What if we told you there was a company where you could work with the latest technologies and some of the brightest minds in the industry, all while receiving on-demand professional development training to hone and grow your skills?

If this sounds right up your alley, then it’s time to take a closer look at Capital One. The company prides itself on being the place for recent grads to start their careers, and once you hear about the experiences of a few newly hired recent grads, we think you’ll see why.

Five of Capital One’s recent grad associates gave us the lowdown on the company culture, why they chose Capital One and what advice they have for students:

Q: What drew you to working at Capital One?

A: Jibby, Associate Software Engineer (Carnegie Mellon ‘16): The two things that drew me to Capital One were the culture and the Technology Development Program (TDP). Being an intern at Capital One last summer, I could see that everyone was respected no matter how new you were to the company, and that was the atmosphere I wanted to be in. As part of the culture, the company really ensures great work-life balance and we have great work hours. I always feel encouraged to take advantage of out of office activities and even chances to travel to other colleges to help out with recruiting! As for the TDP, I don’t know all of the cool new technologies out there, but with this rotational program, I have the opportunity to follow where my curiosity is leading me. This program allows me to be with a team for one year learning a whole stack of technologies, and then rotate to a completely different team with different technologies the next year to increase my learning opportunities.

A: Linett, Associate Auditor (North Carolina State University ‘14): The top reasons why I chose Capital One to start my career:

• The people: From recruiters, to my current team, everyone is just truly awesome.
• The flexibility: Capital One fosters a very flexible environment that helps their associates achieve the work life balance they want.

Q: What is your biggest learning from your first year at Capital One?

A: Linett: Don’t be afraid to “own” your career; ask for opportunities! People are always willing to expose you to more and it’s a great way to showcase your talents, take on a new leadership role, or enhance a certain skill.

A: Preet, UX Designer (University of Texas-Dallas): When I was still in college, I didn’t understand how people of different disciplines would communicate and work together to deliver a product or experience. Learning about it through Google searches wasn’t enough to understand the ins and outs of it. Now I get it. I get how business works and how my role as a designer fits into it. It’s really something to see different people from technology, product, design, legal, and more all come together and participate in the art of creation. Learning to communicate with people from different backgrounds and with different roles is one of the most valuable learning experiences I’ve had. Having this more holistic view of business is not only helping me understand Capital One and design better, but it’s also helping me understand the world better.

Q: What advice do you have for students applying Capital One?

A: Jibby: My advice to students applying to Capital One would be to study for the interview! For me, it went really smoothly because I had already been through tons of technology and behavioral interviews so I had a lot of practice. [Use your school’s] practice interviews or just have a friend ask you questions so you can practice talking about yourself and problem solving with an audience.. Another tip would be to connect with current associates and ask them about their experiences; it really helps to get all of your informal questions answered.

A: Mamadou, Software Engineer (Dickinson College ‘16): I would recommend keeping an open mind, being curious, driven, and willing to learn fast. The tech industry is evolving at a very fast pace, and we have to continuously learn and innovate in order to stay up to date. Bring your creativity and problem-solving skills into play.

A: Preet: Do you. I mean, still be appropriate and all that, but don’t compromise yourself to get the job. Channel your passion, find a way to harmonize it with your personality, and let that guide you. If you’re thinking of applying, that means that there’s something in you that cares about design (or whatever field you’re looking to apply in). Extract it out of yourself, learn to be confident in who you are, and soar. If you realize you aren’t actually interested, that’s okay. There’s something out there for everybody. Do a little more soul-searching. You’ve got time.

Q: How did you know you were performing well during your first year? How does Capital One track and measure success in this role?

A: Jibby: Capital One has end-of-year and mid-year reviews, where each associate meets with their manager to formally discuss how they have been performing against their goals. I also have bi-weekly meetings with my manager to touch base informally and check in about my performance and ways I can improve.

A: Mary Kate, Human Resources Rotation Associate (University of Virginia ‘16): In my case, you can get a good pulse on how you’re performing based on how your clients respond to your work, and if you get pulled into new work. I can tell I’m performing well due to the fact that my scope has expanded and I get to work with an increasing number of people on a variety of different projects, which I’ve really enjoyed. Capital One has fantastic performance management; I just went through my first performance cycle, and my manager solicited feedback from every single person I worked with and had an open conversation with me about it, in addition to a follow-up. It’s always helpful to know what you can improve on, and managers help you think through your development goals twice a year.

Q: Tell us about any professional development training you received during your first year.

A: Mamadou: Capital One University is our go-to platform for learning and training. Since joining Capital One, I have taken multiple courses to help accelerate my learning and broaden my knowledge base. Additionally, as part of the Technology Development Program, I attended a full week training on software craftsmanship. The training taught me about best coding practices and tools that I can leverage to advance my professional development. Currently, one of Capital One’s central technology strategies is to build our applications in the cloud. In order to help advance this goal, I have taken courses to learn about AWS and its cloud services. I recently became an AWS Solution Architect Certified and I am working on getting my AWS Developer Certification.

A: Preet: I’ve traveled a lot more than I expected to for design training. Within my first month working here, I was flown to San Francisco to attend a user experience workshop. I learned a lot about different facets of design and made new friends from different parts of the country… It was a whole lot of professional and personal growth in a very short amount of time. I’m looking forward to the next few conferences I’m signed up for, where I’ll be learning things like Designing for Voice, Putting Humanity into Chatbots, and more. I’m kind of geeking out just thinking about it.

Q: What’s something surprising about working at Capital One that most people wouldn’t know?

A: Jibby: Technology is at the forefront of the company’s goals, which honestly surprised me, because it was “just a bank” to me before joining the company. But the technology culture at Capital One is just what I would expect to see at a technology company. It’s exciting to know that I joined a company that prioritizes being a leader in the technology field, which has opened so many doors for learning new technologies.

Q: What makes Capital One an incredible place to work?

A: Mamadou: I would have to say the work culture and the opportunities to give back to our community. The collaborative work environment at Capital One allows you to contribute and learn from one another. I have learned so much from my co-workers and have built great relationships with them. Additionally, I get to volunteer through work and am encouraged to give back to our local communities, which really makes a differences in peoples’ everyday lives. .

A: Mary Kate: One of the things that makes Capital One an incredible place to work is the learning culture. All associates are encouraged to learn more about anything that piques their interest or might assist them in a future role. What makes learning here special is that everyone views themselves as both students and teachers. In my first few months, I helped teach an analytics training to some HR associates much older than me. There was no stigma because I’m fresh out of school; people recognize I may have studied these topics more recently and have some new ideas to bring to the table.

Sound like the right place for you? Head on over to WayUp to learn more how you can launch your career at Capital One.

More from Capital One:
The Unexpected Way One Recent Grad Found Her Way to Capital One

The post How One Company Is Helping Young Employees Succeed appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

When you think of some of the most innovative companies in the world, which places come to mind? Regardless of the organizations you’re thinking about, we guarantee there’s one important company missing from your list and you might not even realize it. Its name? CohnReznick.

CohnReznick, one of the leading accounting, tax and advisory firms, has a state-of-the-art innovation lab that you just have to see to believe. The space is all about fostering in-room and online ideation, problem-solving and visualization, and it includes a video conferencing wall, visual collaboration tools and “meeting anywhere” internet communications.

The lab combines the best tools, experiences and technology to allow CohnReznick’s team to complete bigger projects in a fraction of the time. The company believes that by investing in technology, it’s also investing in more well-rounded team members and better business results.

Why does that matter for you and your career? Finding a company that is constantly innovating and looking for the next great way to get the job done is becoming more important than ever. Why lag behind when you can work for a place that’s setting the gold standard for what it means for a company to innovate? And in the case of CohnReznick, let’s be real here: It’d be really fun to have the opportunity to play with their wall-sized touchscreen.

via GIPHY

Want the chance to learn from the people at CohnReznick and get to use all of their incredibly innovative technologies? Now’s your chance; they’re hiring on WayUp right now.

The post You Won’t Want to Work Anywhere Else After You See This Innovation Lab appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This article was inspired by a piece originally published by OnDeck®, which is hiring summer interns on WayUp now.

Whether you’re a college student taking on the internship search for the first time or a recent grad trying to make waves at that first post-grad job, making a great impression can be difficult. However, our friends at OnDeck, an amazing company that helps small businesses secure loans and financing, are here to help.

Being able to market yourself well is becoming increasingly important (especially in the digital age!), so OnDeck rounded up a great list of 33 books for you to dive into on that very subject. If reading almost three dozen books is a little intimidating for you, we picked our favorite five from OnDeck’s list so you can get started.

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki

Want to feel inspired to do anything? Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Guy Kawasaki’s best-selling book The Art of the Start will help you feel ready for any challenge that comes your way, including rocking the job hunt and being the best employee ever.

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Influence is important no matter whom you’re trying to persuade, and Robert Cialdini’s classic book needs to be at the top of your list.

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

“But I’m not a writer!” you might be saying. Whether it’s a resume or a tweet, no matter what you’re creating, it’s important to know how to market yourself through the written word. The good news? This book can get you there!

Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger

Why do certain products and ideas catch on? Jonah Berger has the answer, and using his advice, you’ll be able to not only come up with the next big contagious ideas, but you’ll also be able to show others why they should invest in you, too.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher

Learning how to negotiate is a big part of growing up, and no matter what your endeavor, understanding compromise will serve you well.

Think OnDeck’s suggestions are awesome? Their book list isn’t the only thing that’s great about the company; they’ve got an amazing culture and great team members, too. Check out their positions on WayUp and apply now!

The post Want to Learn How to Market Yourself? 5 Books That’ll Get You There appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

 This article was originally published by OnDeck®, which is hiring summer interns on WayUp now.

It’s tempting to prioritize your personal elevator pitch somewhere between watering the office ficus and ordering extra paper towels for the break room. After all, it can be hard to develop and even harder to deliver. However, it’s important that you not underestimate the power of a solid elevator pitch and the impact it has on your success.

A clear, conversational, and relatable elevator pitch lends a personal touch to your networking strategies in ways that cold calls or emails simply can’t.

You have about 30 seconds or less to pique your listener’s interest. That may seem like a daunting task but with a little planning, it’s possible to pack a lot of information into a short time frame. Let’s look at the five main points of information your elevator pitch must contain for maximum effectiveness.

Who You Are

This seems obvious but it’s easy to leave out the most important bits of information when you’re nervous or flustered. This isn’t the time to haul out your entire resume so stick to the basics; just your name and your college or your most recent career move.

Now you’ve got about 25 seconds left. Jacek Grebski, partner at digital product agency SWARM, says use this time to shine. “It’s all about you. For the next few seconds the world really is revolving around you, so knock the audience dead.”

What You Do

Once you’ve established a connection, use the opportunity to succinctly explain what the company you work for does and your role in the organization. Resist the urge to pepper your elevator pitch with industry jargon or unnecessary terminology that requires additional explanation.

“Your message and value proposition will quickly sink in a sea of jargon and buzzwords,” says growth and funding strategist Ron Flavin. “Use powerful, strong words that emphasize key points and create a visual image. And remember, if you can make your point with just a few words, do it. More words does not necessarily equate to more impact.”

Why You Do It

This is likely to be your favorite part of the elevator pitch because it gives you a chance to share your excitement about why you work so hard. Let your passion flag fly!

“Passion will ensure your pitch is memorable, unique, and engaging. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm; it could be the difference between a closed door and another conversation,” notes entrepreneur Michal Ugor.

Who You Do It For

This section of the elevator pitch focuses on the type of industry you want to work for and the people you’ll serve in that industry.

It’s worth considering whether to create a couple of ways to address this section of your pitch based on different contexts. You may find it useful to modify your response depending on its relevance to the event or situation where you’re delivering your message.

For instance, talking about your industry during a networking event may require a more nuanced response than during the course of a casual conversation.

How Others Benefit

This is the real heart of your elevator pitch and the big moment the listener has been waiting for. Here’s where you explain what’s in it for the people you’ll work for and how they benefit from what you do. What sort of impact are you making in your role?

Once you’ve crafted and refined your pitch go find an actual elevator where you can practice your delivery. Professional development consultant Laura Katen recommends, “The next time you ride an elevator (alone), practice your speech. First, give yourself some time by going to the highest floor. Then, try giving your pitch from a middle floor and from the first to the third floor, too. Having to make just a few brief moments count will help you to hone the words you need and scrap the ones you don’t!”

The post 5 Crucial Elements of the Elevator Pitch appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Regardless of what career you want to embark on after graduation, chances are you’ve had at least one moment in your life where you dreamed of winning an Oscar. After all, what’s more inspiring than watching a group of talented artists come together to celebrate incredible performances? What you may not realize is that before these Oscar winners were famous, many of them were college students trying to decide what they wanted to do with their lives and how they were going to make their dreams come true.

Looking for a little inspiration after watching last night’s ceremony? Here’s how these Oscar winners got their start.

Mahershala Ali, Best Supporting Actor — “Moonlight”

Before his amazing performance in “Moonlight,” Mahershala Ali was making a mark for himself with roles in movies like “The Hunger Games” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” What you may not know is that prior to becoming an actor, Ali was actually considering a career in sports. In fact, he attended St. Mary’s College on a full basketball scholarship. While there, he tried his hand at acting and got his first job at The Gavin Report, a record industry magazine where he tallied how many times records were getting played on the radio during any given week. The job allowed him to earn some extra money while keeping him from falling into the trap of finding a job that was just good enough. “I was worried I’d get comfortable, and get stuck,” he explained. Instead, he auditioned for NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and was accepted into their graduate acting program.

Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress — “Fences”

Best known for her incredible performances in the “The Help” and “Fences,” Viola Davis is a Hollywood veteran who got her start by taking acting classes in college. “I wanted to express myself by being an actor. I felt the need to,” she said in an interview with her alma mater, Rhode Island College. After graduating in 1988, she moved to New York City to attend graduate school at Juilliard and got her first acting job in theatre. Her advice: “Love your work,” because no matter what your field, your passion will help you succeed.

Emma Stone, Best Actress — “La La Land”

If you loved Emma Stone as an aspiring actress and not-so-great barista in “La La Land,” then you’ll love the story of her first job. Working at Three Dog Bakery, Stone sold dog treats at her local farmer’s market. Does that sound like a far cry from her career as an actress? Not really. The job helped her perfect skills that are essentially to acting — like communication — and gave her a chance to earn some extra money. Sounds like a pretty great start, right?

Casey Affleck, Best Actor — “Manchester by the Sea”

If you think college internships are tough, try having your first job in kindergarten. That’s what happened to Casey Affleck whose first acting performance was as a lion in a production put on for civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Although the outcome was not as stellar as his performance in “Manchester by the Sea,” — “My mane fell off,” explained. “It was my very first artistic crisis.” — it nevertheless made him realize that he wanted to be an actor and he’s spent his career trying to perfect his craft. Judging by last night’s results, it looks like he’s pretty much there.

Damien Chazelle, Best Director — ”La La Land”

Few people had heard about Damien Chazelle before “La La Land” came out, but the young director has definitely made a name for himself with the movie that won six Academy Awards as well as a whole slew of Golden Globes, SAG awards and BAFTAs. His secret? He fell in love with movies at a very young age. “I became one of those kids that very early on was glued to that experience of being just completely transported,” he explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. That passion led him to study filmmaking at Harvard University and to eventually write and direct his “Whiplash,” which became his breakthrough film. That success granted him additional opportunities and eventually led him to realize his dream of making “La La Land.”

Ready to start making your own dreams come true? Take a look at some of the awesome jobs on our platform and find the one that’s right for you.

The post Want to Win an Oscar Someday? Here’s How These Oscar Winners Got Their Start appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

With the spring semester just getting underway, it might seem like graduation is still pretty far away. After all, you have a whole semester — and spring break — before you need to think about getting your diploma, but the truth is that senior year goes by fast and graduation will be here before you know it. So, how can you prepare for graduation?

Here are the top five things you need to know before you’re ready to put on your cap and gown.

1. The ceremony goes by really fast

Okay, so we’re not talking about the day itself — although that does go by in a bit of a blur. What we mean is the part where you need to walk up on stage and collect your diploma. It passes in a flash and before you know it, you’ve graduated. An important tip: Tell yourself that nothing bad will happen and it won’t. You’ll worry less about tripping over your gown as soon as you realize that it doesn’t happen that frequently. If you’re feeling anxious, try these breathing techniques before you get up on stage.

2. Planning your outfit is crucial

Since you already know that you’ll be wearing a cap and gown, you might be tempted not to think of your outfit until the last minute, but you definitely should! No one wants to look back at their graduation photos and cringe, so making sure that you love your outfit is a great way to set yourself up for an awesome day.

3. Celebrate your achievements

This is your chance to celebrate all the great things you’ve done over the past four years — from the amazing friends you made, to the classes you took and everything you’ve learned along the way. Take a few minutes to reflect back on all the great experiences you’ve had and be proud of yourself for achieving so much during your time in college.

4. Get organized

You’ve spent months and years putting your all into your studies, so don’t let that fall by the wayside at the last minute. Instead, spend some time planning for the day. Think about what you might need to take with you and double check your bag before you head off. Consider taking tissues, sunglasses (if it’s warm and bright) and maybe even a change of clothes if you’re going for a celebratory drink afterwards.

5. You’ll cherish these memories for a long time to come

You’re going to remember this day for years to come. To make it even more special, don’t forget to take lots of pictures and consider bringing a notebook and pen so that friends can write down their well wishes. Or, why not treat yourself or someone else to the ultimate keepsake? An autograph frame that friends can sign — you’ll be glad you thought ahead and bought one.

Keeping these tips in mind is a great way to guarantee an awesome graduation day and when you’re ready to move on to the next step and look for a job, you’ll be able to find one in no time.

The post Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Graduation appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Graduation is an exciting time. In part, because it means you’ve reached your goal and accomplished what you set out to do, but it’s also because it means at least a temporary end to tests, homework and those dreaded group projects.

However, just because your formal education has come to an end doesn’t mean you should stop learning. After you’ve had a satisfying break from the monotony of school, you might start craving activities that exercise your brain. If you do, keep your mind sharp with these five simple ways to keep learning after graduation.

1. Take a continuing education class

Learning doesn’t have to be all about satisfying a certain amount of credits or getting a grade. Continuing education courses are designed for people who have been out of school for a while and just want to learn. Take a fun class on photography or Photoshop or maybe even guitar. Any class where you’re actively using your brain to acquire a new skill will help you stay sharp.

2. Join a work committee

Check to see if your workplace has any committees, and I don’t mean the party planning kind. Perhaps there is one for organizing guest speakers or developing new organizational processes—anything that forces your brain to switch gears and think differently.

3. Start a book club

Finding time to read can be difficult and often deprioritized. Join or start a work book club to give yourself a reason to read a book every month. Whether it’s specific to workplace development or open to any genre, the act of reading is always a great way to exercise your brain.

4. Volunteer

Volunteering is often associated with simple, menial tasks, like handing out fliers or collecting ticket stubs, but as a working professional, there are many higher-level volunteer opportunities available that provide personal and professional development. It’s also a great way to apply your skillset to a passion project that might be outside your field of work.

5. Sign up for Meetup.com

Meetup.com lets you connect with groups of people in your area that arrange activities based on a specific interest. Spruce up on your foreign language skills and join a Spanish Speakers group, or head to Toastmasters and brush up on your public speaking. It’s a great way to network and learn something new.

Don’t let your brain turn to mush. It can be simple and fun to keep learning even after graduation.

The post 5 Simple Ways to Keep Learning After Graduation appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Few things are more important during an interview than a healthy dose of confidence. That confidence really comes in handy when the interviewer looks you in the eye and says, “So, what can you offer us that someone else can’t?”

Whether you’ve come across this question before or not, you should be prepared to encounter it at some point during your job search. It’s a question designed to gauge your confidence level and knowledge of the company. It’s also a great chance to show that you’re a qualified candidate who can bring something unique to the table.

Here are the things you need to keep in mind when preparing your answer. Remember, your goal at the end of this question is to convince your interviewer that they can’t afford NOT to hire you.

Highlight your experience and unique abilities.

Your interviewer is essentially asking “Why should I hire you?” and your answer should show that you’re different from other candidates they’ve interviewed and the best person for the job! Think of the top 2-3 things they’re looking for and explain how you meet those criteria.

For example, if you’ve had an internship in the industry, talk about your experience. If you’re not sure what to focus on, look at the job description, and identify the key traits that are mentioned in the first 3 bullet points. Then, speak to how you embody those traits.

Say something like: “I’m a creative problem-solver who wants to learn all about the tech industry and become an integral part of a team that develops new digital platforms. I’ve worked on several projects of this type at a previous internship, so I’m familiar with the challenges I’ll face in this role, and I know how to address them.”

Show that you’re a culture fit.

Being an awesome employee has a lot to do not only with your skills and personality but also with how you fit into a company. In fact, many employers consider culture fit to be the #1 priority when looking for candidates. Whether the company you’re interviewing with is a tech startup or a consulting firm, knowing the culture of a company and demonstrating that you understand its importance will go a long way toward impressing the interviewer and helping them to see you as a part of the team.

Say something like: “Everyone I’ve talked to here seems so motivated by the mission and that’s why I’m so excited about this opportunity because I want to be part of a team that’s focused on innovation.”

Emphasize that you’re willing to grow with the company.

This is especially important for entry-level jobs where employers are looking for candidates who are interested in developing their skills and sticking around for at least a couple of years. To show that you’re committed to the position, mention your future goals and how working with the company will help you achieve them.

Now bring it all together:

“I’m a creative problem-solver who wants to learn all about the tech industry and become an integral part of a team that develops new digital platforms. I’ve worked on several projects of this type at a previous internship, so I’m familiar with the challenges I’ll face in this role and I know how to address them. Everyone I’ve talked to here seems so motivated by the mission and that’s why I’m so excited about this opportunity because I want to be part of a team that’s focused on innovation. I would love to be a part of the company’s long-term growth.”

Easy, right? Once you come up with your answer, practice it over and over until you have it down pat. By highlighting your unique skills and demonstrating how your personality and future goals align with the company, you’ll impress your interviewer and increase your chances of getting the job!

The post How to Answer: What Can You Offer Us That Someone Else Can’t? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

“What are your strengths?” is a go-to question for interviewers and the key to coming up with a great answer is knowing that potential employers are interested not only in what you’re good at, but also in how your skills match up with the company’s needs.

Here are some tips to help you answer this question perfectly.

Highlight your top 3 strengths.

Before your interview, start by making a list of 10 skills and personality traits you’re proud of. This should include everything from your technical skills (like writing or knowledge of social media platforms) to soft skills like your ability to make friends easily (which shows that you’re a people person).

Once you have your top 10 strengths, narrow the list down to the 3 things you’re most proud of. Be self-aware but not too modest. It’s totally OK to say that you’re a talented writer or a great programmer, and being confident will impress your interviewer.

Give examples.

Once you’ve figured out your top 3 strengths, come up with 1-2 examples to back up each one. If you’re going to say that one of your greatest strengths is organization, then make sure you have evidence to prove that. Preparing a script of this can be a good idea. In addition to making you more comfortable with your answer, it’ll also help you sound more authentic because you’ll be confident that the things you’re talking about are things you’re great at doing!

You can say something like: “I’m really strong at project management. Whenever I’m working on a group project, I always naturally take on the role of project manager and make sure that everyone has the right materials, stays on task and knows what they’re responsible for.”

Relate your strengths back to the job.  

This is your chance to show that you’re a good fit for the position, so use it as an opportunity to talk about some of the things you haven’t had a chance to mention yet. Do you have a great example of how your project management abilities helped your team win an award in class? Say that! It’ll be a great way of showing how your strengths could lead to positive outcomes for the company.

Here’s how to do it: “A project I managed recently for my economics class did so well that my team won an award for it! This made me realize that project management is something I’m really good at, and I’m excited to apply those skills to projects in a professional setting.”

By coming up with your top 3 strengths and giving thoughtful examples of each, you’ll have no problem showing that you’re the best person for the job!

The post How to Answer: What Are Your Strengths? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

WayUp recently partnered with Foursquare on a research project for their awesome app, Swarm, which allows users to share their locations within their social network.

We sat down with Rekha, who does User Experience (UX) research at Foursquare, to learn more about her job and what it’s like to work at such an awesome tech company.

Before joining the Foursquare team, Rekha graduated with a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University in 2012 and was a research assistant with the Glass team at Google. Prior to moving to the U.S., Rekha studied electronics and communications as an undergrad in India, where she’s from originally!

Read below for a Q&A with Rekha about her experience at Foursquare, and more!

When did you first become interested in UX Research?

As a master’s student at Clemson University, I worked with a professor on a project she was spearheading, to create tools to help 8th graders learn better. It was a ton of fun, and I got to work with a couple of friends who were on the research team too! Every week, we would spend time with the 8th graders, and hold focus groups for them. I began to see the professor’s product really change from beginning to the end, and see the transition based completely on the product usage we observed! After this experience, I knew I wanted to make a career out of user experience research.

What is the most rewarding and challenging part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing users actually USE the product. Even if the user has an issue, I feel good about it, because it will help us make the product better. I would say the most challenging part of the job is that we work in such a fast-paced environment. For instance, you can always test every feature of both of our apps. Sometimes you have to say no because there’s not enough time!

What are some key skills and attributes for someone entering UX research?

I think the main skills required to excel in UX research are presentation and communication abilities. Being able to communicate with different teams within the organization, and having great presentation skills are keys to success. It is vital to always be the advocate for the user as someone in UX research: You are the only person who knows how users feel about the product, and how they actually use it!

What’s  the best advice you got as a student? What pieces of advice do you wish you could tell your student self?

That’s easy: DO AN INTERNSHIP! I decided to take my summers off, but I think an internship speaks a lot about what work you have done in the past and helps you learn a lot about yourself.

If you are planning to get into this field (UX Research), definitely work on your portfolio, even if you are not a designer! This is something everyone asks for. It is really important that you are able to show future employers what other research project(s) you have you done, what the impact was, and who you worked with.

I wish I had told my student self to get recommendations from people I worked with in the past. It’s good to get them while you are working still together!

What is the culture at Foursquare like?

It is SO much fun! Everyone does impactful work at our office, which I think is part of what makes a great company culture. Everyone does work A LOT here (but just during the week, we have our weekends free!) We have company outings often, like happy hours and game nights. And, we have a ping pong table in the NYC office :).

The post Working at FourSquare is Exactly as Fun as It Seems appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

I’m not sure if it was the Wall Street movies I watched as a kid or my dad’s obsession with the stock markets, but I knew from a young age that I wanted to get into the world of finance. The only thing standing in my way? On paper, I didn’t have the credentials to make that dream a reality. I didn’t go to a top school, I was a liberal arts majorand I wasn’t even allowed into the business school’s career fair, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Spoiler alert: I ended up with an entry-level job as a Financial Analyst, Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs, spent 4 incredible years at their office in Dallas and developed great relationships.

So, here are 5 ways you can get your foot in the door, too.  

1. Talk to people

Make this the first step. Go out and find people with the jobs you want (or think you want). Try to get introductions through family/friends, career services/alumni relations office or LinkedIn. Try to make your introduction personal. What are they doing that interests you? How can you potentially add value to them?

The hardest part of the job search is being fearful of the unknown. However, one sure-fire way to get over that fear is to start having real conversations. Build your networks and your relationships, cold email people and ask them out to coffee—if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.

2. Do your homework

There is absolutely no excuse not to have a reasonable understanding of the industry/company/role you wish to obtain. For finance specifically, Mergers and Inquisitions and Wall Street Oasis were my favorite free resources to learn about the banking industry and the different divisions within it (Hint: investment banking looks vastly different than operations).

Research the company: How do they differentiate themselves from the competition? Apart from their core business, what do they do that resonates with you? A peer of mine advised me to speak about the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses initiative and how it struck a chord with me, because I was an Eagle Scout and philanthropy was important to me. It was a year after the financial crisis and Goldman Sachs was desperately trying to salvage its reputation, so the fact that I knew about these philanthropic efforts helped my case. This had nothing to do with finance, markets or valuation analysis, yet it still served as a differentiator for me.

3. Be curious

While I was at Goldman Sachs, I helped with campus recruiting for 8 semesters. Most students took the vanilla approach of memorizing the latest Wall Street Journal article they could find on the markets. While it’s important to know about your industry’s current events, that shouldn’t be your only focus.

The candidates that were truly able to separate themselves were ones that asked probing questions about our careers, experiences, and keys to success. Questions like, “Why have you been in your job for four years? What makes a great analyst? How does Goldman Sachs maintain itself as the best investment bank in the world? What do you not like about the job? What is going to help me succeed as an analyst?“ are the ones that stand out.

Everybody likes talking about themselves; it’s a flaw we all have (this is why my article was shortened). Because of this, think about listening more to the interviewer than speaking. As a student, you’re not expected to know all the answers, but you are expected to have curiosity. Show that.  

4. Pass the airport test

At the end of Super Days (3-6 interview rounds in one day), 8-12 interviewers would gather in a room and discuss the candidates we interviewed. There were always mixed feelings about candidates; no one ever unanimously made it as a clear favorite. The best way to decipher candidate outcomes was the airport test which is “If my flight is delayed overnight, can I comfortably suffer through that brutal wait with you?” If I work with you, I’m going to spend more time with you than I will with anyone else in my life, including my family. That’s a big investment.

5. Know your differentiator

Today, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for candidates to distinguish themselves on their resume. The good news is that companies are realizing there is a need for diversity in the workplace, and it’s not limited to ethnic or gender diversity.

There is also this notion called diversity of thought. In college, I ran a real estate brokerage to help students find off-campus housing. I was able to speak to entrepreneurial experience where revenue goals, growth expectations and operational efficiencies had to be exceeded in order for my business to continue running and for me to pay my way through school.

At the end of the day, there is no secret sauce. Be hungry, be curious and want it more than anyone else. Here’s some motivation as you prepare: When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.   

The post 5 Ways to Get an Entry-level Finance Job With a Liberal Arts Degree appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Congratulations, you got an offer! That’s great news and here’s more: Negotiating the details of an offer is part of the process of getting hired. One important thing to remember is that entry-level jobs are not always open for salary negotiation, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t work with an employer to make sure you get a combination of salary and benefits that will work for you.

In order to make the process as easy and effective as possible, here are some things to remember as you negotiate.

Do your research.

Do you know the going salary for an entry-level job in customer service? What about for a computer science major with several internships under her belt? If you’re not sure of the answers, it’s time to do some research. Luckily, there are several sites that can help make the process both quick and easy. To get a better idea of the average salary for a specific job or industry, head over to Glassdoor. In addition to providing detailed salary information for entry-level roles, Glassdoor also has a breakdown of how salaries vary by city. This is great news for graduates who are looking to relocate or those who are comparing several different jobs at once.

After you’ve gotten a good grasp of the salary range for your dream job, dig a little deeper by finding out more about the company you’re negotiating with. Our company pages are a great resource for this type of information, and they can offer you fantastic insight into your potential employer.

Know your value.

Whether you’re coming to the negotiation straight from a well-paid internship or starting from scratch without much professional experience, you don’t need to tell potential employers what you earned at previous part-time jobs, not even if they ask directly. Instead, use your research to come up with a salary that’s within the range for an entry-level job in your chosen field, and tell the hiring manager that you’re looking for a salary within that range.

The conversation will usually go something like this:

Hiring Manager: “Let’s talk a little bit about the salary for this position.”

You: “Great! Based on my experience and skillset, I’m looking for a salary in the $35,000-$40,000 range. I think that I would be a great fit for the role and would love to discuss compensation if that salary is in line with what you had in mind.”

Be confident but not cagey. Employers appreciate you coming to the table informed and enthusiastic, but they’re likely to be put off if you’re too aggressive or hesitant during the negotiation process.

Don’t get discouraged if the offer is lower than you expect.

If you do receive an offer that’s lower than you expected, your first impulse might be to panic. Don’t. While salary negotiation isn’t possible with some entry-level roles (like investment banking or consulting), this is where your research will come in handy. In addition to giving you the confidence to negotiate effectively, it will also give you the opportunity to see what other perks the job might offer. For example, if you’re looking for a role that allows for great work-life balance or you really like the company culture, those benefits are likely to also play a role in your decision. Think about the offer as a whole, and see how you can work with the employer to make it fit your needs.

Be grateful, not entitled.

One of the most important aspects of negotiating a job offer is saying thank you as soon as you receive it. Receiving an offer is a great sign that an employer sees your potential and believes that you would be a good fit for the role. Here’s how to show your excitement and keep the conversation going:

“Thank you for the offer; I’m really excited about the prospect of joining the team! I appreciate the current offer of $35,000 but based on my skills and experience, I was expecting an offer in the $40,000 range. Can we look at a salary of $40,000 for this position?”

Negotiating a job offer can feel a little intimidating, especially if it’s your first one. The best way to maximize results is to go into the process flexible and informed, and if you need a little extra boost of confidence, remember that the person on the other side of the table wants to work with you, and they’re invested in helping you succeed.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Format a Thank You Letter After a Job Interview, and find answers to common interview questions such as What Can You Offer Us That Someone Else Can’t?.

The post How to Negotiate a Job Offer appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Perhaps you have known for quite some time that you want to attend graduate school. Or, maybe you are in your final year of college, and you decided to start looking into the idea, mainly because you are scared out of your mind of, what’s next?!  Regardless of your reason for pursuing graduate school, the planning stages for starting your next educational journey are just as important as the journey itself.

Before you start to look at programs, have a conversation with your family and loved ones about your decision.  Graduate school, even in the shortest duration can impact the relationships with those around you, and having the support from your loved ones is an important part of your journey.   You also want to consider your timeline for the process.  The entire application process takes about a year from preparing to apply, to the time you receive an admissions decision.

What type of program should you apply to? Research your career interests and schedule a few informational interviews with people in the field to see what their recommendations are about whether or when they recommend attending graduate school and how they think graduate school fits into a career path in this field.  What difference will having an advanced degree have on your earning potential? Are there shorter-term certificate programs that will help you achieve your goals? Do schools that offer this type of degree program typically recommend that you gain work experience before applying?

The next thing you want to think about is who you would potentially ask to write you a letter of recommendation.  You may be asking yourself “Why do I need to think about this so early? I might not even need letters of recommendation!”  Yes, it is early.  However, if you do not have anyone that you have developed a relationship with recently who would be good to ask, you may need to take some time to re-acquaint yourself with individuals who you want to ask from previous experiences.  Typically graduate programs will request at least one academic reference and one professional reference.

TIP:  Make sure you stay in touch with supervisors, professors, and/or mentors who you have had a positive experience with.  You never know when you will need a letter of recommendation, and having it from the right person can often be more important than the content of the letter itself. 

The search begins!  Where are you going to apply?  This part could potentially be overwhelming given the numerous options.   A few things to keep in mind:

1. A more specific graduate degree might only be offered at a few schools, limiting your options a bit, but making it easier to narrow down.
2. Take into consideration how close you want to be to family or to your current situation.
3. If you have no idea where to start your search, Princeton Review provides a comprehensive guide to graduate schools that allows you to search by major or location, and offers a number of valuable resources.
4. Make sure to thoroughly research the program outcomes, cost of attendance, and time to completion. Keep in mind that in addition to tuition costs, you should factor in the cost of lost wages if you are unable to work while attending school full-time. This factor might help you determine whether you want to attend graduate on a part-time or full-time basis.

Once you have a few schools in mind, you can start considering some of the details.   Keep in mind that applying to graduate school often means much more than just submitting an application form and previous transcripts.  You need to consider what entrance exams you need to take (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, CBEST), including what kind of preparation you will need for the exam and the time it will take to strategize about and write your personal statement. Check if your school offers free or discounted test prep courses. Another great tool for learning about specific programs is the students who are currently going through the program. Contact admissions and ask to be connected with a student ambassador within your program of interest and see if you can reach out to them to gain a student perspective.

Graduate school can be incredibly rewarding and can provide numerous career opportunities.It is however, a very big decision.  If you put in the time to do the research and plan your approach, you will feel much more confident that you have made whatever decision is best for you.

Andrea Peeters is the Director of Student Success at Menlo College, a small undergraduate business college in Northern California.  She works with all students and alumni on general career and professional development, as well as with current students on academic progress and success.  Prior to coming to Menlo, she worked as a High School Counselor and Adjunct Faculty teaching personal development courses in central California.

The post I’m thinking I want to go to graduate school. Now what? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Your career is a lot like an adventure. There are going to be times when things are slow and tedious, but there will also be major decision points that take you to new and unexpected places.

Like in every great adventure, whether it’s Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings, the people you surround yourself will play an enormous role in how far you get and how successful you are along the way, so as seniors getting ready to graduate, you should ask yourself, who do I want to team up with to help me grow and take on this next stage of my life?

Here are 3 reasons why, as you graduate, you should look first for WHO you are working with, rather than where or for how much.

1. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

This quote by Jim Rohn is powerful and true. There will be few people more influential in your life than your first boss and your first co-workers (each of whom you will spend 8 hours or more a day with). At your company you could have a boss like Gandalf, who entrusts Frodo with the ring of power, knowing that he has the ability to grow into this role, even if he doesn’t know it himself, or you could end up with a boss who is a micro-manager who always tells you explicitly what to do and never challenges you—cutting your growth off at the knees.

Outside of your boss, you will find that some co-workers give you honest feedback. I remember when my friend and co-founder told me that I needed to get better at selling my ideas internally and taking the time to map out new process changes. It hurt to discover that I was doing things the wrong way, but if I hadn’t heard this, I never would have improved. Well communicated feedback leads to growth acceleration and is infinitely more effective when coming from co-workers who you trust and respect.

2. Work should be challenging, but fun.

When Harry Potter is preparing for the Tri-Wizard Tournament, he, Hermione and Ron start putting in insane hours at the library. They are toiling hard, but their friendship makes it so that the hours are still enjoyable. Ultimately, their strength as a team allows them to come up with creative solutions.

The same thing will happen at your work. If you are working at a company you love, there will be days you put in long hours because you want to create the best end result. If you are surrounded by co-workers and friends you enjoy, these hours will be full of jokes, creative ideas and won’t truly feel like work, even as you make progress towards a great end result.

3. You will be empowered.

In the end, finding co-workers who understand and support you will make you more successful. I remember when my co-founder and I were trying to get a friend to quit a prestigious job, take a $50,000 pay cut and come join us, working out of a home office on a product that didn’t exist yet. We were just out college, inexperienced and had no right to ask someone to do this, but we believed in each other. We decided that with this person’s help, Looksharp would grow to be a fantastic platform and success. What might have felt uncomfortable otherwise clearly became the right choice–we made the job offer and our third co-founder, to our surprise, accepted and joined our team.

Over the course of a career, you will look back at a number of situations just like the one above, where you decided to do something different or risky, because you had the support of your colleagues, and that it made all the difference in where you ended up.

So what’s the point?

Pick a job based on the people. If you like your co-workers and boss at a particular company, be very cautious about leaving—these things are rare and more important than you might know.

Lastly, how do you know if a given company is right for you? It takes time to learn who your boss and co-workers might be. Some questions you can ask during an interview include:

Where have other people who have accepted jobs here gone on to work?

What skills will I learn while working here?

What is your management style?

Do co-workers spend time with one another outside of work?

Another way to go is to ask yourself if you were stuck at the airport with your team, are these people you’d enjoy getting a beer with or not? If not, will you truly enjoy working with them for the next 3+ years of your life?

The post As You Graduate Find Companions and Find Adventure appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

During the job search process, you’re always looking for positive affirmations. You’re wondering what it means when your interviewer says, “We’ll be in touch.” You’re freaking out that you haven’t received an email two days after your first-round interview. It’s incredibly stressful not knowing what the final decision will be (and feeling like you have no control over it).

Luckily, there are hints along the way that let you know you’re an extremely competitive candidate. While these hints don’t necessarily guarantee that you got the job, if you’re noticing any of the signs below, then we have five words for you: Go get some celebratory froyo.

You get to meet the entire team.

Your 30-minute interview has turned into an hour-and-a-half-long meeting. Your interviewer keeps saying things like, “Do you have an extra 10 minutes? I’d love for you to talk to Brad and Shauna,” and you’re thinking, “Who are all these people?”

Meeting multiple people at once during your interview is an extremely good sign. It means that your interviewer is seriously considering you as a candidate and wants to make sure that you mesh well with your potential coworkers.  

The best way for you to handle this situation is to treat every person as if they have the same amount of say in the decision-making process. If you continue putting your best foot forward, the rest of the team will be able to see and confirm the qualities that make you a great candidate for the position.

You’re shown an extremely detailed part of the role.

No, your interviewer is not showing the password-coded, company-specific admin area to all the candidates, so if this happens to you during an interview, it’s another good sign that your interviewer is envisioning you in this role and wants you to seriously consider the responsibilities and tasks you will be managing.

Be attentive and ask a lot of questions as you’re taken through the company’s processes. Ask about what former employees have struggled with when encountering the system (or when facing tasks within the role) and ask what they’ve done well. Make sure you have a clear idea of expectations and how you should go about executing any tasks in the role. 

You’re asked about your expectations for salary.

If an interviewer is asking about what you’re looking for in terms of salary, you can bet your bottom dollar that they’re thinking about hiring you. Your answer should not affect whether or not your interviewer gives you an offer, but you should be well-prepared to respond to this question. Do your research on Glassdoor about the typical salary offered at the company and for roles like yours at other companies. Then say something like, “I’m expecting a typical salary for this role, and according to my research this ranges from…”

Remember: Now is not the time to negotiate salary – you’ll only need to worry about that if you get a formal offer.

They’re asking around about you.

If your interviewers are contacting the professional references you’ve provided (and doing some research on their own, reaching out to professional contacts you didn’t provide), the company wants to make sure they have all the information they need before making a final decision. Word on the street? You’re totally employable.

They’re asking when you can start.

This one speaks for itself – if they’re asking this question, they want to know that you’re available to start working soon. It’s an important factor to consider in any hiring decision.

It’s tempting to respond, “As soon as possible!” However, you need to make sure you have some time to relax before embarking on your new career. If you’re changing jobs, it’s a good idea to let them know that you will need two weeks to wrap up your responsibilities in your current role and a week off between jobs. If you’ve just graduated, and you’re able to afford a little time off, then asking for a week off won’t hurt, as long as you let your interviewer know that you’re flexible: “I’d ideally like to start a week after I receive an offer, but I’m happy to discuss this if you need me to start earlier.”

You can rest assured that the hard work you put into your job search is being recognized – your interviewers are considering you of all the candidates who applied for the position. Fingers crossed: We hope that offer letter is coming soon!

The post 5 Signs Your Interview Went Well appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

The grace period for student loan repayment may be ending soon for some people. If you’re facing that burden, check out Mashable’s article that discusses ways you can make paying back student loans part of your every day routine.

The article is based on a Twitter chat and was then put into a Storify article. It features several experts who give advice on how to structure a yearly plan to pay off loans, how to balance student loans in every day life and what you should know before taking out loans.

The post Tips on Tackling Student Loan Debt appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Brooklyn Law School, located in New York, has announced a new program that will offer a 15 percent tuition refund to those students who don’t find a job within the first nine months of graduation, according to this article on Mashable. The program, titled “Bridge-to-Success,” will take effect on those students entering the law school in 2015.

The post Brooklyn Law School Announces Tuition Refund appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

As with  the many college graduate-related posts that you may have seen on blogs over the past couple months, they all seem to have something in common: giving grads advice on the future.

This post by Elite Daily, however, is different. It is a recent graduate’s opinion of how she feels about leaving college and starting on the journey of the rest of her life. For anyone who has mixed emotions about leaving their college years behind, this article can provide you with a sense of comfort knowing that  nearly everything in your past has prepared you for this point in time, and you truly are ready to go out into the working world. It’s time to put those experiences to good use and start on the next chapter.

The post The Next Chapter appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Did you ever think paying off your student loan debt could be fun?

Probably not. But thanks to a new interactive game made by Givling, paying off your loans has been made slightly more enjoyable.

USA Today College published an article about the new trivia game where players compete against each other in the hopes of winning cash prizes and helping other players pay off their loans. The cost is 50 cents per game plus 30 cents for a transaction fee if you wish to be matched into a group with other players. Continue reading USA Today College’s article to find out more about the game, students’ opinions and student loan debt.

The post A New Way to Pay Off Student Loans appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Transitioning from a college student to a working adult after graduation can be difficult for some people.

Going from being involved in organizations and on-campus student groups to being a college graduate without that social network behind you can feel odd — what should you do with all of your free time?

Take a look at this article posted on USA Today College about the ways  college grads can remain in-touch with their alma mater  long after they receive their diplomas.

The post Take Advantage of Your Alumni Status appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

You officially enter the “real world” after you graduate from college, and adult-like behavior is assumed to follow.

You have to leave behind the world of weeknight partying, skipping class to get a couple extra hours of sleep and, hopefully, your procrastination trait. These habits will have to be replaced with being responsible, productive and mindful of your behavior. Read Elite Daily’s article about five important things recent graduates must know upon entering the real world.

The post Welcome to The Real World appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

You spend all of your college years building skills and developing an expertise in your desired career field. But, the education does not have to end after graduation.

There are plenty of options available if you are looking for ways in which you can improve and gain more knowledge in your career. Take a look at this article, shared by  Mashable, about six ways you can take the initiative in developing more skills.

The post Ways You Can Develop Career Skills After Graduation appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Is getting an advanced degree from graduate school one of your educational goals? It’s true that those who have Ph.D.s earn a higher income, but there are some people who might not be cut out for the trials and tribulations that go along with earning that degree. In a BloombergView article, author Noah Smith breaks down the opportunity costs, the social environment, and the job market for those with Ph.D.s.

The post Considering Getting a Ph.D.? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Getting into graduate school is a great achievement, in and of itself. After months of slaving over your personal statement, sending out transcripts and waiting anxiously to hear back from your school of choice, you finally get that glorious acceptance letter you’ve been anticipating!

From the moment you open that letter, the worry drains from your mind and is replaced by thoughts of all the opportunities that have officially opened up to you.  Published articles, conferences, prestigious colleagues, oh my!

At least, that was my experience.  After doing my happy dance and squealing like a little girl for approximately fifteen minutes, the acceptance letter I received to UCLA’s graduate program in Political Science left me in a state of excited disbelief, and I’ll admit, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was now truly able to become a PhD student.  I immediately started asking anyone I knew who had been to graduate school about their experiences, the setbacks they and their colleagues may have experienced and most importantly, any advice they would give to a new graduate student.

After receiving advice from quite a few people – from those with Masters in Public Health to those with Doctorates in Physics – I’ve found three pieces of advice for the new graduate student that everyone seems to agree on, so with new graduate students like me in mind, I present to you the best advice I’ve received so far!

Keep an Open Mind

When I was accepted into the Political Science graduate program at UCLA, I was sorted into a particular subfield of the program, Comparative Politics, as that was the closest match to my current interests.  Once I began speaking about the placement with some of my future professors, all were very quick to tell me that the placement was a formality in order to help give us some direction and a foundation with which to start the program.  What they really encouraged, however, was exploration and a true willingness to learn.

So many people come into their program of choice already set on the specific area they want to study and the specific questions they want answered, which is a great foundation to have going in!  However, the point of graduate school is not only to hone your own specific interests but to broaden your horizons as well.  Especially depending on the length of your program (mine is roughly five to six years), you will have numerous opportunities to expose yourself to new subjects and new experiences, which may lead you to focus on something else entirely – but only if you so choose.

You can narrow your sights on one particular subfield, buckle down and convince yourself that tunnel vision is your best strategy for getting through the program, but everyone I’ve spoken with has said that if you want to really take in everything your program has to offer you, you have to take the chance to explore your field as the vibrant, diverse collection of intellectual thought that it is.

Treat Your Program Like a Job

Being a graduate student comes with its own particular set of trials; being intellectually rigorous, the expectations placed on a graduate student’s shoulders can be both mentally and emotionally draining.  One noted effect common enough to be designated with its own title is the ‘Imposter Syndrome,’ or the inability to internalize one’s own successes. There is also a general increase in the prevalence of common mental health illnesses, like depression, in academia.

Because of the strain that often accompanies such an intense learning environment necessarily, many of the professors and graduated Masters’ students I’ve spoken with have told me that one of the best ways to combat such mental fatigue is to treat your graduate program as more than just a continuation of your undergraduate school.  The best way to get through your program is to treat it like a job.

Think about it this way, if you treat your studies as a job that you have been invited to pursue because of your previous qualifications, then you are less likely to second guess your worthiness of being in the program. You are more likely to be able to pull through an intellectual funk than someone who considers themselves to simply be a fledgling student standing in the shadows of giants.

Get a Hobby

This bit of advice kind of trails from the previous one – to treat your program as a job.  As with any line of work, there should be time made to pull away from work and focus on other areas of one’s life.  Many of the current PhD students I ran into while visiting UCLA emphasized these words of wisdom: Get a hobby.

Find something that you are serious about, something that you enjoy and that energizes and motivates you.  For me, that hobby will most likely be singing once I start my program or some other musical endeavor.  It relaxes me and makes me feel as though I am still working on something worthwhile.

Most importantly, I know from my experience as an undergraduate that singing in a choir takes my focus away from the more pressing work that I have to do; when I am ready to return to my academic work, I am more rejuvenated and less stressed than if I didn’t have that outlet.

Either that or I might take up Kung Fu.

The post 3 Pieces of Advice for the New Graduate Student appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Last year, many tuned into the most talked about finale since the lights went out on Tony Soprano. We watched, spellbound, as (spoiler alert!) Walter White, the protagonist of AMC’s hit show Breaking Bad, reached a fitting apotheosis: bleeding to death on the floor of a meth lab. For those who don’t know much about the show, Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher, bespectacled and pathetic, going nowhere in life. Then he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Over the course of five seasons, we watched as White transformed from a law-abiding father into the Southwest’s leading meth kingpin (For the uninitiated, that’s short for methamphetamine). What was truly gripping about this drama was our relationship with White: at first we rooted for him, hoping that he’d beat his cancer and the demons that long plagued him. But soon, as White traverses one moral boundary after another—actually, “completely obliterates” would be more apt—our affection is quickly colored with disbelief, and ultimately hardens into revulsion. Even before the beginning of the final season, many viewers found themselves rooting for the cancer.

So what do Walter White and his sordid saga have to do with the GRE? Well, hopefully I don’t ruffle any feathers, but I’ve decided to compare you—the GRE test taker—to Walter White. So if you adamantly believe (as most of us do) that White ended up a sociopathic bully without an iota of compassion (“I did it….because it felt good”), try not to take the comparison the wrong way. Hey, at least I’m not comparing you to Sal Rosenberg.

You’ll need to think of the endgame

Most drug dealers* are content with small scores. Sure, a little turf expansion is always part of the game. But as long as money is coming in, few are overcome with a Napoleonic desire for conquest. Walter White, however, loved power. For him the endgame was making sure his family (son Flynn and pregnant wife Skyler) would never have to worry about money again. To achieve this aim, White knew he had to find a supplier for his one-of-a-kind meth (remember, he was a chemistry teacher), and the bigger the supplier the better.

When it comes to taking the GRE, you can’t just start whipping through questions. You have to have a sense of how the problem set you are doing fits into the bigger picture. Are those question types the ones that you are struggling at? Are they questions from a topic covered a week back (you can’t just plow ahead learning new information)? Are you taking enough practice tests and reviewing them? Do you know what score increase you need, and have you broken that into weekly incremental improvements? Being able to answer these questions and come up with a well-devised game plan is to think as Walter White does.

*Disclaimer: I’ve never dealt drugs before. 

Keeping one step ahead of the enemy

At the story’s inception, Walter White was mainly besieged with personal insecurities (“I could have been a multimillionaire but my buddy stole that woman and my ideas and now I got these snot-nosed teenagers….”). By the end he beset on all sides: competing drug cartels, a slighted ex-partner, a relentless DEA brother, a hit man who always finishes the job, and, of course, the cancer.

What allowed White to gain such control in the first place was his intellect—and I’m not just talking about how he MacGyvered bombs from houseplants (okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration). What made White so formidable was that he was always able to stay one step ahead of his enemies, however cunning they may have been (sorry Gus Fring).

With the GRE, you too will beset with enemies: the timer, the concepts, the diabolical twists, the convoluted syntax. You will need to anticipate these problems, even if it is something as seemingly innocuous as a little trick in math (percent increase vs. total increase). It’s those little details that kept Walter alive for five seasons, and what will keep you from squandering precious points test day.

How the GRE is like Walter White

Okay, I would be remiss as…well, a human being, if I held the sociopathic drug dealer as an exemplar for GRE prep. So to turn the tables a little, here is how the GRE is like Walter White, and how you can use that knowledge to your advantage.

The GRE math really isn’t only testing your ability with numbers. It’s testing your ability to pay close attention to the exact wording, to look for that one exception to the case. The GRE verbal isn’t necessarily about how well you understand the text. It’s also testing your ability to avoid choosing really, really tempting (shall, I say methamphetamine-level tempting) wrong answer choices.  In other words, the questions have been sedulously crafted with the same care that Walter White put into producing his much-coveted “Baby Blue.”

So, you are up against a true mastermind in the GRE. And your GRE scores will depend on how well you know your enemy and how well you know yourself—the mistakes you are likely to make, and any lapses of logic you’re likely to commit. You will have to think like Walter White, because you’ll be up against Walter White.

This post was written by Chris Lele, resident GRE expert at Magoosh, a leader in GRE prep. For help with GRE vocabulary, check out our free flashcards and Vocab Wednesday videos on the Magoosh GRE Blog.

The post 3 Ways the GRE is like Breaking Bad appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

….And it was the best thing I could have done.

For many recent graduates, the thought of being unemployed after graduation can evoke feelings of hopelessness and intense anxiety. After graduating college in 2009, I was one of those people who graduated without a job and needed to move home—I didn’t yet know what I wanted to do and I was petrified. I felt, for lack of a better word, like a loser, and it was hard to not compare myself to friends who had great jobs and were able to move out on their own.

At the time, it was also difficult for me to tell others that I was doing an internship after graduation and was technically unemployed. However, after having five years of experience to reflect on the year after graduation, graduating without a job was not the end of the world, moving home was a blessing, and my internship was the best thing I could have done in my situation. Many recent graduates struggle with the question, should I take an internship after graduation? Here are some reasons why you should:

1. It gives you time and experience.

After exploring and doing the research necessary to figure out what industry/area you want to target, an internship gives you the hands-on experience you will need to supplement your decision. Since you are gaining meaningful experience to put on your resume, the duration of the internship represents a period where you can further reflect, apply to jobs, and network as part of the job search process. Additionally, moving home after graduation gives you time to reflect on what you really want to do without the stresses of a deadline or a money crunch.

2. It builds your network.

If you work for a large company, you could begin making connections with many professionals in the industry that you are interested in during your internship. Most likely, these professionals have connections at other companies within the industry that they can connect you with, which increases your chances of landing that full-time job. If no job leads are uncovered from these connections in the near future, at the least you will gain great advice and insight from professionals who have broken into the industry.

3. It strengthens your resume.

Sometimes, as was the case with me, you do internships during your college career thinking you will pursue one career path, when you realize later on that career was not for you. If you don’t have any direct experience in the industry you are targeting, you may need to pursue an internship to get that relevant experience that is required of the entry-level jobs in your industry. An internship after graduation is a great option should the job search not turn up anything.

4. It has potential to lead to a full-time hire.

Many hiring managers feel more comfortable hiring employees that they’ve seen the work of or come recommended by fellow colleagues than just hiring through the interview process (this is the reason why networking is so important, but that’s another conversation!). According to a 2014 NACE report, the conversion rate for internships into full-time positions was 51.2%. As an intern, you have the opportunity to showcase your abilities, while being privy to any upcoming open positions in the company. Internships have become the “new interview” during the job search process. Having someone vouch for you at the company will be useful in getting an interview, and having knowledge of the company from the inside will help you shine during the interview.

Ironically, it was the friends who had full-time jobs after graduation and had moved out early on that were eventually the most jealous of me. Moving home after graduation enabled me to spend more time with my family members and to build up a nest egg (once I got a full-time job) that I could tap into when I moved out. Whatever your reason for getting an internship after graduation, or moving home, be sure to not be so hard on yourself. In actuality, graduating without a job after graduation is not the end of world, and you have many options, such as getting an internship, that can help you get to that goal.

The post I Graduated College, Moved Home, and Got an Internship appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Although nearly 73% of graduating seniors claim that they actively seek employment throughout senior year,  according to AfterCollege, 83% of the class of 2014 reported that they did not yet have a job lined up by April.

Going to a good school and achieving academic success are distinct advantages, but by no means are they the ticket to securing a great, or even good, job upon graduation.

The Career Services department of your college is not responsible for securing relevant internships for you or, for that matter, landing you a job.  They are however, responsible for providing you with the tools necessary to build your resume and the guidance to take ownership of your career prospects in this new employment market.  While early and ongoing meetings with Career Services and relevant internships should be mandatory in order to graduate, the onus is ultimately on you, the student, to take charge of your career path.  You do not have the luxury of waiting until senior year to realize that your summers spent working at camp, in the mall or at the local eatery did not gain you the requisite experience to land a professional position.

The 4 ways that you can prepare for life after college-

1. Start thinking about what you want to be when you ‘grow up’
   Shadow people to find out what career options are out there and to learn about your professional interests. Don’t worry — you can always change your mind later.
2. Source your network
   Reach out to family, friends, family friends, friends’ family, alum, members of your church or synagogue, local Chamber of Commerce and related trade associations for internship opportunities.
3. Find a mentor
   He or she can provide the right direction and can help you think about career options and how to progress. A mentor can assist you in believing in yourself, boost your confidence, and encourage you to explore new opportunities.
4. Become a campus leader
   Join or start a club on campus, plan events and invite speakers. Get involved!

All four of these actions involve building and growing a network that will naturally take you from freshman year to the first day on the job.  It is a journey, but one that can be exhilarating.  Make sure to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, ask smart questions and show gratitude along every step of the way.

Most important, when you are in that dream job, remember your humble beginnings and ‘pay it forward’ to that next timid freshman.

Heidi Fuchs is a Career Coach and Talent Acquisition Leader. She received her BS in Business with a concentration in Marketing and Communications from Touro College. You can follow her on Twitter @AgentMom18

The post 4 Ways to Prepare for Life After College appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Big changes in life often come with a measure of uncertainty, a blend of cautious optimism and fear of what the future may bring.  For college students, the bittersweet finality that graduation from their undergraduate studies represents is certainly one such occasion.  After the celebratory speeches and bagpipe songs concluded at my ceremony, I was brimming for quite a while with what I like to call the ‘graduate afterglow’.  Pride and wide smiles (and sometimes lays made of dollar bills and candy) abounded.

After a while, though, all of that pomp and circumstance fades, and recent graduates like me are left to face not only the challenges of a world that is still relatively unfamiliar, but the general opinion that our generation will be less successful than the one preceding us.

Now that we have at least temporarily rid ourselves of our student status – one we’ve held for at least 16 years, one that has gotten us many a discount on movie tickets and slices of pizza – what are we to do?

There’s a great big world out there, and sometimes it seems as though I have splashed head first into the job market’s equivalent of the middle of the ocean. This post-undergrad existential crisis can all get kind of overwhelming, but to get through it, just remember…

Don’t Panic!

Taking a piece of advice from one of my favorite books, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (read it, it’s seriously awesome!), don’t panic!  With all the negative predictions made about the future success of the Millennial generation¹, it can be kind of difficult to follow through with this whole not panicking thing, which makes it all the more important.

Take a step back, breathe, do some meditation, go outside and stop your mind’s endless tumble for just a short moment, and trust me you will feel much more refreshed.  The expectations we have of ourselves as young adults, especially as BA-degree holding adults, can crowd our thoughts when we don’t immediately meet them.

Why don’t I have a good paying job yet?  Why haven’t I moved out yet?  Why haven’t I done X, Y, or Z that others seem to have managed just fine?

Those questions wreak havoc on my nerves if I let them, but I try to step outside of the fear that I will never get to where I want to go, and remind myself that I still have my whole life ahead of me.  I remind myself that I still have time to become successful, that I am young, and that landing my dream job, and making dream job amounts of money to buy my dream house won’t happen overnight.

Try to remind yourself of the things you do have going for yourself, the things you have achieved, and make an effort to stay positive about the things you will accomplish, and the goals you are excited to pursue.  Sometimes, it’s that positivity that makes all the difference.

Where do you want to go?

Speaking of goals, what are yours?  You’ve gotten through those four (or five, or six, or…) years of college to finally get your Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, and that was a fantastic achievement.  Congratulations!

But now what?

After you take your deep, non-panicky breaths, sit down and get out a piece of paper.  Now that you are a certifiable adult, you can really choose what way you want to occupy the 24 hours of your day.

Start with your career plans: don’t just put “I want a good paying job,” because for our purposes we’ll just assume that’s a given.  But what kind of job do you want?  What kind of activities do you want to do?  I would love to do research on the political economy of developing countries and delve into the ways a country’s populace interacts with its political institutions.  It’s what gets my blood pumping and puts a smile on my face.

What about you?  What are you so passionate about that you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life?  Write that down.

Now add a bunch of projects, hobbies, and other, not entirely career-related, things.  Personally, I love baking pastries.  In fact, I love it so much that sometimes I think that I’d like to own a small bakery café.  Is it what I went to school for?  No.  Is it something I have any official experience with? Not yet.  But I could.

I play the piano, and would like to volunteer to play at nursing homes and hospices the way I did when I was younger.

I like to write, and would like to eventually publish a novel and some small collections of poetry.

So on my list, I’d write all of this.  You do the same, write down everything you have a genuine interest in doing or learning.  Do you want to become a professional surfer on the side?  Write that down.  Do you want to start a nonprofit to combat gentrification and urban poverty?  Definitely write that down.

Then, when you are all done with the list, write this at the top:  This list is a reminder that I can do many things, but that I don’t have to do everything.  It is my choice, because it is my life to live.

Stay Active

Remember that list I told you to make? Okay, take it out.  Whenever you start feeling overwhelmed by the sudden realization that you are in fact an educated, full-on adult working at Starbucks (or maybe still looking for work), pull the list out and start doing something on it.

Take a part-time job, learn HTML and CSS coding, volunteer at a soup kitchen over the holidays, learn to play the violin… do something.  When in college, it is almost too easy to get involved and to stay active in your community.  Posters, Club Rush Week, and academic advisers are always more than happy to point you to the newest on-campus community service organization, job fair and student-run music ensemble.  But once graduated, it falls upon us to actively search for social, recreational and community-oriented activities.

I would say, don’t worry about whether you are measuring up to society’s – or your – expectations of who you should be yet.  There is time to get where you want to go, and now that you’ve made your list, you’ve already created a roadmap with several clearly marked destinations (some a bit closer than others).

Staying active by working on community-service projects, learning new skills, or joining any number of local organizations will not only make it easier to stay panic-free about the future, but it may also serve as the launching point for a new passion or a new goal.

Get connected!

This final bit of advice is pretty straightforward: Meet new people and stay in touch with old connections.  Meeting a friend to talk about international politics over coffee, or doing something as simple as sending a ‘Happy Holidays’ card to my last supervisor, does wonders as far as pulling me out of my post-undergraduate blues.

It is a great way to lift your mood when you are in a slump, not only because you can connect with a familiar face or a new kindred spirit, but also because you are being productive by maintaining a strong and connected network.  A healthy social life can also help you out as far as pulling out that list I keep bringing up, because just meeting with someone can open opportunities for growth and new experiences.

Shaking off the lethargy that comes with insecurity surrounding any big change is definitely easier said than done, because it is so easy to fall into comfortable idleness.  But just remember, that opportunity and success may be closer than you think.

All you need to do is take a deep breath, figure out where you’d like to go and who you’d like to go with, and jump in.

The post How to Not Get Depressed When You Graduate College appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

2.  Don’t let the math make you panic. 

3. Flashcards, people.  Flashcards. 

4.  Take as many practice tests as you can. 

5. Every essay prompt you may be given is already online.  Don’t let it go to waste. 

The post The GRE: 5 Important Steps to Help You Prepare appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

We’ve all been there, lost in the clouds, assuming that when we graduate from college everything will be right in the world and we will be continuing on the road to success. But what about everything that college didn’t prepare us for? Like how to budget? Or how to deal with unemployment? Transitioning from the pandering college utopia to the monotonous and unpredictable working life can be a difficult process, but here are a few ways to make it seamless:

1. Saving Money

I recently rounded up the latest newspaper ads for three different grocery stores and went through each one to determine which prices were most affordable. To my surprise, there was a substantial difference between the stores; the most and least expensive produce often with a dollar per pound in difference. That might not seem like much, but when you are buying a few pounds of apples or cherries, it can add up quickly. Different stores may have better deals for various products. For example, Grocery Store A might have better deals on produce, but may be more expensive in the dairy or meat sections. So determine which stores have better deals on which products in order to get the best prices. Spending a little bit of time to figure this out will save you money down the road.

2. Budgeting and Meal Planning go Hand-in-hand

Budgeting can seem difficult, especially when you are transitioning from college life to working full-time, but when done correctly, you can save a lot of money. Make a decision (before you go shopping) on the amount of money you want to spend. I know someone who spends about $50 a week on groceries for her family of three so it can be done! Determine how many meals you are going to buy and plan them out for each day. If you are working full-time, it might be a good idea to invest in a crock-pot where meals are ready by the time you get home. Another good tip is to remember that the store brand is often less expensive and tastes just as good as the more recognizable packaged and more advertised brand you see on TV.

3. Learn to Plan Ahead

I remember waking up ten minutes before class and rushing off only to hear my stomach growling in the middle of the lecture. Good thing the class was only an hour long and I could come straight back to my dorm for breakfast. When working full-time, this luxury is no longer available. You have to plan to eat breakfast beforehand and take lunch with you. If you are good at planning, you are more likely to save money. I say this, because on occasion, I have previously ended up not making a lunch and eating out during my lunch hour, spending about $7 a meal. Had I packed a sandwich, wrap, or previous night’s leftovers, I would have ended up saving a lot of money. Ultimatum: Planning is Good.

4. Junior Year Prep

Leading up to graduation, most of us college students tend to believe that getting a job will be a breeze, now that we have a degree. Think again. While some people get job offers straight out of college, they have probably either been accepted into a professional program that leads to full-time employment, or have had experience at an internship that has decided to hire them. This is why it is crucial to think about your options before graduation, especially 6-12 months before you graduate. Junior year is an excellent time to be applying for internships that peak your interest and will no doubt help you gain experience and network with a company. Many times, these internships will lead to full-time jobs after graduation. My tip to you: Look for internships your junior year so you can gain valuable experience before you graduate.

5. Unemployment

Alas, you have worked and worked for four years, finally graduated, applied for numerous jobs, but haven’t heard back from anyone. What do you do? My suggestion is to look at companies that you are interested in working for and look at every job opening that they have listed. Although it may not be your dream position, this is the best way to get the inside scoop within the company. In fact, this is a great opportunity for you to prove yourself while learning more about the company. Best of all, you will be able to hear about any job opportunities first-hand and likely be able to apply before any external people. And if they like you, perhaps they will even offer you the better position when it opens up. Believe me; I’ve seen it happen!

Be sure to leave any other tips or insight in the comment section below! I would love to hear your suggestions!

The post 5 Things They Won’t Teach You At University appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

As an intern, you’ll certainly want to prove yourself. Keeping your nose to the proverbial grindstone may be one way to show everyone what you can do. But coming up for air to look around and learn about the kinds of positions you’d love to have in the future is just as important. Whose job would you like to have one day? Find out what it takes to get there. Look at the job postings for similar positions and see what’s required. In business, you’ll be surprised to see how many job descriptions say, “MBA strongly preferred” or “MBA required”.

If an MBA is necessary for your dream career, then setting yourself up to jump that hurdle as easily as possible will be a great advantage. Over the past few years, getting an MBA, especially from a top business school, has evolved into a more challenging game. In particular, the GMAT exam, which is required by many business schools, has become more competitive. And the competition has become more international. Every year since 2009, more people have taken the GMAT outside the U.S. than inside, and the number of people taking the exam in countries such as China, India, and Russia grows rapidly. At the same time, average GMAT scores at many business schools have inched up, another sign that the bar has been raised.

A visit to any online GMAT forum reveals that aspiring business school students often study intensively for three to six months, and in many cases, for a year or more. Along the way, they frequently study stacks of books, complete several practice exams, and take the real exam multiple times. Fortunately, for most business schools, only your highest score matters.

So if your vision for the future includes an MBA, you’ll maximize your chances of attending the best business school possible by not only getting good grades in college and building solid professional experiences, but also investing the time to achieve your highest possible GMAT score. For planning purposes, also consider that many business schools have multiple application rounds. In general, it is most advantageous to apply in the first round, which usually has deadlines in early October. Second round, typically with deadlines in the first week of January, is not a bad fallback. Later rounds (after the second), however, can be significantly more competitive. Ideally, you’ll want to finish the GMAT early enough to have ample time (2+ months) to craft well-polished, customized applications that explain how your background + MBA = your high-paying dream career.

The post Keep Looking Up: You May Need an MBA to Get There appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Kristle Domondon for Student Stories. 

Time and time again you’ve been told to do what makes you happy.

For four years, I’ve studied US Politics, and call me crazy, but I enjoyed reading historic court cases for hours on end and writing about it.

Today, the job market looks bleak for just about anyone who’s not a technology specialist. If you’re like me, it almost seems like those with a BA in the humanities are suffering the most.

And many of us have grown accustomed to the school system; waking up at 8am, having our parents take us to school just before the first bell rings. Or that day when finally we could take ourselves to school.

So coping without it may be harder for others, while some rejoice in their freedom upon graduation. Others continue on to college while some begin their job search. For those that continue on to college and stay there long enough to earn a degree, graduation is a milestone.

Up to that point, the average amount of life years of a student is 16. That’s a long time. When that routine ends in abruptness, you realize just how quickly time went by and how from that point on, everything you do is in your hands.

What you may not realize is in that moment is sitting alongside you is about 7,000 graduates who have the same goal that you do—to find a good paying job.

At the same time, thousands of colleges around the world are having graduation ceremonies. That means there are probably more than 700,000 (give or take) who will have all graduated, at the same time as you, some in the same field of study, and your same degree. Ok you have a degree in a saturated job market with thousands of applicants still awaiting an answer with the only thing to show for it is debt.

So what do you do?

Here are 5 tips on handling the work-life balance after graduating college:

1. If you have difficulty finding jobs in your major of study, venture out. Don’t limit yourself to your expertise.

Sure, you graduated with a degree in business. But who says you can’t use that degree when applying to that teaching position or IT job?

Many people think that once you’ve studied with a specific field of study for a long time, that you can’t or that you shouldn’t start studying different in post-secondary school.

Yes, you can. And you should.

Don’t limit yourself to your expertise. Being the jack of all trades can benefit you when applying for jobs. Along the way, you might even discover a different passion.

2. Look for jobs in other places. Be fearless. Spread your wings.

You’re no longer in school – no more fake doctor’s notes or unexcused absences! You’re free.

That moment I finished school, I felt a sense of uncomfortable relief. I knew I no longer had to sit through four hour classes but it also meant I had to start figuring out what to do in all that free time.

I started my job search in a week’s time. Naturally, I started looking for jobs near me. Months went by and I realized, it was not going to happen. I had to look elsewhere.

But just how far did I have to look? With the high-cost of gas prices, I took commuting time into consideration. Living in Los Angeles will force you to do that. But I learned the hard way that these other factors become miniscule when it’s hard to find a job in your hometown.

Everyday I found myself at a local café sending out cover letters and formatting my resume. For every 20-30 resumes I sent out, I got 1 reply. That’s when I began to broaden my search area and started looking for jobs overseas.

When searching, I found that the job market was in demand for college graduates abroad, in almost every field. Before I could even begin to think or worry about stepping out of my comfort zone, that is— the place I’ve called home, I had to first secure an opportunity.

3. On your quest to developing your career, include internships and volunteer opportunities in your search.

The process of applying for jobs and receiving a response can be painstaking. It can take weeks, or months for a reply while you wait around patiently wondering if you’re what the employer is looking for.

Consider this while you wait: Apply for internships (paid and unpaid) and volunteer opportunities in your area.

I applied to a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, and was lucky enough to get a quick response. What was supposed to be only temporary turned into a two-year volunteer job. During my time there, I learned things like knowing how to draft a 501(c) business plan, how to use software programs like GiftWorks and SalesForce, and understanding how to successfully plan a fundraising event.

In addition to equipping you with the tools deemed valuable for career development, networking can play a big role.

Networking in today’s age is one of the top ways you can get a job.

I was fortunate enough to work in a cozy office where my co-workers worked at most 10 ft. away from me in all directions, often spawning early morning coffee chats. The experiences you will have at your perspective internship and/or volunteer job are worthy information that not only you can add at the bottom of your resume under skills, but can also impress your future employers when you show them just how valuable you are.

4. Your Job Resume.

When thinking about what to put in your resume, be simple yet informative.

I once had a professor who told me, “If you want to stand out in a sea of applicants, the first thing you shouldn’t do is use a Microsoft Word resume template.”

The moment I reformatted my resume to fit my needs, I started getting replies. Some tips I found useful: 

• To stand out,  figure out the best way you can say the most about you in a concise and neat way, and if possible, on one page.
• Since most employers go through hundreds of resumes a day, it’s important to draw the reader in from the start. So pull the reader in with a title or achievement of yours.

Now, I am by no means a resume expert; all I can give you is advice from my experiences. Your resume is a representation of you so spend a significant time on it and have different formats of it saved on your computer to cater to differing employer needs.

5. Most importantly, broaden your life resume.

Your job resume is not your life resume.

Many people forget to travel and see what’s out there. We’ve spent years listening to class lectures and reading (and paying) for textbooks but don’t apply that knowledge in real life.

Sure, we don’t have enough time, or money to travel but make it your mission to someday breathe different air or see the wonders of the world.

On your job resume you can put you learned Japanese. But on your life’s resume, you can add that you studied Japanese tea ceremonies or took aikido lessons.

These are invaluable things that make you more than just a viable candidate for a job, but a well-rounded person.

About the Author:

Kristle Domondon is currently a Foreign English teacher in Japan and hopes to inspire her students to reach their English goals. Hit with the travel bug, she’s made it her purpose to travel to nearby countries and learn about their different cultures and traditions. She is currently studying Japanese and hopes to go to law school in the near future. Her email address is kristle.domondon@gmail.com.

The post What to do after graduation? Using your degree to its fullest potential appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Brittany Spear for Student Stories. 

I’ve been told time and time again that college is our greatest time for growth and change – but I disagree. While college is a place with a wealth of opportunity for new experiences and ways to grow your character, it was nothing in comparison to the experiences that awaited me in the post-graduation world of job searches, work, and discovery.

A year ago, I was sitting in my senior year college house, a month away from graduation and still jobless, having just been turned down from the two full-time jobs I had been applying to for the past two months. I had no plan, no direction, and no idea what I was doing. In a few words, I was half-paralyzed with fear over the undetermined future before me.
A year later, I’ve applied for hundreds of different jobs via internet searches, Craigslist, local listings, and list serves; interviewed for approximately twenty of them; accepted five of them; worked four of them; and moved from Ohio to Washington D.C. to Maine and then to Iowa, with the intention of moving to Virginia after a three-week stay in Costa Rica. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My turn-filled journey placed me as an unpaid intern for an online magazine; as a mess mate aboard the Mary Day, a 90 foot schooner in the Penobscot Bay of Maine; as a copy writer and quality assurance specialist for an advertising company in Iowa; and as a server at a local brewery, with a job as a group leader at an alternative school in Virginia lined up. I have quit an internship, left a job due to the closing of the season, been laid off due to company restructuring, and have had to leave another job due to an impending move, all in less time than it takes to complete freshman year.

I’ve turned down an intriguing, well-paying, long-term office job in Washington D.C. in order to work for a month and a half as an assistant cook on a boat, trading a cozy existence for the adventure of a lifetime because I was finally free to do so. I’ve seen the beautiful expanse of the Milky Way while treading water in the Penobscot Bay at night as my steadily paddling hands trailed iridescent phosphorescent light. I’ve experienced the rising of the sun along the bay as I’ve woken up to start working at 6:00AM, not stopping until the dinner dishes were done at 8:45PM, learning how to push through long hours.

I’ve climbed to the top of the mast of a schooner and felt like I was on top of the world as I looked into the open horizon before me. I’ve learned to cook while standing on a floor at a 40 degree angle while wind whips into the ship’s sails. I’ve been seasick, dealt with long hours and tasking demands, been cut off from the Internet for days at a time, and been rewarded with amazing memories time and time again all because I decided to Google “adventure jobs” and see where one might take me.

I’ve moved halfway across the country just to see what it was like to live in Iowa, to work at an office job, and to live on my own, doing a complete 180 from the adventuring, service-oriented job I had grown to love. I’ve put my creative writing degree to practice, writing copy for hundreds of websites and proofreading hundreds more. I’ve experienced the loneliness that comes with living on your own in a new city in a new state, with no one you know within a 150 mile radius, and learned how to cope with those feelings by finding new hobbies and activities. I’ve learned how to make friends from random chances and in the most unlikely of places, learning that it’s not where you are living that makes the experience but who you meet and who you are with.

I’ve had doubts and worries about what I’ve wanted to do with my life, comparing myself to the successes of my peers and feeling like I was falling short. I’ve faced indecision time and time again over my choices like any other 20-something is bound to do. I‘ve learned that an office job just isn’t for me. And I’ve learned how to sit down, take a hard look in the mirror, and figure out what I really want.

What I really want might change in a month or a year. Maybe it’ll take two years, or five. But the change I’ve experienced in the past year has shown me that it’s okay to change your mind and to grow as a person, to crave new experiences and a new way of life, regardless of how long you’ve been in your current place. So while I’m extremely excited to be heading into a job as a group leader and along a path that I could viably see turning into a career, I feel safe in the notion that I can always change my mind down the road.

A year ago, I was anxious and stressed out, confined to the belief that the best four years of my life, the four years that would be filled with the best experiences and the most tremendous growth, had just passed me by. But living in the world outside of the prescribed path for just a year has exposed me to more fantastical things, more change, and more growth than I feel that some people experience in their entire lifetime. All it took was the courage to see past expectation and free fall into the exciting unknown.

My year in flux allowed me to take a hard look at what I might want while exposing me to many different types of lifestyle, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Sometimes wandering off of the beaten path is what helps you find where you are truly meant to wander.

About the Author: 

Brittany Spear is a recent college graduate on a continuous search for meaning, fun, and adventure in her jobs and her life. In her spare time, she enjoys writing fiction and planning her next travel adventure. You can follow Brittany’s latest adventure on her blog.

The post Embracing the Exciting Unknown of Your First Post-Grad Year appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Kirsten Anderson for Student Stories.

It’s April 2013 and I am eagerly awaiting my graduation ceremony on the 18^th. Things will be different; I will no longer be a student slaving away at assignments and can finally do what I want to do; achieve goals that I sacrificed in order to attain a college degree; I cannot wait to be finished.

Fast forward a few months and I’m wishing I were still a student. Trading my Spring Breaks and three-day-a-week class schedule for working full-time at a coffee shop was not my idea of post-graduation life. To say the least, post-graduation life was not what I expected. That’s not to say that graduating wasn’t what I wanted – I just had different expectations.

Most students expect to get a salaried job worthy of a four-year degree. But in the current circumstances of this country, that isn’t always the case. In fact, I found myself working with high schoolers and people who had never gone to college when I first graduated and began working at a coffee shop. As much as I can complain about not landing my dream job straight out of college, these smaller jobs have allowed me to start thinking about where I want to go and what I would like to do.
In fact, in the past year I have managed to buy a car and save money while still making time for myself. In saying that, I have learned that the importance of having a work-life balance could not be more prominent in keeping one’s sanity. Although I work 40 hours a week, I have not only starred as a supporting role in a play, but have managed to spend a week in the mountains skiing with my dad and brother, and spent time with friends on a regular basis.

While many of us graduate and are dissatisfied with our first post-college jobs, I truly believe that these jobs are an important part of our journey to not only gain experience for our future careers, but to find out who we are as a person. For instance, I have learned that banking is probably not in my future, and this has challenged me to think about what I would really like to pursue. On the other hand, being a teller has allowed me to save and manage my money in a responsible way. In saying this, I encourage you to look at these jobs as stepping-stones for your goals, dreams, and aspirations; learning opportunities for future endeavors; rather than disappointments.

So my tips to you are:

• Create a list of goals and a timeline to accomplish them.
• Look for opportunities to learn in the jobs leading up to your career.
• Create a work-life balance by pursuing a hobby or passion (ie: photography, baking, writing, etc.).
• Network: talk to everyone you encounter – a lot of times people get jobs through connections.
• Don’t give up – just because you aren’t where you expected to be after college, doesn’t mean you won’t get there – be patient.

About the Author:

Kirsten Anderson is a 22-year-old graduate from Macquarie University in Australia where she originally went on exchange and later transferred to after falling in love with the country. After graduating she has been both a barista and a teller while saving money to move to Atlanta, Georgia where she would like to pursue a career in film/television. She enjoys travelling, warm weather, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.

The post Navigating the Post-College World appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Drew Rauso for Student Stories. 

Look at the title of this post.  Now look back here.  I assume 95 percent of you readers are now expecting that the next five minutes will outline a substantial problem and then offer a solution to said dilemma.  While I would like to think that I have stumbled upon some hidden treasure (i.e., just call me Nicholas Cage and we’ll have a third National Treasure movie already), I will humbly admit that everyone will already know the answers when I arrive at them.  So why keep reading?  Because you didn’t know you knew them!

 As a journalism major, I have had to deal with the statement that my industry is dying, newspapers are dying, no one needs reporters anymore, etc. With this “dying” industry comes one undeniable truth: media companies (at least most media companies) have no money.  And what does this statement mean to the still-in-school student?  The internships you’re applying to? They will not pay you.
And herein lies the biggest dilemma our generation has faced since all that ended: compensation is in experience, not monetary value.  Now, I will be the first to say that I completely stand by internships and the experience they provide.  I have developed excellent contacts and relationships through my internships (more on that later), and realize they are crucial for entry-level jobs and taking the next step in a professional career.  The importance of them partly stems from the fact that the coffee-bringing, dry-clean picker-upper internship of yore has largely gone extinct.  However, this only exacerbates the problem; talented students are working for companies that ten years ago, paid employees were doing the same tasks, except now they get slapped with an “Intern Joe Smith” name tag and receive college credit instead of cash.

With more and more colleges requiring internships before graduation, this is a recipe for disaster, or more realistically, a vicious cycle in which college students are forced to take internships that deplete their bank accounts in the hopes of a payoff down the road, which is definitely not a guarantee.

I am, however unfortunate it may be, the former intern of 4 (count ‘em 4!) unpaid positions.  Granted, one was a theater festival and one is billed as a class at school, but for all intents and purposes, they have been real-world experiences that have not paid a dime. Now, I met fantastic people and have great references from those positions, as well as awesome experience.  The one great thing about unpaid internships is that while you get to experience the industry and do real-world work, since the company isn’t paying you, there is a large focus on learning on-the-job, which was extremely useful.  I got to ask tons of questions, was connected to other professionals and basically be a student in the field.

In recap, I am the former recipient of a system that encourages experience over money.  While still frantically clinging to a social life, that means I have to produce some sort of income while at school through whatever means necessary, and thus, I present to you, Drew the Intramural Soccer Referee.  So, in my last semester at school, I manage 15 credits, an internship (three of the 15, but 18 hours a week) and a job.  I’m not looking for sympathy nor praise, I am just saying that in order to make money, I have to spend time I could be using to further my journalism portfolio, or taking away from other projects, in order to scrape together some cash.

I know there has been a lot of talk about banning unpaid internships, but until there is any actual bill, I’m not impressed. The situation is hurting companies (possibly losing out on qualified, talented students who cannot afford to apply for an unpaid position), students (those taking unpaid positions struggle financially in the short term afterwards and those who can’t for reasons just mentioned) and schools (employment success of schools’ students may drop due to lack of internship experience).

Unpaid internships need to end.  If that is seemingly impossible, which I just cannot believe to be true, then another solution needs to be developed, such as allocating more scholarships to students taking on unpaid positions.  I know that internships are vitally important and that culture cannot change, but please, make them more bearable beyond the hopeful dream that struggling to have some money in the pockets during school will payoff in the long run.

About the Author:

Drew Rauso is a senior at the University of Maryland studying multi-platform journalism.  He enjoys sports, travel and photography, and can be found discovering the best new coffee shop. Follow his day-to-day adventures on Twitter @DrewbieFresh.

The post The Problem Facing Students Entering the Professional World appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post Kayluis X. Peña for Student Stories. 

“Go to college they said. You’ll get a job they said.” This is a joke I’ve repeated several times in the last few weeks. Every time I mumble it to any graduating senior they laugh. Not the type of laugh that you get after watching smack cam videos on Vine, but the kind of nervous, so true laugh that screams out ‘OMG, I understand’.That laugh is comforting because it symbolizes that I’m not alone.

So if you’re a graduating senior with no post-grad plans, a junior confused about what you want to do, a sophomore still fumbling between studying medicine or English or a freshman thinking about which house party to crash this weekend, I want to laugh with you today and tell you that you are not alone. And if your parents are anything like mine they are still telling you to change your major to nursing (“quick money”), or asking you why you didn’t have a job lined up 2 years ago.

However do not fret, although I still don’t have a job, my last 4 years have qualified me to share a few tips on how to keep your cool while figuring out school (that rhymed) with you.

 1. Do your research. (Excel is your friend)

There is nothing worse than looking into grad school, or a job, or anything really without organization. At the beginning of my search I couldn’t remember where I applied, where I wanted to apply, or the contact info of key people. I quickly realized that an excel worksheet can give one peace of mind. Set it up by employer name, their contact info, job requirements, salary, location, so on and so forth. The amount of sanity this will give you is priceless.

2. Refine your resume. (Make your resume compete)

A resume is usually the first thing a recruiter looks at and one that doesn’t match the job can ruin your chances. I am personally looking for a career within a more creative setting (advertising/pr) and my businessy resume was not making the cut. It was complete and thorough, but boring. I added a little color and changed a few fonts and I landed an interview a week after.

3. Clean your social media. (My Twitter cost me a job. I think)

I have this weird theory that my Twitter kept me from landing a few jobs. I didn’t necessarily tweet anything too crazy, but I was known for tweeting a few four-letter words here and there. However, employers probably do not want you using those words in the office so why use them online? This being said you may want to put your accounts on private if you just can’t bring yourself to part with your rants, but if you’re like me and can’t stand not being ‘retweetable’ then you should consider cleaning up your image a little.

4. Pool your resources. (Email, Email, Email, even if you think you’re being annoying)

I’ve realized that the phrase ‘it’s who you know’ is more than just a catchy phrase, it’s the dang truth! It is one thing to submit your resume through a website hoping that they happen to look at it and think that it’s worthy of an interview, it’s another to send it directly to a key person’s inbox. Pool your resources. Contact your contacts and ask them to put you in contact with their contacts. Join groups that you have things in common with on LinkedIn (Greek life, major, companies). Do not delete your Facebook; one of those friends you have accumulated since middle school could be the key to your career, all you have to do is find out who.

5. Know your dreams. Follow them. You’re great. Don’t give up. (Where there’s a will there’s a way)

I have never been to NY, or LA, or Seattle, but it’s where I want to end up. For some reason that’s where my heart tells me to go so that’s where I’m aiming for. It’s okay if at first you land somewhere that doesn’t feel right; use that as a stepping stone to get to where you want to be, where you need to be. Life is too short for settling. As of now I don’t have anything set up, but contact me in 5 years and I’ll bet I’ll be cruising through the star-lined streets of Hollywood, walking my dog through central park, or enjoying a macchiato at the original Starbucks. I’m determined and you should be to.

 ** Now, for the most important advice that I can share with you: A little white lie to your parents never hurt anyone. If they are obsessed with the idea of you going to grad school, but you just don’t see that in your cards, just tell them that you are “looking into different programs”. Naming a few different schools will build you credibility too. This will help you avoid an argument and save you a few headaches. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re doing what you love. And your parents will eventually forgive you because, let’s face it, they have to.

Good luck to you!

About the Author: 

I am a graduating senior at Florida State University (Go Noles!) where I study marketing, media & communications studies. I wanted to be an actor, a newscaster, a reality TV star, and recently an advertising executive. I like to make people laugh and I’m a strong believer of not taking life too seriously. I probably use social media way too much, so follow my journey @KayloQue.

The post Keep Cool while Figuring out Life After School appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

The day of commencement is embarking on a new beginning. After the excitement, it’s time to land that dream job, or let alone “a job.” I’m currently riding the luxury retail wave at Neiman Marcus. Chanel this, Celine that, and oh, let’s not forget the Manolos.

The transition from a free-spirited college student in a campus with a river carved in the middle to a working woman stuck in a traffic-mania highway with a multi-million-dollar department could send anyone into a whirlpool of reality. In a span of six months, company principles and that 8 a.m. alarm feels like a blissful Saturday morning! However, that’s if you’re able to manage your work and personal life properly, key word: properly.

Last August, I started at Neiman’s not knowing the magnitude of the newly created position. The roles include Chanel and Celine merchandising, jaw-dropping stock inventory, and organizing (lots and lots of organizing). After a day’s work, the brain desires a cheap happy hour, hot yoga, or Netflixing. The first month, I was too tired to have a social life. My daily routine: Work. Sleep. Work. By the fourth month though, I had a handle on my position, met the power players, and could blaze through stock inventory with ease.
I felt like the queen of the world, scheduling all appointments in my iPhone.

Monday: Yoga, Tuesday: Cleaning day, Wednesday: Yoga, Thursday: Weights, Friday: Run then dinner with friends. My personal life was falling into place, which included sleep, friends, and fitness. It’s important to have a planner, Siri, or caveman style: your hand.

Ideas and tasks race through our minds at astronomical speeds. Don’t lose your boss’ request during the hectic morning. Later, they’ll promptly ask, “Did we finish creating next week’s schedule??” And then you’re stuck nodding like “Crap, I forgot”, but answering, “Yes, almost finished!” Lies! So don’t let the frivolous things amount to avoidable problems.

From my own personal experience,  I advise to rely on your schedule but don’t forget to leave some quality time to recharge. Give your mind, soul and body time to rest. My restorative replenishment is yoga and spending time with close friends. Once you’re on a daily schedule, stick to your appointments and only deviate when it’s necessary. Don’t deviate too often; you’ll be back at square one trying to rebuild your fortress. Be good to yourself.

A yogi once said, “The highest point of yesterday should be the lowest point of today.”

Okay, now you’re on the path to organizing your life’s schedule, so the next step is prioritizing your career development. Networking is the most valued skill to possess right now. Especially working at Neiman Marcus, so many professionals could arrange a game-changing conversation. Currently, I’m fostering relationships on LinkedIn, but don’t forget your local university chapters. Just because you’ve graduated doesn’t mean you’re venturing this path alone. Texas State hosts monthly mixers for graduates to mingle with Bobcat professionals in any given city. It’s awesome because you’re chanting your school’s Alma mater while planning how to propel your future. Frankly, that’s the best!

More ways I prioritize is accepting additional tasks outside my job description and not being closed-minded. I’ve realized that I want to specialize in fashion and communication rather than solely integrate myself into the retail industry. I plan to work closely with my boss and gain as much information as possible. Continually, I’m molding myself into a valued candidate. It’s important for employers to evaluate how your actions are implemented. My boss knows I love to be challenged, so I’m constantly presented with stimulating tasks. It’ll be recognized in your annual review. That review leads to a solid recommendation letter or even better, a phone call!

The road after college is definitely rough and hilly, and not every adventure will spawn a reward. If you stay humbled, organized, and focused, you will one day achieve your goals. Never be discouraged. Yes, your friend may look fabulous flaunting her dream job on Instagram, while you’re deciphering if you can afford your monthly ten-dollar Netflix account! That’s when life gets real.

But just know your time will come. Do not simply be patient, be pro-active. There is a huge difference between the two. Now, run with this knowledge and blow out the competition. Stay intrigued and keep believing!

About the Author: 

Sammantha Johnson is a fresh college graduate from Texas State University, with a B.A. Mass Communication & Electronic Media. She is currently discovering this jungle called life. She takes pride in fusing the fashion and digital marketing industries. Shocker, she majored in Mass Communication & Electronic Media!! Her passion lies within social media, individuality, and fabulous handbags! Ultimately, her goal is to establish a media agency and a non-profit organization supporting aspiring videographers and photographers. Follow Sammanthajohnson.com covering fashion, technology, and culture. Find her on LinkedIn.

The post Don’t Fret, It’s Only Reality appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Guest post by Joe Hanson, blogging intern for the free hiring platform SmartRecruiters

Don’t panic! You’ve graduated, you’re job hunting, and you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Or you’ve been in a job you don’t enjoy for the past couple months, and you’re looking for a major career change, but you have no idea what that career change is. These are scary thoughts, but many young adults ask themselves the question, “What should I do with my life?”

Some of you might be thinking, “I’ll just go to grad school,” or “I’ll go back and get my MBA until I figure things out,” when you feel like you lack the passions to drive you in the right direction. I grew to despise a job I held for 6 months before having these thoughts. I began going to information sessions for graduate programs and teaching credentials, rushing into the thought that I needed more school to find out what I wanted to do. But if you’re going to go to graduate school, be sure that you already know what you want to do.

Instead of going to graduate school, I decided to find an internship at a small startup. Graduate school not only required a major time commitment, but also a major financial commitment. If you don’t know what you want to do in life, an internship is a cost effective way to learn what you want to do. Here are 3 reasons why I decided to do an internship instead of going back to school.

1. Wear Many Hats

As a graduate student, there’s a good chance that you will–for years–only learn about whatever your degree is in. Which begs the question, what if you don’t know what you want to do yet? You’ll be committing thousands of dollars and a couple years towards a master’s degree, so be sure you’ve picked the correct one for you. On the other hand, with an internship, you have the opportunity to wear many hats, gaining access to several different departments and employees. Even more importantly, you get to try new things, finding out what you enjoy doing and what your strengths are. The opportunity to take on different roles and responsibilities may help direct you in a career path that you otherwise wouldn’t have known existed. Graduate programs can be very tunnel-visioned, depending on what program you pick, so there may not be an opportunity to expand your horizons.

2. Learn By Doing

My alma mater, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has the motto “Learn By Doing,” and the hands-on approach of an internship gives you just that. As an intern, I’ve learned more than I learned in the classroom, developing and improving my skills in a number of different areas. The hands-on experience you can get out of an internship is extremely valuable in developing yourself early in your work career. I like to say, to learn to swim, you have to get in the water. In disrupting the recruiting industry with SmartRecruiters, I’ve learned things as diverse as how to promote and cover an event, how to optimize a blog post, and how to write a kickass email. Depending on your graduate program, you may not have to opportunity to try the career you are working towards, knowing if you actually like it or not.

3. Build Your Professional Portfolio

Whether you’re a business development, accounting, or design intern, you can build a portfolio of your work. At an internship, you’ll work on several projects, all that can be used when job hunting and interviewing in the future. Your portfolio doesn’t just have to be tangible works, but can also be achievements that you accomplished as an intern. No matter what your project or work was, if it has quality, it can show a future employer that you would be a valuable asset to their company. Many graduate programs have you work towards one large project which is beneficial to your area of study. But say you go to graduate school for English, only to find out that you really want to do graphic design. That concentrated project may not help you in the short term.

So before you rush into graduate school simply because you don’t have a career direction, consider taking on an internship. If you are still undecided about what you want to do with your life, the tunnel vision approach of a graduate program might not help you find your passion. And remember that grad school is not cheap, so if you’re not sure about it, think about what you’ll get out of it. You may find that hands-on learning and work experience brings out an unknown passion and sets you on the right career path (which may or may not include graduate school).

The post Should Young Professionals Go to Grad School? appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

While the other interns chose to live in apartments with their own room, privacy and other basic creature comforts, I decided to rough it out at a hacker hostel for my first month in San Francisco. For JUST (/sarcasm) $840 a month, I got a bunk in a ten person room, work space and immersion in a community of entrepreneurs.

Despite a disastrous first day, I eventually learned to love the Startup House and will be sad to leave. I am going to miss how every Startup House resident is either starting their own startup, working for one or planning the next stage of their entrepreneurial life after shutting down a company. It is a place of startup collaboration and inspiration with some of the brightest minds I have ever met. The diversity of the community with residents coming from all over the world and walks of life is just icing on the cake. Exploring this diversity has led to a lot of late night debates and discussions, which always left me more enlightened.

To complete the whole experience are the amazing staff. They live in the hostel with the residents, making sure everything runs, taking care of our complaints and constantly rearranging the furniture to find that optimal set up. The staff are a supportive bunch with infectious enthusiasm, time to time one of them will walk around the house and ask “Do you want to change the world?!” which just brings a smile to my face.

However, it has not been all smooth sailing at the Startup House. A week after I moved in there was a bed bug scare. One day, a few of the residents including myself realized that we all had small bites over our arms and legs. The exterminator was called, and the staff informed us with a smile and sigh of relief that it was not bed bugs but just fleas! I shudder to think how bed bugs could be worse. On my second week, the pipes gave out, and for a week the kitchen floor was covered in a thin layer of water. Living at the Startup House has kept me on my toes and I wonder what will go wrong this week.

Despite the mishaps, all of us residents still dearly love the space. I often joke that the fleas and flooding are the staff’s way of hazing us into a tight knit community, as it is always a sad day to see a familiar face move out.

It is tough to convey why Startup House has been such as an awesome experience. When I tell my friends about the things I deal with and price I pay, they alarmingly ask me why I have not moved out yet. I try to explain my reasons, but the magic of the Startup House needs be experienced in order to be understood.

Let’s just say that I cannot imagine a better place to start off my post-grad life in a full-time job.

The post My Bootstrappin’ Summer in a Hostel appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.