a slate of departments, managers, mentors, classes, and responsibilities.

Jen was in the Consumer Banking Leadership Development Program, but the company also offers LDPs in technology, finance, capital markets, and more.

For Jen, that meant undertaking four, three-month rotations across the Digital Marketing, Operations, Retail, and Consumer Strategy departments. It also meant being assigned an executive mentor, training alongside her cohort of program colleagues, and tackling major projects across the business.

“It was very different from any other entry-level roles that I was exploring,” Jen says, citing “the rotational aspect, the fact that you have exposure to executives right out of the gate, and the networking opportunity even beyond the program.”

The goal at the end of the program was to become a better professional, with full knowledge of the company and the skills for a leadership role.

How Jen and her colleagues got there, though, is the interesting part.

Learning On The Job (And From Each Other)

The program offered Jen (and everyone else in it) the opportunity to focus heavily on professional development and learning while still taking on challenging tasks and high-impact projects for the bank.

The learning and doing mostly happened at the same time, Jen says, and it came in a variety of forms.

“We were assigned executive mentors at the beginning of the program,” Jen explains. “My mentor was Lamont Young, who is the Head of Digital Marketing here, which is ultimately the organization I ended up reporting into. So, he and I still have that mentor/mentee relationship where I can go to him for advice.”

There was also exposure to other executives who ran the program, which was something Jen said was unique about the program. If you wanted to have a conversation or learn more from a senior leader, all you had to do was ask.

Another major pillar of their development (and their work) was the projects to which they were assigned.

“One of the things that Citizens does as part of being in the development program is that you work on a project with colleagues in different development programs,” she explains. “It was really great to be able to work with cross-functional teams and meet new people outside of this office as well.”

She also got to work alongside people in her Consumer Banking LDP cohort, and those relationships turned out to be some of the strongest she made at the company.

“We do a lot of networking. We do volunteer events together. We have executive Lunch and Learns together, even still being out of the program for a few years,” she says. “We’re a pretty close-knit group. When we’re all in the same office, we’ll go out for drinks or lunch.”

Great friends also make great colleagues, Jen says: “Having a cohort is awesome because you have someone to rely on and we’ll still ping each other now if we’re working on a project and we think that their experience would be helpful.”

The Program Made Her The Perfect Candidate For Her Dream Job — Which Citizens Offered Her

One of the biggest issues many recent grads face is that they simply don’t have enough experience to qualify for the jobs they really want. The Citizens LDP gave Jen years’ worth of experience and development in just 12 months. And this helped Jen make herself the perfect candidate for her dream job on the Digital Marketing team.

“We worked on different projects, so when I was in Digital Marketing, I created a marketing plan, which is something I was familiar with in college,” she says.

“But in the Retail rotation, we spent time actually with the frontline colleagues, so it was great to see that experience. It’s one thing to hear about challenges that the branch colleagues are facing when you’re on the corporate side, but when you actually experience it and can interface with the customer, that’s valuable insight,” she says.

More than being exciting, it was the perfect experience for a marketer and a business professional—she saw both the challenges faced by people in the bank and the successes they were able to bring people.

“Toward the end of the program, we all interview for open jobs,” Jen says. And given her experience and performance, hiring her was a no-brainer.

“I ended up back in Digital, which is where I really wanted to be. I’m currently on the social media team and have been for about two years now,” she says.

Jen found her dream job — and a whole new set of skills — through the Citizens Leadership Development Program. Are you ready to find yours?

Learn more and check out open roles at Citizens on WayUp!

The post Want To Work In A Role With Diversity? Try A Development Program After Graduation appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When Jennifer signed up to work at Citizens Bank, she didn’t do it just because of her passion for the business.

Like most employees of the nearly 200-year-old, perennially innovative New England-based bank, Jen has a passion for giving back to the community she works, lives, and grew up in.

In fact, people like Jen are the reason that the bank’s colleagues logged more than 133,000 hours of time volunteering in 2018 alone. (That’s 7,980,000 minutes, Rent fans.)

Their passion alone didn’t power that incredible number, though. We talked to Jen, one of the volunteering leaders at Citizens, about how and why Citizens gives back to the community (and how it makes an even better place to work).

Their Company Credo Says It All

The company has always been focused on their credo, which serves both as a mission statement and a description of what they do: Citizens helping citizens reach their potential.

That’s why they focus so much on giving back to their communities and supporting causes that help build long-term growth and create happier lives for the people they affect.

This goes, on the one hand, for what the company does as a business. Their financial services and products have always been designed to empower the people who use them — whether that means helping a family pay for their child’s education or helping a couple reach retirement at an age that works for them.

But even beyond what they do for their clients and customers, the colleagues of Citizens Bank use the company as a platform for good, because there’s more to being great citizens than just being a great bank.

Giving Back Is Built Into The Company

Citizens doesn’t just encourage volunteering, they make it happen. One way they do this: the Volunteer Portal.

The Volunteer Portal is a part of the Citizens Bank internal network that employees can use to find programs, organizations, and events that need their help. No matter what your passion is, you won’t have trouble finding a way to help out.

“You can search by state. You can even filter by types of activities, whether it’s teaching financial literacy, feeding the hungry,” Jen explains. “They have different categories, so you can search for organizations that way. They’re also really good about sending out emails about upcoming activities that are in your area that you can volunteer for as well.”

Jen also uses the portal to help organize activities for her team and members of the company’s Leadership Development Programs (which you can read more about here). That’s because she’s a leader on the Alumni Advisory Board, an organization that organizes events and resources for graduates of the company’s prestigious post-grad programs.

As a graduate of one of the programs, and a big fan of the volunteer events she did while she was in it, Jen found the role came naturally to her: “It’s something I really enjoy doing, speaking with the different organizations and volunteering, so it seemed like a good opportunity,” she says.

“I have a handful of organizations that we’ve worked with before that I go back to because we agree with their mission and have enjoyed working with them,” she says.

Their Causes Help People Lead Better Lives

Citizens does a lot of work to leverage their expertise and energy to help people build better lives, which is why they focus on teaching financial literacy in traditionally underserved communities.

“There are opportunities to teach those workshops in the community at local schools,” Jen says.

They also focus more broadly on charities that give back directly to the New England community: “We work a lot with the Greater Boston Food Bank, serving the communities of Jamaica Plain, preparing food for them. Just last week we volunteered with Boomerang, which is part of the AIDS Action Committee and helped them organize clothes to raise funds for their cause.”

And the types of opportunities are limitless, Jen says, adding that, “in the spring, we’ll volunteer with the Trustees outside and help with gardening or improvement projects.”

Helping others is something that aligns with Citizens in so many ways. Whether they’re volunteering, going the extra mile to help a customer, or even working internally, it’s all part of the same philosophy.

“The culture here is built on everyone being able to reach out and ask each other for help,” Jen says. So, when the people of New England ask for help, Citizens is always there to lend a hand — whether it’s one holding a financial plan or a spade.

Want to make an impact in more than just business? Check out open roles at Citizens Bank on WayUp right now!

The post My Company Spent 133,000 Hours Fighting Hunger, Improving Education, And Investing In Our Community—And I Work At A Bank appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Citizens Bank has been around for almost 200 years—and while things have changed plenty over the last two centuries, they’ve never stopped forging ahead with new, innovative ideas. But unlike most 200-year-old companies, the bank IPO’d just about four years ago and has dedicated itself to making banking better with technology.

Citizens has always been focused on its credo and mission: Citizens helping citizens reach their potential. But what exactly does the future of customer-empowering banking look like?

Well, according to Tony, a technology leader at the company, it could look a little something like gamification, emojis, and AI.

But while those technologies are still in the theoretical stage, we spoke to Tony about the entrepreneurial culture of the bank (which oftentimes operates more like a startup than a financial services company) and the innovative tech they’re putting into action with the company’s landmark digital transformation.

The Digital Transformation: One App (And Emoji) At A Time

The number one focus of Citizens’ technological overhaul is making banking work for the changing customer.

“We’re trying to modernize and digitize the basic banking architecture,” Tony says.

And modernization means making banking work the way people actually want it to: on demand and with amazing customer service.

“We see mobile transactions now—a year ago—overtook online banking transactions. Mobile’s becoming the key interface with our customers and obviously it’s starting to become more prevalent than branch transactions as well,” Tony explains.

That means Citizens is investing heavily in its mobile app: a user-friendly interface, convenient login options like facial and touch recognition, and all the attractive features for which mobile banking has become so popular.

That’s where interesting technologies like AI, machine-learning, and gamification can come into play, too.

Gamification is the practice of adding useful interactive elements that keep users engaged with the app. What does that look like? Tony explains: “Earning points and doing things like qualifying for certain gifts or discounts to increase usage and adoption. Just becoming more embedded in people’s lives so they use the bank like they would an app.”

As for AI integration, Tony says there are a ton of opportunities for the bank to use machine learning to make smarter offers and tailored solutions based on user preferences.

And beyond the investment in mobile and online banking tech, Tony notes that Citizens sees a ton of room for innovation in branch-based banking, too.

“We’ve just been upgrading all of our ATMs to make them more interactive and with an easier flow,” he says. And that’s just the beginning.

The Best Part? The Entrepreneurial Culture Puts People Like You To Work On These Projects

“Being a super reasonable bank and a long-standing bank, it’s a very collaborative organization,” Tony explains. And that more relaxed, collaborative culture contributes to the sense of entrepreneurship across the organization.

“In line with the technology investments, we’re also pivoting to Agile working practices,” Tony explains. Agile is a method of working that involves giving more responsibility and ownership to a small team or “pod” who can integrate creative solutions quickly, execute on quick fixes, and respond to issues that arise.

“Rather than wait for everything to be perfect, we try to do continuous releases and upgrades,” he says.

One of the best features of these working practices, and the entrepreneurial culture in general, is that it empowers interns and entry-level people to contribute more and learn more in the process.

“It brings fresh insight to our teams,” he explains. “We’ve got a group of older developers and we’ve got interns coming out of colleges or Year Up. They bring different insights to the end-user experience.”

Even if you’re not a tech person, per se, Tony says there are still opportunities for you to take advantage of the digital transformation. Agile pods put business and product people to work alongside developers and engineers.

And the company’s adoption of new technologies doesn’t just benefit their customers; the bank is also investing in collaborative software (like chat apps, screen sharing, and cloud sharing) and their new HQ in Johnston, Rhode Island, is designed to promote collaboration and seamless work.

“We’ve got big agile rooms. We’ve got a lot of technology in the rooms to help people do their jobs,” Tony says. “And having three-and-a-half thousand people on a new campus really helps with the entrepreneurial spirit, the leveraging of technology, and working in new ways.”

Ready to use new tech to make new tech? Check out open roles and more from Citizens on WayUp!

The post This Company IPO’d And Is Going Through A Total Transformation—And It’s 191 Years Old appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

According to Hallmark and our Google calendar, February is the month of love. But it doesn’t have to be romantic love that we’re talking about. Some people are lucky enough to fall in love with their job.

And that’s what we’re bringing you with our Why I Love My Job As A… series. Real professionals tell us what their job is, why they love it, and—most importantly—how people like you can excel in the industry like they have.

Today, we sat down with Billy Guinter, a 2017 Rutgers grad who got his first job after college on WayUp…at WayUp! He’s a Product Manager, one of WayUp’s most charismatic employees, and—of course—he loves his job.

What do you do?

I’m a Product Manager at WayUp which means I get to create and develop new features on our site for our users! I started out at WayUp as a User Support Associate on the Marketing team and found my way on the product team by being curious about technology and how our product comes together. I kept seeing WayUp improve for our users and I wanted to be a part of that change to help candidates find their dream jobs out of college.

What do you love about your job?

I love being able to work with different teams to learn from them and continuously push myself. I get to work on exciting new ideas everyday to improve WayUp for our users! The application process as a recent grad can be extremely daunting and scary but WayUp is always here to help as we try to take the worry out of applying. 

What tips do you have for future Product Managers?

My best tip would be to put yourself in users shoes to understand their perspective. There are tons of reasons to work in product management but the biggest one for me is being able to solve people’s problems and pain-points first hand. Seeing someone’s frustrations disappear is extremely rewarding.

Best piece of advice you received on the job?

The best advice I’ve received is to continue to be curious and to ask questions. Whether it’s learning a new skill or a new tool, it’s important to understand there’s always more to learn!

Want to be like Billy? WayUp is hiring a new Product Manager right now.

To learn more about working at WayUp, check out our company profile and apply to be a Product Manager!

The post Why I Love My Job As A…Product Manager appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

There’s a lot that goes into finding your first job. Perks, mentors, pay, and culture are all key factors. Picking a summer internship isn’t much easier because there’s a good chance that you could return after graduation to start something full-time.

We’ve decided to make the decision a little easier. If you’re someone with a tech or business background, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a desire to work at a company that shatters industry standards (after setting them, of course), then you’ve come to the right place.

Verizon might be your dream company—and here are just six reasons why:

1. A Mission You Can Believe In

When you work at Verizon, your mission is using tech to help people communicate, create, understand, and do more. A lot of companies say their products help make the world go round, but at Verizon, their network actually does. What’s more noble than that?

2. Really, Really Great Training & Development

Verizon invested nearly $240 million on training and helping their employees develop new skills in 2017 alone. That kind of commitment translates into valuable development that makes you a better employee and an even more important part of the Verizon team. Whether you’re interested in leadership and management skills, technical disciplines, or just becoming a better team player, Verizon offers training and development opportunities to help employees reach the potential they saw from the start.

And if all that training isn’t enough, Verizon also may offer tuition assistance for regular employees who want to continue pursuing education while working.

3. Philanthropy That Matters

At Verizon, giving back is part of the company culture. One great example: Verizon Innovative Learning. Partnering with underfunded schools, Verizon has committed more than $400 million to help kids utilize technology to level the educational playing field.

4. A Nice Employee Discount (On All The Best Stuff)

What do we use more than our smartphones and WiFi? Probably nothing. So, getting an employee discount on Verizon products can make your life that much better. As a regular employee, not only will you have the best—but you’ll get it at a great price point.

5. Diversity & Inclusion That Makes Working More Collaborative

At Verizon, diversity and inclusion are incredibly important. Verizon stays innovative by bringing so many different kinds of people and minds to the table. Your viewpoint is unique, and that’s why Verizon hired you (and why Verizon is at 59 percent workforce diversity).

6. Work With The Most Important Emerging Tech

Whether it’s 5G wireless service that will help shape the future of tech, cloud services, or even cybersecurity, Verizon employees touch so many different fields of emerging tech. With Verizon’s commitment to both innovation and excellence, you’ll be way ahead in many areas of tech you’re hoping to enter while you’re on the team.

What Else Can Verizon Offer You? Find Out For Yourself

With all of these incredible opportunities and unbelievable benefits, Verizon is a place people love to work. But more than any perk or benefit, Verizon employees love it because what they do challenges them, excites them, and puts them in a position where they can grow along with the company.

Want to know more about how you can start your career with Verizon? Check out fun facts, videos, and all of the internship and entry-level opportunities at Verizon on WayUp right now!

The post 6 Benefits Of Working At Verizon appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

It was every mother’s worst nightmare: Stephanie Rankin’s 5-month-old son Beorn showed signs of a life-altering disorder. But for Rankin, it was a little bit worse. There was no diagnosis. Not from the pediatrician, the neurologist, or any other doctor she would see for a decade.

It turns out Rankin’s son had a rare genetic disorder that caused serious changes in his development. But in order to identify which genetic disorder it was, they would need technology that hadn’t even been invented yet.

That’s where Dell comes in.

Dell Tech Vs. The Diagnosis

Today, the leader in this field is the Center for Rare Childhood Disorders at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Using genetics, neurology, and the complicated science of bioinformatics, they can put together algorithms that diagnose disorders like Beorn’s. The problem was, when Rankin was looking for answers about Beorn, there weren’t computers powerful enough—or DNA technology precise enough—to actually run those algorithms.

“At that time, we were able to examine all the chromosomes under a microscope to see if there were gross structural changes. This would be akin to looking at the earth from outer space and trying to determine if a leaf had fallen off a tree in a forest in California,” says Dr. Vinodh Narayanan of TGen, who worked on Beorn’s case.

The technology TGen uses relies on a Dell-designed high-performance computing solution. It runs extremely complex algorithms that analyze terabytes of genetic and molecular data at incredibly high speeds. To put that in perspective, the amount of data in a single terabyte would comprise the paper made from 50,000 trees. And these Dell-powered TGen computers are processing terabytes worth of data to diagnose kids like Beorn.

“Now we can look at the spelling of a person’s genomic DNA at the individual letter level—so that’s a billion-fold change in resolution,” Dr. Narayanan says. “We are able to do this because of the super-computing power that is at TGen. This is thanks to Dell and Dell support.”

Powering Up Precision Medicine

It’s about more than just diagnosing the problem, though. Although there’s no cure for Beorn’s disease, thanks to these advances, doctors and researchers are able to design treatments for people with all kinds of rare disorders. This specific tailoring of treatments and therapies to a patient’s unique genetic makeup is called precision medicine. And it is only made possible by advances in computing and genetic technology.

For the Rankin family, the information they received from TGen finally provided peace of mind. “We didn’t have a diagnosis forever or have a way to help him or advocate for him. There was so much of just not knowing,” Rankin says. “I worried about my other children. If they were to get married do they have to worry about their kids having what he has? Now we know it was a spontaneous mutation. It wasn’t something that is in our genes.”

Now, Rankin isn’t fighting the same battle she was 10 years ago. She can advocate for her son and children just like him. She even started her own support group for parents struggling with the same circumstances. Thanks to Rankin’s hard work, TGen’s researchers, and Dell’s innovative technology, children like Beorn and their parents won’t have to be in the dark ever again—and they can finally hope for a brighter future.

Want to work for a company whose employees create technology that can change lives? Dell is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply!

The post My Company Uses Tech To Diagnose Rare Childhood Disorders (But You Probably Think We Just Make Computers) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Side hustles are a way of making money without the commitment of a full-time (or even a normal part-time) gig to worry about. In fact, they can often work in tandem with being a full-time student, having a regular part-time job, or—if you’re crazy busy—both of those things.

Some side hustles also work with full-time jobs. These are usually more freelance roles and ones that allow you to define your schedule and pick up work when it works for you. This means putting in extra time when you have it and getting extra money when you need it.

With all of this flexibility, who needs another reason to sign up for a side hustle? Well, just in case, we’ve put together a list of the top three reasons everyone should have a side hustle.

1. They Can Help You Move Up

And the best side hustles can accomplish not one, but two valuable goals for you:

1. Make money.
2. Beef up your resume.

While it’s different than a full-time job or an internship, a side hustle still “counts” as work experience and can be a major boon to your resume. Think about it: You’re still picking up new skills. You’re still contributing to the functions of a company. Plus, you’re actually demonstrating next-level time management skills by showing that you’re able to handle your current job, studies, or whatever is your primary occupation while also killing it at a different job entirely.

Side hustles can also demonstrate talents that you might not otherwise get the chance to show off. For example, finding a gig as a full-time journalist or writer can be pretty difficult, even with the proper experience on your resume. However, tons of online publications and companies need writers to make digital content for them on a freelance basis. That’s a side hustle that works wonders on your resume AND makes you money. And that’s just one example.

Your resume should show what you’re passionate about, what skills you’re most proud of, and where you want your career to go. A side hustle helps you illustrate that a lot better—and shows that you’re serious about pursuing your goals, no matter how lofty or ambitious they might be.

2. You’ll Get A Taste For The Entrepreneurial World

When you’ve got a side hustle, chances are that you’re—in a sense—your own boss. You set your schedule, you pursue new clients, and you build lasting relationships with customers. While this might not seem like a lot, it actually makes you the owner of your very own business.

Consider side hustles like being a Tutor at Varsity Tutors or a Pet Sitter/Dog Walker/Animal Lover @ Rover—at these companies, you’re basically running your own small business. They connect you with students, clients, or adorable puppies, and it’s up to you to make those relationships as profitable and potent as you can.

You’ll be the face of your own company, learn the value of your time, and see how important it is to market yourself properly to get referrals.

These skills are important for everyone, no matter what kind of career they want to have. Even if you’re not interested in entering the business world for yourself one day, you can still benefit. Intrapreneurship is the practice of creating new products or services and capitalizing on market opportunities within an established organization. Being able to execute on new initiatives like a true entrepreneur will help you move up any corporate ladder fast AND lead to a more fulfilling career overall.

That’s a benefit you can’t get with just any kind of job.

3. You Can Make Connections That Lead To A Full-Time Job (It’s Called Networking!)

At this age, connections are more valuable than ever. With only a couple summers of internships and (maybe) a year of work behind you, chances are the “experience” section on your resume won’t always be enough to get your foot in the door of your dream company. That’s why networking, whenever possible, is important. And a side hustle can help you do just that.

Not quite understanding how a side hustle can help you network? Let’s go through a few examples.

You’re working in a gig economy job for a new tech company. You start to understand their operations, build a relationship with the regional leader, and—perhaps—you find yourself in a position to ask for a recommendation when it comes to applying for a full-time business or tech role at that company. You could even ask your point of contact at the company if there are any openings at the company for someone like you. This is how some of the best jobs are found.

Let’s say you’re working as a tutor, then you’ve got yourself a list of clients. Hopefully you’ve shown your students (and their parents) that you’ve got both a special skill/talent and the ability to communicate effectively. This can mean a recommendation to the company where they do their internship or where their parents work. Plus, it’s more than just recommending a friend; it’s a recommendation from someone who’s known you both as a person and an employee.

Find Your Side Hustle, Right Now

If you’re sold (and you should be), then now is the time to get cracking. Pick a skill or a passion, find a way to get paid for it, and then apply to that side hustle on WayUp. Whether it’s freelance writing, dog walking, tutoring, field marketing, or something else altogether, you can find it on WayUp.

We’ve even put together a handy list of the four best side hustles for your resume, so check it out and get applying!

The post 3 Reasons You Should Have A Side Hustle (Besides Just Making More Money) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

WayUp presents: Exploring Careers in STEM and Innovation

What does it mean to work in STEM? If you’re in college right now or keeping an eye on media, it seems like all anyone can talk about is working for a startup or a Silicon Valley tech giant. But these aren’t your only options.

Innovation, analysis, and a logical approach to problem solving (hallmarks of the STEM skill set) are useful at all types of companies and in a ton of different roles. Skincare and beauty companies need scientists and engineers. Banks need programmers and data scientists. Every industry is being disrupted by STEM innovations, and there are so many different ways to be a part of it.

For our most recent Office Hours—WayUp’s signature, totally FREE panel event—we gathered some of the brightest minds in some of the most unexpected and interesting roles in STEM to tell you how to build your dream career.

NYC college students were invited to attend the WayUp X L’Oréal USA event at our Flatiron district headquarters in NYC. Check out the livestream now to see what surprising insights, funny-yet-inspiring stories, and more these guests shared with an audience of college students just like you.

The Speakers:

The post Exploring Unexpected Careers in STEM and Innovation With WayUp Office Hours appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Internships have a reputation for being, well, “not real jobs.”

While they’re not the same as full-time jobs, they can still be extremely valuable to you as a professional and to the company that hires you. Some companies hire smart, work their interns smarter, and ultimately get amazing results.

One such company is Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a private technology firm that works on everything from spaceships to satellites. SNC interns work on incredible, high-stakes projects that affect not only the future of our species but also the safety of military personnel and civilians.

1. Exploration Spacecraft

SNC has built thousands of devices for hundreds of spacecraft – including dozens of NASA missions.  Their products have been to six planets, the Sun, comets, asteroids and Pluto too (we love you Pluto!).  They build technical mechanisms that do everything from launching spacecraft off rockets, to keeping spacecraft at the right temperature, to making sure that communications antenna and solar arrays are pointed in the right direction.  Small parts go a long way in making sure that one-of-a-kind programs are a success.

2. Electronic Warfare Systems

This part of the SNC business is high-tech gear that soldiers wear on the front lines.

One example of a life-saving electronic warfare system (EWS) is their radio-controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) jammer. This blocks the radio signals that detonate IEDs.

SNC technology poses the best solution to this threat. SNC jammers can go everywhere, from the backs of soldiers on portable mounts to the tops of Humvees. SNC also builds electronic systems that are used offensively, by jamming enemy communications and preventing their weapons from working.

If you’re an up-and-coming systems engineer or programmer in the making, this is the type of project you could contribute to at SNC. How’s that for a high-impact internship?

3. Unmanned Systems (Yes, We’re Talking UAVs)

There’s no better way to keep people safe than to keep them out of combat zones. That’s exactly what SNC strives to accomplish with remote-controlled and autonomous aircraft systems. Whether they’re used for combat, surveillance or disaster recovery, UAV technology allows humans to remotely control machines that can take the heat for them.

Plus, as unmanned vehicles and machines develop, their uses will skyrocket. In our near future, unmanned systems could be saving lives in places other than war zones—like active forest fire locations or remote towns in need of medical supplies. You could help make that happen, as an SNC intern.

4. Fighting Cyber Terrorism

While it’s been making regular appearances on the silver screen for years, cyber terrorism just recently became one of the primary ways enemy nations, rogue groups, and other dangerous people steal, attack and sabotage.

Hackers and cyber criminals aren’t the only ones putting in the work. At companies like SNC, cyber security systems are just as important as physical ones.

Whether it’s hardware like SNC’s Binary Armor^® SCADA solutions, which provide a real-time network guard for information systems, or something more subtle, SNC leads the pack in one of the most dire races against technology.

5. Oh, Yeah, And An Actual Spaceship

The Dream Chaser^® spacecraft is SNC’s solution for next-generation space travel. Reminiscent of the iconic Space Shuttle in its shape but much smaller in size, the Dream Chaser is the spacecraft we’ve always imagined as kids.

Originally developed for a NASA program, and now in the works for potential commercial spaceflights, the Dream Chaser is one of SNC’s most exciting ventures. Whether it’s resupplying the International Space Station with critical food, supplies and science experiments, launching multiple smaller satellites into orbit, or conducting its own science experiments, Dream Chaser has plenty of potential – for customers around the world!

Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation

6. Figuring Out Deep Space Travel

Actually, this might be SNC’s most exciting project. After all, what’s cooler than a spaceship built for low-Earth orbit? How about a spacecraft built for the depths of outer space? More specifically, how about a deep space human habitat module that could go to the Moon and beyond?

Well, that’s what SNC has been asked to design and prototype for NASA as a part of their NextSTEP-2 program to develop NASA’s manned deep space capabilities. When it comes to realizing the future, missions beyond Earth are really the project.

And it makes sense that SNC would be interested in beyond-Earth projects, too. Their technology has already been to five other planets, the Sun, the Moon, comets, asteroids and Pluto!

Whatever Your Dream Engineering Project Is, Find It at SNC

This is just a handful of some of the interesting, impactful projects that people at SNC work on daily. They also make navigation systems for high-speed aircraft, build helicopter rotors, invent anti-drone defense, create patient-monitoring gear for mid-battle medical scenarios, and so much more.

If you’re talking about the difference between life and death in a high-risk situation, you can bet SNC is involved.

If you want a career with a tangible impact, check out more fun facts, videos, and amazing job and internship opportunities from SNC on WayUp right now!

The post Spaceships, Exploration Spacecraft And More: 6 Things You Won’t Believe You Can Work On As An Intern For This Company appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Whether it’s in movies or the news, space is all over the place. At this point, very few people can imagine a (bright) future for our species that doesn’t involve space travel or interplanetary colonization. But for all the people talking about space, some of the most knowledgeable on the topic actually work behind-the-scenes.

Two of those knowledgeable people are former NASA astronauts and current aerospace leaders at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC): Steve Lindsey and Lee Archambault.

The former astronauts have years of spaceflight, engineering, and flying experience they bring to new SNC projects, like the Dream Chaser^® spacecraft and the company’s lunar gateway prototype.

Meet SNC And Their Astronaut Dream Team

SNC is behind numerous exciting innovations in aerospace and defense. Its innovations can protect people in warzones by jamming the signals of radio-controlled IEDs (improvised explosive devices), AND help operate the instrument arms on the Mars rovers. SNC makes high-stakes tech that powers critical national defense operations and human exploration of the final frontier. Astronauts, soldiers and medics rely on the products that SNC makes.

But that’s just the company.

The team is full of brilliant minds in extremely complicated disciplines like mechanical engineering, programming and medicine. However, three of SNC’s many stars are Steve Lindsey,Lee Archambault, and John Curry.

Lindsey and Archambault are former NASA astronauts and—yes, this was actually their job—SPACE SHUTTLE COMMANDERS, who retired from NASA to join the team at SNC and help build the next generation of spacecraft. Both worked as test pilots for the Air Force and NASA, leading to careers as astronauts and commanders at NASA. Both commanded missions under the direction of NASA flight directors, such as John Curry, Dream Chaser program director. They led missions to the International Space Station. In fact, Lindsey was the pilot who navigated the last mission of NASA legend, U.S. Senator, and American hero, John Glenn.

What (And How) You Can Learn From Astronauts

Prestigious companies will often tout public figures and accomplished team members as being part of their team, but how many can say that those people do real work at the firm? Let alone work alongside recent grads and interns?

SNC is among the few.

It matters to SNC that people like Lindsey, Archambault, and Curry work there, because the company’s culture of mentorship and talent cultivation means that learning from your co-workers is not some ethereal concept. It’s the real deal.

Learning to be a rocket scientist or an aerospace engineer is nearly impossible to do without lots of hands-on experience at a high level. SNC offers that experience to their recent-grad hires and interns through mentorship and teaching. When you work at SNC, you’ll have plenty of leaders at every level, from management to fellow grads, showing you the ropes of actual aerospace engineering work.

As for Lindsey and Archambault, what can two veteran space commanders teach you about the industry? Our guess: a whole lot!

Ready to find your way into the aerospace field? Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from SNC on WayUp right now!

The post At This Company, Your Co-Workers Have Been To Outer Space—And You Could Learn A Lot From Them appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Join us as we learn from these industry insiders on November 1 at WayUp’s NYC headquarters in the Flatiron District or watch from home as we stream on Facebook Live.

RSVP today and get the best seats in the house for food, networking, insider insights, and more.

If you’re in college (or recently graduated), then you know it’s hard to go 15 minutes on a campus before hearing someone talk about the importance of STEM skills and how STEM majors are going to get all the best jobs. The only problem is, everyone seems to think a STEM job means only working for the same small group of Silicon Valley tech giants.

This totally ignores what it means to be in STEM.

STEM talent is a group of analytical thinkers who use hard skills like programming, scientific research, statistics, and more to solve the most pressing problems in every industry. STEM people change the way the world works by showing people how its parts can work differently—whether that’s through chemistry or computer science.

That means STEM majors can work at nearly every major company—not just the app giants of the world. Want to know how? Well, thanks to L’Oréal, you can find out just the right way to make your dream career in STEM come alive.

Join us for a panel featuring a Project Manager in L’Oréal’s Tech Incubator, a Scrum Master at Travelers, and a FinTech mastermind from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. While none of these companies might jump to mind when you hear the word “tech,” all of them give STEM majors amazing opportunities to make an impact.

These three people have taken their STEM degrees and broken free from the stereotypical tracks of their fields. They’ve innovated and utilized the skills they learned in school to forge incredible new career paths for themselves—and they’re going to tell you how you can, too.

The post There Are STEM Careers You’ve Never Heard Of—Get An Inside Look At Them With WayUp appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Scientists, engineers, programmers, and math geeks unite! It’s STEM Awareness Month on WayUp and we’re doing everything we can to get STEM majors and recent grads just like you into the amazing jobs and internships hiring right now.

While nearly all of WayUp’s thousands of companies require STEM talent in one form or another, there are a few that truly thrive off of their elite teams of programmers, engineers, scientists, and data whizzes.

Some of those companies include engineering firms working on deep space tech and tech companies building the future of VR. Where will you find your STEM dream job?

1. BlackRock

BlackRock is the perfect company for all kinds of STEM talent. It’s a tech-centric financial services firm with an eye for innovation. It works in asset management and uses next-generation Financial Technology (FinTech) in both the investment and customer sides of the business.

Programmers, analysts, economists, and more are all considered STEM talent, and they’re the bulk of the BlackRock business model.

For fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities check out BlackRock on WayUp!

2. Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific is the leading manufacturer of high-tech, innovative science equipment. The team at Thermo Fisher makes everything from DNA sequencing machines for forensics labs to biological time machines that read 800,000-year-old ice cores.

Thermo Fisher is looking for scientists and engineers right now to help them build the future for the people building the future.

For fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities check out Thermo Fisher on WayUp!

3. Avanade

Avanade is a consulting firm like no other. With a focus specifically on the value of utilizing just the right business technology solution, Avanade is able to deliver highly-specific, useful results to all of its clients. Working for Avanade means getting to know the ins and outs of tons of different industries—while sharpening your business and tech skills along the way.

Want a jet-setting career in consulting? Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from Avanade on WayUp!

4. Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is an aerospace, defense, and aeronautics company that handles massive contracts for both the federal government and select private clients. Lockheed builds everything from airships to the upcoming Mars Base Camp (yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like).

Projects like these require the brightest, most innovative minds available. And don’t worry, Lockheed provides plenty of training to its interns and new hires, so no prior experience as a rocket scientist is necessary.

Check out fun facts, awe-inspiring videos, and amazing job opportunities from Lockheed Martin on WayUp!

5. Citi

Citi is a household name in global financial services. Members of the Citi team invest, bank, code, predict, and do everything else required of elite finance and technology leaders.

Obviously, a financial services firm with a reputation like Citi’s is an excellent place for math and finance students, but few know that the company is also a top spot for tech talent, too. With an open mobile API, healthy relationship with startup culture, and a massive budget for innovative FinTech, the Citi FinTech team is basically every programmer’s dream company.

Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from Citi on WayUp!

6. EY

EY is one of the world’s top accounting firms. It offers accounting, assurance, tax, and advisory (read: management consulting) services to some of the best companies around the world.

EY needs all sorts of math-inclined, analytical minds for its regular offerings. However, the company also looks for people with tech backgrounds because of its industry-leading application of digital tools.

Plus, it’s an amazing company to work for. It’s got incredible benefits, salaries, and standard-setting training and development.

Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from EY on WayUp!

7. Dell

Next up is Dell. It’s an amazing tech company, of course. It’s sold billions of dollars in business and productivity-centric computers and related equipment. However, it’s also a perfect place to work if you’re someone with a tech background and the charisma of a salesperson.

Right now, Dell is looking for people just like this for its technology sales program. And, before you scroll past this thinking, ‘I know what sales is and it’s not for me,’ think again. Sales at Dell is nothing like you imagined. Don’t believe us? Watch this video: Here’s how Dell is changing what it means to work in sales. 

Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from Dell on WayUp!

8. Nasdaq

Nasdaq is a true hybrid of tech and finance. It started out as the first electronic stock exchange in 1971. It’s since become a leading global expert in financial markets and technology to drive innovation in business and tech.

If you’re a future-minded, tech passionate person (or vice versa), then you might be a perfect candidate for Nasdaq’s internship program.

The best part? If you apply on WayUp, a recruiter will schedule a guaranteed phone interview within 24 hours.

Check out fun facts, videos, and all the incredible internship opportunities from Nasdaq on WayUp!

9. Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation is in the world’s coolest industry: top secret tech. So, the SNC team makes spy satellites for intelligence groups, defense tech for the military, and even deep-space habitats for NASA.

SNC is looking for engineers, analysts, project managers, and programmers to join the team.

Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from SNC on WayUp.

10. Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank has always been a leader in seamless international finance. It’s a multicultural, multinational finance firm with a unified message: Make a positive impact. Deutsche Bank agents are also critical assistants to clients accomplishing amazing things like medical robo-suits and commuter railways.

It’s also a leader in innovative FinTech solutions—something Deutsche Bank interns actually get to work on.

Want to start a career in finance with impact and important work? Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from Deutsche Bank on WayUp.

Don’t See Your Dream Company?

WayUp hosts thousands of employers on its entry-level and internship job platform. If your dream company wasn’t on this, but you’re still hoping to work in a STEM role there, don’t sweat it.

Explore the Top Companies page on WayUp to find your dream job at your dream office. Happy hunting, STEM folks!

The post Top 10 STEM Companies Hiring Right Now On WayUp appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

STEM is about so much more than just the E!

Those studying to be scientists, technologists, mathematicians, and everything in between are all considered STEM majors. And if you’re one of them, then you’re in one of the most sought-after groups of talent.

Are you a STEM person who’s not sure what comes next? Here are some job titles (and postings) that you can use to help launch an amazing career. There are so many things that can be done with STEM skills, so don’t limit yourself and explore away!

1. Business Intelligence Analyst

Business Intelligence is all about using data and analytics tools to determine pain points and opportunities for a business. Use both your analytical skills and your business acumen.

Check out this opportunity in the field:

• Full-Time Role @ Starbucks

2. Data Scientist (Or Data Science Analyst/Associate)

Data science professionals, much like their Business Intelligence counterparts, employ data to the benefit of a business. However, Data Science people use more than just your standard analytics tools. Those in the field often deploy tools powered by Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in order to deal with massive quantities of data.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Check out this position:

• Full-Time Data Science Associate @ Nielsen

3. Project Manager

This field is about deploying both business sense and technical know-how. Project Managers can be responsible for everything from executing on the creation of a new service or product to optimizing the production process of an existing one.

It’s about making sure a team works the way it should to accomplish the most it can for the business.

• Lockheed Martin Affordability Internship

4. Supply Chain Analyst

Supply Chain is a field for organized, intelligent people with a sense of how systems ought to work. Engineers, programmers, and especially people with logistics or business experience will find themselves well-equipped for roles in this industry.

Check out these opportunities in the field:

• Full-Time Items Analyst @ Lockheed

• Full-Time Operations/Supply Chain Leadership Development Program @ Belden

5. Corporate Financial Analyst

Want to put your math and statistics skill to use? Corporate finance is about understanding and regulating the flow of money within an organization. You could be responsible for all things finance from accounting to budgeting to corporate investment.

Here are some opportunities in the field:

• Finance Intern @ Lockheed

• Financial Summer Analyst Summer 2019 @ The TJX Companies

6. Business Management Consultant

Consulting is as much a numbers game as it is a business pursuit. You’re working with clients to optimize their businesses (and fast). It’s a lucrative, highly competitive industry and STEM talent is always needed.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Advisory Consultant Program @ EY

7. Assurance Accountant

Almost as competitive as consulting, working in Assurance for a top accounting firm means a rewarding, challenging career. Utilizing your math and analysis skills is a must!

Here are some great opportunities with top accounting firms on WayUp:

• Full-Time Assurance-Audit Associate @ EY

• Assurance/Tax Internship @ CohnReznick

8. Corporate Banking Analyst

Corporate Banking means managing the money entrusted to your financial services firm by another corporation. It also means managing lines of credit, the financing of new business opportunities, and more. It’s a great finance field for those with math skills and strong business interests.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Corporate Banking Summer Analyst @ Citi

9. Financial Analyst

This is similar to the role of a Corporate Financial Analyst, but in this type of role you instead work for a slate of clients or investment funds while under the umbrella of a financial services firm.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Finance Summer Analyst @ Citi

10. Business Analyst

This is a straight-up business role for those with math, IT, and business skills. Use analytics, business acumen, and analysis to contribute in a variety of ways (usually) to major corporations.

Here are a few great opportunities in the field:

• Leadership Develop Restaurant Business Consulting Program @ McDonald’s Corporation

• Entry-Level CRM Business Analyst @ Avanade

11. Investment Analyst

You’ll be using business and analysis skills, but in this field, it’s also about combining that expertise with well-researched knowledge of the markets. You’ll find Investment Analyst jobs at major financial services firms and hedge funds.

Check out this great opportunity in the field:

• Alternative Investments Analyst Summer 2019 Program @ BlackRock

12. Wealth Management/Portfolio Analyst

Apply analytics and investment skills to the portfolios of clients and corporations. Find out what it takes to be in the field of wealth management.

A great place to start is this role:

• Portfolio Analytics Analyst @ BlackRock

13. Technology Client Services

Client Services is a field for people who want to work in a field that sits between technology and client management. People who work in Client Services are dedicated to the success of clients and customers by helping them use their companies’ tech/product to the fullest.

Check out this great opportunity in the field:

• Aladdin Client Services Summer 2019 @ BlackRock

14. Scientist

What’s a more classic STEM role than this? Put your research and analysis skills to the test with a job in the hard sciences at any number of companies. You could be formulating different ways of making existing products or formulating entirely new ones.

Check out this opportunity at a leading consumer goods company:

• Associate Scientist @ Unilever

15. Quality Control Analyst

Quality Control is more than just checking to see if something works. It’s a science that requires immense technical knowledge and the aptitude to design systems that ensure quality at scale.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Analyst Associate @ Lockheed

16. Research & Development

Research & Development combines science, tech, and the entrepreneurial spirit into one of the most exciting jobs in consumer and business goods.

Check out these great opportunities in the field:

• Internship in Research & Development @Belden

• Full-Time Leadership Development Program @Belden

17. Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants are both math geniuses and experts on the legal rules of play for corporations. Use your analytical brain and capacity for vast quantities of info to start an amazing career that’s always in demand.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Entry-Level Tax Associate @ CohnReznick

18. UX Design

Are you a coder with a creative streak? UX Design is a creative tech role. How should tech products look and feel for users? That’s up to you to figure out. Write copy, code, and make the user experience on your site, app, or product feel amazing.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Entry-Level UX Designer @ Avanade

19. Technology Sales

Do you have tech knowledge and all the charisma of a liberal arts major? Tech sales might be the perfect way to launch your career in tech.

Check out this great opportunity in the field:

• Inside Sales Representative @ Dell

20. Product Manager

Product Management is a field at the intersection of business and tech. As a Product Manager, you organize the workflow of engineering teams to ensure the product is always moving ahead at full speed.

Here’s a great opportunity in the field:

• Product Management Internship @ Verizon

21. Network Architect

Network Architecture is the design and implementation of data and traffic-handling systems for companies and clients.

One of the best places to start is with a company at the top of the field, like a provider. Check out this opportunity:

• Network Transformation MBA Intern @ Verizon

Don’t see what you’re looking for on this list? Check out tons of other internships and full-time opportunities on WayUp right now!

The post 21 Job Titles For STEM Majors (That Aren’t Engineer) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

It’s not every day that you hear about companies asking their best and brightest to come up with the next big thing.

But at Dell’s yearly GameChanger competition, groups of employees of all kinds—from sales reps to engineers—pitch solutions to problems facing both the company and the world.

From sustainability to streamlined production, “game changers” can come in any form. Judges from across Dell’s leadership team listen to, critique, and spend money and time on the best ideas from Dell’s global team.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR OPEN ROLES AT DELL!

Gearing Up For Competition

Teams can come from anywhere in the company, no matter the location or department, and are supervised by finalists and winners from previous GameChangers events.

“We have a lot of smart people here with a lot of great ideas, and we just needed to give them a platform,” says Vanessa Henry, a member of Dell’s GenNext team, which is responsible for organizing the event.

In last year’s competition, more than 600 people from 28 countries entered ideas into the four categories. These included the Internet of Things, Customer Experience, Solutions Strategy, and an open-ended category (for those genius ideas that need no label).

Back To School: GameChangers University

In order to give employees the edge they would need to present in a business competition, Dell set up short courses under the umbrella of GameChangers University. The goal? To help everyone “think like entrepreneurs and fill in gaps in expertise.”

This not only sharpened the skills of business pros but also enabled the less experienced classes of contestants to better compete with their eloquent peers.

Clash Of The (Future) Industry Titans

Finally, the teams of five present to the panel of judges. If they advance to the final rounds, their ideas can be endorsed by senior leadership and get funded. One of last year’s winners, Mikhail Tolstoy, was seriously impressed by the results. “Dell is ready to spend money and, more importantly, time to work with you if you reach out,” he says.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR OPEN ROLES AT DELL!

Another of the previous winners, Phil Rasy, says it’s nice to know that he works for a company willing to put resources toward grassroots ideas: “It feels great to wake up in the morning and go to work knowing that the company you work for embraces your ideas and pays very well for them.”

And it’s more than just the palpable rewards that make the competition so great, Rasy says. It’s seeing your value across the company. “The impact that each individual can have on the business is immeasurable,” he says. “GameChangers opened up opportunities that I thought were impossible.”

GameChangers is just one part of a corporate culture obsessed with innovation. This commitment to entrepreneurship keeps Dell at the top of an increasingly competitive, and crowded, field.

Want to work for a company that invests in its employees’ game-changing ideas? Dell is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply!

The post Want To Pitch Ideas To Your Own Company? This Company Is Seeking ‘Game Changers’ appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Summer’s over and it’s an absolute tragedy. Waterparks have shut down. The ice cream man has stopped showing up to your pick-up games. And—of course—your summer job (or lack thereof) has gone out of style, fast.

While we can’t help you with the water slides or the King Cones, we can certainly help you get a better gig now that it’s a more temperate, businesslike season.

It’s time for a full-time job—and we’ve got the hookup.

Here are 10 full-time, amazing jobs hiring recent grads right now.

1. Ops Associate in the Emerging Leaders Program @ Nielsen

Nielsen sets the gold standard in market research and analysis. Your first full-time job could be as an Ops Associate in their ELP.

The Emerging Leaders Program trains the next generation of data tech executives. If you’re a tech person or a business-minded recent grad, this is an amazing opportunity to get into the world of market research.

2. Sales Analyst @ Unilever

Unilever products are used by a third of the Earth’s population on any given day. That’s more than 2.5 billion people. If your first full-time job is with Unilever, you’ll be a part of one of the world’s biggest companies.

They’re hiring Sales Analysts for some of their brands. You’ll be analyzing sales data, identifying patterns, and providing business solutions to the company. An excellent first job in the consumer goods industry, this role is great for number-crunchers, business brainiacs, and more. What are you waiting for? Apply now!

3. Inside Sales Representative @ Dell

Want to start a career that combines business with tech? Try sales at Dell. They’re innovators in every field, including salesmanship. If you’ve got a passion for technology that makes life better, a gift for human interaction, and problem-solving skills like no other, then you should definitely apply to this role.

4. Software Engineer @ Avanade

Avanade is a business tech consulting firm, which makes it the dream company for recent grads. You can travel, learn about all types of businesses, and get the full consultant experience while remaining in a tech-first role. Personable, practical programmers should definitely apply!

5. Research & Development Development Program @ Belden

Belden is all about sending signals, literally. They make the best tech for communications, network architecture, and even information security. Here’s a chance to help build what’s next in an industry that touches, well, everything.

6. Recruiting/Sales Specialist @ TEKsystems

Recruiting and Sales skills are like peanut butter and jelly. They go great together and one of them is pretty hard to get anything out of without the other. That’s why TEKsystems, a leading staffing firm, looks for people eager to break into sales/recruiting and offers a killer starting salary of $60k.

7. Business Systems Analyst @ Travelers

Join the legendary insurance company’s Technology Development Program as a Business Systems Analyst. You’ll work and train alongside professionals on the cutting edge of business tech. This is an amazing first job as it sets you up with skills that work well at any company.

8. Apparel Designer (Women’s) @ Under Armour

Worry not, creatives. There is, in fact, something for you on this list. Under Armour makes amazing gear for amazing athletes. And here’s your opportunity to use your creativity to contribute to that in their trendy New York office.

Your first full-time job could actually be designing some of the items that clothe the world’s most renowned athletes like Lindsey Vonn and Tom Brady.

9. Supply Chain Trainee Program @ Ferguson

Supply Chain is one of the most exciting fields in business. It’s action-packed, high-intensity, and it rewards its experts with authority and competitive salary. But breaking into the industry can be hard. That’s why Ferguson’s Supply Chain Trainee Program is the perfect first full-time job in the industry. It’s an awesome way to get your foot in the door.

10. Electrical Engineer @ Raytheon

Raytheon’s a defense contractor that makes amazing stuff for the government, military, and even space agencies. It’s a patriotic, high-stakes job. Don’t miss it.

These are just the beginning of the amazing jobs hiring on WayUp right now. No matter what your major was or your future goals are, you can find your next step on WayUp.

The post Still Looking For That First Full-Time Job? Here Are 10 Full-Time Roles Hiring Recent Grads Right Now appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

STEM, as you might know, refers to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Whether you got that expertise through work experience, your college major, or even doing online courses like Codecademy, you’re a part of that special STEM group if you have the right skills.

Recruiters are always seeking out STEM talent. STEM people are not only critical to any modern company’s success, but also harder to find because of the steep learning curve.

However, not everyone realizes just how essential STEM talent is to every type of company. It’s not just engineering firms and tech companies that need STEM majors. Your dream company, no matter what it is, is probably hiring STEM talent right now.

Here’s a short list of companies you might never have expected to hire STEM talent, but actually do.

1. Banks & Financial Services Firms

Banks and financial services firms show interest in math majors for obvious reasons. However, a lesser known fact is that they are also a top spot for programmers and technologists.

Finance is an industry with a massive budget. So it’s no surprise that they can afford to hire some of the best talent in computer science—which is exactly what they’ve been doing for the past few decades. Financial Technology (more commonly known as “FinTech”) powers everything from modern stock exchanges to AI-driven investment and trading software. Finance is a numbers game; consequently, machine learning and artificial intelligence can automate and analyze many of its functions.

If you’re an up-and-coming programmer, data scientist, or someone with a passion for emerging tech trends like blockchain and AI, then these companies could actually be a great fit for you.

2. Consulting & Accounting Firms

Like banks and finance companies, it’s obvious why accounting firms would need math majors and the like. However, they’re also in need of technologists and programmers due to the growing necessity of digital tools for business.

Consulting firms (and the consulting groups within accounting firms) are responsible for optimizing a business at every level, and that includes how its employees do their jobs and the tools they use to do them. Some consulting firms (like Avanade), focus specifically on optimizing a business’s technology and IT infrastructure.

That’s why programmers, IT specialists, and network architects are more valuable than ever for consulting firms. Improving the ways a company uses technology prompts a widespread, immediate, and impactful change, and that’s just what they’re hoping to drive.

If you majored in one of these fields and you’ve got a mind for business, then an IT consulting or management consulting position might be a great fit for you.

3. Restaurant & Hospitality Companies

Food is one of the industries most affected by the rise of technology, especially smartphones. In order to keep up with rising customer expectations, mobile and online shopping is now standard for chains. These companies need software developers working constantly on mobile apps and websites for ordering.

There’s a reason McDonald’s and Starbucks are constantly in the top 100 on the app store. People love having their food ready to go when they get there. And you could be the person who makes that happen.

4. Clothing & Retail Companies

It’s not all design and deliver for clothing and retail companies. They’re actually really complex businesses with tons of moving parts. Engineers and supply chain managers build and analyze tracking systems. It takes a lot of work to ensure smooth and timely delivery of stuff as trend-based and seasonal as clothing.

Plus, many retailers use mobile apps for sales, promotions, and customer engagement.

Supply chain management majors, programmers, and data analysts are always in demand in this space.

5. Delivery & Logistics Companies

Delivery companies might not seem like the most exciting to work for, but looks can be deceiving. Online shopping has been a blessing for delivery companies like UPS. There are now more deliveries than at any point in human history. And they’ve come up with all sorts of formulas For example, UPS drivers almost never turn left.

It takes a lot of math, science, and usually some programming to make decisions like that—and they end up saving millions of dollars and keeping pollution out of the atmosphere, so all that effort is actually well spent.

Plus, engineers and tech tinkerers are a vital part of their continuing efforts to improve delivery trucks and even work on delivery drones.

6. Food & Snack Companies

Just like retail businesses, food and snack companies have a ton of logistics to consider. They have complex supply chains that are made even more difficult to manage by the issue of food spoiling and safety standards. Plus, they’ve got to have a strong presence on the web and on mobile in order to compete in their incredibly tight markets.

All of this makes for a type of company that demands top tech talent just to stay competitive.

Tech Talent Is Everywhere

If you’ve got a STEM background and didn’t see your dream company’s category on this list, don’t worry. The reality is that every company needs STEM people, so your opportunity will arise eventually. In fact, they might already be looking.

Check out our Top Companies page on WayUp for even more amazing companies hiring people just like you!

The post 6 Types Of Companies You’d Never Expect To Hire STEM Majors (But Actually Do) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Finding an internship can be, well, difficult. But it doesn’t have to be.

We’ve found four of the best internships hiring right now. And they’re all at one of the most innovative tech companies in the world: Verizon.

1. MBAs: Smart Communities Internship

Smart cities are the way of the future. And the future is a lot sooner than you might think.

Help make sci-fi a reality by working on projects that integrate next-gen 5G tech into the everyday lives of real people in real cities. You’ll be working with Product Owners and Sales Leaders to market existing projects, evaluate the market, and analyze proposed product ideas.

The goal is to drive citizen engagement, increase economic development, and promote sustainability. Basically, the Verizon Smart Communities team works to make the world a better place. Are you in?

Degree Concentrations That Do Well In This Role: Marketing, Market Research, Business or Data Analytics, Product Management

2. MBAs: Product Management Internship

Product management is one of the hottest fields in the industry. It’s right at the corner of tech and business, allowing those with management skills to leverage their passion for innovation and user-focused thinking.

It’s also really tough to find an internship in it.

Here’s your chance to get in on a fantastic field working for one of the most innovative companies in technology. Smart people are doing big things at Verizon—and you can too.

Degree Concentrations That Do Well In This Role: Marketing, Market Research, Business or Data Analytics, Product Management

3. Accounting Majors: Finance Operations Internship

If you’re a numbers person with a head for how small parts fit into a larger whole, then finance operations might be your perfect fit.

This internship provides a fast-track into the heart of all things financial operations at Verizon. You’ll focus on anything from fraud prevention and credit analysis to revenue assurance and payroll management.

Develop yourself as a finance and business pro by working with a top-tier team.

Other Majors That Also Work For This Role: Finance, Data Analytics/Statistics, Economics, Business IT, Math

4. Real Estate Majors: Real Estate Internship

It can’t get more related to your major than this.

To help create an environment driven by innovation, Verizon acquires, builds, and maintains many properties, facilities, and land. By working with the team that does all this, you’ll find your fit and interest in the field.

If you love real estate, tinkering with management systems, analyzing data, and maximizing efficiency in innovative ways, then this is the internship for you.

Added bonus: All Real Estate and related majors are welcome.

Think you’ve found your dream company but not your dream role? Check out more fun facts, videos, and—of course—amazing job and internship opportunities from Verizon on WayUp right now!

The post Here Are 4 Internships For 4 Majors (Including MBAs!) Hiring At Verizon Right Now appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Every company that strives to increase its employee diversity and create a more inclusive culture is doing something commendable. But unlike people, not all approaches to diversity and inclusion (D&I) are created equally.

What makes Verizon’s approach so special? How straightforward it is, for starters. They’ve shown that with outreach, inclusion, and genuine efforts to foster an inclusive community that making a company that accurately represents its customers and the world around it is entirely possible.

Here’s a look at how Verizon’s straightforward approach to diversity and inclusion ended up being so successful.

Business Problems Get Business Solutions

As Verizon Chairman and then CEO Lowell McAdam told members of the Verizon-owned feminist media collective Makers, “You’re not going to win a complex environment that we are in if you don’t have diversity of thought, diversity of opinion, diversity of experience—and that comes by bringing people of color and women to higher levels of the business.”

His main message? It takes a diverse team to produce products and services that will succeed in an increasingly diverse market. If the moral aspect of D&I weren’t already enough to convince someone of its importance, this approach drives home how imperative it is. And seeing as the lack of diverse and inclusive corporate cultures is a business problem, McAdam and the entire Verizon team came back with a business solution.

How It’s Done: Learning, Listening, And Building New Leaders

Verizon educates its employees on not only the importance of diversity but also its business impact. They’ve rolled out unconscious bias training that helps people challenge their subconsciously-held ideas that might interfere with their ability to see from a different perspective or treat someone respectfully. This helps foster a better environment for its people to work (and a better-run business overall).

But it’s not just about creating the right environment; the only way to ensure the business is adaptable enough is to have diverse leadership. That’s why Verizon’s programs are geared toward developing leaders and innovators from all backgrounds. Verizon offers a 12-month mentor program pairing senior executives, people of color, and women to sharpen the critical management and communications skills required of leadership candidates. They also partner with Women in Technology NY to foster and scout female tech talent.

How did these changes come about? Leadership listened to the team. And one of the best ways for people to share their experiences and improve the culture is through Verizon’s Employee Resource Groups. These groups are an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to dive deep into their communities, network with leadership, and learn. The ERGs are centered around identities and serve communities like women, people of color, LGBT+ people, and way more.

ERGs are also an amazing opportunity to develop professionally through networking, project and event management, and dealing directly with senior leaders to implement change.

And It’s All Working—In A Big Way

With the help of these transformative efforts, Verizon has reached 59 percent employee diversity. They’ve also changed the face of leadership: Women and people of color comprise half of Verizon’s Board of Directors. Plus, they’ve hired more than 11,000 veterans to join the “V Team.”

These numbers are just representations of the story of Verizon, a company that takes the same innovative approach to tech as it does toward corporate culture and team building.

If you want to work for a company that celebrates people and advances technology, then be sure to check out opportunities from Verizon on WayUp right now!

The post Check Out This Company’s Ambitious Approach To Diversity—And The Strategy That Backs It Up appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

To make an impact in today’s tech world, you need more than a great product with 100 million users. You need to disrupt entire industries and bad practices.

But technology isn’t just about the big stuff. Technology enables the everyday conveniences and possibilities that make life special. Having fast-enough data to FaceTime your grandmother, the right camera phone to capture that perfect moment, the right memes in your group chat to better everyone’s day.

Technology can make all the difference in the world, if the company providing it empowers you – then knows when to get out of your way.

And that’s exactly what T-Mobile is all about.

Here’s why T-Mobile’s internship program is one of the best ways to start a tech career with PURPOSE.

Making Wireless Work For Everyone

People need their phones. They are among the most basic tools of modern life, keeping us plugged in, up-to-date, safe, and happy. With all that on the line, think about how much difference a wireless company can make.

That’s why T-Mobile runs on its Un-carrier® philosophy, which is all about breaking down the old ways of doing business that benefited the company but ignored the customer completely. T-Mobile offers unlimited data, lower pricing, no contracts, no hidden fees, and many other totally intuitive things that seem obvious—but that most wireless companies just won’t do.

This isn’t just good business, either; it’s a practice that empowers customers of every income bracket. You shouldn’t have to be ultra-wealthy to use a wireless hotspot or access information on the go.

T-Mobile pairs this kind of commonsense innovation with game-changing leaps in tech. They’re building a top-tier 5G network, disrupting the TV industry, and a whole lot more.

Changing The Way People Work

The Un-carrier philosophy doesn’t just govern how T-Mobile works with its customers—it’s driving a radical shift to the standards by which its own employees come to work.

Just as it freed consumers from mobile contracts, T-Mobile did away with stiff business dress codes and an exclusionary corporate culture. When you work at T-Mobile, you get to come to work as your real self. That’s why diversity and inclusion aren’t just concepts for T-Mobile—they’re drivers behind the company’s success.

This applies to the actual work you do at T-Mobile, too. Big ideas don’t sit in endless review sessions or go through a thousand panels to reach the finish line. T-Mobile is a company listening and reacting to its customers and employees, alike.

If you think you’ve got the next big idea in wireless (anything from an ad campaign to a killer line of code), then you won’t have to worry about being too low on the corporate ladder to have it heard. T-Mobile threw out the ladder and gave everyone a voice at the table.

Do you want to change the way people live, work, and connect with wireless? Check out opportunities from T-Mobile on WayUp right now!

The post Want To Make An Impact With A Tech Company? T-Mobile’s Internship Program Might Be A Perfect Fit appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Technology is truly everywhere. And believe it or not, tractors (and all sorts of agricultural tools and processes) are no exception.

That’s where the folks at John Deere come in.

John Deere is the name in agricultural tech. From the first hand-operated steel plow to the self-directing machine behemoths that tackle farming today, John Deere has always made the best-in-class gear for farmers, landscapers, foresters, and more. And it doesn’t stay that way by resting on its laurels. The world of agritech is far more complicated and exciting than you might ever have imagined.

To get a better look at innovation within the company, we spoke to one of their innovation leaders, Julian Sanchez. He’s a career technologist and serial innovator who specializes in user experience and the digital space. Given his prior background in medical device tech and aviation, John Deere might seem like a strange fit for him—but Julian thinks it’s what helps him succeed in his role.

The ‘Magic’ Test For Self-Driving Tractors

“John Deere sits right on the cusp of Old World and New World,” Julian says. “What I mean by that we are still a manufacturing company, we are still making big iron machines, you’ve got to get that right. But here we are trying to digitize agriculture, construction, forestry, and even lawn-care,” he says.

And most of those digital solutions that Julian is working on have to do with automation. “We’re in a business where automation is a key part of our future, and in the journey toward that goal, we keep introducing subsystems that are automated. We are heavily focused on making sure we get the user experience and connectivity of those solutions right,” Julian says.

That means helping tractors, combines, and way, way more get better at recognizing the task of the farmer and the function that they fill with less input from the operator. “We should be able to tell that our customer is at the fields with a planter with a certain type of seed at a certain time of year. They shouldn’t have to enter data every single time,” Julian explains.

And that’s a goal that they’ve made massive strides toward. But it’s not just interface tools that they’re working on. A lot of the space-age dreams of agritech have already been realized. Yes, we’re talking about machines that do manual labor largely without humans operating them.

“You know, tractors already drive themselves,” Julian says. “So we’ve already achieved that element of the sci-fi world. There’s even a combine that can pretty much adjust itself and attain an optimal setting in a lot of fields.”

To Julian and millions of John Deere customers, this stuff is truly incredible.

“I would say at least half of the work I’m doing, it feels like magic. And that’s kind of the measure I use to tell whether something is really innovation: If the first time you see it, you just smile and think, ‘This feels like magic!” he says.

The ‘Magic’ Happens All Over

This sort of innovation isn’t restricted to one team or one location, either.

“Innovation happens across the entire company.  I used to work out of our office in Champaign, Illinois, where there’s this ‘Silicon Prairie’ of innovation. In the last three weeks, I moved to our technology center in Germany,” Julian says.

“We have a number of innovation centers around the world: Several locations in the United States and across the globe, including the one that I’m working out of now in Germany, and our San Francisco labs,” he says. The last one, Julian tells us, is particularly exciting, as its work relates primarily to the Blue River group, an agritech firm John Deere recently acquired.

“There are a number of nodes of innovation, but the purpose of the San Francisco center is to give us access to the ideas and the talent in Silicon Valley. That lab has a special link to the Blue River group, which is an acquisition we made thinking about advancing our capabilities and our expertise levels in the areas of artificial intelligence,” he says.

“We’re certainly excited about some of the work that Blue River has in the pipeline. They had been working on a variety of systems to detect and spray weeds in a very precise manner, so that’s still the core of the technology that they’re developing.”

Their See & Spray technology—the project that Julian referred to—uses the exact kind of decision-making technology that John Deere hopes to utilize across the business in other automation efforts.

The Right Culture To Back It All Up

So, from Silicon Valley to Silicon Prairie (and even to Germany), John Deere’s people innovate all over. But how do they sustain this? The company culture doesn’t leave anyone out of the loop. As Julian says, it’s a whole company effort, which makes the experience that much more meaningful.

“The fact that the company is going through this transformation really exposes everyone to it. So, it’s not just a small group of us working behind closed doors on some magical thing that gets revealed,” he says.

“From a technical standpoint, that involves everyone. Even if you’re an entry-level manufacturing engineer, you’re going to have some interaction with the manufacturability of one of our vehicles that now needs to double or triple the number of sensors that go on it,” he says.

Innovation, Julian stresses, even impacts spaces beyond engineering.

“If you’re in the supply management space, you’re going to deal with a whole new set of suppliers—ones we’ve never dealt with before—who supply a whole new set of sensors for automotive. If you’re in the finance group, you’re going to have to figure out what the tax implications are of offering digital services,” he explains.

So, what makes John Deere different in tech?

“There are certainly other businesses that have already branded themselves ‘technology companies.’ They may have a stronger brand as a tech company. But guess what? You’re going to go to some of those companies, and you’re going to sit on the bench,” Julian says.

“But if you come to John Deere—because we are literally in the middle of that transformation and will be for a while—you can be right in the game. I’ve personally hired, through my organization, a few dozen people into John Deere. And I don’t think that I have failed to deliver on that promise to any of the people that have come in.”

Pretty cool, right?

Find your tech future at John Deere. They’re hiring now on WayUp!

The post This 181-Year-Old Company’s Secret To Success? Innovation—And A Culture That Supports It appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Over the past few years, cryptocurrencies have gone from a hopeless meme to an emerging trend drawing reactions from markets and governments around the world. But while most business behemoths have kept crypto-related tech at arm’s length, that doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to learn from some of the technologies that are associated—though not interconnected—with it.

One such innovative firm is Northern Trust. The global financial institution has recently employed the blockchain technology used by cryptos and launched the first-ever blockchain-based ledger for private equity. What, exactly, is that? It’s a cutting-edge software tool that shifts the method of recording and verifying financial transactions, particularly complex ones, in ways that can save time and money.

To better understand Northern Trust’s culture of innovation, we spoke to Arijit Das, IT Developer and Blockchain technology expert at the company.

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What Is The Blockchain? 

If you’re interested in finance, tech, or business, you’ve probably heard about blockchain before. A blockchain is a shared record, in which all data kept is universally standardized and unchangeable (without leaving a trail, at least) for the participants. This decentralized method of data storage is, theoretically, unhackable, because there’s no single server or unit to breach and tamper with. (Hence the “chain.”)  A completely separate technology from cryptocurrency, blockchain technology is a tool that forward-thinking Fin-Tech firms are increasingly finding new and innovative uses for.

“The way we see blockchain benefitting us right now, is more along its functions as a distributed ledger technology,” Arijit says. “It benefits the business by sharing data in a trusted manner between the different parties.”

The most interesting aspect of this tech, Arijit stresses, is that it tells you which data you can trust. This alone puts Northern Trust in the lead when it comes to security. But there are other substantial business benefits as well.

As Arijit explains, ledgers have always been an essential but very complicated aspect of the banking business. Both investors and firms need to have a clear record of who took what from whom, and both parties have fallen victim to error and dishonesty in the past. Even with the advent of digital record-keeping and the internet, ledgers have been difficult to keep both secure and consistent among all parties.

In the past, parties involved in transactions were forced to rely on outside partners like government agencies or contractors to verify information. This process, however, was expensive and slow. Blockchain eliminates this necessity, enabling Northern Trust to be a much nimbler partner for its clients.

That’s why, even in an industry where the game has been changed quite a few times, blockchain stands out as such a game-changer: It automates processes that people couldn’t previously trust programming to handle.

How To Deal With The Data Deluge

Given the obsession we as a society have with data and its collection, it might be surprising to learn that one of the biggest problems with big data is that we don’t know what to do with it.

“Ninety percent of the world’s data was created in the last two years,” Arijit says. “And only about 0.5 percent of that data is actually used.”

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And thanks to things like the growing network of smart devices, satellites, and applications, the amount of data will only continue to expand.

“It’s very dangerous to have data [that] has dubious sources. We all know what happens when things like that occur,” Arijit says. “As data proliferates all over the world, it’s essential that we have some means of tracking problems and tracking where it originates from and whether it’s trusted. And blockchain provides you with a technology to be able to do that.”

The Future Of Banking: Robotics, AI, And The Blockchain “Ecosystem”

There’s more than just blockchain tech being developed at Northern Trust. “We’re also very active in leveraging things like robotics and artificial intelligence,” Arijit says. “We have several programs going on where we’re looking at utilizing AI to predict certain data or certain patterns.”

According to Arijit, AI can have a profound impact on the banking industry, where being the first to analyze minute shifts in data can mean either capitalizing on big opportunities or protecting yourself against losses.

“We’re also using some of the new big data techniques. We’ve got specialist big data tools from Silicon Valley startups. We’ve got big data processing facilities and technologies,” Arijit says.

On top of all that, they also have a new UX design lab dedicated to maximizing the ease and effectiveness of the user experience.

It’s this unique mix of creative, technical, and financial experts that makes Northern Trust an extremely versatile company—both as a business and as an employer. And it’s this innovative culture that enables Northern Trust’s employees to find and create new roles for themselves, all without ever leaving the company.

If you’re interested in working at the corner of finance and innovation, then check out open positions at Northern Trust—they’re hiring on WayUp now!

The post The Future Of Finance: This Bank Uses Blockchain And (Much) More To Stay Ahead appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Banking: It’s the oldest industry in the modern world—but it’s also the one that’s been transformed the most by technology.

You can attribute this evolution to the rise of Financial Technology (FinTech). It’s one of the economy’s fastest-growing sectors, and it has turned the smartest banks into tech powerhouses.

However, not all banks deploy their tech prowess in the same way. Take Deutsche Bank, which continuously looks for driven and passionate people to join their team. Here’s a look at some of the innovative, impactful work Deutsche Bank’s Tech Team has created.

The DB + Cure Leukaemia Foundation Hackathon

Hackathons are a regular part of a technical team’s development. Why? They’re a great way to get a working prototype of a product off the ground.

Except this time, it wasn’t about making a banking product. It was about improving the lives of leukemia patients.

Deutsche Bank’s chosen method? Devising an app that could connect patients with the Cure Leukaemia Foundation, a charity based in the United Kingdom. They provide resources on everything from self-esteem and mental health support to information on different treatments and diets for patients undergoing treatment. (If you’re curious about the different spellings, it’s because leukemia is spelled “leukaemia” in British English.)

Deutsche Bank is a global company, so they had technical teams from around the world competing to code the best app in only a day’s time. Squads of tech whizzes from Germany, Romania, the UK, Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the US worked around-the-clock to create an app built off Deutsche Bank’s dev platform, Fabric.

The final product? An app that could truly change the way people with leukemia live with and respond to the disease.

The winning team was “She Hacks,” who represented Deutsche Bank’s London tech group. The all-female coding team built Sanguine, an app that connects patients based on their symptoms and individual diagnosis to help them cope and stay strong during the treatment process.  This approach helped solve one of the daunting obstacles leukemia patients face: They struggle to find the kind of information that can help them feel “normal” and confident during treatment.

Sanguine uses factors like gender, diagnosis, age, and more to connect patients and demystify the treatment and recovery process. It curates articles and advice from trusted sources in the Cure Leukaemia network, and it also collects their well-being data, which they can choose to share with doctors, family, and friends.

From Charitable To Cutting Edge: Tech At Deutsche Bank

Technologists at Deutsche Bank also make some of the most cutting-edge solutions in FinTech. The bank has a centralized tech advancement center in its native Germany, called The Digital Factory. It serves as a hub for Deutsche Bank’s global tech projects.

Some of these incredible initiatives include a digital currency exchange platform, a mobile payment system, and a multi-banking online hub for clients with complex accounts. Yet another one is the Deutsche Bank Digital Safe (also known as eSafe), which is a highly secure digital platform for sensitive documents, information, passwords, and more. The variety of projects Deutsche Bank technologists work on means they seek experts and rising talent from all types of specialties and backgrounds – making it an excellent place for interns and recent grads to learn more about a certain skill set.

No matter what the project is, though, Deutsche Bank is looking for technologists who create and think with passion. Whether your app changes the way leukemia patients connect with a support network or the way investors access their projected data, the enthusiasm for entrepreneurial thinking and desire to work on outcome-oriented projects remains the same.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Deutsche Bank techy? Check out fun facts, videos and amazing job opportunities from Deutsche Bank on WayUp today!

The post You’ll Never Guess Which Company Is Helping Create An App To Fight Leukemia (Hint: It’s A Bank) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Where does jewelry design meet thermal engineering?

Dell, of course.

It can be easy to see tech giants through the lens of their most popular products. However, when it comes to Dell, there’s a lot more going on than you might realize. Dell employs thousands of people all over the world who work on projects affecting everything from how we watch movies and play games to how we should handle e-waste and treat veterans with PTSD.

Here are five things you never would have guessed Dell employees are doing every day.

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1. Turning Computer Chips Into Cufflinks

It might seem weird that a company that builds so many computers would be involved in tearing them apart. But that’s just what Dell’s doing with their gold (and other precious metals) recycling program.

Gold mining can be extremely damaging to the environment and electronics are one of the biggest customers for the business. Dell alone uses roughly 7,000 pounds of gold in its products every year. That’s where the geniuses behind the Dell recycling program (see #4) come in.

According to their experts, there’s more gold in a ton of motherboards than there is in a ton of gold ore. Re-harvesting this gold so it can be put back into use ends up creating 99 percent less pollution than normal mining. It also leads to some very interesting outcomes.

For example, take the Dell x Nikki Reed partnership. It uses Dell-recycled gold to make rings, earrings, and cufflinks designed by the former Twilight star and environmental activist.

What better way to put your environmental science or engineering experience to use than to save the environment and make cool jewelry?

2. Becoming A VR Guru

Gary Radburn is the director of Commercial AR/VR at Dell, or, as he is more commonly known, the VR Guru.

Radburn works with Dell’s team to make sure that their computers are powerful enough to handle the demands of 21st century Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. This includes Dell-made VR tech that’s used to treat war veterans with PTSD, showcase the impact of climate change on the environment, and—of course—play/watch the next generation of VR games and movies.

3. Combining Art + Activism

Storytelling can be a powerful way of getting your message out. And Dell’s message is that our society needs to take more responsibility for the impacts of technology. One such story Dell told was through the work of “artivist” Benjamin Von Wong.

Known for his work on viral videos and photography, Von Wong took advantage of Dell’s superb electronics recycling program (see #4) in order to create beautiful sculptures and images depicting the relationship of human beings to technology.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR OPEN ROLES AT DELL!

And that’s just one example. Dell employees collaborate with other artists and ambassadors, including the actor Adrian Grenier and world-class sailboat racers, to promote Dell’s message of sustainability, ethics, and user-friendly tech.

4. Taking Out The World’s Biggest Trash Problem

Computers, printers, screens, and everything in between are the most important pieces of technology in the world. So, it’s no wonder that when an innovation is made or a new model is released, we want to get our hands on it. However, that means a lot of electronics equipment is turned into trash or e-waste.

Dell has the largest e-waste recycling program in the world. This initiative includes not only the type of artistic endeavors above but also the reuse of materials in newer models of computers, printers, and other gadgets. Joining this team at Dell means contributing to a cleaner, more efficient world.

5. Using Mars Rover Parts To Make Cooler Laptops

Whether or not the phrase “thermal engineering” gets you going, it’s hard not to be amazed by the tech behind Dell’s latest round of XPS notebooks.

Engineers at Dell took the same Gore liner that’s used on actual spacecraft like the Mars Rover—in addition to jackets and sneakers—in order to make the literal coolest laptops on the market (temperature and otherwise). The material in question has, according to Dell, the lowest conductivity known to man. As Forbes put it, “So many companies are always abusing the phrase ‘space age technology.’ Well, Dell’s definitely backing it up.”

Want to work for a company that is constantly pushing the boundaries of technology, innovation, and science? Dell is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply!

The post Here Are 5 Jobs You Never Expected To Find At Dell appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Diversity is only one part of a great company culture. Another element that goes hand-in-hand with it—one that is arguably even more important—is inclusion.

The team at John Deere had a feeling that Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) wasn’t just about putting the right holidays on the work calendar and making sure they had a diverse team. D&I, they believed, is about developing an organization that rallies people from all backgrounds and with different interests around projects that matter to them.

That’s what John Deere does with its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Here’s a look at how these groups have made diversity and inclusion THRIVE at John Deere—one of the world’s oldest and most established agricultural tech firms.

To find out more, we spoke to their ERG Manager, Emmanuel Rivera. He told us all about what ERGs mean to him and the rest of the John Deere team.

What Are ERGs?

At John Deere, ERGs are company-sponsored, employee-run organizations formed around a common dimension of diversity, shared interest, or experience that affects the workplace. For example, WomenREACH’s ERG supports the personal and professional development of women by providing leadership, education, networking and community outreach opportunities.

For John Deere, ERGs provide a space for people to come together and use their combined experience and expertise to create an environment of inclusion.

“They have a unique ability to bring people from a cross-section of backgrounds together around a common mission,” Emmanuel explains. “The relationships and the connections that people make provide tremendous benefits for both the employees and the organization. ERGs connect people across functions, across units, across divisions, and even across time zones globally.”

This is especially important for John Deere, which, according to Emmanuel, is a relationship-based company. “ERGs play an integral role in being a natural mechanism for allowing that to take place,” he says.

We’ve all heard of employee groups before, but what do the ones at John Deere do differently? They’re not just social clubs, Emmanuel says. The ERGs at John Deere are made of leaders who drive real change in the organization. ERGs are true change agents that help support attracting, retaining and developing top diverse talent.

Leaders Are Made (And Recognized)

“If you do become a truly engaged member, you have an opportunity to develop in a way that your functional job might not allow you to,” Emmanuel says. “For employees with individual contributor type roles, those who take on leadership roles have an opportunity to lead teams, to and influence without authority amongst other things, competencies and skillsets that translate well into future roles of increased responsibility.”

Because ERGs are places for people to connect around different cultural dynamics and challenges affecting the workplace, they’re also where management is listening to get genuine feedback. Transformative initiatives come from ERGs. When you have a voice in the ERGs at John Deere, you’re heard by leaders at every level.

This is particularly exciting for people early in their careers—and interns—because you can take on leadership roles without having to wait for a promotion. This, in turn, can really help with showcasing ERG leaders’ ability to lead, influence and add value to the business, behaviors that when demonstrated could actually support securing that promotion.

“It’s invaluable experience,” Emmanuel says. “You can put events together, manage projects and budgets—the development that comes with ERGs accelerates your personal and professional development in a way that can’t be reproduced.”

This kind of opportunity for leadership benefits everyone—from the employee fresh out of college who’s hungry for experience to the most senior executive who can have faith that their D&I initiatives are coming from the ground up.

Now that’s running (a company) like a (John) Deere.

The post Here’s How This Tractor Company You Definitely Know Leads In Diversity appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

All of us want to see the fruits of our labor.

For Mary Cooksey, that means looking up. Like, way up.

“The most rewarding part of my job is walking out to the parking lot and seeing an F-35 fly over my head,” she says. “It’s the best way to remind myself that my work is really important.

Cooksey is an manufacturing engineer who works on fighter jets. She’s currently in her final year of Lockheed Martin’s three-year Engineering Leadership Development Program, which offers experience in a different aspect of engineering each year. (Lockheed Martin employees can apply to the competitive program within 1–3 years after joining.)

Interested to know what it’s like to work on a supersonic aircraft? We were, too, so we asked Cooksey about her role(s) during a recent interview.

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From Finance To Fighter Jets

After college, Cooksey knew one thing for sure: She wanted to work at Lockheed Martin. She just wasn’t sure what she’d do with her degree in Manufacturing Engineering.

Her strategy? Apply to everything.

She was hired as a Value Engineer—a role heavily rooted in finance—which got her closer toward her goal of working on aircraft. After proving herself, Cooksey landed a position in the Leadership Development Program.

In the time since, she’s worked on the F-35, F-16, and F-22 fighter jets and has worked with engineering teams across the company.

A World-Class Team

So, what has stood out to Cooksey during her time at Lockheed? The support new hires receive, for starters.

“Everyone loves to tell you stories,” she says. “They’ll tell you how different things were when they started, and how the company has changed. It’s really inspiring.”

Despite working in a mile-long facility (!!!) with 15,000 people, Cooksey says she recognizes almost every person she works with. “It’s amazing how large the company is, how many different sites we operate around the world, and all the different products we touch, from space to helicopters to fighter jets,” she says.

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Flying Into The Future

As she completes the Leadership Development Program, Cooksey has a lot to be excited about. “Lockheed Martin’s future looks really bright as F-35 production ramps up,” she says. “It’s a culture of all hands on deck, as we work to put out more and more jets every year. And one of the company’s largest goals is that everyone feels part of the same team.”

As for her career path? Cooksey often feels like the opportunities are endless. “I feel like I could go through another 10 rotational programs,” she says.

Her Advice For Future Lockheed Leaders

When Cooksey first joined Lockheed Martin, she felt out of her comfort zone in her finance-focused role. Looking back, she says she learned the most that year.

“When you’re just starting your career, try new things and take on new challenges. You’ll be surprised by how many opportunities open up to you,” Cooksey says.

She stresses the best candidates at Lockheed Martin are the first to volunteer for projects other people aren’t raising their hands for. She quickly found that saying yes—even when she didn’t know where to start on a project—was always a good decision. “Everyone is so approachable,” she says. “It’s not like you’ll be all on your own working on an F-35.”

Nowadays, Cooksey knows one thing for sure: She’ll get to work with innovative, supportive team members and will play a pivotal role in helping create amazing products that change the world—regardless of where her career at Lockheed Martin takes her.  

See yourself at Lockheed Martin? They’re hiring on WayUp now!

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Lockheed Martin is a leading global aerospace and technology company that works with partners around the world to drive forward scientific research and innovation.

The post I Helped Build A Fighter Jet That Flies 1,200 Miles Per Hour appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Do you ever feel like a brand is the same age as you are? Well, even for modern tech companies, that can actually be the case.

And just like the members of a given generation (such as ours), some of these tech companies have matured faster than others. They’ve switched it up, learned a lot, and emerged as better, fuller versions of themselves.

One such company is T-Mobile. Over the past five years, T-Mobile has totally disrupted the wireless industry. You’re probably familiar with how they’ve done away with hidden fees, limited plans, and long-term contracts. You might also know that they are building 5G tech with Nokia (they grew up, too!) and that they’re starting a TV streaming service as an alternative to cable contracts. T-Mobile has grown from just another wireless carrier into the Wireless Un-carrier®.

And now that you’re grown up, too, you can be a part of it.

An Internship With T-Mobile Is A Chance To Shake Up The Tech World

Modern tech internships aren’t just about Silicon Valley startups and electric scooters. They’re about making an impact on people’s lives. We’re a generation who grew up on stories about the power of tech and what the future could look like. And even though we don’t have flying cars (yet), we do have some pretty amazing stuff.

Wireless connects people—to their friends, family, education, things they love, and new ideas all around the world. T-Mobile has taken the classic Spiderman advice and turned its great power into a call for social responsibility on the part of wireless companies. And they’re leading the way.

T-Mobile is Pushing Wireless AND Tech Culture Forward

Forget about companies that can’t catch up with modern life. T-Mobile lets you come to work as you are. Dress like yourself. Think like yourself. Just #BeYou. One of the best reasons to intern at T-Mobile is its policy of drawing innovation from every level and department within the company.

Whether you’re into marketing, analytics, sales, computer science, art, general management, or most any other field, you’ll likely find a position at T-Mobile that aligns with your interests. And the company cares what you think. Your voice will be heard and respected. Tech companies aren’t just about hacking and product announcements. If you’ve got an idea that could make life better for people everywhere, the company you work for should be a venue for making that happen—and that’s what T-Mobile is.

If you want to build the best in 5G, free people from restrictive contracts, and help EVERYONE connect, then you should check out opportunities at T-Mobile on WayUp right now!

The post Is One Of The Hottest Tech Internship Programs At A Company You’ve Known Since You Were A Kid? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you’re like most people and your boss told you, “I think it’s time you got a new job,” then your first reaction would probably be to totally lose it. But if you worked at Northern Trust, a Chicago-headquartered global financial services giant, then you’d know that changing jobs is just a part of the company culture.

At Northern Trust, there’s no such thing as getting stuck in a rut. They don’t only allow you to change teams, departments and business units—they encourage it. This means you can continue to grow and learn in a meaningful way, long after you’ve passed the internship phase of your career.

Here are three job-switching success stories that demonstrate the power of changing lanes.

HANNA, Scrum Master On The Blockchain Project: Finding The Tech In “Fin-Tech”

Though Hanna was a finance major in college, she didn’t know exactly what in finance she wanted to do. But after getting her first post-grad job at Northern Trust, she was able to find her way to the business-meets-tech role that she occupies now, all thanks to their flexibility.

“I kind of did a weird roundabout into tech. I was in financial reporting for a little. I was in the project management office for a little bit. I’ve already gotten to see different aspects and departments of Northern Trust in a short amount of time!” she says.

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“It was nice that there was flexibility, and I was able to find a department where I thought my skillset aligned. Where I ended up excelling was in a liaison role between business and tech,” she says.

Getting a new job at Northern Trust wasn’t a punishment—it was something she chased down in pursuit of an even more fulfilling role. And it wasn’t just promotion-hunting, either. “It’s not always about climbing upward,” Hanna says. “It’s about finding a role where you can develop professionally and diversify your career path.”

After being exposed to multiple positions during her time at Northern Trust, Hanna found a challenge that brought out the best in her—to everyone’s benefit.

SHAREE, Client Services Rep: From Customer Service To The Investment Track

Sharee started as an intern at Northern Trust. So, for her, getting a new job at the company has always meant moving up. After graduation, she was hired as a Client Services Representative, taking calls from clients to help them sort out any questions or issues they had. This summer, she moved onto the Investments Track of the Northern Trust Rotational Development Program.

“The skills I picked up—teamwork, being able to anticipate clients’ needs, background knowledge from private equity—helped me transition to my current role,” she says. She credits her success not only to the skills she acquired along the way but also to the relationships she made.

After connecting with her peers and mentors, Sharee learned what it took to move up into this new role, which made the process more straightforward and transparent.

APPLY TO WORK AT NORTHERN TRUST NOW!

The flexibility of Northern Trust’s corporate structure allowed Sharee to build the skills she needed to genuinely advance her career. It also gave her the satisfaction of well-earned success. “Moving from [being an] intern to being in a full-time position made me feel proud,” she says.

IVAN, Rotational Development Program Credit Track: The Teenager-Turned-Banker

Ivan started as an intern, too—when he was in high school.

Tons of companies pay lip service to the idea that they invest in their employees’ potential. But few companies can say they truly take you from point A to point Z (and beyond) like Northern Trust has with Ivan (and many others).

Though while growing up he wanted to be a doctor, Ivan says that working with Northern Trust “definitely opened up my eyes.” After that, Ivan knew that he wanted to study something related to finance. On that front, his mentors at the company even helped him pick his college major.

In the time since, Ivan has tackled a handful of positions at the firm that rounded out his education. Now he’s right where he wants to be on the credit track. His moves were fast, but, he says, he’s been prepared for them. “I’m not surprised by anything I’m currently doing in my role,” he explains. “But taking a step back at my entire journey, what’s surprising is Northern Trust’s willingness to work with me on identifying what I actually want to do.”

For Northern Trust, Investment Is More Than Just A Banking Term

If an employer constantly challenges you to get new skills, it’s an excellent sign that it’s a firm that wants you to stay for the long haul. But it’s no wonder that a company that has guided people like Ivan and Sharee since high school and college is so open to letting them build skills. At Northern Trust, they know that the talent they bring in can and will become the future leaders of the company—especially when you give them the opportunity to get there.

Want to work for a company that invests in its employees? Northern Trust is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply now!

The post My Company Encouraged Me To Get A New Job—And I’m So Happy They Did appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

There is an incredible diversity of cultures, locales, and languages across the globe. Yet that same diversity is what makes it so difficult for many international businesses to figure out how to tap into far-flung opportunities.

Identifying how money might enrich those myriad markets, though, is exactly the business of OppenheimerFunds. The tricky nature of designing investment solutions that work throughout the world is why they hire so many passionate learners and experts.

Here’s a quick look at the strategy behind how the innovative investment leader operates beyond borders in a global economy.

Investment Challenging Borders

“Global trade occurs at the speed of light,” says OF’s Chief Investment Officer Krishna Memani. “There are opportunities in countries and markets all over the world.” That, he says, is why you can’t box your thinking into one country’s way of doing business.

But you can’t just snap your fingers and suddenly become successful outside of the United States and other Western financial markets, either. You need to be knowledgeable about each of the different cultures and their needs. OppenheimerFunds has a strategy in place for this, too.

“Companies that operate in different countries have different cultures. They have different ways of doing business,” Memani says. “You get to be an expert of those markets by visiting those companies, by interacting with them. OppenheimerFunds is special in this regard, because we have been doing this for nearly 60 years.”

For example, the OppenheimerFunds Emerging Markets Innovators Fund invests more than $500 million in businesses and operators in places like South America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. This not only generates new wealth for their clients but also enriches economies around the world to help create better lives for people in all types of situations.

Thinking Bigger Than The Big Apple

“If your portfolio is only focused on what’s happening in New York, then you’re only missing out on what’s happening in 38 other time zones,” Memani says. (That’s a lot of time zones.)

OppenheimerFunds has devoted decades toward becoming a leader among financial institutions when it comes to taking serious bets on emerging market economies. These types of investments have made the firm a trailblazer in asset management and contributed to its global mission and success: The company manages more than $250 billion in assets for more than 13 million clients.

But it wasn’t just profit that fueled OF, Memani stresses. It was the curiosity of the company’s employees, who pushed boundaries as they sought to test what they could achieve and how they might operate in new markets. “It’s that curiosity that leads us to innovative ideas,” he says. It also serves as the foundation for forward-thinking projects like the Oppenheimer Fundamental Alternatives fund, which scours the Earth for technological and business innovators to power portfolio growth.

“Innovation can come from Calcutta just as it can from Silicon Valley,” he says.

According to OppenheimerFunds, that’s how you beat borders: You think beyond them. The reward for doing so is versatility, improving the world beyond your sights, and—of course—beating the market to the next big profit source.

Think you can beat the market? So do they.

So much of what OppenheimerFunds does is about getting and processing the right information before anyone else can. That means they hire a diverse group of people, from data whizzes to communications experts. What characteristics do they share? They’re passionate, extremely knowledgeable, and can handle a challenge that races against the clock.

If you think you can spot the next big thing before the market does, then you might be the perfect fit for OF’s transformational investment platform.

Do you want to utilize your passion to shape an investment career? Check out opportunities from OppenheimerFunds on WayUp right now!

The post Finance Beyond FiDi: This Company Believes It Can ‘Challenge Borders’ With Global Investment appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

What makes the perfect internship in finance or tech? Is it the opportunity to receive world-class training? Is it working for a company that operates all over the world? Is it being given the freedom to work with innovators on the next big thing so you can get a head start on industry trends? How about all three—and way, way more?

If you said yes, then you’re in luck, because that’s what you’ll find at Nasdaq’s internship program.

Here’s a look at why a Nasdaq internship is the perfect way to start your career in tech or finance.

1. They Operate On 6 Continents, So You Can Set Yourself Up For A Globetrotting Career

Nasdaq isn’t just a stock exchange in New York City. They’re the primary securities (stocks and bonds) market for major global companies. And they’re especially popular in the technology sector.

That means working for Nasdaq opens the gateway to working in markets all over the world. If you’re interested in a career with exciting opportunities to travel or in working abroad in general, then Nasdaq might be your perfect match.

In an interview with WayUp Co-founder and CEO Liz Wessel, Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman highlighted the range of countries where Nasdaq operates. “We are not only the capital market in the US. We’re the capital market in the Nordics,” she says. “We also provide the technology that powers over a hundred capital markets around the world.”

Nasdaq interns train for a company that operates on six continents, so they’re ready to work anywhere when graduation comes around.

2. Nasdaq Is Bringing Its World-Renowned Technology To The Booming Crypto Marketplace

Finance can be decidedly old-school when it comes to its place in the economy. But Nasdaq, which defines itself as a technology company and markets operator, completely defies that stereotype. This kind of outside-the-box thinking starts with Friedman.

“We are seeing a lot of crypto exchanges trying to become more self-regulated, that they have fair market rules, good technology, and surveillance,” Friedman tells Bloomberg TV. “We are the tech provider to a few of the crypto exchanges and we see an opportunity to provide our market technology and surveillance technology in this space,”

Nasdaq isn’t shying away from what some consider an important development in the future of finance. On that front, they’ve  become a technology partner to several crypto markets, including Gemini, a crypto-firm founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the Bitcoin investors famously depicted by Armie Hammer in The Social Network.

3. They’re Serial Tech Innovators Always Looking For New Ideas

Their innovations don’t start or stop with crypto, though. They’re working on integrating artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing technologies into their exchange systems (among plenty of other exciting pushes).

If you’re interested in finance, tech, or the intersection of the two fields, then interning at Nasdaq is an amazing opportunity to get experience with an established, big-name company, and to actually prepare yourself for what’s next in finance.

Knowing more about next-gen tech will make you an ideal candidate for important, promotable  roles all over the financial sector.

4. Their Business Practices Govern Nearly Every Financial Market In The World

Nasdaq doesn’t just offer a stocks and bonds market to companies all over the world. They offer financial and business expertise in the form of consulting services. That means, even in places or developing markets where Nasdaq isn’t the primary exchange, their business practices and methods are still the standard.

This is especially true in emerging markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Nasdaq’s expertise influences these rich new markets and the way their exchanges do business. That means being trained by Nasdaq is being trained for emerging markets, which makes you an incredibly valuable candidate for future jobs.

5. They Offer So Many Services That You Can Start A Career In Any Specialty

One of the biggest misconceptions about Nasdaq is that they’re just an exchange.

They provide services like investor relations, capital markets technology, commodities and equities, and even more than that. They’re a 360-degree financial markets and business brand. So, if you’re interested in starting a career in consulting, analytics, marketing, technology, account management, sales, and—of course—finance, then Nasdaq might just be the perfect company for your next summer internship.

You can also discover an entirely new passion while working and learning at Nasdaq, according to Friedman. “I think that one of the great things about Nasdaq is that you can find your way into the organization through one group, and move to other parts of the company. But you have to have your own sense of self-reliance, self-starting,” she says.

Think you have what it takes to carve your own path with an innovative finance leader? Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing job opportunities from Nasdaq on WayUp right now!

The post From Today’s Innovations To The Future Of Finance: 5 Reasons This Multibillion Dollar Finance Giant Is The Perfect Place To Intern appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Adena Friedman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq. Chances are, you’ve probably heard of the company, which started out managing the world’s first electronic stock market.

Friedman began her career at Nasdaq after graduating from Vanderbilt’s MBA program. Looking for her way into both finance and the product management side of the tech world, she landed an internship at Nasdaq. She’s since seen (and overseen) the company’s evolution from stock exchange to global technology leader.

WayUp Co-founder and CEO Liz Wessel sat down with Friedman to learn more about Nasdaq, her story, and how you could be the next intern-turned-CEO (with her advice).

What Is Nasdaq?

Nasdaq originally stood for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. It was an electronic quotation system (providing potential buyers with stock prices) and the world’s first electronic stock market.

Being the more technologically adept stock exchange, Nasdaq also manages the Nasdaq Composite, which—like other industrial averages—tracks the combined stock prices of major technology companies. Traders and economists use the Nasdaq composite as a bellwether for the health of what is arguably America’s most important industry: tech.

But Nasdaq has evolved a lot over the years. They’re a leader in technology in financial services, working on integrating everything from artificial intelligence to the blockchain technology behind digital currencies into exchanges.

“It really is a technology product company in the financial space,” Friedman explains to Liz.

Essentially, Nasdaq works on everything that changes the way financial markets work. If there’s a new technology that affects trading, pricing, or transactions, you can safely bet that Nasdaq already offers it (or it’s in the works).

That’s what excites Friedman so much about being its leader: She grew up alongside the company, and they’ve both come a long way since her first day at Nasdaq.

How Adena Friedman Went From Intern To CEO

Friedman credits her success to not only seizing every opportunity but also adding something more to them.

As Friedman sees it, you can’t just do what’s asked of you. You have to understand the business and go above and beyond in your work to make sure you’re genuinely adding something to the company’s value. That kind of holistic business curiosity is something Friedman says she values in all her employees—no matter what their roles are.

“Something that we look for in all our candidates is intellectual curiosity: We look for people who want to understand more about the world around them. We look for people who want to understand more about the capital markets and how they shape the economy,” Friedman says.

Friedman and Nasdaq hope that this viewpoint will influence the way potential employees do their jobs. That sort of forward-looking thinking is how she managed to advance her career (plus Nasdaq’s entire profile and service portfolio).

Friedman’s climb up the corporate ladder took her to the CFO role at the exchange, followed by a stint at a private equity firm. When she returned to Nasdaq, she did so as their President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In January 2017, Friedman was promoted to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

And you could be next.

“One of the great things about Nasdaq is that you can find your way into the organization through one group, and move to other parts of the company,” Friedman says. However, those moves and promotions won’t come for free.

“You have to have your own sense of self-reliance, self-starting,” she says.

Interested in following Friedman’s philosophy of holistic business thinking and taking the entrepreneurial initiative for a company that’s always growing? Check out fun facts, videos, and amazing opportunities from Nasdaq on WayUp right now!

The post How This Nasdaq Leader Went From Intern To CEO—And How You Could, Too appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This must have been what it felt like when the internet was invented: You can’t stop hearing about it. And that “it,” in this instance, is blockchain.

If you believe the blogs (and the tweets), then blockchain is a technology with the power to change businesses everywhere, and often for the better.

To learn more, we spoke with Donna Dillenberger, an expert from blockchain industry leader IBM. An IBM Fellow working on blockchain security, scalability, and artificial intelligence, Dillenberger was the perfect person to give us the lowdown on what blockchain really is and how the New York-based tech giant is deploying it to make people safer, businesses better, and data sharing smarter.

What is blockchain?

“Blockchain is a software that enables different groups to share information with each other in a trustworthy way,” says Dillenberger.

Essentially, a blockchain is a shared ledger kept between parties so that recordkeeping is decentralized and immutable. At first glance, this might not appear to be a game-changing technology—it may even seem to be something the internet already does—but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Before blockchain, records of things like dates and purchases between two or more parties would be stored individually or accessed through a single database controlled by an individual company or organization. For example, your bank account balance is something that you don’t store locally (unless you keep a spreadsheet or note of how much you have). You instead access it by logging in to your bank’s database. The only entity that can change that ledger is the bank. Even when you make a deposit or spend money, the bank’s technology still has the final say on what actually happens to that number (your balance).

Blockchain flips that method entirely on its head. Instead, everyone involved in the transaction has access to a shared ledger, where the data on the ledger has multiple copies.  Each copy of the data can be hosted in different organizations and/or provided as a cloud service.  Once data is written to the ledger, the records are bundled together using cryptography, and replicated across all the copies, providing decentralized immutability.

How is IBM using blockchain technology?

There’s an incredibly wide usage of blockchain technology. For example, the ability to track and maintain data records is already hugely important in e-commerce. But now it can be far more secure and widespread. Information can be shared—hassle- free, with trust—across businesses, borders, and regulatory lines.

It can be difficult to understand just what this means without examples. In that respect, Dillenberger and IBM did not disappoint.

“In our Food Trust blockchain, provenance information about produce or the things we eat,” she says. “For example, for mangoes or oranges, we know what farm it came from and which distributions centers it went to. And we know the type of inspection certificates those centers had and how they were moved across locations.”

Why is that such a big deal? According to Dillenberger, “Before the blockchain it took weeks to discover the source of contaminated produce. But now with the Food Trust blockchain, it only takes seconds. And when you reduce the time it takes to find out where the food comes from—from days and weeks to seconds—you can reduce the impact of a food contamination problem and isolate it more quickly to help a farm, a population, and a retailer.”

That translates into fewer people sick and fewer farms and stores hurt by supply problems. It even means less wasted food. The same goes for manufactured products, like cars or other machines, Dillenberger explains. “You know if there’s a faulty part like a defective tire or damaged bolt, you know where it came from, what machine tooled it, and which retail stores it went to and how to quickly remedy it.”

This, too, can mean fewer accidents or deaths and more economically efficient recall processes. But even these incredibly wide uses are not enough for IBM. “It also helps with minerals such as diamonds. It allows us to know if a diamond has been mined in a way that’s ecologically sound and that it wasn’t stolen from its native country. That helps the consumer and the diamond trade,” she says.

IBM has even gone so far as to use the technology to increase the speed and security of banking transactions, incorporating this technology into the private equity ledgers of finance giant Northern Trust.

And there you have it. As Dillenberger noted, those uses are just the beginning. Online shopping and recordkeeping can be made significantly more efficient and secure with the use of blockchain. The best part? There are certainly uses for it that have yet to be discovered or imagined.

Are you the next great blockchain pioneer? Learn more about IBM on WayUp right now!

The post From Pineapples to Private Equity: How IBM Is Putting Blockchain Technology Everywhere appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

As you might have heard, Dell started as a side gig in 1984, when its founder, Michael Dell, was a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ever the tinkerer and entrepreneur, he figured that if people and companies were willing to pay huge amounts of money for computers with parts and functions they didn’t even want, then he could probably get them to pay a lot less for computers built to order.

Turns out, this was a pretty amazing idea.

Giving customers what they wanted, in the way they wanted it, for less, was a genius proposition. (Moving the business online was a similarly genius move.) Three decades later, Dell is so established that it can be tough to imagine they were ever an underdog.

Nowadays, the market for computers isn’t just hobbyists and businesses—it’s everyone. Dell has remained at the forefront by emphasizing its entrepreneurial culture, betting on technology to shape the future, and investing in its people.

Over the last decade, Dell has doubled down on these efforts, transforming itself along the way.

Throwing everything they’ve got at saving the planet.

Did you know that 142,000 computers are thrown out in the United States every day? Well, that’s the number from 2010. Recent counts suggest that e-waste generation has tripled in the past decade.

But that’s why Dell has pledged to use 100 million pounds of recycled content in its products by 2020. Just like Michael Dell’s tinkering past, the sustainability team at Dell thinks of every and any way they can prevent old technology from rotting in a dump. Among other initiatives, they recycle usable parts, donate used tech to schools in need, refill old printer cartridges, and pick up old computers (of any brand, FOR FREE).

Oh, and they’re turning old technology into art to raise awareness of the growing e-waste problem.

Bringing in the cloud.

After acquiring enterprise software giant EMC in 2016, Dell became one of the largest producers of large-scale data storage, cyber security, and analytics solutions (and basically anything else digital that makes a business work better). It also means they employ the latest in cloud computing technology to do all of the above—only better, faster, and smarter.

That means when you’re working for Dell, you’ll get an opportunity to make an impact in any tech field. Because there’s not a user in the world who couldn’t benefit from a Dell product.

They’re all about Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and everything in between.

Dell’s VR-ready computers are being used to power tech that—apart from providing entertainment—can help treat veterans with PTSD, influence environmental policy, and shed light on humanitarian issues like never before. These innovative uses of VR and AR show how this groundbreaking technology could upend the status quo across industries.

Making wearable tech that fights back against disabilities.

We’ve all imagined a future where we can eliminate needless suffering. Yet Dell employees are doing their part to make that dream a reality today.

Through partnerships with charities and schools, Dell has provided affordable, 3D-printed limbs to children and adults with severe disabilities. With the help of Indian school children, the company has also developed wearable technology that can assist the blind with the kinds of day-to-day activities many of us take for granted.

Humans teaching AI, AI teaching doctors.

While the most famous examples of AI may include Jeopardy-playing robots and human-like machines in movies, the visionaries at Dell see yet another opportunity to create positive change through the technology.

Dell’s research on machine learning has paved the way for their partner TGen to assist pediatric cancer doctors in finding better treatments for the disease. Machine brains aren’t like ours, and the experts at Dell understand that it’s more than just crunching numbers.

Basically, by taking the models humans have used for decades to learn from medical data and placing them in the hands of an adaptive AI, Dell researchers have made it so that childhood cancer doctors can learn from their mistakes and successes in way less time. That could save lives and reduce suffering for children across the globe.

Powering the concerts of the future.

When you think of the craziest live shows in recent musical history, Glitch Mob probably comes to mind. The EDM trio uses thousands of lights, speakers, and just about everything else to put together shows that match the wild pace of their music. And behind all the flash and excitement is a Dell Alienware processor, turning out the music in real-time.

Just about anywhere life is changing for the better, you can find a piece of Dell technology. But don’t worry, they’ll still sell you a PC—or one of their million other cutting-edge tech products—for a good price.

Want to work for a company that has remained innovative since it was founded? Dell is hiring on WayUp, so check out their open positions and apply!

The post 6 Things That Show Dell Has Totally Changed Over The Past Decade appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Allison Ritter is a Threat Gamification Engineer who works at the X-Force Command Center. This sentence is neither the beginning of a spy thriller nor a part of a futurist plan for Earth 2030. It’s the reality of an IBM employee and her role in keeping data secure.

If “Threat Gamification Engineer” doesn’t translate for you, then you’re not alone. Even Allison didn’t know about the role before she applied to it. In fact, she didn’t study a technical field as an undergraduate. So, how did she end up where she is? Well, she worked hard—really hard. She drew on the skills she honed while in college and in the working world. And she acquired new skills while working at IBM.

Threat Gamification And X-Force

Every day thousands of companies face the threat of cyber attacks. Hackers who steal data can cost companies billions of dollars or derail the faith that they spent decades building with their customers. The X-Force Command Center is a team of security experts, artists, and strategists who come together to simulate the effects of these hacking breaches on major companies. Their goal? To make sure that businesses are prepared to prevent cyber attacks and mitigate their damage in the event that they aren’t thwarted.

In Allison’s case, “Gamification” describes turning the scenario into an interactive simulation (or game). The “engineer” component comes from the design element of her job.

“I create storytelling simulations of what it would be like if your company was going through a cyber breach,” Allison says. “My team focuses on the entire breach process, from when hackers gain access, to when the news of the hack reaches Twitter, or the company’s stock is dropping as a result.”

Making The Perfect Role

The best part is, because of the entrepreneurial culture at IBM, the role shaped itself to her interests, and the skills required followed from company-provided training and hands-on experience.

Because of her theater minor and her post-grad job in security, Allison was well-suited to the role. However, there was still plenty for her to learn when she arrived at IBM. That didn’t mean her ideas weren’t heard, though. For one scenario, Allison suggested streaming live news broadcasts to turn up the heat on security and PR teams—even though there was no infrastructure in place for this. Her boss gave her the go-ahead and made sure everyone got the training needed to make it happen.

Working in this creatively supportive environment, Allison’s list of interests quickly became her list of skills.

According to her, that’s why IBM looks at candidates of every college major when they’re hiring.

“If you don’t have certain skills, we can teach you that here,” she says. “What you do need is to have an openness to learning something new and jumping outside your comfort zone.”

If you think that you could be like Allison, turning your passions into skills that add value to the team, then IBM might be the perfect environment for you. “We’re looking for people who can adapt to change,” she says. “Not just a checklist of skills.”

“The great thing about being at a big company is that you can work on health care one day, finance the next, security the next,” she says. “You can look to experts in all those fields and they’ll mentor you. You get to write your own adventure book.”

Now, only four years out from graduation, Allison is running the show as the recently appointed Creative Director of the X-Force Command Center.

Her latest project? A six-step cybersecurity and tech challenge called The Vault. Over the month of September, six unique problems will appear on the Vault website. Solving these problems will give you access to the next step—and, finally, a chance to attend an in-person event with members of the actual IBM cybersecurity team. The first lock appears 9/10 and registration closes 9/16, so get hacking!

Sign up to open The IBM Vault and compete for a trip to IBM Cambridge Research. It won’t be easy, you’ll need to be fast. Think outside to get inside.

There is no other company like IBM and there is no business professional like the IBMer. We are experts in nearly every technical scientific and business field. We are citizens of, and apply our expertise in, more than 170 countries. Yet we are united by a single purpose: to be essential. We do that by creating the most advanced technology to change how our clients work and run their businesses. And through them, IBMers change how the world works.

The post How I Went From Studying Theater To Staging Cyber Attacks appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

There are certain companies that, even though they’re fundamentally important, kind of sneak by unnoticed.

Belden is one of those companies.

What, might you ask, does Belden do?

Well, we guarantee they’ve affected your life. They partner with many of the world’s best-known brands and sit at the center of the global push toward a truly connected world.

In other words, they’re really important and help businesses do their business.

So, what’s it like to work at Belden? To find out, we talked to Jessica Wibawa and Anish Agrawal, two Belden Global Account Specialists (and recent college grads).

Here are nine reasons why they said working at Belden is a great career move.

The Amazing Things Belden Does

1. Think of a professional sports league, Jessica and Anish say, and Belden’s technology is likely behind the scenes. Regardless of whether you’re at a live event—they equip the control rooms at arenas and stadiums—or watching from your couch—they make sure the graphics look extra sharp on your TV—Belden is there, making it all happen.

2. It takes a lot to power the happiest places on Earth. And Belden is intimately aware of that. The company creates the magic that powers Disney’s cruise ships and theme parks—from visual effects to the equipment behind their iconic parade floats.

3. When you’re one of the world’s biggest pharmacy chains that filled roughly 1 billion prescriptions in 2017, you have a lot of infrastructure to protect. And when Walgreens was looking for a better, more holistic view of its IT, it turned to Belden. They worked together to implement a system that protects personal data and gives Walgreens the enhanced insight it was looking for. A double win!

All The Experience And Exposure You Get

4. There’s no such thing as “just” being a recent grad at Belden. Not here. Not now. That’s because recent college grads play a pivotal role at the company. Take Jessica, who is performing market research on data analytics and the Internet of Things to identify new business opportunities. That’s the kind of important work that most entry-level employees would jump at the chance to do.

5. Speaking of making an impact from day one, Jessica and Anish both got to attend a company leadership conference in the United Kingdom recently. (For the record, they’ve been at Belden less than one year.) “Being a part of that conference so early on was fascinating,” says Anish. “It showed they cared about bringing young talent into strategy conversations.” They didn’t just attend the event, either. Senior leadership encouraged them to voice their opinions and really participate.

6. Another great perk of working at Belden? You also get exposure to customers. “It’s refreshing and rewarding to experience customer meetings and understand the customer’s perspective,” says Jessica. “It adds purpose to everyday responsibilities and helps to guide your mindset and plans.”

The Huge Opportunities To Grow And Advance

7. According to Jessica and Anish, managers at Belden encourage you to challenge yourself and take risks. “They make it clear that if you fail, you’ll fail in a safe environment,” says Jessica. Could anything be more of a relief when you’re navigating your first job? (The answer is no.)

8. Belden does a LOT. They have offices around the world, a variety of brands, and nearly 10,000 employees. What does that mean? Well, you can pursue multiple career paths without leaving the company. Seriously. Take your pick from the broadcast industry to cyber security to industrial automation. Seek out those opportunities and you’ll keep on growing within the company.

9. Belden’s belief in the potential of recent grads stems directly from the top: Its CEO is a huge champion of hiring and supporting young employees. And the company shows it with actions. They’re making a huge investment to help guide new hires, providing them with everything from leadership training to in-depth career planning.

So, now that you know all about Belden, don’t you think it’s time to apply? Don’t waste any time—they’re hiring college students and recent grads on WayUp now!

Belden is a global business specializing in end-to-end signal transmission solutions that meet the most demanding standards for data, sound and video applications. They produce and sell a comprehensive portfolio of connectivity, networking and cybersecurity products and solutions into a variety of markets including industrial, enterprise and broadcast.

The post 9 Reasons Why Belden Is The Company You Never Knew You Needed To Work For appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When Melanie Manko landed an interview for a software development internship at BlackRock, she didn’t understand why all her finance major friends were so excited for her.

Melanie was a math and computer science major and she was always interested in finance, but she didn’t know the first thing about asset management. Some quick Googling made her realize just how big an opportunity building a tech career at a top global investment firm would be. BlackRock manages more assets than any other global firm.

As she went through the interview process, she started to see herself working there more and more. Each team member she met with sold her on the role, and helped her see herself at the company.

APPLY TO WORK AT BLACKROCK NOW!

Fast-forward to day one of her internship, and Melanie’s excitement was revving up. That said, she did harbor some worries about not having a formal finance background.

Eventually, that unease melted away, and she quickly fell in love with the company’s tight-knit tech community and managers who made it easy for her to learn everything she needed to know to succeed at her job—even without a formal finance background. She also enhanced her software-development skills at the same time, which was a great learning opportunity.

That summer internship helped Melanie realize that BlackRock was a great fit for her career goals—so much so that she accepted an offer to join the company’s technology rotational program after graduation. The two-year program lets recent grads take a new team for a spin every six months.

Melanie says people are often surprised she can work on a front-end web app for six months and then switch to back-end cloud services. But for her, it’s second nature.

APPLY TO WORK AT BLACKROCK NOW!

At a place like BlackRock, everyone touches technology in some way, so Melanie and her co-workers have a chance to make a major impact. “I work on Aladdin, which is the core platform that BlackRock runs on,” says Melanie. “We’re constantly working to make it better. It really feels like we’re on the leading edge of financial tech.”

BlackRock also gives its employees a lot of opportunities to be creative. For example, they host an annual company-wide Hackathon. One of the groups Melanie worked in actually started off as a Hackathon idea. It was so successful it eventually became its own group at BlackRock.

“As a tech person, I feel like I’m part of a technology culture,” she says. “I never feel like I’m being held back in what I can do because I’m at a finance company.”

Apart from advancing her technical skills, Melanie has also put her energy behind another important initiative: she’s helping to make BlackRock an even more enticing place for women in tech and finance.

APPLY TO WORK AT BLACKROCK NOW!

Melanie helped launch an internal Women in Tech group to give employees a forum for open conversations, mentorship opportunities, networking, and recruiting new team members. She and her co-workers have also partnered with Girls Who Code, helping high school students pursue their own tech career dreams.

Melanie credits much of her success at BlackRock to her mentors. She sees their guidance as instrumental to her career, and she plans on cultivating that sense of community and encouragement in the future.

“Being here motivates me to work hard to become a leader and a mentor,” she says. “I want to take that path so new interns and analysts can see more women in tech positions.”

Have your sights set on a similar career path? Melanie offered this advice for women who want to break into fields like tech and finance:

1. Learn from everyone around you. “Working side-by-side with people who have years of experience gave me confidence,” says Melanie. “Once I started contributing to the team and receiving feedback on our work together, I really could see my career taking shape.”

2; Stick with it. “When I first started, I didn’t have much confidence,” she says. “Three months in, after working with my manager for a while and completing my first rotation, it all started to click. When things seem overwhelming at work, know that you WILL get to that point.”

3. Don’t be afraid of failure. When starting your career, it’s all about trying new things. Rather than focusing on the success and failures of your role, find what you are passionate about.

Ready to start your career at BlackRock? They’re hiring on WayUp now!

BlackRock was founded in 1988 by eight people in a single room in New York City, who believed they could build a better asset management firm. Fast-forward almost 30 years later, BlackRock is still founder-led, despite having grown to 13,000+ employees and becoming the largest asset manager in the world.

The post Every Woman Who Wants To Work In Tech Should Read This Recent Grad’s Career Advice appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Every day when Joe Ciesla would commute to work during his first project as an Associate Analyst at EY, he knew where he’d buy lunch, how many meetings he’d have, and where he’d park his car.

He also knew that he wouldn’t see a single one of the colleagues he worked most closely with. Not that day, not any day.

That’s because his co-workers were based in EY’s Bangalore, India, office—more than 9,000 miles away from his desk in Jacksonville, Florida. Yet aside from some conference calls scheduled at odd hours to account for the half-day time difference, it didn’t feel too out-of-the-ordinary.

Joe’s experience is representative of a new professional paradigm. Companies are increasingly—and rapidly—redefining how their employees interact and operate in a digital, hyper-connected world. According to a 2015 Gallup Poll, more than 37 percent of U.S. employees have worked on a virtual team. EY is at the forefront of this trend.

Surprised? You’re probably not the only one.

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For many people, a consulting job with professional services organization Ernst & Young LLP (EY) likely conjures images of constant travel. (Like, LOTS of travel.) And to be fair, most of the time that is the case.

But for EY employees like Joe who work at the company’s Service Delivery Centers—located in Jacksonville Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and Alpharetta, Georgia—the day-to-day is markedly different. They swap a life on the road for a career spent working virtually with international teams that drive results for EY’s clients.

Sound appealing? Unsure? Here are a few tips to help you decide if a virtual job is a match for your personality.

1. Understand Your Communication Style

Do you pride yourself on communicating clearly, whether by chat app, email, or phone call? Or do you thrive only when you’re in the same room as your co-workers?

Working on a virtual team means being constantly aware of how you communicate, especially when that communication is written. It’s easy for a joke to be misinterpreted or a technical description to get lost in translation. But with a little time, you’ll get into the practice of being extra clear with your new co-workers.  

APPLY TO WORK AT EY NOW!

2. Think About How You Learn and Grow Professionally

Are you self-motivated, or do you need an extra push to keep improving? Depending on the structure of your virtual team, you may not have a manager on-site to give you constant feedback, so the onus would be on you to advocate for yourself when you want to take on new challenges.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll be left to your own devices. At EY’s Jacksonville Service Delivery Center, for example, there’s a dedicated “learning leader” who’s in charge of developing curriculum to help employees continually grow. They’ve even flown in trainers from other offices to teach classes on specific skills.

3. Decide How Much You Value Structure

No matter how much you plan, different teams across different time zones can lead to some unpredictable days. Working on a virtual team often requires a lot of flexibility, particularly at EY, where your clients are the ones you’re being held accountable to.

If you’re okay with being flexible and enjoy variability, then great! But if you thrive when you’re able to plan out your entire day (or even week) and still want to work on a virtual team, you’ll want to ask plenty of questions during your interview to make sure the work culture is a fit.

APPLY TO WORK AT EY NOW!

4. Consider How You’ll Connect with Your Teammates

At EY’s Jacksonville Service Delivery Center, you won’t be the only employee in the office, but you may be the only employee in that office working on a specific project. That means you’ll need to put in some extra effort to connect with your co-workers.

As luck would have it, all new EY employees there are matched with a peer advisor who can answer basic questions about navigating this environment and working successfully with a virtual team. SDC employees also make an effort to connect outside of work, which helps create camaraderie among colleagues. In Jacksonville, there’s a kickball team, a basketball team, and a running club. These kinds of activities help build a sense of community—even if your direct teammates are thousands of miles away.

So, what do you think? Would you love having teammates on the other side of the world, or do you prefer being in the same room as (most) of your co-workers?

—

See yourself joining EY’s Service Delivery Center? They’re hiring now for roles in data and analytics, QA testing, and financial crimes compliance.   

EY’s broader Service Delivery Center group focuses on connecting business and technology to provide solutions that improve their client’s technology architecture and systems, and address complex issues, IT strategy, and performance.  

The post I Work Super Closely With People I’ve Never Met in Person appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

With nearly 2 million college graduates entering the job market each year, Amazon needs to consider the preferences of the next generation of talent when deciding where to build HQ2.

So, we conducted a study of 672 college students (freshman and sophomores) from 410 universities across the nation to see which city they want Amazon to build HQ2, based on where they hope to work after graduating.

Surprisingly, Atlanta was the number one choice of students surveyed (11.9%), followed by a tie between Chicago and New York City (11.2% for each), Boston (10.4%), and then Austin (8.8%).

Perhaps these students are huge fans of Donald Glover? Maybe.

However, according to the findings, it seems students care a lot about affordable housing too. We cross-referenced housing data from RENTCafé to see that the average apartment rent in Atlanta is $1,250.00 per month (and 983 square feet large), compared to $3,752.00 and 722 square feet in New York City, and $2,107.00 and 786 square feet in Los Angeles.

Shockingly, Pittsburgh (which a mere 1.5% of students surveyed picked) is the only city that appears on any top bars per capita rankings with 11.8 bars per 10,000 people. These cities need to step up their bar game to attract new grads!

For the full rankings of where students want Amazon HQ2, you can check them out here.

The post College Students Want Atlanta For HQ2: Here’s Why appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Think you know L’Oréal as a global consumer products company? Think again.

When it comes to building a career here, there’s a lot more to the company than meets the eye(liner). Here are six things we bet you never knew about L’Oréal.

1. L’Oréal is a tech company.

How does a beauty brand get named one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies”? Well, when you’re founded by a chemist, science and tech make their way into just about everything you do—like a wearable sensor that measures your UV exposure and is small enough to fit on your fingernail or clip on to a pair of sunglasses.

Want one? It’s called UV Sense and it made its debut during one of the hottest tech trade shows of the year.

APPLY FOR JOBS AT L’ORÉAL HERE 

2. They’ve partnered with Gigi Hadid and David Beckham (you might’ve heard of them).

L’Oréal’s brands don’t just collaborate with each other. They also partner with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. A few recent collaborations of note: Maybelline and Gigi Hadid; L’Oréal Paris and French fashion house Balmain; and a partnership with David Beckham to launch House 99, a brand-new men’s grooming line.

3. When it comes to sustainability, they’re walking the walk.

L’Oréal is all about that sustainability life. Newsweek placed them first in their annual “green ranking,” which assesses companies based on corporate sustainability and environmental impact. They’re also one of only two companies in the world to get a perfect score from the Carbon Disclosure Project for environmental performance in climate change, water, and forest sustainability—for the second year in a row!

Oh, and their goal is to be a carbon-balanced company by 2020.

APPLY FOR JOBS AT L’ORÉAL HERE 

4. They’ll teach you SEO…or social media marketing…or coding (or all three).

There’s a reason L’Oréal has been pushing the envelope for 109 years, and it’s because they’re committed to making sure all employees are at the forefront of their fields.

Here’s just one amazing example: Team members can take advantage of an educational program with General Assembly and learn SEO, mobile marketing, social media, and content creation—then put those new skills to use at the office. They also offer in-person training, seminars, and mentoring opportunities to all employees.

5. They’re using their global presence for good.

How many people can say they’re working for a company that has the power to transform lives and communities? Every year, L’Oréal hosts “Have a Beautiful Day,” an event where officers who just returned home from military service can enjoy free beauty consultations and makeovers at the company’s USA headquarters. And so many of L’Oréal’s brands sponsor charities, host fundraisers, and even create whole product lines based on giving back.

Here’s one we really love: This past holiday season, Kiehl’s collaborated on a collection with Disney, where 100 percent of proceeds were donated to Feeding America.

APPLY FOR JOBS AT L’ORÉAL HERE 

6. They scored a perfect 100 on corporate equality.

More than 100 years of innovation wouldn’t be possible without welcoming and supporting employees from all backgrounds. L’Oréal has a range of internal “Think Tanks” in the US, including Women of Color and OUT@LOREAL, which actively contribute to an encouraging and inclusive workplace. That’s probably why The Human Rights Campaign gave L’Oréal a perfect score in their 2018 corporate equality rankings and named them a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality”.

Ready to start your career at L’Oréal (and wow your interviewer with your knowledge of the company)? They’re hiring now!

The post Employees at this Company Launch Innovative Tech—And That’s Just the Start of It appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When Bridget Reichenbach was finishing her psychology degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she figured grad school would be her next step, so she took a year off from school to figure out what she’d study post-college.

But as she was pondering what academic route to take, she got a message from a Qualtrics recruiter. The rest is history (and not the kind a liberal arts major would study in grad school), and she now works there as a Corporate Recruiter.

Recently valued at $2.5 billion, Qualtrics is one of the hottest companies in the world. Their software allows organizations to manage the four core experiences of business—customer, product, employee, and brand experiences—on one platform. They also happen to be hiring for their Product Specialist role, which starts with a deep-dive into Qualtrics’ software and ultimately gives new hires the chance to work with enterprise-level clients. After 10-18 months, you get to join a brand-new Qualtrics team and get crackin’ on solving big problems.

Are you thinking, “I want in! How do I get this gig?” (We know you are.) Well, Bridget was kind enough to give us the scoop on the “Do’s and “Don’ts of how to land this job. Here are four of her most helpful insider tips.

APPLY TO WORK AT QUALTRICS

1. DON’T think you can coast through your phone screening. 

That initial phone screen with a recruiter might not be the most intense phase of your interview, but don’t underestimate the value of this initial conversation. “The recruiter is going to be your champion throughout the interview process,” Bridget says. Her advice? Show that you’re genuinely invested in landing the job, and the recruiter will be invested in helping you land it.

2. DO make it clear you’ve done your research. 

“It’s not enough to memorize the Product Specialist job listing,” Bridget says. “Before you come in for an interview, make sure you know the Qualtrics story—things like our products and our achievements as a company so far. Most entry-level candidates don’t do that research, so this is your chance to stand out.”

In other words, don’t waste valuable interview time asking about the company’s story. Instead, use it to show why you’re qualified for the job.

APPLY TO WORK AT QUALTRICS

3. DO play to your strengths.

Qualtrics does hire a lot of STEM majors as Product Specialists. But Bridget says the company values a balance of both super-technical hires and less-technical team members who are great problem solvers and work well with clients.

Translation: if you’re a liberal arts major and aren’t too technically savvy, that’s okay! Focus instead on sharing real examples of how you never back down from a challenge and talk about the amazing job or internship experience you got in college.

4. DON’T ask generic questions at the end. 

It might be tempting to recycle your interview questions, especially if you’re interviewing for a few different roles at the same time. But according to Bridget, simply having something to ask isn’t enough. She recommends preparing at least three questions that are specific to Qualtrics. One of her dream candidate questions? “Ask me how growing 50 percent year-over-year for the past three years has affected the culture at our company,” she says. THAT will leave a lasting impression.

Ready to join the Qualtrics team? They’re hiring now!

Qualtrics is a single system of record for all experience data, allowing organizations to manage the four core experiences of business—customer, product, employee, and brand experiences—on one platform. Over 8,500 enterprises worldwide, including more than 75 percent of the Fortune 100 and 99 of the top 100 U.S. business schools, rely on Qualtrics.

The post A Recruiter At One Of The Country’s Hottest Startups Reveals 4 Secrets To Acing Your Job Interview appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Just a few years ago, if you told candidates from JPMorgan Chase’s Technology Analyst Program that they’d be working at a bank after graduation, they wouldn’t have believed you. After all, they majored in information technology and information management systems—not finance. So what changed? We’ll let them answer that. This three-part series takes you inside the tech careers of JPMorgan Chase employees.

What do you do at JPMorgan Chase?
I recently graduated from the Technology Analyst Program and now I’m a Strategy Analyst on the Global Technology Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships team. I support the coverage leads in the areas of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure. Our team helps drive technology strategy across the firm by partnering with internal teams on their strategic objectives.

If someone told you a few years ago that you’d be working for a bank, what would your response have been?
Based on my major in college, I would have told that person that a job at a bank may not be the best fit for me. After researching and interviewing for a technology summer analyst role at the firm, I discovered that there are a lot of technology needs in banking. After realizing the impact of the work I completed as a summer analyst, I knew that a technology career at JPMorgan Chase would be promising.

Can you share an example of how JPMorgan Chase has helped you grow as a professional since you joined?
I’ve had the chance to meet with our leaders in technology in business meetings, mentoring sessions and networking events. Everyone wants to take you under their wing and see you grow. I heard about my current job because of an internal network that I was able to develop. The culture and individuals at JPMorgan Chase have helped me and others grow.

What’s one of the coolest things JPMorgan Chase does with technology?
Chase Pay is one of my favorite examples of our technology at work. We partner with different FinTechs and merchants to let people pay directly through the mobile app.  It is amazing to see how Chase Pay has changed the way we pay for merchandise.

What would you say to someone who’s skeptical about a technology career at a bank?
Technology is a top priority at JPMorgan Chase, where we invest $9.5 billion in technology each year. As a financial institution, customers put a lot of trust in us to keep their money safe, and you need the best technology and people to do so. At JPMorgan Chase, you’ll see those elements working together very well.

Ready to start your technology career at JPMorgan Chase? Explore open positions and apply for jobs and internships on WayUp!

The post JPMorgan Chase Tech Career Spotlight: Meet Strategy Analyst Veer Patel appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

WayUp teamed up with seven Unilever interns who wrote about what it’s like to work for a company that makes products used by 2.5 billion people around the world. Today’s post is from Saniya Jaffer, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a former IT intern. Saniya took us through a day at her Unilever internship.

7:13AM: I leave my Upper West Side walk-up and begin my commute to the office. Unilever has a shuttle service that picks up on the East and West sides of Manhattan. When leaving the office, the reverse commute has less traffic, which makes living in Manhattan and working in New Jersey possible!

8:00AM: I walk into Unilever’s brand-new office and settle down in one of the phone booths. The agile workspace makes it easy to move around and pick a space that fits what you’re doing at the moment. I have an early call this morning with someone on our IT team in Bangalore, India. He is helping me get a better idea of the requirements for an integration that is a big part of my project.

This is probably my favorite part about working here—being a part of a company as large and international as Unilever gives employees access to an unimaginable knowledge base. And, the centralized systems make it SO easy to communicate and connect.

10:30AM: After updating my project plan and sending out some emails, I get on my next call with our app developers in the Netherlands. My project this summer involves managing the development and implementation of a new enterprise app. This means weekly progress and update calls with the team, connecting their team with the relevant contacts within Unilever, and helping them progress by setting deliverables and due dates.

Today’s meeting is unconventional: their team is going to be doing a demo of the functionality of the app so far. In addition to our two teams, individuals from the Unilever global IT team are on the call as well—they work in the UK but are an integral part of maintaining standards throughout the company.

12:00PM: I catch up with my manager on the way to the cafeteria. She updates me on a recent conversation regarding art and branding around our new building. We start to discuss the idea of graffiti as art, and pull up pictures of our favorite international street artists.

1:00PM: I work on my final deliverables for the end of the summer so the project is aligned after my time here is over. There are a lot of meetings at Unilever, and I’ve realized that setting aside a good chunk of dedicated work time each day is really important.

5:00PM: I quickly chat with the other IT interns about the progress of the service event we are planning for the IT department. The foundation of Unilever as a company lies in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which connects most of our brands and our overall business goals to social and environmental initiatives and projects. I genuinely feel that the work I do everyday is for a bigger purpose, and can tell most of the people I work with are driven by a similar feeling.

5:27PM: As I am rushing to catch the 5:30pm shuttle home, I catch a glimpse of people in the Ice Cream Engagement room (Unilever owns ice cream brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Breyers). They’re taste testing the new Breyer’s Delights flavors that just came out. They offered me some ice cream and I took the vanilla and cookies and cream flavors home.

5:30PM: I hop on the Upper West Side shuttle and realize I am sitting next to the intern director for our IT team. He talks about his perspective on IT project management and gives me a great framework that I mentally jot down as inspiration for my final presentation at the end of my internship, which I keep realizing is approaching very quickly!

From the second I got here, I’ve felt more comfortable than I ever thought I would in a corporate setting. From the work environment, to the people, to my personal project, being at Unilever has motivated me to work exceptionally hard and push myself to learn more, do more, and want more than ever before

Head over to Unilever’s page on WayUp to check out open opportunities and apply! And click here to read what other Unilever interns had to say.

The post Intern Diary: Day in the Life of a Unilever IT Intern appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

At Infor, 16,000-plus employees build business software for more than 90,000 customers across just about every industry you can think of.

How do they do it? And how can you make an impact at Infor from day one? To get the answer, we asked interns and early-career employees how you can set yourself up for success.

Interested in a job or internship with Infor? They’re hiring on WayUp now! Head this way to check out their open positions.

The post 7 Things You Need to Do to be Successful at this Software Company appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

A job at a bank? That isn’t in financial services? There’s way more to a career at Deutsche Bank than you might expect.

From opening Digital Factories across the globe to developing the latest in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and automatic speech to launching a robo-advisor for investors, Deutsche Bank is pioneering the future of banking.

As an intern or graduate, you’ll experience firsthand what it takes to drive technological change in the financial world. To help you land a job at Deutsche Bank, we asked technology recruiter Harry Seaborn for some insider advice:

Why would a recent college grad want to work in tech at Deutsche Bank?

Recent grads add value from the moment they arrive. They receive comprehensive technical and soft-skills training, build their network and work on meaningful projects that are implemented and utilized by various groups. At Deutsche Bank, we take a technology-first approach for our clients around the world.

What types of technology jobs can recent grads apply to?

Whether you’re interested in technical positions or more business-facing roles, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a variety of different areas. Technologists can work as Developers or Business Analysts, pursuing roles in QA Testing, Cyber Security, Software Development, and more. Our fast-paced environment and focus on delivery means you’ll develop your skills quickly across a range of disciplines, and build an in-depth understanding of how technology powers change in the financial world.

What’s surprising about tech at Deutsche Bank?

We have global innovation labs where we look at emerging technologies and think about how we can use them. We’ve also put a large emphasis on our Cyber Security division. Some groups are even looking into machine learning and artificial intelligence. For example, the Deutsche Asset Management division has its own Robo technology, known as WISE, which is based on research and the combined knowledge of over 600 of our fund managers and analysts.  

How can someone make their application for a tech job stand out?

Highlight your technical skills, and show us why you’re passionate about technology. It’s also important to show us who you are and where your interests lie outside of work—sharing your hobbies might lead to an unexpected connection with someone who’s looking at your application.

How are in-person interviews structured there?

In the first round, candidates meet with two members of the technology business for about 30 minutes in a 2:1 setting. In the second round, they participate in two additional 30-minute back-to-back interviews with two interviewers in each session.

Any tips for rocking your in-person interview?

One of the most common questions candidates get asked is “what do you know about Deutsche Bank?” You don’t need to know everything, but showing that you’ve done your research never hurts. Also, be prepared for both behavioral and technical questions.

Anything else WayUp readers should know about interviewing or working for Deutsche Bank?

No matter what your background, there may be a position that’s right for you!

Ready to put Harry’s advice into action? Deutsche Bank is hiring on WayUp now!

The post How to Get a Tech Job at a Global Bank appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

In celebration of Women in Tech Week presented by our friends at CommonBond, we’re putting the spotlight on seven young women who are on their way to becoming the tech leaders of the future.

These students and recent grads are already making waves in industries ranging from finance to consulting to biotech. Read on for their inspiring stories:

1. Back in high school, a guidance counselor told Nicole that a programming class would be too challenging for her. It’s a good thing she didn’t listen… Now she’s a software engineer at Capital One. (Read her Story)

2. As a R&D scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jennifer’s work makes a direct impact on millions of lives. She helps develop products focused on curing diseases like diabetes and cancer. (Read her Story)

3. After graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems, Sophie landed a Technology Analyst role with Accenture. Now, she’s a crucial part of her team there, ensuring clear communication of technical projects between her client and her company’s developers. (Read her Story).

4. At Accenture Federal Services, Celia, Delaney, and Ashleigh help solve some of the biggest challenges for federal agencies in the United States and abroad. They get to work in areas like defense, public safety, health and intel. (Read their Stories)

5. As an IT intern at Scott’s Miracle-Gro, Kelly project managed a team of 16 other interns. Under her leadership, the team helped build new web applications and improve existing ones. (Read her story)

6. In college, Nancy sometimes doubted whether she belonged in the engineering program. Now, she’s the IT Lead for Global Transportation at Johnson & Johnson—just four years after graduating. (Read her story)

7. As a software engineer, Stephanie doesn’t just contribute to tech innovation at American Express. She also volunteers for a program that teaches middle school girls to code, empowering the next generation of female tech leaders. (Read her Story)

Do you know amazing women in tech whose careers are just getting started? We’d love to recognize them, too! Send us a note on Facebook or tag @WayUp in a tweet and let us know.

The post 7 Amazing Women in Tech Whose Careers are Just Getting Started appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

To find out what it’s really like to intern at American Express, we went straight to the source. Eric and Raina spent their summers at Amex offices in Florida and New York City. They agreed to give us an inside look at everything from the projects they worked on to the intern events they participated in. Here’s what they had to say:

Eric Suarez, University of Florida Class of 2017

Eric just finished up his Amex experience on the Technology Team in Sunrise, Florida. Now, he’s headed back to school to finish up his computer science degree.

Why he decided to intern at American Express:

“The two main reasons were reputation and location. The company’s focus on growing their technology department showed me they’re preparing for the future.”

What he thinks about the work environment there:

“American Express treats its interns like full-time employees. During your time here, You can expect to collaborate on real projects, join team meetings and attend training workshops.”

The most exciting project he worked on this summer:

“I created a tool that automates a tedious process for my team. As a result, we condensed a four- to five-day process into a single day.”

was responsible for creating a tool that would automate a manual process on my team. Ultimately, it will cut down a four- to five-day process to less than one day.”

Raina Williams, Swarthmore College Class of 2018

Raina spent her summer working at the New York City office. She was a member of the Finance Team, working on US Consumer Finance.

Why she decided to intern at American Express:

“When I started researching American Express, I read a lot about the culture of teamwork and innovation. The summer internship program also attracted me because interns are encouraged to learn about all different types of work here, which is different from some of the other places I considered.”

The most exciting project she worked on this summer:

“A deep-dive project on the Legacy portfolio within Charge. Working on forecasting has helped me grow professionally.”

The most valuable thing she learned this summer:

“Ask a lot of questions. My hiring manager always told me how willing people are to help. Doing that has helped me learn so much in a short time span.”

Interested in a career with American Express? They’re hiring. Head this way to check out open positions and apply!

The post From Tech to Finance: These Two Interns Took Us Inside their Jobs at American Express appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Nicole’s career path is proof that some things are just meant to be. She found her way to a software engineering role at Capital One through two experiences:

1. A high school guidance counselor’s scheduling error
2. An inspiring conversation at last year’s Grace Hopper Women in Computing conference

We talked to Nicole, who shared how it all unfolded and where she is today:

Q: Let’s start with the basics. What do you do at Capital One?

A: I’m in the second year of the two-year rotational Technical Development Program. I’ve had two roles focused on Capital One’s iOS enterprise mobile app. My first role was in DevOps, and I’ve already seen my contributions positively impact the flow of work for mobile app developers. Right now, I’m focusing on feature development and UI improvements. I’ve also been able to learn mobile development.

Q: What initially inspired you to pursue a career as a software engineer?

A: I grew up loving math and science, but I didn’t know how I wanted to apply it to my career. Then my high school guidance counselor accidentally placed me into an “Intro to Java” course. I was the only girl in that class, and my guidance counselor told me I couldn’t do it. I tried it anyway and I loved it. Then I tried all the similar classes my school offered and loved those, too. That feeling never changed.

Q: Why did you choose Capital One to start your career?

A: I went to the Grace Hopper conference with a friend who interned at Capital One the year before. She told me to stop by their booth, but at the time I just thought of them as a bank—not a technology company. Still, I introduced myself. I was blown away by how Capital One thinks about technology. After that, I went to their Virginia headquarters for an on-site interview and ended up landing the job.

Q: Do you have any advice for future Grace Hopper attendees?

A: A lot of software engineers tend to think only about the biggest technology companies at a conference like Grace Hopper. While those are great companies, you should also talk to ones that you might not have considered before. As long as you present who you are with confidence, you’ll discover opportunities you never knew existed.

Q: What do you wish more people knew about technology at Capital One?

A: A lot of my family members work on the finance side of banking, and that’s the only side they know. I wish everyone knew how tech-focused Capital One is—that we’re a technology company working to improve banking, instead of a bank trying to use technology.

Q: Fill in the blank: someone should consider Capital One for their first job out of college if ____.

A: They’re looking for a company where their opinions are heard and they want to be trusted to solve challenging problems.

Q: What advice do you have for future female software engineers?
A: It’s hard to have people doubt you, but when they do, you can take it one of two ways: “I shouldn’t do it” or “I can prove them wrong.”

Clearly, Nicole chose option two. If her story has inspired you to learn more about Capital One, then head over to their WayUp page to explore their open positions and apply.

The post How a Guidance Counselor’s Scheduling Error Led Nicole to her Dream Job appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

To be a leader in global professional services, you’ve got to be a leader in technology, too. That’s why every day, Accenture’s dynamic tech team contributes to projects that improve the way the world works and lives. They’re always thinking one step ahead to make the biggest possible impact for clients in over 120 countries.

These four recent grads and current Accenture employees share a few reasons why you should join them in making a global impact.

1. You’ll work with clients and company leaders from the start.

Jay Jung is a Business and Integration Analyst and a 2017 grad. His role includes gathering business requirements and interviewing stakeholders for a communications, media, and technology client. “I’m getting client-facing experience and interacting with leads of different teams so we can solve problems together,” he says. That hands-on experience and ability to make a real impact can be invaluable when you’re just starting out.

2. Your contributions have the potential to change entire industries.

We asked Sophie Akbasli, a Tech Architecture Analyst, what her job means to her. She told us: “To me, working in technology means paving the way for the future. It’s an ever-present and ever-changing industry and I feel like my work contributes to disruption.” Sophie and her coworkers aren’t just focused on meeting the current needs of their clients—they’re also proactively working to anticipate client needs for the future.

3. You’ll be challenged before you even start your first project.

The projects you’re assigned to will be challenging and rewarding for sure, but the rewarding work starts long before you get your first assignment. China Taylor, a Tech Architecture Analyst, told us that Accenture’s new employee training gave her a glimpse of what she’d be able to accomplish. “My team and I worked on designing and prototyping a news application during the first week of our training,” she says. “We only had three days to create our user stories and requirements, design, test, and prototype our applications.” For China, the deadline and unfamiliar material was no match for the teamwork and collaboration that allowed them to complete the project.

4. The Accenture Employee Network is amazing.

Every team member we talked to emphasized the power of the Accenture employee network—and how easy it is to build lasting connections that stick with you throughout your career. As Emily Yachinich, a Technology Architecture Analyst, explained, “Everyone at Accenture supports one another and helps them do their best possible work. If you show up eager to learn and grow, you’ll find plenty of employees willing to share advice or point you towards a certification that’ll help you advance in your career.”

So there you have it. Inspired by what you’ve heard from these four Accenture employees? Accenture is hiring, so check out open positions on WayUp!

The post In Search Of A Career In Tech? These Accenture Employees Have A Few Things To Tell You appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This story was written by StudySoup, a peer-to-peer learning marketplace that connects top students in the class with those who need a little help. Top students can upload their notes and study guides to the StudySoup Marketplace, providing their peers with helpful materials while also earning some extra cash.

The skills you’ll need to be competitive when it comes to tech internships are actually a bit more diverse than you’d expect. In the current climate, fulfilling the basic technical minimums is no longer enough to outcompete everyone vying for a position. Many times other skills such as interpersonal skills and leadership make a difference in the application process.

To really stand out to recruiters and interviewers, you’ll want a good fusion of both technical skills and soft skills related to people and communication. The realization of a company’s goals is no longer simply a function of who has the highest technical abilities but also relate to how well a team of people can organize themselves and complement each other. Here are some of the key skills you’ll want to spend time sharpening in college to strengthen your internship applications to tech companies.

Programming Experience

Having a bit of experience about the ins and outs of various programming languages and a sense of familiarity with the uses of each is essential for tech companies. The architecture of the software most tech companies will be designing will probably involve common coding languages such as Java, C, PHP, Ruby, Python, and others.

The easiest way to practice is to take some language-specific computer science courses. In your free time, you’ll want to look for opportunities to help you design software with real-world applications to help broaden and sharpen your programming skills. Github is a common resource for many software developers and programmers to showcase their works for employers by posting the source code for a software for public use.

Show That You Have Experience Solving Real Programming Problems

Programming shouldn’t just be a list of languages or courses you know that sit on a list in a résumé. Tech companies and firms want to see that you’re actually able to use what you’ve learned to the benefit of other businesses and individuals.

It’s easy to find opportunities to solve real-world software and programming problems: just advertise your skills for free. You should aim to build up a sizable following of businesses or individuals that can attest to how your programming expertise or solutions directly helped their business expand or grow.

Mathematical Background

This is another cornerstone of the types of technical abilities that most tech companies will be on the lookout for in applications. If you possess a strong background and foundation in mathematics in general, you will be an asset to a tech company since most technological problems have solutions with underpinnings in math. Coursework in statistics, calculus, and differential equations give companies a baseline for the depth of your technical know-how.

Experience with SEO and Similar Analytics

In comparison to programming knowledge, experience with SEO is a minor skill that still holds a bit of significance. The way that tech companies will determine whether or not hiring you as an intern will benefit them lies in evaluating what you’ve achieved so far as well as your future potential. When a tech company offers you an internship, it’s also partially a future investment to boost your employability.

Possessing an extra skill or two that has wide applications like SEO can really put you ahead of the crowd. It shows employers that you’re a diverse applicant. If you have a background in math and programming, picking up the basics of SEO techniques should be a cinch.

Strong Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are the bread and butter for coordinating social tasks and efforts in any company. Many inefficiencies in team management can be traced to deficits in communication and faulty interpersonal relationships that exacerbate conflict. If you can show recruiters or a company that you’ve participated or managed a team effort in relation to programming, it will be a huge boon to your application because it shows that you’re adaptable.

Leadership

Many big tech companies are well-known for their innovations. Bose’s noise canceling headphone or Tesla’s electric car are flagships in each of their respective fields. The importance of innovation in technology means that leadership is doubly important since leaders guide the direction of that innovation.

Networking

Being able to navigate through a number of personal connections to meet the right people is also a big part of how you can set yourself apart during the process of finding that ideal internship. Knowing how to work some magic on platforms like WayUp can really get put you ahead of the game if you can find a way to get in touch with the decision makers and executives of a tech company.

The breakdown is that you’ll want both technical skills and soft skills. Your employability will depend on how well you sell your technical skills. Meanwhile, your soft skills help add some flair and uniqueness to your application. Getting an optimal balance of each is important if you want to succeed.

The post 7 Skills You Should Learn in College to Land an Internship at A Tech Company appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

A tech incubator? At a global beauty company? Maybe the Internet of Things and wearable technology aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of L’Oréal, but the company’s Research and Innovation division is hard at work advancing research and launching new products.

Here’s an inside look at three recent inventions from the L’Oréal tech incubator:

1.  An Internet-Connected Hairbrush

Hairbrushes have officially gone digital. L’Oréal created a “smart” hairbrush that, when connected to the internet and brushed through your hair, can analyze your hair type and provide customized tips, tricks and products.

The hairbrush connects to your phone via bluetooth or WiFi and has several incredible features, like a special microphone to pick up on frizziness and damage,  sensors to detect how much force you’re using to brush your hair, and whether your hair is wet or dry. From there, the brush sends a “quality score” to an app on your phone, along with ways to improve your hair quality.

2. A Shade of Makeup for Every Skin Tone

L’Oréal’s products are used around the world, and the company is committed to making sure its makeup is a match for every single consumer. To make that a reality, the Tech Incubator got creative.

The result? Lancôme, one of L’Oréal’s brands, now features a product sold in Nordstrom department stores called Le Teint Particulier Custom Foundation. To get your shade, a makeup associate scans your skin with a special sensor that uses algorithms to pinpoint your exact skin tone. That information shows up in a complexion profile, where you can also customize the amount of coverage you want and how much moisturizer you need.

3. A Patch that Monitors UV Exposure

Skin cancer is a global health concern, and L’Oréal is using technology to help its consumers be more proactive about their health. The company knew that more people would use sunscreen if they realized the real impact of the sun on their skin, so they created the My UV Patch—a stretchable skin sensor that shows you how much you’re exposing yourself to UV radiation. The patch is connected to a phone app, where you can monitor how much UV radiation your skin sees every day.

These are just a few ways L’Oréal is pushing the envelope every day. Ready to join them? They’re hiring now, so head over to WayUp and apply!

The post We’re Taking You Behind the Scenes of L’Oréal’s Tech Incubator appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Ready to build a career where you and your coworkers get to make meaningful changes to the way companies everywhere do business? Infor’s 15,000-plus-person team works with companies from Lockheed Martin to The Cheesecake Factory and many, many others to help them innovate and create better, more efficient businesses (and happier employees and customers). In fact, the work of their employees touches just about any industry you can name.

Here are just a few things Infor does to set its team up for success.

1. Infor Prioritizes Training Future Leaders
   

Succeeding in the world of technology is harder than ever. To help its talented employees get ahead and to increase diversity in its ranks, Infor created the Education Alliance Program. Participants get a head start on leadership thanks to specialized software packages, training materials and customized learning and mentoring sessions. In the process, they learn the ins and outs of industry-specific business tools and get the support they need for a fulfilling, successful, long-lasting career.

2. Infor Is Dedicated to Inclusion

There’s been a lot of talk about inclusion in the tech sphere recently, but this isn’t a new priority at Infor. The company has spent years making sure that people from all backgrounds know that they’re integral to the team’s success. Here’s just one example: Infor created the Women’s Infor Network (WIN), which is dedicated to recruiting, mentoring and supporting women in the organization as they take on leadership roles and climb further up the ladder. Infor also makes a concerted effort to reach out to veterans to help them with their post-military careers and provide them with a supportive environment and work opportunities.

3. Infor Has Great Benefits
   

Infor knows that becoming the world’s third-largest enterprise applications and services provider isn’t just about hard work, and they’ve prioritized creating an environment (and a vacation policy) that lets everyone strike a balance between work and play. Employees get to enjoy business casual workplaces, competitive salaries and ample time off to recharge.

4. Infor Sponsors Leading Teams and Programs
   
   

What do the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, Crusaders rugby team, Triumph motorcycles and the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 racing team have in common? All four are sponsored by Infor, which supports each organization and helps them find new and innovative ways to stay competitive. For example, Ferrari used Infor software tools to overhaul its supply-chain process and increase production by 40 percent. This kind of high-profile work drives Infor employees forward.

5. Infor Is Always Thinking Several Steps Ahead

Forward-thinking ideas are the name of the game at Infor. Two notable Infor initiatives that bring this approach to life are Dynamic Science Labs and Hook & Loop. Dynamic Science Lab uses predictive analytics and machine learning to automate challenging datasets, forecast future trends and make data-backed recommendations for customers. Meanwhile, Hook & Loop, Infor’s in–house design agency, brings together everyone from designers and information architects to writers and filmmakers so they can build the future of innovative user experiences together.

Ready to join this team of tech leaders? Head over to WayUp to learn more about Infor and to check out their open jobs. 

The post Infor’s Not-So-Secret Formula for Being a Leader in Tech appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When it comes to being a rockstar intern, 17-year-old Isabelle Scheerer knows what it takes to get the job done. As an intern at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Isabelle is responsible for managing the organization’s social media accounts and developing new engagement and research strategies along the way.

To find out what it takes to succeed as an intern, we asked Isabelle to share some of her most important learnings. Here are her top tips for how to rock an internship.

1) Tell us about your internship.

I intern at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, Virginia. Specifically, I intern in the education department where I am tasked with creating “Family Day” proposals. “Family Day” is an event that our museum holds a few times each year in order to educate the public about a certain culture, and to further blend that culture and the American lifestyle together. At my internship, I am in charge of several social media platforms such as Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and (my personal favorite) Pinterest. Through the accounts, I promote museum events and showcase various artwork, artists and collections within the museum. I have also created lesson plans for classes that may be held in the future.

2) What would you say is the best part of your internship?

The best thing about my internship is the independence my supervisors give me. They are very interested in what the interns think and how we envision social media and events, allowing us to brainstorm ideas that actually make the vision come to life. For example, since the beginning they have given me the freedom to set up the social media accounts however I would like but they have also asked to see the accounts and ideas that I’ve come up with in order to get a sense of how I’ve developed the strategy. They are able to give the interns the perfect balance of structure and independence that allows us to grow and be as creative as we possibly can be. The support and encouragement I feel while working here is truly incredible; I couldn’t ask for a better internship or job.

3) What’s been your biggest learning experience so far?

The biggest learning experience I have encountered so far has been dealing with the regulations and guidelines involved with social media posting. Since I am in charge of posting images of artwork and artists, I have had to learn and understand what can and cannot be posted on the accounts, and in what way they can be posted. I have encountered the long process of steps it takes to earn complete approval before any public posting can be done. Though it has been a learning experience, and sometimes a lengthy one, the process has helped me further understand the way business protocol actually occurs.

4) Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I hope to see myself growing in the field of fashion. I hope to be working at a big-name company, furthering my knowledge, gaining hands-on experience and increasing my passion for fashion design and merchandising. I hope to be working my way up in the field and to be on the way to creating my own fashion line. I have big dreams, and I have high hopes of achieving them, no matter how long it may take to get there.

5) If you had to give advice to another young intern, what would it be?

I would tell them not to give up and to fight for what they believe in. Most people are afraid to do something at such a young point in their life, but I think it helps you to grow. Maybe it’s scary, but I like to think that without being scared once in a while, you’ll never be able to achieve what you want. I would also tell them not to be afraid of being different or thinking outside the box. My creativity and differences are the reason I am where I am today and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Most of all, I would tell them that success takes time, so don’t be unhappy or discouraged if it takes you some time to get to where you want to be. The one thing you will always have is your passion, creativity, and drive — don’t ever let anyone try to take that away from you.

The post 17-Year-Old Rockstar Intern Shares Her Tips for Success appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

What’s it like to work in tech for a company that’s solving some of the biggest challenges for federal agencies in the United States and abroad? Every day, 7,000 Accenture Federal Services team members put their experience to work in areas like defense, public safety, health and intel. Here’s how three of them are putting their tech degrees to work at Accenture Federal. 

Celia Dyer
College: University of Virginia
Graduation Year: 2015
Major: Systems and Information Engineering, Economics
Job at Accenture Federal Services: Software Business Implementation Senior Analyst

What does someone in your role do?
In a typical tech-functional role, you might participate in requirements-gathering sessions with clients, design and/or document application functionality, write or execute test scripts, put together decks or other materials for a meeting, take meeting minutes, or work with developers to resolve application defects.

What did you do at work yesterday?
My first task was to organize my notes and key takeaways from a conference I attended the previous day. Then I had a kickoff meeting with my [project] lead who outlined the scope of the next tasks I’m responsible for. This was followed by a weekly project status meeting. I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a deck that showcases the application functionality I’ve been working on, so management can see the status and progress of our project. Before I left the office, I took a Tableau training, provided for free through Accenture Federal’s Knowledge Exchange. I’m attending an in-person training next week and want to learn a little bit about Tableau before my first day!

What’s your favorite part about working at Accenture Federal Services?
[In addition to my day-to-day responsibilities] I volunteer with an employee resource group that connects Accenture Federal employees with specific skills to local non-profits or other organizations so we can volunteer our time to a project. This is a great opportunity to keep skills up to date, learn new skills and get involved in the local community.

What’s something surprising about your role?
I interned at Accenture Federal before my senior year of college. I was working as a Java Developer, but when I came back full-time, I started working as a functional analyst. Now I’m working on the functional side of the same project I worked on as an intern!

Delaney Cave
College: James Madison University
Graduation Year: 2016
Major: Computer Science
Job at Accenture Federal Services: System Developer Analyst

What does someone in your role do?
I write the code and logic to create the functionality that our clients request. I also act as an application support person, making sure that our solution is producing correct results with the given data and helping to answer any concerns from the client.

What did you do at work yesterday?
Yesterday, I came in and prepared for the team’s daily standup, where the whole team debriefs each other on what they are working on, what they plan to do today and any impediments. Then I continued working on the code/logic, discussing any questions or issues with my team whenever they came up.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is the constant challenge and growth that I experience from working as a developer at Accenture Federal. I have grown so much just from the short time that I have been here.

What’s something surprising about your role?
I feel that at a lot of other companies, your work tends to be disregarded when you are less experienced, but as an analyst, you are so heavily valued here at Accenture Federal.

Ashleigh Owens
College: Howard University
Graduation Year: 2014
Major: Computer Information Systems
Job at Accenture Federal Services: Test Engineering Senior Analyst

What does someone in your role do?
Someone in a tester role assists with managing requirements and test planning for software releases. Testers prepare test scenarios, test conditions and test scripts according to the requirements and designs of the client. We ensure that, once code is developed, it works properly. We also work with developers to catch and resolve any defects in the code before it is deployed into production.

What did you do at work yesterday?
Right now, we are in the development phase of my current release. This means that as a tester, I am preparing for the developers to finish coding and to deploy it for testing. A typical day for me in this phase is to come into the office and check my email for status updates from developers, my test lead and clients. I then begin to work on preparing testing conditions and scripts to be run once development is complete. This includes going through the individual requirements of the release, documenting the expected results and creating specific testing queries. I then have a daily status call.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
Working with an awesome group of individuals.

What’s something surprising about your role?
Although my title has “engineering” in it, I am not an engineer at all. My background is in computer information systems, and I was initially hired into a development role. You also aren’t limited to developing or testing roles simply because it is in your official title.

Ready to start your tech career at Accenture Federal Services? They’re hiring! Head over to WayUp, check out open positions and apply.

The post Inside the Tech Jobs of Three Accenture Federal Services Employees appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Did you know that Amelia Earhart made history in a Lockheed Martin aircraft? Her 1932 record-breaking, non-stop, Atlantic Ocean-crossing solo flight happened on board the Lockheed Vega. Flash forward 85 years, and Lockheed Martin’s support of women in aviation is stronger than ever, powering both pilots and employees who’d rather work with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Here are three things that define Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ support of its female workforce.

1. Leadership You’ll Look Up To

Meet Marillyn A. Hewson, Lockheed Martin’s chairwoman, president and chief executive officer. She also happens to be Forbes’ 2016 “Third Most Powerful Woman in the World”. Hewson, who joined the company in 1983, has added billions to its value in her three-plus decades working there.

2. An Emphasis on Making Everyone Feel at Home

Lockheed Martin is a big believer that making every employee feel valued starts from the top. That’s why they run inclusion workshops and training sessions for management-level employees to create a welcoming, supportive company worth building a career at.

3. … and Training the Next Generation of Female Leaders

From events like its Women’s Leadership Forum to a Leadership Development Program, you’ll be in great company while you’re chasing after those career goals. You’ll also get plenty of chances to network with people who are eager to help you get there.

4. A Culture of Welcoming Feedback

Despite everything they’re already doing to support female employees, the team at Lockheed Martin also knows there’s always room for improvement. That’s why they humbly ask “what can we be doing better?” when it comes to employee happiness. Although, would you expect anything less from a company that’s been  improving their approach to building game-changing aircraft for more than 100 years?

Ready to start your path to becoming an aerospace ladyboss? Learn more about working at Lockheed Martin here. 

The post This Company Has Supported Women in Aviation Since the 1930s appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

$1 billion. That’s how much UPS invests in technology initiatives every single year. Surprised? A lot of people think UPS is all about delivering packages in those iconic brown trucks. But there’s so much more to this company than meets the eye—especially when it comes to a career in IT. The UPS IT team is thinking outside the [cardboard shipping] box and building some amazing things together. And they’re hiring summer engineering interns now.

Automating the Perfect Delivery Route

In a single day, UPS delivers 19.1 million packages and documents to people around the world. All those deliveries require a level of coordination that’s impossible to achieve manually. That’s why engineers at UPS built ORION, a system that determines the ideal route for each driver before they even step into the truck. It only takes seconds for ORION to work its magic, which means drivers are always armed with the most up-to-date delivery information. Even more impressive? This game-changing system sorts out tens of thousands of routes per minute (and all UPS customers see is the end result of on-time delivery).

Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work

Want instant help when you’re looking for a UPS store location or need to track a package? Just ask a chatbot. The UPS IT team launched a chatbot for UPS.com, and we’ve got to say, it’s one of the more useful chatbot ideas we’ve seen. Anyone can use the AI-powered bot to access shipping rates, tracking information and other useful information without clicking through the site. Plus, the chatbot’s approach to understanding natural language is only getting better. The more people ask it questions, the more it learns and the better it responds.

Going Above and Beyond with Drones

Drones may be great for capturing eye-catching aerial photos, but at UPS, they serve a much bigger purpose. The highest warehouse storage racks are now easier to reach than ever. Thanks to some creative programming experiments, UPS drones now do fly-by warehouse checks to monitor stock and available storage space. Far beyond the warehouse, UPS is working on engineering drones that assist with humanitarian aid by delivering packages to hard-to-reach areas.

And that’s just a small part of what UPS’ IT employees are building together. Ready to join them? Head over to WayUp now to check out open jobs at UPS.

The post This Company’s IT Team Builds Chatbots and Tests Drones appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

TripAdvisor isn’t your parents’ vacation-planning guide. At least not anymore. This Boston-based company is on a mission to make planning travel as easy and option-filled as possible, and they’ve rolled out some pretty smart innovations to get there. When it comes to technology and travel, here are four things TripAdvisor engineers know to be true.

1. Crowdsourcing is the New… Well… Everything

What information would you trust more to help you plan a vacation? Fancy photos and descriptions on a hotel or tour company’s website, or honest reviews and advice from travelers who’ve been there? The TripAdvisor platform is powered by community crowdsourcing—hundreds of millions of unique site visitors per month if you’re counting. And those reviews cover things like activities and restaurants, not just hotels. Plus, their approach to separating genuine reviews from sneaky hotel staff members posing as happy guests is only getting better.

2. The Fewer Steps to Booking a Dream Vacation, the Better

We don’t know about you, but by the time we’re nearly done planning a vacation, some major decision fatigue has set in. TripAdvisor’s engineering team is working to make the hotel booking part of travel decisions a little easier with their TripConnect instant booking tool. When the company’s hotel partners add the tool to their TripAdvisor page, users can do their research, make a decision and finalize plans all in one place. No stress needed.

3. Big Hotel Chains Aren’t Always the Best Option

Shhh. Don’t tell the chain hotels, but sometimes independent hotels and bed and breakfasts are a better way to go, and they deserve a fighting chance at our attention. To make sure the little guys don’t always get buried under the hotel heavy-hitters, TripAdvisor’s engineering team built a way for all hotels to compete for a top spot in the site’s “explore similar hotels” feature. Now, hotels can bid for their time in the spotlight and a chance to steal a guest’s attention away from their original hotel choice. Game on. Very clever, TripAdvisor.

4. The Boston Tech Scene is Highly Underrated

Move over, Silicon Valley. Companies like TripAdvisor are helping Boston grow its reputation as a top tech hub, and points 1–3 only scratch the surface of what they’re creating.

Ready to “book” an interview with TripAdvisor? They’re hiring for positions like Desktop Support Technician Intern, Recruiting Coordinator and participants for their MBA product management rotation program.

The post Attention Engineers: Meet the Travel Company That’s Shaking Up the Vacation-Planning Process appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you’ve recently graduated or are gearing up for graduation with a degree in computer science, data science or something similar, congrats—you’ve got a super exciting time ahead of you! Your skills and talents are highly desired and they’re also in short supply. Get ready for a whole lot of companies to try to persuade you to work for them (it’s pretty much as competitive as D1 athletics).

But there’s one company you may not be considering just yet, and it just might offer the best opportunity for recent engineering, developer and data science grads: Philips Lighting.  

While you may know Philips Lighting as the company that produces those lightbulbs your parents somehow always forget to pick up at the grocery store, they’re doing a whole lot more than that. For aspiring engineers, data scientists and developers, Philips Lighting serves up all the perks of working at both a big, enterprise company and an innovative startup—all wrapped into one workplace.

Here are a few reasons Philips Lighting could be the perfect place for you to work.

They’re Leading the Charge on “Connected Lighting”

A few years ago, did you ever think people would be using a smartphone to control the lights in their apartment? Thanks to Philips Lighting, that’s now a reality. Their lights work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Homekit and other IoT platforms to give people even more control over Hue’s LED technology. That means anyone can buy a kit and download an app that lets them control all lights in a room or an entire house without lifting a finger (or just by tapping their phone).

… And Helping Whole Buildings Save a Ton of Energy in the Process

Philips Lighting isn’t just a manufacturer, they’re also an innovator and a partner to other companies. That means you’ll get the chance to apply your developer and engineering skills across an array of different product areas that extend well beyond just back-end and UX/UI programming. And you’ll see that work in action on a big scale. For example, Seattle’s ATLAS Workbase just selected Philips Lighting as a partner to digitize the lighting controls in its office. Talk about work that tons of people see all day, every day.

You’ll Be Working on Amazing Projects Out of the Gate

No busywork here. Employees at Philips Lighting get the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging tech projects from the beginning. That means you’ll be learning a ton and making a huge impact from week one. So get ready to dive right in.

Convinced that Philips Lighting is the ideal place to grow your engineering or data science career? They’re currently hiring for role like Complex Systems Data Mining Intern, Engineering Technician Intern and Design Engineer Intern.

The post This Lighting Company is the Perfect Place for Engineers and Data Scientists appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Dear Boston,

You might feel overlooked as a tech capital sometimes, but don’t worry, we know the real story. So many brilliant, game-changing ideas got their start in Boston (and your dorm rooms in Mark Zuckerberg’s case). The companies and employees that call Boston home are working to disrupt entire industries on a daily basis, from robotics to healthcare to the way we use the internet. That’s not something you’ll find in most cities. Heck, MIT has an entire museum dedicated to incredible thinking.

Beyond that, the culture you’ve built around tech might be the most collaborative one we’ve ever seen. You even have HubWeek, an annual festival that brings all of your brilliant people and their brilliant ideas together to share their work with the rest of the city. I mean, look at this festival description. C’mon now:

“An unparalleled concentration of brainpower, ingenuity, and creativity. A shared belief that collaboration accelerates innovation. A festival built by a community of smart, creative and curious people–for smart, creative and curious people. People like you.”

That’s enough to make even the most cynical among us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

You also had a big year last year, Boston, with startups popping up all over the place, from e-commerce and gaming to software and on-demand services companies. Oh, and no biggie but GE announced it was moving its HQ from Connecticut to your Seaport district last year. Uprooting your HQ of more than 40 years is the sincerest form of flattery, you know. The tides are changing, Boston. Just ask these inspiring entrepreneurs. They’ll probably say they believed in your potential all along.  

So here’s to you, Boston. We have a feeling your legacy as a tech capital is just getting started.

Ready to make your mark on Boston? TripAdvisor is hiring for positions like Desktop Support Technician Intern, Recruiting Coordinator and participants for their MBA product management rotation program.

The post A Letter to Boston, the Comeback Kid of Tech Cities appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

We’ve gotta admit. When we first saw TripAdvisor’s Boston HQ, we were a little bit jealous. We even considered trying to convince their hiring team we were still in school just for the chance to intern there for a few months. We couldn’t help it. The temptation of lunch from a new country or origin every day was calling our names. Ultimately, we decided it was better to tell you why TripAdvisor is an amazing place to intern so you can apply. Sure, you’ll probably end up making us even more jealous, but we can handle it. We promise. Here are the top five reasons TripAdvisor engineering interns love what they do:

1. No Busy Work in Sight

Think you’ll spend the summer filing paperwork and filling coffee orders? Not a chance, TripAdvisor interns get to ship real features, just like full-time team members. That means your work will reach hundreds of millions of people. Whoa.

2. The Friendliest Competition in Town

Each year, over 70 interns from dozens of universities team up and tap into their creative sides for the TripAdvisor hackathon. Oh, and they get the chance to pitch their ideas to top execs. At a global company. For a dose of inspiration, check out last year’s hackathon projects here.

3. A Super Supportive Team

We’ll let former Software Engineering Intern Greg H. do the talking for this one. He said, “I thought my experience at Trip was extremely unique, and only happened because of the people I worked with.” Thanks, Greg! Engineering interns at TripAdvisor work one-on-one with a mentor during their summer with the company. Hear from more happy interns here.

4. A Community Connection

While the company is built around travel, it’s also in TripAdvisor’s DNA to give back to the communities where employees live and work. That’s why every intern class spends a day volunteering at a local organization.

5. The Chance to Be a Boston Tourist

New to Boston? Great!  With last year’s Summer intern class hailing from 60 universities, TripAdvisor made sure they were well acquainted with Beantown by the end of the season. Each year, interns get to explore the city’s landmarks on a scavenger hunt, and participate in another tradition that’s uniquely Boston: a duck tour.

Ready for an unforgettable engineering internship at TripAdvisor? They’re hiring for positions like Desktop Support Technician Intern, Recruiting Coordinator and participants for their MBA product management rotation program.

The post From Hackathons to Duck Tours: 5 Reasons TripAdvisor’s Engineering Interns Have the Best Job in Town appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

On April 21st, CommonBond partnered with WayUp to co-host the first ever Startup Internship Summit in New York City, as part of CommonBond’s commitment to go beyond student loans and provide educational and career-oriented resources to the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

It definitely wasn’t your average career fair…Hundreds of students and recent grads came to this free event at Convene to network one-on-one with recruiters from New York’s top startups, like Blue Apron, Justworks, Minibar, and dozens more.

“Our team was impressed by the caliber of students we spoke with at the Internship Summit,” ValuePenguin product manager Robert Harrow said. “We found many potential intern candidates who we’re excited to follow-up with, and it was fantastic to share the stage with other leading NYC startups.”

Attendees also had the chance to hear directly from industry experts about how to land an internship at a startup during two (very candid!) back-to-back panel discussions. CommonBond streamed the videos on Facebook live, and you can check them out here and here.

Want a quick summary of the best advice from the panelists and moderators? Read below!

1. It’s ok to be bold.

According to Danielle Davis, HR Manager at Convene, it’s more than ok to be bold in your internship search. Danielle suggests that candidates can “put themselves out there” by sending a cold email to someone at the company they want to work for, and by making sure to follow up consistently after submitting an application.

2. Take initiative.

Most startup companies aren’t as structured as larger, corporate firms. Nikki Schlecker, Head of People at WayUp, says that because of this, interns are expected to hit the ground running on day 1. What’s the best way to do this? She suggests coming to your internship prepared with several ideas and projects that you want to pursue, so that you can create your own experience, and jump right in!

3. Thank you notes are key.

It sounds obvious, but a good thank you note can go a long way. In particular, make sure to personalize your thank you note, and highlight something specific you learned during that interview. Keryn Koch, Head of People at CommonBond says that her favorite notes are handwritten ones, because they show extra effort and care.

4. Be brief and avoid typos.

Syndhia Javier, Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Relations at Columbia University asked each of the panelists what their pet peeve was when it came to resumes and cover letters. All of the panelists agreed that cover letters and resumes should never go over one page, and that typos are a total dealbreaker. So…double check everything for grammar and spelling!

5. Make yourself memorable.

It’s hard to stand out in a sea of applicants. Greg Davidson, Head of Sales at Artsy, encouraged the audience to get creative during the interview process. As a candidate on the job search, he had custom shirts printed before a Skype interview with the name of the role he was interviewing for. At the end of the interview, he revealed the shirt, and, a few weeks later, landed the job!

6. No tech experience? No problem.

Startups hire for a lot more than just backend engineers and product managers. Radhika Duggal, the Vice President of Marketing at CommonBond, talked about how her background in marketing and branding for a consulting firm helped her land her current role. She explained that while having a tech background is great, the most important thing is that you have a background in something that can help move the business forward.

7. Self awareness is vital.

Mackenzie Barth, CEO and Co-Founder of Spoon University talked about the importance of self awareness during the interview process and on the job. According to Mackenzie, employers who ask about your strengths and weaknesses are really looking to figure out how well you know yourself. It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you’re good at, what you’ll need support on, and overall, what you believe you will bring to the company.

About CommonBond

CommonBond is a financial technology company on a mission to make student loans more transparent, simple, and affordable. Combining competitive rates and award-winning customer service for both undergraduate and graduate students, CommonBond has created a better borrowing experience – and funded over $1 billion in student loans for tens of thousands of members.

The company’s enterprise platform, CommonBond for Business™, enables employers to offer
a suite of student loan repayment benefits to their employees, helping attract and retain top talent in today’s workforce. And CommonBond is the first, and only, finance company with a “one-for-one” social mission: for every loan it funds, CommonBond also funds the education of a child in need, through its partnership with Pencils of Promise.

For more information, visit commonbond.co.

The post 7 Tips for Landing a Startup Internship appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Quick. What comes to mind when someone mentions coding? Computer nerds and math geeks hunched over, staring at their computers for hours at a time? Boring, tedious projects reserved for the less creative among us? That’s probably because, to outsiders, that seemingly jumbled mix of letters, numbers, spaces and symbols might not be the most welcoming of sights. But coding has been making the work world comeback of a lifetime lately. There’s a reason Glassdoor named Data Scientist (and a bunch of other coding-focused jobs) to its “50 Best Jobs in America” list for 2017.

Whether or not you’re already convinced of coding’s cool factor, we’re celebrating this underdog-turned workplace rockstar with a by-the-numbers breakdown of what it means to be a coder at Lockheed Martin.

8 Million: Lines of software code required to power Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II.

About 150: Number of high school students who compete in the Code Quest hackathon each year.

44 Zettabytes: The amount of data expected to be in the world by the year 2020. That’s 44 trillion gigabytes for some perspective. Data scientists at Lockheed Martin are charged with interpreting that data to make the company’s innovative ideas a reality.

One Million: The number of web attacks that happened in 2015, according to Symantec’s latest Internet Security Threat Report. They also found that a whopping three quarters of websites were vulnerable to an attack. Lockheed Martin’s budding Incidence Response Team is on a mission to decrease that number with—you guessed it—coding.

80 Percent: How many fewer hours it now takes employees to find and repair damage to Lockheed Martin’s Hybrid Airship. It’s all thanks to a robot named Spider that roams the airship’s surface to find and patch small pinholes. Spider frees up time so employees can focus on more creative projects. Behind all the smart robots helping Lockheed Martin’s humans do their jobs better is a whole lot of smart coding.

Just About Everything: The amount of amazing work happening at Lockheed Martin that boils down to science and math.

Suddenly have the urge to code something? Log onto WayUp and apply to work at Lockheed Martin now. 

The post By the Numbers: What it Means to be a Coder at Lockheed Martin appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Ever since a particularly risky venture that included a kite, a key, a flash of lightning and Ben Franklin, the light bulb hasn’t seen much disruption—screw it in, flip the switch and boom. That’s that.

But the team at Philips Lighting isn’t settling for the status quo. The world’s leading lighting company recently teamed up with Amazon’s Alexa to add some amazing new features to its Hue wireless system and further improve how we light our lives. The result?  The ability to use Philips’ smart lights to get total control of the lighting in your home. And when we say total control, we mean it. You can even sync your lights to music!   

Want to be a part of the Philips Lighting revolution? Read on.

It all Started with a Bright Idea

For years, Philips Lighting has been working on LED lighting that’s greener and lasts longer. Now, they’ve gone beyond the bulbs themselves with Hue, giving people the power to control lighting for entire rooms at a time or even set lights to match their daily routines. It’s all powered by a Wi-Fi enabled gadget called The Bridge, which lets anyone add up to 50 lights and lighting accessories that they can customize to their heart’s content. That means all it takes is your voice (and an Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant) to make your home smarter. Here’s what else this amazing tech lets you do:

• Set geolocation so your lights turn off when you leave your house or turn on when you’re getting home.
• Wake up feeling more refreshed by setting lights to brighten slowly until it’s time to get out of bed.
• Set the scene by matching the colors from any picture, or dim the lights to perfectly match Friday movie night.
• Sync to other devices to set the right temperature, act as a security system or even send you an alert if there’s smoke in the house.

Behind the Scenes with Hue

Another challenge? Creating the ideal app to tie it all together. Mission: accomplished. After all, this approach to disrupting lighting is what drives everyone at Philips Lighting to keep creating new, exciting and innovative technology. Best of all, even though they’re making big waves when it comes to connected devices, the team at Philips Lighting is only getting started.

Ready to join them in creating the future of lighting? Head on over to WayUp now to check out open positions, including Space Optimization Data Intern, R&D Social Media Intern and Machine Learning Intern.  

The post “Hey Alexa—Turn the Lights Down”. How Philips Lighting Turned a Bright Idea into Reality appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, one thing’s for sure: you’ll never have to worry that thinking big won’t fly (pun intended) with your team. That elevated approach is the reason why this company is turning aircraft vision into aircraft reality and making the skies safer here in the US and in 70-plus other countries around the world. And they didn’t become an aeronautics leader by accident. It’s all possible thanks to founder Kelly Johnson’s Skunk Works® approach to teams, processes, culture and values. Don’t believe us? We’ll let the aircraft do the talking. Here are three reasons why working at Lockheed Martin won’t be your average job or internship.

1. The Hercules C-130 is Basically a Movie Star

That’s right. As if 54 World Aviation records weren’t enough, the Hercules C-130 has also been in 120 movies including Godzilla, Air Force One, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. Entertainment value aside, it can also refuel from up in the sky or down on land and provide weather forecasts in the middle of a hurricane. It’s also carried everything from Presidents to chickens (really!) and people have gotten married on board (really, really).

2. The F-35 Lightning II Has Social Media Street Cred

We never thought we’d be jealous that an aircraft has more Twitter followers than we do (over 47,000 of them, actually). All things considered, though, the F-35 Lightning II has earned it. It’s the only 5th generation multirole stealth fighter in the world, and it gives pilots 360 degrees of awareness while they’re up in the sky. Possibly even more impressive? All of its features like flight controls, radar functionality and weapons deployment are powered by over 8 million lines of software code.

3. The U-2 Dragon Lady Makes an Average Plane’s Cruising Altitude Seem Like Child’s Play

That plane-window shot you took on your flight to Miami for spring break is Insta-worthy for sure, but imagine the reaction if you took it from 70,000 feet. That’s what pilots on board the U-2 Dragon Lady get to see after they’ve climbed 63,000 feet in about the time it takes a passenger plane to ascend 35,000 feet. From there, you can see the curve of the earth, plus colors so bold, there’s no filter needed. But this aircraft isn’t just about the photo opps. It also helps with disaster relief efforts for earthquakes, floods and forest fires.

Ready for takeoff? They’re hiring now, so head over to WayUp and apply!

More from Lockheed Martin:
By the Numbers: What it Means to Be a Coder at Lockheed Martin
Did You Know? Amelia Earhart’s History-Making Flight Happened on Board a Lockheed Martin Aircraft

The post Three Reasons Lockheed Martin Employees are Part of an Aerospace Legacy appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This article is sponsored by Capital One; see what they’re hiring for here.

You probably know of Capital One as one of the leading American banking companies, but did you know that it’s also one of the most innovative technology firms around? After all, when it comes to making financial transactions easy, safe and secure for millions of customers, there needs to be robust technology making that happen.

How does Capital One find the best and brightest minds to take on its biggest tech challenges? It has a one-of-a-kind rotational internship to bring college students into the fold.

Capital One has an incredible 10-week rotational technology internship program that gives students real projects that help better Capital One’s business and customer experience. (No fake internship assignments here!)

One of the biggest events for interns in the program is the Capital One Technology Internship Hackathon, which challenges students to come up with the best and most innovative new ideas to help the company and its customers. Teams of students square off to create amazing new products for the brand, and they get personalized mentorship and “office hours” to talk to top leaders in the company to fine-tune their ideas.

The vibe of the event is all about experimentation and trying new concepts; interns are encouraged to come up with new ideas that the company hasn’t seen before, even if they don’t work out at first. This is also similar to the philosophy of Capital One’s entire internship program: Make it a goal to learn about things you know nothing about, and work with others to constantly improve your skills and the products you’re building.

And if you think the hackathon is all work and no play, you’re mistaken; there are arcade breaks, impromptu yoga sessions and ping pong tournaments that take place throughout the event, giving students the energy they need to bring their best ideas to the table.

Like what you see and want the opportunity to take on the Capital One Tech Internship Hackathon yourself? Head on over to WayUp and apply to Capital One’s positions now!

The post How Capital One Gets Its Tech Interns Excited About Putting Their Skills and Innovation to Good Use appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you’ve ever watched the movie The Social Network, there’s a great scene where Mark Zuckerberg has a bunch of young students racing against the clock to finish a programming challenge as a roaring crowd looks on.

While hackathons might not be quite the spectacle in real life (no giant cheering crowds or overhead spotlights), there’s one company that thinks they’re exciting and worthwhile: TripAdvisor.

To inspire computer science, product, and design students across North America, TripAdvisor gives young people the opportunity to take a crack at some of its biggest programming challenges through the TripAdvisor Hackathon.

So, what exactly is a hackathon? It’s pretty much a tech lover’s dream: Groups of students take on the challenge of their choice to find a creative solution, and they have just four days to compete. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

Not only does TripAdvisor give these students a platform for their ideas, but the company also provides mentorship from top members of the tech team (could you imagine getting advice from the Head of Engineering at such an impressive organization?), free food, and awesome swag. As a young techie, what more could you want?

If being a part of these hackathons sounds like the dream to you, you can work at the company that makes the dream a reality for hundreds of students. Apply to work for TripAdvisor on WayUp now. They’re hiring for jobs like Desktop Support Technician Intern, Recruiting Coordinator and their MBA Product Management Rotation Program. 

The post Here’s the Unique Thing TripAdvisor Does to Inspire the Best Student Tech Talent appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When we think of some of the biggest technological advances of the past 10 to 20 years, we all probably have some idea of which types of companies came up with those inventions. But here’s something you didn’t know: A lot of the technology you use today, from your smartphone apps to computer storage, was actually created decades ago by people working in agriculture and construction.

Who’s helped lead this tech charge? The answer is simple: It’s agriculture and machinery giant John Deere. So, which everyday innovations did John Deere influence? Here are five huge ones.

1. Self-Driving Vehicles

When you think of self-driving vehicles, your thoughts most likely turn to those funny-looking Google cars making their way through your neighborhood.

But here’s a fun fact: John Deere is actually helped pioneer auto-steering and other key driving technologies we’re just now seeing on the roads. While John Deere initially came up with smart tractors and other vehicles to make farming more efficient, its tech has led to huge advances for vehicles and machinery as a whole.

2. GPS

Long before you bought a Garmin for your car and downloaded a million apps to your phone, John Deere’s engineers were creating GPS systems for the company’s machinery to keep track of locations and geography when farming gigantic plots of land.

In fact, some farmers have been using John Deere’s GPS technology for over a decade and a half. Talk about being ahead of the curve.

3. Front-End Displays

When you look at any app on your phone, you probably care a great deal about the display screen being simple, straightforward, and easy to use. This has been a long-time focus of John Deere’s display and receiver technology, because if people in agriculture aren’t able to understand how different technologies are affecting their farming strategies, it affects the entire cycle.

4. Cloud Data

You’ve probably heard all about the fancy cloud computing people are using to wirelessly enter and store piles and piles of data. Guess who started that trend long before it was trendy? You guessed it: Farmers and agricultural specialists were using it to keep track of their crops and harvests long before other industries realized its power.

Believe it or not, farming nowadays is just as much about data as it is about the crops themselves. Without using technology to keep track of every part of the process (from how close to plant seeds to when to harvest it), our farms wouldn’t be as efficient as they are today. 

5. Internet of Things

While it may sound like slang, the internet of things (IoT for short) is when several physical devices are connected to the same network, allowing them to work as one to achieve a given result.

As you probably assume by now, one of the first industries to harness the power of the IoT was agriculture, where farmers were using John Deere technology. Think about it: A farmer is typically using multiple machines to plant, nurture, and harvest a single crop to make it ready for sale, not to mention all the data being collected to make that happen as efficiently as possible.

It’s safe to say that John Deere is innovating and making things happen every day, so if an exciting career filled with cutting-edge technology sounds perfect for you, don’t wait: John Deere is hiring now, so head over to WayUp and apply!

The post John Deere Influenced These 5 Technologies We Use Every Single Day appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

So you’ve decided to work at a startup, and you’re still a little confused by all the different components of an offer. Not to worry! Let’s walk through the least understood part of startup offers: employee stock.

Getting equity in a company is an important part of tech startup culture. This is the main reason so many people are packing up and moving out west in this new “gold rush”. Many will trade a lower salary in return for a stake in a startup with the hopes it will become the next Facebook (only roughly the first 1,000 employees at Facebook became millionaires, by the way!). Stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are the two major forms of equity issued. For rank and file employees, stock options are the most common form of employee equity issued in early-stage startup companies.

What is a Stock Option?

Simply put, a stock option is the right, but not the obligation, to buy a fixed number of shares of stock at a specified price for a specific period of time. Options have an expiration date, you always need to know when they expire.

What is Restricted Stock?

RSUs (or Restricted Stock Units) are shares of Common Stock given to the hire and these stock units are usually subject to vesting (see below) and, often, other restrictions.

Exercising your stock options

Three times when you would likely exercise:

1. When the company experiences a “liquidity event” such as an acquisition or IPO (involuntary) OR
2. You sell the underlying common stock in a secondary sale (voluntary) OR
3. When you leave the company.

Note: There are probably two scenarios where early exercise makes sense:

1. Early in your tenure if you are a very early employee or
2. Once you have a very high degree of confidence your company is going to be a big success and you have some savings you are willing to risk.

Most companies offer you the opportunity to exercise your stock options early (i.e. before they are fully vested). The benefit to exercising your options early is that you start the clock on qualifying for long-term capital gains treatment earlier. The risk is that your company doesn’t succeed and you are never able to sell your stock despite having invested the money to exercise your options.

You will owe no taxes at the time of exercise if you exercise your stock options when their fair market value is equal to their exercise price and you file a form 83(b) election on time. Any future appreciation will be taxed at long-term capital gains rates if you hold your stock for more than one year post exercise and two years post date-of-grant before selling. If you sell in less than one year then you will be taxed at ordinary income rates.

Vesting

Your options must be vested before you exercise them. Vesting usually happens over a four year term (i.e. 25% on one year grant date anniversary, monthly vesting for the next 36 months), and they usually “cliff vest” the first year (i.e. you get nothing if you leave the company before 1 year is up).

Now that we’ve gone over some basic terms concerning employee stock in the startup world, let’s answer 5 frequently asked questions.

1. How Does a Stock Option Work?

A stock option gives the recipient the right to acquire company common stock at a set exercise price established at the time of grant of the option. If the option is granted early in the life cycle of the company, it will likely be at a favorably low exercise price.

A typical grant is as follows: Ben Smith receives options to acquire 10,000 shares in Company ABC at 10 cents per share. The options are earned or “vest” over a 4-year period if Ben continues to be employed by Company X. He has a cliff vesting of one year (meaning he has to be at the company at least one year before any of his options vest, and at the end of that one-year period, he has vested a quarter of her options).

If Ben stays at Company ABC for the full 4 years, he has the right to exercise all of his 10,000 options at the exercise price. The exercise price is set at the time of the grant of the option at its then fair market value. If he wants to exercise his options, he then has to pay the exercise price times the number of shares (10 cents times 40,000, or $4000).  Hopefully, when he exercises his options for 10 cents a share, the value of the shares has gone up significantly.

2. How Many Options Should I Get as a New Employee?

There is no guideline for this as it is always negotiable. A company may have its own internal guidelines by position within the company. What is most important is not the number of options, but what the number represents as a percentage of the fully diluted number of shares outstanding.

For example, if you are awarded 100,000 options, but there are 100 million shares outstanding, that only represents 1/10 of 1% of the company. But if you are awarded 100,000 options and there are only 1 million shares outstanding, then that represents 10% of the company.

3. What Taxes Do I Have to Pay for Stock Options?

There are two types of stock options under the tax code: Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs). Most employees typically receive the more tax advantaged ISOs. The tax treatment for ISOs is as follows:

• There is no taxable event at the time of the grant of the option.
• There is generally no taxable event at the time of the exercise of the option.
• At the time of the exercise of the option, the spread between the exercise price and the value of the stock will be taken into account for determining whether additional tax is owed under the alternative minimum tax rules.
• At the time the stock acquired from the exercise of the options is sold, that will be a taxable event. If the stock has been held both for more than two years from the date of grant of an ISO and more than a year from the date of exercise, all of the gain will be taxed at the more favorable capital gains rate; otherwise, all of a portion of the gain will be taxed at the ordinary income tax rate.

(Note: NSOs have less favorable tax treatment, and the spread between the exercise price and the value of the stock at the time of exercise will be taxed then at ordinary income rates.)

4. Are There Any Downsides to Stock Options?

The key downsides of stock options are:

• You typically have to pay cash to exercise the options.
• At the time you exercise the option, you may incur a tax depending on your particular alternative minimum tax situation or the type of options you hold.
• When you exercise the stock options, you will receive stock that will not be easily saleable if the company is still privately held or is subject to substantial transfer restrictions.
• The value of the stock could go below the exercise price you have paid for the stock, which is why many option holders wait until a liquidity event to exercise options.

5. How Long Do I Have to Exercise a Stock Option?

The stock option agreement and stock option plan lays out the time periods for when an option has to be exercised. Typically, as long as you remain an employee, you will have 5 to 10 years to exercise the vested portion of the option. But if you are no longer employed by the company, you typically only then have 30-90 days after termination to exercise the vested portion of your option (determined as of the termination date of your employment).

The post Who Wants to be a Millionaire?!: Demystifying Employee Stock in Tech appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

 This article is sponsored by NetSuite, which is hiring people for a number of exciting roles on WayUp now. 

NetSuite, an influential software company that helps organizations conduct business, is about more than just technology. It’s about creating a company culture where every employee feels excited, recognized, and challenged and where people are ready to take on anything.

If those are all things you want in a company, check out three ways NetSuite makes those things happen below. Then head on over to WayUp, because NetSuite is hiring [position] right now, and you need to apply before time runs out!

1. They Value Employees With Entrepreneurial Minds

Just because NetSuite has thousands of employees doesn’t mean it’s stuck in a corporate mindset. Everyone is committed to keeping the company’s entrepreneurial spirit alive no matter how big it grows, and every single person on the team tackles problems with enthusiasm and innovative solutions.

The company has grown well beyond its humble roots (it began as a tiny startup working in a room above a beauty salon), but that doesn’t mean it’s lost any of that energetic startup feel.

2. They Love Working Together

Anyone at NetSuite will tell you the same thing: NetSuite employees love one another, and they’ve built an inclusive culture. Every person’s birthday is celebrated, and co-workers constantly go above and beyond to help one another.

Additionally, NetSuite’s offices feature lots of collaborative spaces, from open concept kitchens to meeting areas, that foster togetherness and allow people to communicate effectively.

3. They Work With Iconic Brands

Ever heard of any of a little kitchen and homewares company called Williams-Sonoma, an athletic apparel brand named Asics, or a streaming device called Roku? All three of them are wildly successful brands that turn to NetSuite for all of their business software needs.

How can you not feel inspired helping some of the biggest and most admired names in their respective industries?

If NetSuite sounds like a great place to work, go apply on WayUp now!  

The post 3 Reasons Why Employees Love NetSuite (and Hey, Did We Mention They’re Hiring?) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

 This article is sponsored by Vector Marketing, which is filling positions in entry-level sales and customer service-focused sales now.

Are you sitting at your desk wondering what to do with the rest of your life? Or maybe, you did that last week and now you are considering a sales role?  Well, we’ve got great news for you!

Our friends at Vector Marketing are going to help answer that question and share the top three ways being a seller will change your life.

What do you gain from working in sales early in your career? Get your notebook ready, because here are the top three ways having a sales job will change your life.

1. You’ll Learn How to Make Money Efficiently

What does this mean?  In short, having a sales job gives you perspective and understanding on how to make money (and lots of it!).!  You’ll learn that you won’t have to put in tons of hours just to get paid. Instead, a sales job, you can land that one (or two or three) big deal and enjoy the commission.

2. You’ll Gain Confidence to Speak Your Mind

As a sales person, you’ll be required to speak your mind to a ton of different types of people. And you’ll have to really speak up, so everyone listens and hears what you’re saying!  But not to worry, because at Vector Marketing,  you’ll be trained to excel at this by receiving personalized training. Once you’re comfortable, you can use these skills in all sorts of situations (like communicating with your boss or parents!).

3. You’ll Become a Master of Conflict Resolution

So it’s Wednesday night and you and your roommate are trying to decide what show to watch. An Average Joe may say something like this “Why the heck do we always have to watch your dumb shows during Netflix and chill?!”

But a successful salesperson will say this instead: “I feel like my opinion doesn’t matter and that frustrates me; can we decide on a show we’d both like?”

As a seller, you’ll learn personal responsibility.  You’ll learn how to fight the problem instead of fighting the person you’re supposed to love.  And then, dun dun dun, you learn how to resolve conflict well and now you’ll be a better roommate, friend and person!

Are you getting what we’re saying here? That’s right, think about how much personal and professional value you’ll obtain from a sales job! Plus, if you’re interested, Vector is currently filling entry-level sales and customer service-focused sales roles right now.

The post 3 Amazing Ways a Sales Role Can Change Your Life appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This article is sponsored by Rover. See if you qualify to become a Rover pet sitter or dog walker here.

Finding a steady job in college that allows you to create your own schedule and have a lot of fun can be hard to come by. Does such a gig even exist? Spoiler alert: It does.

Dog lovers, rejoice: You can become a dog sitter with Rover this fall, and you can set your own hours, make serious cash, and most importantly, play with adorable dogs all day long.

What are the other life-changing parts of working as a dog sitter? Five rockstar Rover sitters weigh in.

1. You Meet So Many Different Types of Dogs

“The best part of being a dog sitter for Rover.com is the amount of love and laughs I receive from my dog buddies! I love how each dog is different, yet each trusts me, loves me, and becomes my buddy. I have enjoyed all sorts of personalities from the most chill of dogs to the quirkiest that simply crack me up!” – Sandra; Sacramento, California

Dogs, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, and no two pups are alike. One thing’s for sure: You’ll never get bored as a dog sitter.

2. You Make Your Own Schedule

“I can be flexible with my schedule and set my own rates; it feels like my very own business in many ways. Each day that I’m scheduled to watch a dog, I look forward to the perfect break in my day to spend time with them. Rover allows me to be the dog lover that I am while being rewarded for my time, in more ways than one.” – Melissa; Mountain View, California

You’re in control, including of your own calendar. And hey, dog sitting is an awesome break from the bustle of daily life!

3. You Interact With Fellow Dog Lovers

“As a Rover sitter, I get to meet tons of new pets, as well as their wonderful owners. I absolutely love getting to come home to each unique fur baby.” – Marianne; Baltimore, Maryland

It’s not just the dogs who are incredible—their owners are great, too! By becoming a dog sitter, you get to interact with so many people who care about dogs and their well-being just as much as you do. What could be better?

4. You Can Impact a Dog’s Life

“I find it very rewarding to see the transformation that many dogs make while staying with me. Some dogs come to me very anxious, stressed, or nervous but are able to decompress, relax, and even make friends! I love sending them home as more confident dogs that feel good about themselves and look forward to coming back!” – Samantha; Birmingham, Alabama

While hanging out with dogs can be amazing for your own physical and mental health, spending time with a loving sitter can make all the difference in a dog’s life, too.

5. You Gain a Companion

“Ever since I officially started living on my own, I realized that I’ve missed having that special companion to spend time with. I discovered Rover and now I get to spend time with a variety of different breeds. I especially like Rover because I am getting paid to spend time with dogs (a dream come true)!” – Nicole; Ann Arbor, Michigan

Not able to have a dog of your own? That doesn’t mean you can’t get in on all the puppy love.

If you want to get in on the action, there’s great news: Rover is looking for dog lovers (like you!) to become sitters and dog walkers. See if you qualify on WayUp here.

The post What’s It Like to Be a Dog Sitter? 5 Rover Sitters Break Down the Coolest Parts appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Deciding where to start your career is intimidating. Which industries offers the best professional development and mentorship? Where can you gain valuable work experience? How can you learn as much as possible every single day?

If you need help, applying for a business analyst position in consulting may be your answer. Below are five reasons why consulting is a great place to start your career, no matter where it takes you.

(And if you’re intrigued, here’s a bonus: McKinsey, one of the most highly regarded consulting firms in the world, is hiring entry-level business analysts in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, and Cleveland on WayUp right now.)

1. You Get Exposure to Different Industries and Functions

By taking a job in consulting, you get a crash course in how a company or industry works in a short amount of time. Consulting firms like McKinsey have many industry experts who work internally on their projects. You’re able to learn from the best of the best in any field.  From day one, you are able to gain valuable mentorship from professionals you admire most.

And because business analysts work in a variety of industries on diverse projects, there are numerous opportunities to get exposure to how different teams and companies work.

2. You Work with Clients to Solve Tough Problems

As a consultant, you and your team will take on many roles to solve a client’s toughest issues. You will work with clients and your teams to collectively use your problem solving ability, expertise, and capabilities to create change and drive lasting impact.

You may be a trusted advisor to top management one week and the next be a hands-on coach to front line employees. Either way, you will be solving tough problems that will challenge you and help shape your future experiences.

3. You Develop Valuable Transferable Skills

Not sure which industry you want to go into after graduation just yet? One of the best parts about working in consulting is that you gain transferable skills that you can take to any job in the future, making you a valuable job applicant and employee across the board.

What are some of the important skills business analysts pick up in the world of consulting? Here are three critical ones:

• Problem Solving: Consulting is all about finding the best solution to a client’s problem. You will be pushed to think outside the box, build hypotheses, and determine the right answer for a given situation.
• Communication: As a consultant communication is key. You will learn how to work and develop solutions with many different clients, front line and c-suite positions included.
• Project Management: As soon as you start, you are given responsibility to own and drive pieces of the solution with your consultant team and your clients.

4. You Get to Travel

If you don’t like staying in one place for too long, starting off in consulting gives you the opportunity to travel around the world visiting clients and figuring out their needs. Consultants typically travel Monday through Thursday so you’ll have the opportunity to learn about different cities and feel like a local without committing. You’ll also be able to rack up those highly coveted hotel and airline points!

5. You Work in a Team-Oriented Environment

As a consultant, you’ll work with a number of other people to find the best solution for the problem you are trying to solve, so there’s a unique opportunity to gain formal and informal mentorship and guidance. The relationships you forge during your first years are critical. They’re ones that you’ll lean on for years to come.

In addition to learning how to work on a team within a consulting firm, you’ll also learn what it means to work on a team with clients, another important skill that’ll serve you well no matter what field you go into.

Regardless of what you want to do, consulting is a unique opportunity to obtain valuable skills, work with experts, travel, and gain mentors. Sound like a great option? Now is your chance to join the field: McKinsey is hiring entry-level business analysts in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, and Cleveland.

The post 5 Reasons Why Consulting Is the Best Industry to Start Your Career appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Imagine working for a company that offers you ample professional development opportunities, provides free food and exercise classes to keep you happy and healthy, and helps its employees travel to some of the most striking places on the planet. Good news: Such a company exists, and its name is TripAdvisor.

Below are 7 incredible perks that influential travel company TripAdvisor offers to its 3,000 employees across 45 worldwide locations, keeping team members excited, healthy, and challenged. (And if you want to get in on these benefits, you’re in luck, because TripAdvisor is hiring!)

1. Tuition Reimbursement

TripAdvisor supports its employees’ professional growth and development opportunities. The company offers free online learning and development courses, like language classes, and offers tuition reimbursement for up to $5,000 per year for approved programs.

2. Dog-Friendly Headquarters

Love dogs? So does the TripAdvisor team. You won’t have to leave your furry friend at home to come to the office.

3. Personal Travel Discounts

Given that TripAdvisor helps users with all things travel-related, it makes sense that its employees get to take full advantage of TripAdvisor’s personal travel discount. Unsurprisingly, team members have taken some very cool trips to explore the globe.

4. Summer Fridays

Break out the sunscreen: TripAdvisor offers Summer Friday options to employees, allowing them to take a little extra time off in July and August to enjoy the warm summer months.

5. Game Room

The game room, which features activities like a ping-pong and double-shot basketball, allows employees to get away from their desks and de-stress. Co-workers love the bonding experience, and rumor has it that mini ping-pong tournaments spring up from time to time.

6. Fitness Center With Free Classes

TripAdvisor HQ features a fitness center that offers free, on-demand, and live fitness classes in almost any type of exercise you love. Currently on the schedule are pilates, yoga, barre, zumba, spin, bootcamp, and meditation classes.

7. Free Lunch, Snacks and Drinks

The TripAdvisor team enjoys free lunches every day (recent spreads have included everything from sushi to Mexican food), and the office is flowing with coffee, tea, and snacks.

Like what you see? TripAdvisor is hiring full-time entry-level software engineers right now, and more listings will be on WayUp in the coming months. If you want to get in on the travel, exercise classes, and free lunch, you’ll have to act quickly.

Cover image courtesy of Office Snapshots.

The post 7 Perks of Working at TripAdvisor, One of the Most Influential Travel Companies appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Flashback to one year ago today. It was my senior year of college and, like most students in my class, there were only two things on my mind: graduate and get a job. At the time, I already had a job offer from a company I had been interning with since the beginning of my senior year. Was I crazy about the company? Eh. Was I passionate about the role? Not really. Did I accept the job? You betcha.

Why? A couple reasons. For starters, I didn’t know any better. I had interned with other companies previously and even had a few other job offers, but none of them were really aligned with what I wanted to do, but then again, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Over my morning cup of coffee, I’d be applying to banking jobs in Chandler, Arizona, and by that evening, I’d be researching teaching fellowships in Taiwan. I was all over the place without actually getting anywhere and eventually lowered the bar on my post-grad expectations because of it.

I accepted an offer from the startup I was interning for as a Content Writer and figured, with the decision finally done, I’d sit back and enjoy some of that “senioritis” everyone had been talking about. Only, it wasn’t nearly as refreshing as I had hoped.

As graduation got closer, the days at work got longer and my quality of work weakened. My boss had adopted this “get it done” mindset that was inspiring in the beginning, but began to wear over time as expectations increased and transparency decreased. I began to doubt whether I was providing any real value to the company and increasingly wondered if it would provide me with any real value for my career development. From there, things continued to trend downhill. I would show up to work every day, pour myself an extra large cup of coffee and get to work without once losing track of how much time was left before I could go home. I started to think, “This is what the rest of my life is going to look like.”

Fortunately, I had the power to change that, and as hard as it was to go back on my word to my current company, I knew I had to do what was best for me. With only about two weeks left till graduation, I started applying to jobs again. When I came across Medallia, I immediately applied and ended up hearing back from a recruiter the following morning. We set up a phone screen for the next day, and things continued to pick up from there.

About two months, half a dozen interviews and one onsite visit to Medallia’s HQ later, I had received and accepted an offer on Medallia’s campus recruiting team. I have since been working at Medallia full-time for eight months, but as anyone working here will tell you, that number is about double if you’re counting in Medallia years.

Think back to the last time you lost track of time while focusing on a task. I’m talking about heads-down, 100%, all-hands, “what year is it” type of focus. That’s sort of what everyday here feels like. I don’t call them Medallia years because it feels like I’ve been here forever, although in some ways it does. I call them Medallia years because everything here happens so fast.

From my very first day here in our onboarding program, I jumped right into a hands-on environment that questions, challenges and pushes me not just to be the best employee I can be, but to be an all-around better person, and it should be no surprise that with the latter also comes the former. I’m not just talking about the cliche “go around the room and tell us a fun fact” spiel. Medallia wants to know your biggest accomplishments and your biggest failures as well as what gets you out of bed every morning and what keeps you up at night. We want to know why you are you, and it doesn’t just stop there.

About two weeks into my new role here, I was already working directly with candidates. One month in, I was able to get my job done with minimal supervision, just in time for our pipeline of roughly 1,100 candidates to open up during campus recruitment season. Two months in, I was balancing all the day-to-day responsibilities of my job with exciting new side projects. One that comes to mind involved reducing Travel & Expense costs by coming up with a solution to improve the candidate experience for those in their final round that are unable to fly out to our headquarters (If you’re wondering the solution we came up with, you’re going to have to apply!).

Now here I am eight months in and fully owning my role. More importantly, I’ve learned the difference between “owning your system” and simply doing your job. No one here is going to force you to get involved on side projects that pop up–but you can. More importantly, no one here is going to tell you to challenge and improve the systems your organization has in place–but you can. Even more, you’ll be provided with the resources and support to do it.

The company is growing quickly and constantly improving, but at the core of all that change, our culture still remains resilient. We aren’t perfect and we don’t pretend to be, which is why this was the ideal place for a recent grad such as myself to embrace my mistakes, learn from them and continue to grow–just like Medallia is doing each and every day.

Looking back, I see how foolish I was, after 16 years of hard work in school, to settle for the first opportunity to come my way that “didn’t seem too bad”. To any soon-to-be-college graduates out there–keep looking. You’ll find that job you gave up on thinking existed. Maybe for you it is that banking job in Chandler, Arizona, teaching english in Taiwan or maybe it’s Medallia. Whatever it is, make sure you’re happy; make sure you’re doing more than just what’s in your job description, and make sure you didn’t settle.

The post What I’ve Learned 8 Months Into My First Full-Time Job in Tech appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Liz worked at Google for two years as an Associate Product Marketing Manager (APMM), then got promoted to Product Marketing Manager (PMM). Her first year was on the Google Search App, then the Brand and Partnerships team in Mountain View, and her second year was leading Brand in India. 

Sometimes, Googlers like to make fun of themselves for how picky they are about the already incredible food options available, at least at Headquarters (I can’t speak for all offices throughout the country)… If you’ve ever heard of the hashtag #firstworldproblems, then you know what I mean. I’ve heard Googlers complain about everything from a specific type of apple not being offered, to not enough assortments of sushi being offered at the Japanese restaurant. Keep in mind, all food at Google is free… so it’s a bit crazy to think about people forgetting to be grateful, and instead complaining about diversity of sushi.

On a more serious note: I also heard people (especially in Marketing) complain about there being too many levels of approvals to get something shipped and out the door. When your company has an audience of billions of people, it makes sense that Senior Management would want to get many eyeballs reviewing content to ensure it’s great, but it also can lead to delays in launches, and “too many cooks” cooking in the kitchen.

The post What Do Google Employees Typically Complain About? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

What skills are necessary to be an APMM at Google?

A required skill set totally depends on which team you’re on as an Associate Product Marketing Manager. For example, the folks on the B2B Marketing teams (such as AdWords) were often required to be pretty good with numbers and analytical thinking. The people on the Consumer Marketing side (like me) were required to be out-of-the-box, creative thinkers. There’s also the internal operations team on Marketing, whose APMMs are mainly made up of former consultants and bankers.

No matter what team you’re on, skills that are necessary for all APMMs are: knowledge about Google, scrappiness, ability to think out of the box, and (not sure if this is a skill) curiosity. Finally, every single APMM must absolutely love Google, since our job is often to try and get others to love Google.

Source: Liz worked at Google for two years as an Associate Product Marketing Manager (APMM), then got promoted to Product Marketing Manager (PMM). Her first year was on the Google Search App, then the Brand and Partnerships team in Mountain View, and her second year was leading Brand in India. 

The post Job Skills You’ll Need at Google: APMM appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you’re interested in starting a business in college, you’re in great company: Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and our very own CEO, Liz Wessel developed business ideas during their undergraduate years. As encouraging as these success stories are, it’s challenging to forge your own path during college – especially if many of your friends are planning on entering into companies that have been well-established for years. Even so, as a college student, you have a lot of leverage and resources at your disposal – you just have to know what you need to do in order to succeed. Check out the tips below – they’ll help to lead you in the right direction as you embark on this new venture!

1. Be willing to give up your free time.

If you’re not in class, you’ll probably be working on your idea. Jesse Kaplan, now the founder and CEO of an NYC delivery service called Parcel (they’re hiring!), started a popular bakery and coffee shop in his Harvard dorm, Cabot Cafe. He spent about 10-15 hours a day working on the cafe during its launch (and after the cafe took off, about 20-30 hours a week).

Yeah, that’s a serious time commitment, and it’s no surprise that with a full academic schedule, extracurriculars and a campus job, giving up your free time won’t always be easy. However, if you’re passionate about growing your startup, then keeping yourself motivated won’t be as difficult as you think.

2. Don’t be secretive about your idea.

Anyone with a great idea (or anyone who has watched Silicon Valley) knows that there’s always the possibility that someone might steal your idea. However, as counterintuitive as it may seem, it’s better not to keep your idea under wraps, but instead to ask for feedback and support – not only from the people you trust, but from professionals who can give you the guidance you need to implement your idea.  

“Cold email a ton and lead with ‘I’m a student,’” our CEO, Liz Wessel says. “Get really good at writing [and] sending great emails.” Liz’s mantra is that everyone wants to help college students, and she would know: She started UniEats, a company that sells restaurant discount cards to college students, during her sophomore year at Penn before working on Campus Job.

Think about all the speakers–from celebrities to dignitaries–who come to your school and share their insights, and you’ll realize that people LOVE giving advice to college students. It’s crucial to you and your business’ development to learn from new people in order to gain invaluable advice and direction, so be bold and email someone asking for their expertise; no one is going to be offended by your request, and the worst that can happen is that the person will say no.

3. Be adaptive.

As innovative as your idea may be, your product or service may go in a completely unexpected direction. Venmo’s original prototype conducted money exchanges through text messages and is now a mobile app. Not to mention that even after your idea takes off, you’ll have to adapt to feedback from future customers and investors.

This doesn’t mean saying “yes” to every piece of feedback you receive along the way. You’ll just need to be thoughtful about responses and reactions to your idea, and do your research–whether that means Googling potential competitors and seeing if they are implementing something similar, or polling friends and innocent pedestrians (we literally did this just last week).

4. Be willing to work hard without recognition.

“If you start a business, no one’s going to know about you for a long time,” says Jeff Carelton, founder of Carelton Energy Consultants and Heatwatch, two companies which help to reduce energy usage for building owners.          

Not getting immediate gratification is frustrating – not only because we live in the instant age of “I want this now,” but also because in college, immediate rewards are everywhere: from winning a game to getting an A on your midterm. However, Jeff says that you “have to be happy with what you’re doing” — your entrepreneurial passion is what will ultimately keep you going.

Ready to start your own business? We hope the answer is yes – and we DEFINITELY hope you’ll use WayUp for all your new hires :D.

The post Starting a Business in College: 4 Things To Know appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Initially released in 2009, Venmo is now the go-to social mobile payment app to pay anyone back instantly. With mobile payments expected to reach $90 billion by 2017, Venmo’s product has to continue growing and adapting.

That’s where Venmo’s Product Manager, Matt Hamilton, comes in. As Product Manager, his job involves figuring out what to build next, understanding how to prioritize new web and app features, and knowing how to build those features in a way that’s both usable and valuable. In addition to knowing how to build an impressive product, Matt also knows how to build a reputation as an impressive intern. When the Campus Job team asked him what made an intern stand out more than any other, he replied, “One of the fastest ways that you can be invaluable anywhere is to do the thing no one wants to do.” Back when he interned for Urging Career, an ad sales staffing and recruiting firm, he was able to automate one of the most manual invoicing the company had, learning V8 script over the summer and becoming close friends with his boss as a result.

So where others see challenges, you should see opportunities–and seize them. Think about the issues your company is currently facing. Is there a manual database that needs to be automated or organized? Is there some kind of procedure that hasn’t been clearly documented– like onboarding new clients or new hires– that could be more efficient and replicable if it were recorded? Ask your boss about the nice-to-haves on his or her priority list and then try to tackle one of those in addition to your required tasks. Your initiative will not only make the company function more productively but will also strengthen your career skills and impress your supervisors. Not to mention that it won’t look too shabby on your resume!

The post Venmo’s Product Manager Reveals the Secret to Being a Standout Intern appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

In this article posted on Viget’s blog, author Anna Lewis breaks down the casual culture that surrounds tech companies. From dress code to work environment, she explains why tech companies are known for creating the laid back feel that attracts so many young professionals.

The post Understanding the Casual Workplace in the Tech Industry appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Groupon is a multi-billion dollar company that connects businesses with customers on a local level. It offers discounted prices for great products and services, which makes it a leader in e-commerce. Groupon offers internships and jobs around the United States, with it’s headquarters in Chicago and a rapidly growing office in Palo Alto.

Phil Ramsbottom began interning with Groupon soon after his graduation from Beloit College and now works as a City Planning Analyst. He manages the daily deals pipeline for 13 small regional markets across the Midwest and Southeast. Below are Phil’s answers to readers’ questions regarding internships, careers at Groupon and much more.

Phil Ramsbottom: Hey everyone! I’ll be here for the next hour or so to answer any questions you have. Feel free to follow up on any of my answers with new questions as well!

Radha Jhatakia: Working at Groupon sounds fun. What do the responsibilities of a City Planning Analyst entail? Also, what kind of internship did you have that led to this position?

Phil Ramsbottom: Both on or off the clock, I’d say that Groupon really is a fun place to work, and not just in the ‘oh, this office has a tiki bar’ sense (which it does), but also in that you have room to be creative in your work while also collaborating with a young and talented group of colleagues. As for my specific role, City Planning Analysts are usually framed as the last vetters in the deal approval process. They work with both inside and outside sales reps and managers to optimize all aspects of an individual deal’s structure – the price point, the discount, the margin, the number of options on the deal, the number of units available – in an effort to make it a compelling offer for Groupon, Groupon users and Groupon merchants. Most “CPs” manage the deal pipeline for a few larger markets or 10+ smaller markets (I’m of the latter breed) and are usually approving/rejecting 20+ deals per day while also being mindful of market schedules moving forward.

Angelica: Turning your internship into a job is a great achievement!I’m wondering what your schedule looks like as a City Planning Analyst? I also recently finished college and am easing into the working world. What is your work load usually like and how has it changed since you were an intern?

Phil Ramsbottom: Hey Angelica! My schedule as a City Planner includes both set daily checks and more fluid blocks of time to work on projects unspecific to the actual CP role. Each day I look at a report that shows impending deals and cross check that against the Groupon website to ensure that any deal that’s planned to run is actually going to be sent to subscribers. Most of my time, however, consists of working with reps to structure deals; I’m approving or rejecting contracts when they come to me and fleshing out the details of each contract prior to the actual approval – deal ‘pre-qualification’ – in an effort to optimize it based on the service offering, the merchant and the market.To keep this from turning into an even longer essay response, I’ll talk about my thoughts on making the most of an internship in the answer to Amanda’s question!

I’d say 80 to 90 percent of my typical day is allocated to staying up-to-date on deal performance in my markets, running reports that help to identify what works and what doesn’t, and then actually interfacing with people from all the departments that have a hand in each contract (from initial merchant contact to the deal being live on the site). Outside of regulating the deal pipeline, I’ve been reaching out to others about helping with smaller, one-off projects that can be as broad in scope as highlighting all food and drink merchants that haven’t been contacted in the last 30 days, or as specific as constructing an Excel function to find a specific text string in a SalesForce field. The main difference between now and when I started is that it takes me way less time to turn around contracts now; for the first few weeks it was taking me 10 to 15 minutes to evaluate a deal structure and respond with recommendations but now I’d say that time has been cut to around three to five minutes. So… yay for that!

Amanda Salcido: When you were interning, what are things you think you did that made you stand out from the other interns?

Phil Ramsbottom: Hi Amanda, great question! In all honesty, getting in front of the right people at the right time can be a game of chance, but just like everyone else who’s lent professional advice to you has probably said, a proactive spirit is invaluable.

If there are aspects of the business that play a part in your day-to-day life but that you don’t have a direct hand in, reach out to someone on that team and ask them to walk you through what they do. When people ask if you can help with something, say yes, and when you’re done ask if you can help with something else or if there are latent projects that people haven’t worked on in a while.

If there are regular reports or materials that circulate daily or weekly, try to construct something similar, add pertinent metrics or written summaries, and show it to someone to get feedback. I’ve sent emails to others that are literally summaries of my thoughts on the business. I’m in no position to change many of the high-level problems that I see and think I have an effective solution for, but it shows that I care about those things.

Most importantly though, never stop asking questions — never. It’s really a simple formula: if you’re always extending yourself while simultaneously showing passion for the business you can’t help but stay busy and stay on the mind of people that make the important decisions at your company. Also, be courteous, be polite and be prompt!

I’m going to take a high-level approach to answering this. I can’t stress enough the importance of being intellectually curious in any position – internship or full-time. This is definitely something that’s more inherent in some, but it’s by no means “hard” to show legitimate interest in both your work and the work that others are doing. This may seem like common sense, but even after only being in the workforce for about five months, I’ve played witness to so many people who just coast by each day. Don’t get me wrong, taking your foot off the accelerator every once in a while (multiple times per day even) is just as integral as forcing yourself to learn new things at every turn and to inquire into aspects of the business that are foreign to you, but there’s really no point in getting into a routine that handcuffs you from adding more value.

Bert Connelly: Thanks for taking the time out of your day to answer some of our questions. What were you looking for in an internship? Did you take the internship that you thought would give you the best chances at a full-time job? Did the company’s mission factor into the decision, or were you most interested in the skills you would gain through the experience? Did name recognition play into the process? Thanks again.

Phil Ramsbottom: Hey Bert, thanks so much for your question! I definitely weighed the probability of a full-time offer, but I think that that mindset can be crippling. Regardless of the position you enter into – full-time or not – you should be applying yourself, challenging yourself, looking for ways to grow professionally, identifying pain points in the company and proposing steps to innovate. I guess just allowing your work to speak for itself, seeing as in the grand scheme of things that’s the only variable you can really control.

Groupon’s mission and the skills that I believed I would gain were on the list for reasons to apply in the first place, so those really didn’t weigh in the actual decision – ultimately it was one of the only offers on the table and it hit all the marks in terms of traits that I was looking for in a company.

Like many people looking for a job after graduation, I wasn’t incredibly picky in my search for potential positions. What I tried to focus on were companies that would afford me with the opportunity to 1) work alongside bright people, 2) feel connected to the product and the users of that product, 3) develop new skills while also refining those that I already had, and 4) work at the intersection of tech and business,

The post Ask an Expert: Learn what it takes to work at Groupon from a City Planning Analyst appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

We always learn how to crush it at our careers during WayUp Office Hours. Last week, we spoke with some of the most successful tech & start-up professionals: Marc Cenedela, Serial Entrepreneur, Matt Hamilton, Product Manager at Venmo, Hussain Ismail, Group Director at VaynerMedia, Adam Feldman, Senior Product Manager at Twitter, Peter Boyce II, Investor at General Catalyst Partners, and Raymond Braun, Social Marketing Manager at YouTube. Read on for some of their advice and insights.

To be a standout intern, you can’t just fulfill your required tasks.

All of our panelists agreed that having hustle–the ability to go above and beyond to get things done–is absolutely key to being an impressive intern. Hussain pointed out that hustle is born from passion, saying that the best people he has worked with “are people who show genuine interest in the work they’re doing.” As a summer intern, Matt, who worked AngelSoft (now Gust.com) during college, automated the most manual invoicing process the company had. “One of the fastest ways you can be invaluable anywhere is to do the thing no one wants to do,” he advised.

Adam, who interned at Forbes.com during his freshman year of college, knew that completing the bare minimum requirements wasn’t enough, thinking, “What is the absolutely most ridiculous, impressive thing I can do in my job? Who would be by far the most interesting person to talk to?” His hustler mentality led him to cold call the office of Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the U.N., who wrote a featured piece for the magazine – which leads us to our next pearl of wisdom…

Don’t be afraid to contact the people that inspire you.

Raymond, who has launched a YouTube campaign to support LGBT youth (check out his channel here!), advocated cold emailing professionals for career advice. “Do your homework. Talk about that specific person and why you want to learn from them. No one will be offended by that,” he said. The worst that can happen when you send the email is that you won’t get a response.

Marc, founder of the renowned online job-matching service, TheLadders, stated that when it comes to your career, “there’s no rule that says you can’t call up really famous people. All those rules exist in your head, and one of the most fun things in your career is figuring out how many of them aren’t true.”

College is about opening doors – the real world is about closing them.  

“Leverage the fact that you have the ability to dream and imagine in a way that’s unbounded,” Boyce, who co-founded RoughDraft Ventures, a company that encourages innovation on college campus, said. Our panelists encouraged students to take classes outside of their expertise in order to stretch their minds–after all, after you graduate, it’s all about figuring out what you don’t want to do, or what isn’t right for you.

At the end of the panel, we brought Shark Tank to Office Hours: three innovative interns pitched their startup ideas to our six panelists, who evaluated and voted for the best pitch. The winner was Priyanka Sekhar, a computer science major at Stanford whose idea “Xfil” reinforces the security of your identity–especially when companies ask for your social security number. That wasn’t all: there were a few eager venture capitalists in the audience listening to her pitch, ready to help her develop her entrepreneurial career.

Moral to the story? You need to come to WayUp Office Hours.

The post WayUp Office Hours: Tech & Startups appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

The post Ask an Expert: How Do I become a Technical Project Manager? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Have you ever wished you could figure out peoples’ emotions?

Microsoft apparently has, and they’ve recently received a patent for goggles that would be able to detect the emotions of others, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the patent, the goggles would be able to recognize the emotional states of others by comparing that information with a database of gestures, expressions, and speech. The information would then be provided to the wearer of the goggles in real time.

At the time, it’s unclear whether or not Microsoft will go through with developing this product.

The post Microsoft Seeks to Capture and Read Emotions appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Let’s make one thing clear: entrepreneurs do, in fact, exist outside of startups.

You don’t have to run your own app company or reinvent the wheel to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Truth be told, companies and employees everywhere can benefit from innovation and entrepreneurship. Bringing an innovative energy into any job anywhere can help you to stand out and make an impact.

1. Seek Solutions

Just because something isn’t technically wrong, doesn’t mean it’s working well. Finding solutions in the workplace or in processes can aid everyone in the business. While your solution may not be implemented, the attention to detail and problem-solving mentality won’t go unnoticed.

2. Be a Jack-of-all-Trades

Dig in and get your hands dirty in a variety of roles. Being able to not only do, but understand various parts of the business will give you a greater sense of how things work as a whole.

3. Communicate Effectively and Often

Communication isn’t just about talking. Arguably, the most important part of any conversation is the listening. Take away the distractions, listen, take notes, and give thoughtful feedback. Being present in the discussion can reduce miscommunications and increase the flow of valuable ideas.

4. Make the Most of Your Time (and Everyone Else’s)

Some may say time is money, but it’s truly much more valuable than that. First, you ought to be able to manage your own time. Being able to delegate tasks, assign urgency, and schedule out your day can keep everything running smoothly.

Possibly more important though is how you approach other peoples’ time. Go into meetings prepared, be on time, and get right down to what needs to be discussed. Coworkers and superiors are valuable resources, but their time must be respected, so make the most out of the interactions you have.

5. Try… And Fail

Success will not come with everything you try. If it does, give me a call and teach me your ways. But for us mere mortals, we have to try, try, and try some more to find victory. Being able to handle shortcomings can build up strength and courage to tackle bigger and scarier tasks. To be unafraid of failure can open up many doors and opportunities, but being able to learn from the times you fall down can be even more eye opening.

So, you may not be growing your own venture, but by making your day-to-day work innovative, thoughtful, and challenging of the norms, you can become an entrepreneur anywhere.

Tatum Hartwig is a 4th year Communication Studies major with minors in Business Administration and Media & Screen Studies. Tatum brings experience and knowledge in the world of marketing and public relations from her two co-ops at Wayfair and New Balance. Her passion revolves around growing businesses via social media, brand development, and innovation. You can connect with Tatum on Twitter @tatumrosy and LinkedIn.

The post Be an Entrepreneur Wherever You Go appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Dan Lindholm was a Product Specialist at Facebook when we interviewed him in 2013. He has since moved on to work at Instagram (owned by Facebook). He founded a startup in middle school and has been working in tech ever since. We’re excited to share Dan’s insight with you today:

Radha: Hi Dan – Great accomplishment! What motivated you to found a start-up when you were only in Junior High? Also, what advice do you have for someone who would like to develop their own business venture one day? Thanks!

Dan: Ya know, the story I’ve always told myself and others in recent years is that I was looking for means to make money in order to afford college. I’ve questioned that story more recently as I was only in 7th grade when I started working on a bunch of projects to make money. 7th graders are often not thinking that far ahead. I think I actually found some highly profitable means for making money, loved how well I was doing at it, and continued iterating on it. It’s fairly funny how I got started. I can explain that later but let me get to some other questions.

Angelica Valentine: Hi Dan, there are so many tech companies that are doing really innovative things. How did you choose to work at Facebook? What did you see in Facebook that you didn’t see anywhere else?

Dan: Sounds cliche, but the people are ultimately what sold me on Facebook. Particularly the people on my current team (Product Operations). I have never had a more enjoyable interview experience than I did with Facebook. To be honest, I was not overly excited when I went into interviewing at Facebook (if you can’t show genuine enthusiasm when interviewing, it can easily kill you). I had also come from a startup and felt such companies were much more nimble than something like an eight-year-old company with thousands of employees. I wanted to be part of a fast-paced environment like that, influence change on a daily basis. I found this is still very possible here. Facebook moves very quickly relative to other companies of its size. Also, no startup comes close to touching a billion users. At Facebook, I’m part of daily changes that we’re pushing out to a diverse group of over a billion users across the world. Pretty special and huge opportunity for impact across the world.

In summary, the biggest draws for me at Facebook are (1) the extraordinarily brilliant and talented people I work around. The pace I’m learning things at because of the people I’m around is astounding. I find everyone to be down to earth and just genuinely good people. I count a lot of my coworkers as my best friends. And then (2) the ability to positively impact a billion users. I can’t think of another place where you have such an opportunity.

Andre Tacuyan: Hey Dan, what would be the ideal candidate Facebook is looking for in interns and how can a student stand out above the crowd?

Dan: It’s tough for me to answer this questions specifically with regards to interns since most of our interns are programmers, and I’m pretty far removed from that recruiting and interviewing process. What’s your background? My general advice would be to show your enthusiasm and passion for the company and our mission. Key to any interview. Understand the competitive landscape. Prepare for the interview. If you’re a coder, obviously expect to be asked to solve programming problems. If Facebook visits your campus, get to know the recruiters or reps there. Being able to connect a face to your name, knowing you on a personal level, no matter how limited, can help take you further in any interview process or just help get your foot in the door.

Sonya Sharififard: What does a typical day on the job consist of?

Dan: Haha! I’m very happy to say there is no such thing as a typical day. My job is to represent the voice of the user. This is manifested across diverse projects and working in partnership with a number of teams (eng, research, operations, marketing) – love how cross-functional our role is here. We’re constantly taking on new projects. My role is also closely tied to our product launch processes so one day I might be preparing pipelines for gathering data on quality and sentiment prior to a launch, the next day I’m monitoring that feedback, and then days later I’m working with design, product management and eng on improving the product based on user signal.

Radha Jhatakia: Hi Dan, what motivated you to found a start-up when you were only in Junior High? Also, what advice do you have for someone who would like to develop their own business venture one day?

Dan: Initiative and drive are biggest IMO. Don’t waste time thinking about ideas, spinning your wheels, saying tomorrow you’ll get to building your venture. Just do it. There’s no better time than now.

The post Ask an Expert: What’s it like to work at Facebook? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

After graduating from Cornell with a degree in Industrial Labor Relations (Organizational Behavior/Management) & International Relations, Isabel E. became a Product Development Analyst for CEB, an insight and technology company. Here’s what she had to say with two years under her belt. 

Why did you choose this job? To relocate to D.C., a new city for me, after graduating. To learn about innovative management practices in the most successful global companies.

What is an average day like in your role? A big mix: Interviewing companies to identify creative, innovative, successful practices in business management techniques, managing data collections through company submissions for our benchmark studies, training account managers on how to advise members on their management challenges, brainstorming new product developments to best support clients, authoring newsletters to publicize client networking events, and more.

What’s the most challenging part of your job? Perfecting communications: For example, when working with so many individuals across the company in different functions and on distinct teams, identifying who is best to pull into which conversations and meetings, how to most effectively train sales teams, and a big mix of other kinds of scenarios.

What’s your favorite part of the job? Working with many different, interesting, and smart people who are very supportive and encouraging of fellow employees – I’m constantly provided with opportunities to develop skills, expand my responsibilities, and be ready for a colorful career!

What’s a common misconception about your job? That the title “Analyst” is one dimensional, it’s definitely not.

Any tips for current college students who aspire to have your job? Get involved in managing your own research projects while on campus – a great way to do this is through a well-designed independent study or senior thesis project.

If you had a time machine and could travel back to visit yourself in college, what’s the #1 piece of advice you would have given yourself? It’s okay to question/change your major, try out new classes, switch around who you hang out with – be open minded from the start, and take advantage of meeting all the different kinds of people and activities sitting in front of you.

What is a fun perk of your job? More than half of the DC team decided to get matching Ikea standing desks in all different colors. Also, our 15 person team is composed of people from India, Sydney, and London, who we all work with many times a week. And we all tell each other where exactly in the world we’re going when we use our 28+ days off/year!

The post Product Development Analyst appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

I’ll admit that I am defiant of the social media craze. These thumbs don’t tweet or post or pin. I’ll Link In here and there, and every now and then I’ll leave a biased remark on the DC versus Marvel movie forums. It’s not that I hold myself captive to the Ron Swanson paranoia of big federal government monitoring and corporate data mining, but between communicating with my teams through email, phone, and text I don’t see what all the hoopla is with mood updates and stalking bathroom selfies.

However, among my five or so questions I ask my interviewees is if they connect and how often. Now, when I get a mature and seasoned candidate for service manager they usually reply with big bulgy eyes, “Huh?” They’re not used to it of course. Why should I expect them to vacuum Freon, pull pumps from a dishwasher, and be able to comment on Cousin Sue’s vacation in Cabo pictures? Soon afterwards I unfold why their ability to connect affects all positions from those with chairs and cushions to those with cracked and calloused hands.

Everything is online

We can’t escape the future. Everything is going digital and if you’d like proof, think about the last time you printed pictures from a disposable camera. Not only have we gone online, but now we’re mobile. At any moment we can connect and upload files, read Excel, and catch up on monthly reports, all from the comforts of the commode. I expect my service managers not only be to send me well-articulated email responses, but be able to adapt to any new method on the horizon. Tech is constantly evolving, which makes any employed role in this era revolutionary. Yesterday’s job market will be different tomorrow because the rate in which we expect positions to change. Soon even in our realm of service and maintenance (and all others), all tickets will be closed from the palm of their hand, which brings to mind the second reason why connecting is more and more a trade than a craft.

Connecting is Communicating

With all emoticons and acronyms aside, our online communications is significant to each and every role. If there’s something to harvest from our constant commenting, it is that trades like involving the ability to key sixty words per minute, a skill often taught in school or evening classes, is now self-acquired from use of social media. Probably one for the best responses I’ve gotten from an interviewee is that he responds to 800 emails a week and has over 200 connections on LinkedIn. That tells me he can craft a professional response and can network like a politician. Often I weigh this against a 50% technical ability in field as both are not overnight skills one suddenly wakes up with. Word of advice, get in the redundant good habit of spelling out every text so that you don’t have to rely on abbreviations to convey a message. The only message I’m getting is that you’re insecure with your spelling.

Of course, I’m not saying anything new or enlightening. By this point we’re all pretty confident with the ability to connect. However, I am reaffirming the notion that whether or not you’re clearing the property for litter or spearheading the next acquisition, each role is indebted to realm of the online frontier.

The post You Need Tech (Even if You Really Really Really Don’t Think So) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Two years ago, I decided to step away from the public service career I was pursuing and founded a tech startup. I studied international relations in hopes of one day working for the government as a diplomat. After my Master’s, I ended up working in the non-profit sector and what I learned is that the fruits of my labor were not evident, they took months, if not years, to achieve, and depended on a handful, if not a dozen, other people.

Despite years invested in my international relations education and huge student debt, my husband and I decided to quit our jobs and focus on building our very own startup company,  CareLuLu, to change the child care industry, starting with simplifying the way parents find daycare and preschool. This issue was meaningful to us because at that time we had just gone through the pain of finding a daycare for our own daughters. It was also an untapped and massive market. Together with Gabriel, our third co-founder, we wanted to create a one-stop shop that allowed parents to search, filter, and compare licensed child care programs. And that’s exactly what we did!

It’s been nearly two years since my  career change and here are some of the things I love about my job as an entrepreneur.

1. My life is never boring. No week is the same. I’m constantly putting out fires, solving problems, and exploring new directions for our company to take. I love being a doer.

2. I learn something new every day. I have no doubt that I learned more building CareLuLu than I would have learned pursuing an MBA. In the process, I probably spent about the same amount of money.

3. My work has an immediate social impact. I always wanted to do public service, but through CareLuLu I found what I deem to be a faster way to help others.

4. I get to handpick the people I work with and surround myself with those whose company I enjoy. I know it’s not for everyone, but I co-founded this company with my husband and best friend. I don’t think I could have found better co-founders!

5. I work to the bone, but have the flexibility a typical job would not allow. I regularly stay up ‘til 3 in the morning working but every now and then, I can take 3 hours off for lunch to go to Malibu for a bowl of chowder and mussels. Or I can go to my daughters’ preschool performance in the middle of the day without worrying about what my boss might say.

6. I get to innovate, experiment and think big. From day to day my head may be in small operational details, but everything I and my co-founders do is driven by the big vision.

7. I love working in a space I can personally relate to. When you become a parent, there’s nothing closer to one’s heart than kids. Working in the parenting space allows me to contribute and take something away not just professionally, but also personally as a mom.

8. I get to travel a lot and meet lots of fascinating people. Traveling was one of the reasons I wanted to become a diplomat. It isn’t obvious, but as an entrepreneur you also can travel quite a bit. In 2014, my family lived in 4 cities (Washington, DC; Durham, NC; and Los Angeles, CA; before finally settling in San Francisco). Last year, I also traveled to Tajikistan (of all places!) to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Week, Las Vegas for a startup pitch competition, and Nashville TN, among a number of other US cities to attend startup conferences.

9. I am part of an inspirational and supportive community. Tech entrepreneurs are a pretty small bunch that for the most part pay it forward and offer each other help.

10. I now have more career opportunities than ever before. The skills I developed and the connections I made as an entrepreneur are guaranteed to lead to a more diverse and brighter career path than I would have otherwise had.

Being an entrepreneur is a hard and often lonely job. It requires perseverance through many failures along the way. It is not glamorous, but it is rewarding. Look at your entrepreneurial venture as a great learning opportunity. I love my job as a startup founder and Chief Operations Officer, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The post 10 Things I Love About Being an Entrepreneur appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Last month I wrote a blog on Josh Dunn’s advice on becoming a successful entrepreneur. Josh is the president of Premier Media Group, and he started his business from the ground up to something that has flourished and grown in the South Puget Sound area and the Eastside of Seattle. This month I’m sharing Josh’s advice to interns and what he told me about why he mentors students.

I got the sense talking with Josh that he wants to give to others what was given to him. When Josh was creating his own career pathway, he sought out avenues to learn the essentials to help him be successful. He joined the Chamber of Commerce to learn about business, he worked in a restaurant to learn people skills, and worked at sales jobs to learn what he calls the “craft and art of communication.” Through these experiences, he learned what he wanted and what he didn’t want, and he gathered what he needed to work on his vision for his future. He closely observed his mentors and the people around him, and treated even the most seemingly menial jobs as golden opportunities to learn. Now he is in a position to provide those learning opportunities to others. Josh told me, “At the end of the day I live here, I am a part of this community, and I always keep in mind those who are in need and those who I can help get to the next level.” Josh is strongly involved in community give-back with various organizations, and his dedication to that work is one of the ways he examples his life ethic to the students who intern at Premier Media Group. They see him planting seeds for positive change, and he hopes to water the same seeds within them. Josh says, “Sometimes we can impact their lives in ways parents and teachers haven’t had the chance to. What if we water one of the seeds for an intern to make a real contribution that effects positive change for a lot of people? The community is the fabric of who we are, and my hope is to help students understand that they are an important part of how that fabric is woven together.”

Josh loves to challenge people to think differently. He seeks to open students’ minds and encourage them to look at things with a fresh perspective. The advice he kept repeating throughout our conversation was that interns should be bold – not shy. Communication starts with simply greeting people and talking with them. Show you are interested in them and what they do for the organization. Always ask for more opportunities. Don’t be a know-it-all, but do offer solutions to problems. The key here is to be able to demonstrate that the solution came from critical thinking – you thought about it carefully and looked at it from all sides before arriving at your suggested solution. Be willing to listen to constructive critique, and to be responsive in working with others on a refined solution.

Being bold and solving a problem is how you can separate yourself from the pack. These days, having a degree doesn’t set you part, so you need something more than that. Josh advice that students should be problem solvers, people who can find solutions, is certainly not unique to what he looks for in a intern. I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve read recently that say one of the top things employers are looking for are people who can solve problems. And you know what? I just returned from a national conference of educators who work in various experiential educational fields, and a running theme in the workshops was that internships are the current gateway to employment because they teach critical thinking and problem solving skills. Josh’s advice is right on target with what the employment market is seeking.

Josh says employers understand that you are not going to get it right every time. You are there to learn and grow. But be willing to take the risk to try to make a real contribution. If you are shy, or socially awkward, Josh encourages you to give people a shot and trust them to be supportive. He points out that you can’t train character and work ethic, and if you have those things you have great potential. Trust someone to help you achieve that potential.

I came away from my conversation with Josh inspired by the abundance of optimistic energy he exudes. He is more than upbeat; it shows in his face and way he carries himself that he loves life and he loves what he does. One of the nuggets Josh shared with me is to surround yourself with people you want to be like. I would add to that that you should find someone with an outlook like Josh’s who will be a natural encourager and mentor to help you get to where you want to be. Someone who can help you to discover and believe in your abilities, but at the same time can advise you with the hard-learned practical knowledge of how to achieve your goals.

The post Why I Mentor Students: An Entrepreneur’s Perspective appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When was the last time you went a day without using your smart phone, taking a SnapChat, or watching a Youtube video? Yeah, we couldn’t remember either. Technology is literally everywhere, and Gartner is at the epicenter of it all.

Gartner is the world’s leading IT research and advisory company, providing technology insights to 13,000 organizations spanning 85 countries. They’re winning all sorts of awards, including Glassdoor’s “Best Place to Work (Employees’ Choice)” award for the last two years running.

Did we mention they’re growing at double-digit rates? It’s true. And they want you to come work for them and help support their awesome customers. Open positions include Client Services Associates in Midvale, UT, and Associate Client Partners in Fort Myers, FL.

The best part? Gartner wants you to grow your career within the organization, which means they’ll invest a lot of resources into making you even more amazing than you already are in the areas of technology, research, and customer service. We’re talking serious growth opportunities for high-achievers who crush it.

Visit Gartner’s Campus Hub to apply!

Client Services Associate (Midvale, UT) – Work with clients to understand their current technology initiatives and align Gartner’s research with their needs, helping clients to fully leverage their Gartner relationship.

Associate Client Partner  (Fort Myers, FL) – Collaborate with account executives to maximize client satisfaction, retention and growth in a dynamic team environment.

 Photo Credit 

The post Join Gartner, The World’s Leading Tech Research Company! appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

#MySideProject profiles awesome side projects from the college community! 

Carlos Villalobos (@carlosvivaldi), globetrotter and student entrepreneur, goes above and beyond what Google’s internship application asked for to stand out from the crowd. How? He proposed a game changing initiative to promote Google Maps. Oh, and he posted it online for the whole world to see.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in El Salvador, went to a British high school that put a lot of emphasis on international experiences. I applied to Northeastern University  because of its leadership opportunities as well as their co-op program. I am currently pursuing a major in Finance & Entrepreneurship. Well, I started off as a marketing major, and did my first co-op, six month internship, at Adobe Systems in San Francisco, California. I discovered that marketing in a classroom environment wasn’t something that I was looking for, so I switched into Finance to gain more technical, hands-on skills. In general, I’m fascinated by technology and seek every chance I get to fiddle with the newest gadgets out there. My other interests include going out for coffee, brunch, running and photography.

What position at Google were you applying for? How did you stumble upon it?

During my second co-op program, people kept telling me that now was the time to start building my network and they were right. I wasn’t going to wait until graduation to put this networks to work, so I decided to start reaching out to people in the technology industry in the efforts of getting my second co-op. I cold called and e-mailed recruiters in the industry until one thing led to another. An opportunity came abroad – the Google BOLD internship program. I was rejected during the first round of applications but I wasn’t going to take no for answer — not for something I had worked so hard on. In about a week I put together the Google initiative project and sent it back to the recruiter who originally sent the rejection e-mail.

Can you describe MyGoogleInternship?

MyGoogleInternship is a fictitious project that I made out of self-initiative in order to strengthen my internship application at Google. I took on the role as an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google assigned to the Google Maps team after Apple insourced its own maps application for iOS. In this situation, I’ve been given a billboard space in New York City’s Times Square with a few objectives. Essentially my idea was to set up a panoramic display booth in Times Square that advertises Google Maps in an unconventional fashion to increase our user base, measure our growth and spark awareness to our product. I designed a modest proposal, dealt with the financials, and measured the return.

What inspired you to go above and beyond? And how long did this take?

I guess I just tend to do that, to be honest. At this point in time, with all the resources available, it’s easy to learn about anything you’d like to know. There’s no excuse not to. There is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t go the extra mile. It sets you apart from all the other candidates. It shows you care. This project took about a week to do; on top of classes, extracurriculars, and looking for other co-op opportunities. I’m also part of a case consulting management team and we build actual initiatives for different companies each week, so I kind of leveraged that expertise to get this done quickly. Getting everything straight, researching, and building the website took just a few days.

How did Google respond?

When I sent my initiative to my Google recruiter, I didn’t hear back from her for two weeks. All of a sudden I received a response from her saying that Google’s Hiring Manager loved my passion and wanted to interview me. Her exact words were: “I’m obsessed with his website”. Although this story doesn’t have the ending I would’ve expected, it was still a happy one. I interviewed with them late January and got turned down. However, I was still reaching out to other companies. I received an offer from a company in London that offers investment management consulting. It was too good of an opportunity to pass down.

What were other reactions that you received?

When the website went live on a Sunday, someone found it online and posted it on Hacker News. The next thing I know, I was getting numerous emails and the view count went up to 3,122 in one day. My personal website got a similar amount of views. I was like ‘what the hell just happened?’ Of course there was a lot of criticism, but also positive reactions and feedback. People said: “I used to process HR [at Google], reviewed thousands of approved applications, none of them have anything close to something like this.”I understood that when you put yourself out there, you should expect things to go either good or bad.

What advice do you have for students looking to apply to big corporations like Google or any companies in general?

Hey it’s not easy, but the adventure is worth the struggle. I would strongly recommend three things:

1. Networking is very important. The ability to reach out to people and introduce yourself on a cold email is absolutely ground breaking. Don’t be afraid of emails and don’t sell yourself short, aim high and do everything beyond your reach to get there. If you want something, go get it. Nothing is stopping you. Let them know that this is who you are, and this is why you want to work for them. There is an importance in taking risks and fighting for what you really want. Google’s product management is still my dream job and I went all in for it. I managed to get the attention of their Hiring Manager.

2. Next, always go the extra mile. It never hurts to go beyond and do something unexpected. Stop thinking outside the box but try to redesign the box. Write down your story and don’t be afraid of sharing it around. Look, I’ve come to realize we are the face of a new and upcoming generation; one that will take over key leadership positions, not only of this country but all throughout the world, and it is up to us to put ourselves forward and challenge our capabilities to new frontiers. We’ve got to set new and higher standards. We are writing the future. Life is now and today you are the youngest that you’ll ever be; you better be making the most of it. Do it because it is up to you, and if you don’t, then no one will.

3. Finally, never underestimate the power of a smile, of being relatable and personal, and showing that you care for something; this goes further than any skill or GPA. People want to know who you are, what you’re moved by; whether that’s red velvet cupcakes, salsa dancing or technology. Try to improve yourself every day and aim higher than ever before. You know, Google has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard University, and I won’t stop working towards this goal because there isn’t anything in the world that I want the most.

What are you working on now?

I’m actually starting my own company — Bökeh. We intend to change the mobile photography experience with a groundbreaking innovation. It’s crazy. Right now I’m meeting with potential investors and sending business plans around. We just joined an accelerator program — it’s pretty exciting right now. I would encourage anyone who is interested in starting their own venture to go out there shake the ground.

The post MySideProject: An Application to Google Like No Other appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Leo Thom – a graduate from University of California, Davis. Although he no longer works at Intel, he’d like to share his story and advice on getting hired.

Before my Intel internship, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to work at a large corporation during the academic school year. Interns are traditionally brought on during the summer months when universities are out of session, but many companies hire interns year-round. By paying attention to corporate job mailings, not accepting “no” for an answer and with a little luck, you can secure a position during the school year and beat the Summer application rush.

During my Intel internship I helped support the Cisco and Oracle supply-chain accounts. My daily tasks included communicating with my clients about their hardware needs, working with Intel stakeholders to drive demand and updating forecasts in Intel’s worldwide product database. Long story short, I helped get the customer what they needed, when they needed it.

I attribute my successful hire to two things:

• Starting Early
• Persistence

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Starting early isn’t just a good idea when studying for midterms, applying for financial aide or filing taxes – starting early can also greatly help internship job hunting. The decreased number of competing candidates, higher recruiter visibility and extended opportunities to network with employees early are a few benefits of hitting the “Apply” button ahead of traditional recruiting schedules. As long as the position is open, the role is ripe for the picking.

I’ll be the first to admit, I was a little paranoid about job prospects after graduation. Using this healthy dose of paranoia, I applied to many different tech companies (15+ jobs daily) the Summer after my junior year. My first contact with my future hiring manager occurred that October – a full two months before actually starting at Intel. Traditional full-time recruitment happens during the Winter months and I was asked to interview for a full-time position with Intel Operations.

After passing my first-round interview, I was informed by my recruiter that Intel was on a temporary hiring freeze due to floods in Thailand manufacturing plants. The floods affected many tech companies and it was an unfortunate reality that affected many other job candidates as well. I was told my candidacy would be frozen and that they would call me if the position was reallocated budget for.

Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

Although I was disappointed about stopping one possible job opportunity with Intel, I didn’t let this particular setback stop me from pursuing other opportunities at the company. I asked the same hiring manager if she would be willing to refer me for a supply chain intern position with another team at Intel. She responded by inviting me in for an interview for her team instead and I was happily on-boarded after a panel-interview with 3 other business managers.

It would’ve been easy to take the first rejection, curse the floods and rationalize that Intel just wasn’t the place for me. However in any difficult situation, including recruiting for job opportunities in a tough job market, rejection can be pivoted into positive situations. It is crucial to be “top of mind” when these opportunities open, and consistent communications keeps your candidacy relevant. The chance to network with hiring managers and reiterate your interest to them is reason enough to keep in touch, but as with my example, reaching out was able to turn a no into a yes.

To recap, starting your internship search early helps you beat out competition, get more recruiter contact and extends the opportunities to network with other employees. Persistence, when appropriately applied, can turn negative situations into positive ones.

The post Intel Intern Shares Advice On Getting Hired appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Are you interested in getting into the tech industry? Working in tech seems to be the current trend, but there is a reason for that. The tech industry is booming and offering more jobs to technical and non-technical majors alike. Startups are creating jobs and hiring interns which helps boost the economy. And it’s hard to ignore the amazing perks like  snack pantries, sleep pods, game rooms, and laundry service that tech companies offer.  Not sold yet? Check out the infographic below:

The post Tech is the Way to Go appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

InternMatch is excited to partner with General Assembly, one of the leading online learning platforms in the country, to help send a student and a friend on the trip of a lifetime.

If you win this contest you will get an all expenses paid trip to Silicon Valley, a personal tour of four of the fastest growing tech companies in the world Google, Facebook, Twitter, and AirBnB and the opportunity to meet the hiring managers at each of these companies. Not only is this a really cool way to build your network and prepare to break into a career in tech, but these offices are legitimately some of the most unique in the world (checkout AirBnB’s office in this TC Cribs episode!).

On top of the free trip,  housing, and more, you will get three hours of one-on-one career mentoring from InternMatch and General Assembly on how to land a jobs as well as coffee meetings with a handful of VC partners, company founders, and other Silicon Valley VIPs.  All said entering this campaign is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to get to know the whose who of Silicon Valley.

For those who don’t win you won’t be left empty handed.  Everyone who enters gets free access to General Assembly’s “How to Get a Job at a Startup” online course and will be badged on InternMatch with a startup badge to better standout to tech employers!

So don’t delay—take 30 seconds to enter the competition here.

The competition ends December 20^th—enter it now!

The post Win a free trip to Silicon Valley, Visit the Offices of Facebook, Google, AirBnB and more! appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Will: Welcome! I’m Will Barbour and I’m a Marketing Intern here in San Francisco. We have a very special guest with us today all the way from Nairobi, Kenya thousands of miles away is Sam Kiiru. He’s a Computer Science student at Princeton University and he is interning with a company called Africa’s Talking. So, Sam please tell us a little bit about Africa’s Talking.

Sam: Africa’s Talking is what you would call in Kenya a premium rate service provider. What we do is we interface with mobile service providers in the country and sell what we call premium services, which are essentially bug, sms and variations of that, services like ussb and other services like calling and many other services that involve playing around with any of those three.

Will: Why did you decide to intern there?

Sam: Last year I worked with IBM’s Global Business services. I was working at the Nairobi office that just opened and one of the things I realized is that there was a huge gap between the local development community for platforms to build on. We found that Kenyan developers had really great challenges in terms of infrastructure to build on.

Africa’s Talking has this really interesting concept that the infrastructure of the future, of web development and software development in Africa, is on the mobile phone. I was really interested in following up with my work from last year to this year, and I was also seeking the start-up experience, which I’ve got a lot of.

Will: What have you gained from your experience this summer?

Sam: I’ve learned that you work a lot in startups. I think it’s underrated how much work you have to do at a startup: working from 7 to 11 and not sleeping because you’re afraid something is going to break. That’s really awesome. Second, it’s really nice to see how leadership works in these really close settings. Being in a flat environment is also really nice.

I’ve also learned how when you’re a small company, bigger companies can really let you down. Processes that work on their side can kill you on your side and you need to deliver to your clients. I’ve learned the value of personalized client experiences. Clients are more willing to let something slip by if you’re small and you tell them what’s up every minute. And I’ve met really interesting people. This is just not the most conventional environment to be in.

Will: How has your internship impacted you and the way you look at your future?

Sam: I think my internship has changed the way I view my future in several ways in my life. The first is my relation to business. I think I’ll move more into business than academia. I think there are more real problems to solve there.

Also it’s influenced the choices I’ll make in my academic life. I think I will study Computer Science to enable people in the developing world to develop better software. And this doesn’t mean developing software for the developing world. It means focusing on layers in computer science that really can be leveraged by everyone, like cloud computing and networking. And I also think I’ll change where I settle. I want to settle somewhere with a large population or help my country get a larger population because from my business experience I’ve seen that a small company has a small market, which is a huge problem when you’re trying to build something important.

***This is an installment from the series, Mastering Summer Internships. These articles will show how to make the most of your summer internship experience and be a rockstar intern in your company. 

The post Africa’s Talking: Interview with Sam Kiiru appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Most of us have heard about the Thiel Fellowship: an innovative program created by brilliant investor Peter Thiel, set on empowering top students to push technological innovation.

However, what most of us remember about the Fellowship is that it involves exceptionally brilliant students dropping out of universities like Harvard and MIT in order to pursue more entrepreneurial ideas.

We could simply gape at the incredible qualifications of these “drop-outs,”who are programming, creating, and blazing through college courses at the ripe old age of age of…say, 15. Yet, what becomes clear is that their ideas  unleashed by funding and support of the Foundation grants are even more amazing than prior accomplishments. Current fellows are working towards solving massive challenges; ranging from asteroid mining to extending the human life span by centuries. Fellows like Dale J. Stephens, founder of UnCollege, are more than just entrepreneurial and motivated- they are also emotionally mature and determined to pursue innovation away from the beaten path. And yes, through the Thiel Fellowship they receive $100,000 of funding to do so.

Are you salivating yet? Or are you simply stunned and impressed? Thiel Fellows are brilliant individuals who have taken a nontraditional path in life to achieve their goals-but this type of pursuit of one’s goals isn’t outside anyone’s reach.

Amidst the arguments over “whether dropping out is at all beneficial” or the “intrinsic value of education,” there is undeniable value that can be extracted from understanding the tenets of the Fellowship regardless of age or college situation.

When I spoke with the Program Director of the Thiel Fellowship, Danielle Strachman, she addressed how the core concepts of the Foundation, ranging from mentorship to reflection, can be applied more broadly to education.

Danielle’s background in education, neuropsychology, and her extensive experience with charter schools have definitely pushed her toward a different look at learning: student driven, rather than teacher driven. And as a proponent of charter schools and spreading innovation, Danielle states that they can be replicated. “Everyone has the potential to be exceptional-if properly cultivated.”

Here’s how you can be exceptional, too.

The Value of Pursuing One’s Passion

“No matter what you may pursue while in college, no matter what choices you make, you’ll eventually circle back to what you’re passionate about. You can simply start there,” Danielle said. Thiel Fellows are given an unlimited range to pursue their passions, no matter what they are. Many have taken time to explore what they would like to do and build their knowledge base through classes, internships, and interviews.

Why do so? The benefit of “pursuing your passion” is the ability to become exceptional. Like a Thiel Fellow in their particular field, we are often simply more interested, more engaged, and more determined to achieve excellence in what excites us the most. And while practicality and the traditional path have their place, “pursuing one’s passion” isn’t mutually exclusive from a stable living. There are possibilities of marrying what will get you a stable job (i.e. pre-medicine) and what you’re passionate about!

The Value of Mentorship

The importance of building relationships cannot be overstated: finding someone to guide your intellectual and professional development is invaluable. “We think our mentor network is infinitely more valuable than the money that the Fellows receive,” Danielle says. The Foundation introduces Fellows to highly connected, highly valued, and incredibly invested mentors who take a genuine interest in their projects-they realize that it is individuals who will point you in the right direction, who will impart crucial advice, and shape your education who are often the catalyst to success.
Wherever you are; be it college, a working environment, or a summer of babysitting, there is significant opportunity to build a relationship with peers, colleagues, professors, and friends. Meet people and reach out. Find a mentor in every stage of your life. It’s often impossible to know the different doors that exist within our world- mentors point them out, and even open them for you.

The Value of Taking the Time and Space to Reflect

Rushing into a certain direction is sometimes necessary, but “taking the time and space to reflect” is incredibly valuable, Danielle stated. Due to the no-strings-attached gift of $100,000, Fellows have the opportunity to reflect upon their career choice free of obligations to make money quickly in order to pay off student loans. This reflection allows them to make a decision that is right for them-but maybe a decision that is financially or traditionally risky. Another unique aspect of the fellowship is that it takes “long view” approach to fellows’ contributions. Fellows do not have to “produce” in two years, instead the Foundation looks at the 10-year trajectory of their potential contributions.
Irrespective of student loans and the necessity of immediate value in one’s life as a student, reflection is important to development of your professional career, but who you are as a person. After every class, every activity, and every internship position, take the time to analyze the benefit. What did you learn? How did it suit you? Ask the deeper questions of yourself, and probe for answers. Reading over these reflections will teach you more about yourself than any other experience, helping you make the best choices for your own personality.

The Value of Driving Your Own Education

It is your ability to learn (and to choose what you learn) that sets you apart, and Thiel Fellows are approaching learning on their own terms.

Even within college, this type of relationship with learning is possible if you’re willing to make the effort. Feeling constrained by your major, your major requirements, and the classes that you are taking? Drive your own education and read a book in the library on a subject you truly enjoy. Find yourself curious about a specific issue that is not covered in your curricula? Google it and read more. Interested in coding but not a computer science major? Learn the skills you need independently. Knowledge should not be spoon fed: you should actively seek to meet it. While a professor is lecturing, approach the content on your own terms: absorb what interests you, form study groups discussions with others, and never fail to offer your input on a particular subject. An English major can learn about differential equations, a science major can become a business intern, and an engineer can go above and beyond class requirements to buold a project. Your classes don’t have to be your entire education. Become open to learning everywhere.

The Thiel Fellowship is the subject of an ongoing debate about the importance of higher education to success. How much of success in a particular field can be attributed to an individual’s time spent in college? Is college always the best path? Heavyweights like Vivek Wadhwa and Peter Thiel provide input on both sides.

Irrespective of this very black and white debate, there is a middle ground: an amalgam between the benefits of higher education and the important lessons that the world provides. This middle ground requires you to make the most of higher education: study, learn, debate, and grow within the classroom. Appreciate the doors that college opens for you in job applications and HR. Yet, never limit your learning, as life is also a classroom and it is possible to maximize your learning in both.

The best lesson from the Thiel Fellowship? Your education, traditional or nontraditional, is in your hands. Make the most of it-and never stop learning.

(A Big Thanks to Hong Quan (@hongdquan) for the introduction!)

The post How You Can Be A Thiel Fellow, Too: Interview with Danielle Strachman of the Thiel Fellowship appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.