Category Archives: Career Advice
Scoring Gold in Your Career
Athletes endure years of training to prepare for the Olympics; students do the same for their future careers. Through classes, homework and internships, you are improving your skills to advance in your industry. Here are some tips to help you score a gold medal in your career.
Pick the right sport.
If youâre afraid of heights, ski jumping probably isnât the sport for you. There will be majors/fields that wonât be a good fit as well. You should determine what you like/dislike, the skills you have and research your options.
From my experience, I wanted to work in the healthcare industry, however science and math were not my strongest subjects in grade school. Once I started the coursework for radiology technology, I realized I needed to pursue a different major that better suited my skills. Writing was always my favorite subject; therefore I switched …
How to Ace a Phone Interview
When an employer asks for a phone interview you may have one of two reactions:
or
Either way, here are a few tips that will help you ace that phone interview.
Pick a time that works best for you.
Picking a convenient time can make or break an interview. Block out at least an hour for the interview and ensure you have plenty of time before the call to prepare. Thereâs nothing worse than going into an interview and feeling rushed.
Take the call in a quiet place.
Taking a call in a quiet place will allow your interviewer to hear you clearly. Background noise can be a distraction to both you and your interviewer. The point of a phone interview is to screen potential candidates, so itâs important your interviewer hears all of the qualifications you have for the …
Dress For Success: Dressing For An Interview
One thing that I always struggle with the day of an interview is the age-old question: âWhat am I going to wear?â Iâve walked into rooms where Iâve been the best dressed and the worst dressed, although I prefer the latter. Attire is a problem that affects every professional, even people who have been in the workforce for years. Here are some important things to remember when choosing that perfect interview outfit.
Make an impression. Your attire shapes the first impression you give to potential employers, so itâs extremely important to make the right impression. I always like to make sure that my outfit accurately represents the professional I am. I want my outfit to say âIâm competent, qualified, and can make a great impact on your company.â The way you dress should represent the way that you feel about your abilities as a professional. Showing up in jeans and …
Graduate Assistant-to-Hire: Kenyari Keith
Kenyari Keith transitioned from graduate assistant to project coordinator for the business education and events department and the Wellness Council of Indiana at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of IUPUI, receiving her master of science in event tourism in December 2017 and bachelor of arts in journalism with a concentration in public relations in May 2016.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did your graduate assistant experience prepare you for your current role?
Kenyari Keith: As a graduate assistant (GA), I developed several skills that I now use in my full-time role. As a GA, I assisted with the planning and execution of both on-site and off-site conferences and special events. I assisted our business education and events team in several areas such as speaker coordination, marketing, contracting and budgeting. I worked as the lead planner for Best Places to Work 2017 and the 2017 Environmental Conference. …
Dos and Donâts at the Company Holiday Party
The time of year for company holiday cheer and festivities is here! That means opportunities to network with fellow co-workers, as well as opportunities to possibly embarrass yourself. Follow these dos and donâts to avoid potential damage to your reputation.
Do: participate in holiday activities.
Each organization handles the holidays differently. Some may have activities throughout the season, while others may plan a low-key pitch-in. Whatever the case may be, you should get involved. If thereâs a planning committee (and your internship supervisor approves), reach out to the leader and offer your help.
Donât: be too competitive.
If your organization has games or other competitive activities, remember to stay professional. A little competitive spirit is okay in some situations, but donât go overboard. For example, you shouldnât scream âLoser!â in the vice presidentâs face. That could lead to an uncomfortable conversation with your internship supervisor or …
What to Do When You Donât Know What to Do
Oh, the holidays. Itâs a time for friends, family, food and prying questions about your future. Before I graduated high school, my family members spent some time during our holiday gathering to ask me what I wanted to do with my life. The questioning only intensified after I started college. I would always have an answer, but I honestly didnât know exactly what I wanted to do until the second semester of my sophomore year in college.
Some people know exactly what they want to do and where theyâd like to work. While others may not have any idea, and thatâs OK! Your career path is an extremely important decision that greatly affects your life, so take as long as you need to figure out what youâd like to pursue. Hereâs some resources you can explore to help you weigh your options:
Browse IndianaINTERN.net
Even if you arenât ready …
Video Interview Tips
Step aside in-person interviews, video interviews are becoming increasingly popular in todayâs workforce. This technologically-advanced method is a time and cost saver for interviewers and interviewees. You should treat it as a traditional in-person interview, but with a few variations for before and during the meeting.
Tech Test
In preparation, you should test the technology youâre going to use for the interview far in advance (at least a few hours before). The interviewer will send instructions for joining the meeting, this may include a phone number in place of using computer audio. There are many different options for video conferences, so familiarize yourself with the correct one and download the necessary software installation or updates. If you choose to use your computerâs audio or a headset, be sure to test the microphone and speakers.
Image is Everything
In addition to testing your computerâs microphone and speakers, you should …
The Indiana INTERNnet Team is Thankful
In celebration of Thanksgiving, the Indiana INTERNnet team would like to share what we are thankful for in our careers.
Allison Gaffney
Iâm thankful for my internship experience at Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis. During those three months, I was surrounded by passionate coworkers who were willing to help me develop the skills I needed for success outside of the classroom. I was entrusted to take on large tasks like creating a social media campaign for Giving Tuesday. This gave me a lot of confidence in my work, and Iâve been able to carry that over to my career with Indiana INTERNnet.
Karissa Rector
One thing I regret in my career is only doing one internship, however I am thankful that single experience transitioned to a full-time position. The opportunity has allowed me to further develop my skills and continually grow with Indiana …
Internship Woes? Speak Up!
After weeks of searching, applying and interviewing, you finally receive an internship offer! Youâre super excited about the projects youâre going to complete and the people youâll be working with. However, after the first month of interning, you realize that your role and responsibilities are not what you expected. You might feel like your skills are not being utilized or developed, but what can you do?
Talk to your internship supervisor
Your supervisor is the person who is tasked with providing you with the resources you need to have a successful internship. If youâre unhappy, theyâre the first person you should speak with. Review your internshipâs description, and if it doesnât match up with the work youâre doing, let them know.
Express your eagerness to take on more projects. Then, work with your supervisor to come up with a workplan so you have a structured outline of what you …
Networking at Night
Most networking events are held during typical working hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). However, there are the occasional evening events. While some events may be more casual than others, itâs important to maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Check out these helpful tips for how to rock the room and make connections.
Cards for Contacts
Make sure you bring plenty of business cards, and can easily grab it out of your pocket or purse. You donât want to be fumbling around in your jacket, or throwing things out of your purse to find a card. The business cards that you collect should also be put in an appropriate place.
Pro tip: Bring a pen to write notes about the conversations you had with people. If you donât have a small notepad, you can write on the back of their business cards. Your phone is also a great …
National Staffing Employee Week as an Intern
Moira Keating is a human resources marketing/employee engagement intern at Milliner & Associates. She will graduate from Marian University in December 2018.Â
National Staffing Employee Week was one of the most exciting weeks in my working career thus far! This special occasion was celebrated September 18, 2017 â September 22, 2017, and was my first time meeting my companyâs employees and clients. Milliner & Associates (M&A) was super excited to show appreciation for our #StaffingStars (I used that hashtag a lot the past week!). National Staffing Employee Week was a huge learning opportunity for me as well.
Since beginning my internship with M&A, I have learned an infinite amount of information regarding the staffing industry. Once this internship started, it has been a whirlpool of information regarding such a fast-growing industry. Staffing is projected to reach $142.4 billion in revenue, and that is no surprise considering how thrilling and …
Dress to Impress for Less
Earlier this year at one of Indiana INTERNnetâs intern engagement events, Pete the Planner explained that after graduation, youâre going to need to spend quite a bit of money to develop a professional wardrobe. You canât show up to job interviews wearing oversized college sweatshirts, jeans and Converse shoes! But, what if you donât have the money for a snazzy suit? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find affordable and stylish options.
Thrift Stores
You can find many hidden gems at your local thrift store! Places like Goodwill offer a variety of menâs and womenâs suit separates, dresses, shoes and ties. Since blazers are about $5, slacks are $4 and a full suit is $10, you may be able to afford alterations. Tailoring can totally transform your look and have people thinking you spent hundreds. ShhâŠyour secret is safe with me!
Consignment/Resale Stores
Most of my professional …
8 Months of Learning
Hattie Hynes is a Recruiting/HR Marketing Intern with Milliner & Associates. She will graduate from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2018.
This summer, I was surrounded by the staffing industry through my internship with Milliner & Associates (a staffing firm, go figure). Prior to my internship, I didnât even know staffing firms existed. I sort of knew what temporary workers were (mostly just from watching Ryan on âThe Officeâ), but had no clue how they got there or that they were employed by a third-party agency. For those of you who may not know, a staffing firm forms relationships with area businesses and when the business has a personnel need, they call a staffing firm and they (hopefully) find or already have a job seeker who fits what theyâre looking for.
There are many different paths you can take in the Human Resources world (recruiting, employee engagement, training & …
Internships: Communicating and Learning the Odd Soft Skills
Noah Simpson is a project manager based out of Indianapolis. He graduated this previous May from the University of Indianapolis with a Bachelors in Human Resources. During his time at the Uindy, he was the founder of water polo and entrepreneurship clubs. Noah also served as a business liaison for the University and completed three internships with corporations across Indiana.
Any college student who has gone through orientation should know that getting an internship is important. However, it is not always made clear to students why an internship is important. My first year at the University of Indianapolis, I was blessed to have a faculty mentor hold me accountable on developing myself not just as a student, but as a communicator. My education and mentors provided me with a base skill set to succeed. However, I have found that the huge difference in my abilities as a communicator today …
Tips from a Career Fair (not so) Expert
Hattie Hynes is a Recruiting/HR Marketing Intern with Milliner & Associates. She will graduate from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2018.
I went to a career fair last fall as a college sophomore. I was nervous, terrified, uncomfortable, and sweaty the entire time I was there and even worse, I had no idea what to expect. The good news is that my friend that made me go had already visited our IUPUI Kelley School of Business career advisor and asked about career fair etiquette. So now I was equipped with a little bit of secondhand preparation from my friend and a resume. No professional experience whatsoever, not even admitted to the Kelley School of Business yet, I went⊠blissfully unaware of what I was walking into. I would have liked to have been more prepared but hey, it was fine!
I have that career fair to thank for my …