Engaged Learning Retreat

The CareerPassport Engaged Learning Retreat held at Aspen Grove Monday April 29 was a great success. We started our day with a wonderful continental breakfast and icebreaker activity. We were asked to answer questions such as what Peanuts character would we be; what TV family we would belong to, what writing implement, and what kind of music style would we be. Through these questions we found out who considered themselves a Charlie Brown, a Snoopy, or a Linus. We discovered who belonged to the Simpsons, who was a can a spray paint, and who loved punk music. It was a great way to help us get to know each other better right at the start.

After our breakfast and the activities we were pleased to hear from Wyn B. Dunford from The LDS Business College. He spoke to us about the StrengthsQuest assessment, and our top five strengths. We discovered what makes an achiever different from an arranger, etc. We also learned how we can explain our strengths during an interview and how we can also create a talent map of the team we work with so that everyone can operate within their area of strength.

At noon we had a delightful lunch where we were able to take a break and enjoy some great food with some of our career panelists. As we finished eating we made our way back to the Timpanogos Room where we heard from our four panelists, starting with John Whittaker from the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. He spoke to us about working with the Osmonds, the Stadium of Fire, and the Olympics. Next we heard from the COO of The Sweet Tooth Fairy, Stephanie Barlow. She spoke to us about working in the printing industry with her family and working at Alphagraphics, Brand Force, ThomasARTSA, and Shade Clothing. Following her we heard from David Kasperson, Director of Speaking Engagements for Stephen M.R. Covey. He told us about his journey getting his career. After David we heard from Elaine Porter from Landmark Catering. She talked to us about how she and her husband created Landmark Catering, and how they have balanced their career and family lives. Next a question and answer period took place where attendees asked the panelists more about their careers and we heard more tips and advice. We learned a lot about the importance of earning a degree, the need to challenge ourselves, and to never give up. We had a great time with our panelists and learned a lot.

We then participated in some leadership/networking games. Separating into three different groups, we rotated between the “get to know you ball toss”, "PVC pipe marble game”, and the “minefield experience”. At the ball toss we learned each other’s names, majors, and other information through repetition by tossing tennis balls to one another. At the marble game we worked as a team connecting our PVC pipes to get a marble to travel from one end of the room to the other. Through this we learned how to work as a team. Finally at the minefield game we learned how to be leaders by leading our blindfolded partners through a maze filled with “mines.” For our final game we all gathered together to play commonalities, a kind of musical chairs where we would share things we have in common and race to get a chair. Through this we learned the value of finding the common ground among those with whom we associate.

After the leadership games we learned about networking etiquette from Sue Stephenson, Counselor at the UVU Career Development Center. She taught us how to properly shake hands, how to make eye contact, and how our conversation should follow the “wow, how , now” format. First we wow them with something we do well, we then explain how we do it, and then we tell them what we want to do now. Sue explained that it’s during the now portion that we give our business cards. We then practiced these skills while trying to balance appetizers at the same time.

Following our appetizers and Mexican buffet dinner we were pleased to hear from Kekau Arakaki and Mango Jam. He played some great Hawaiian music for us and in between songs he spoke to us about the many career hats he wears, and how it’s important to learn a skill that you can trade for services. He explained that while you do need knowledge, you also need physical skills to get ahead as well. His advice to us about getting a career was that in the beginning it is about who you know, but then it becomes what you know that ensures you keep your job.

For our last event of the evening we watched the movie Here Comes the Boom staring Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler. Kevin plays a biology teacher who decides to fight as a mixed martial artist to help raise money to save the musical program at a Boston school. It taught us about not remaining stagnant in our careers and always striving to remain passionate about what we do.

Don’t miss out on next year’s retreat. At the retreat we re-emphasize the things we learn from the CareerPassport program, we grow as a team, and we hear from many talented individuals who give us expert advice and help motivate us to reach our career goals.

Barbara Barrington Jones: "Finding Your Career Pathway, the joy in the journey"

Wednesday April 3, 2013       

Barbara Barrington Jones, founder of the BBJ Foundation and motivational speaker spoke to us on April 2^nd. Barbara started by sharing that she wanted to talk to us about achieving a divine destiny. She then went on to talk about her family, her third husband, and her two children. She talked about her husband, Howell Jones being a strong hard worker, but at home how he was different, being more gentle and funny. Howell had asked his daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. Going to Catholic school she had a pregnant teacher she loved, she also loved cheerleading, so when asked what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to be a pregnant nun cheerleader. "The Catholic school loved that," Barbara said.

Barbara then explained about how she speaks to many different groups, and so she created a character, Melwina Dweeb, a funny, nerdy character, to help professionals to lighten up. Barbara then went on to share with us Robert J. Hastings essay, The Station and how it speaks about the false idea that our dreams will come true after arriving at “our station”.

We tell ourselves, if we can just get a better job, then I will be happy. She said sooner or later we need to realize there is no station, that the true joy in life is the journey, not arriving at a station. After sharing the essay, Barbara pulled out a ribbon, signifying our lifespan. She showed the small amount of space where we choose who we will marry, and compared it to the amount of space we will spend with the person we will marry.

Barbara went on to share her experiences growing up in El Paso. She talked about how she hated having Dumbo ears, and being too tall in Middle School and High School. Kids would make fun of her, and tease her about being too tall. She told her friend Lynn that her dream was to go to New York City and become a star ballerina. She finally went to New York City and got accepted to the New York Ballet Company. She figured her dream had come true; however, she had a lot of hard times as a ballerina, and she noticed that a lot of friends were married so she decided that she needed to get married too. That marriage didn’t last; she then married a man who abused her for twelve years.

Barbara then spoke about how she really realized that there is a higher power during these times. She explained that life has a way of giving you trials and adversities. She suggested that this teaches you humility and gives you strength. If you get knocked down, get up, and never ever give up trying. Barbara went on to speak more about her husband, Howell, and how he was a self-made man, and after working hard his whole life he finally ended up owning 18 companies in The San Francisco Bay Area. He taught her that the first thing you need to make sure and do in a career is provide for your family.

Barbara then shared with us her winning formula, which is to have a balance in the four main areas of your life, 1. Mental, 2. Physical, 3. Spiritual, and 4. Social. What affects these on the outside is your attitude. She stated that what you think about determines who you are. She says that we need to be grateful, and remember that your attitude is a choice. She explained that you also need to learn self-discipline no matter what you choose to do in life. She said we need to be strong like a rope, rather than weak like a thread. She went on to tell us that what you put into your brain is crucial becauase you are what you think about. Barbara explained that as far as your spiritual self goes it is important to recognize there's a higher power. Then as far as your physical self it is important to exercise and feed your brain oxygen.

Barbara mentioned how she spoke to the Golden Key Honors Society and asked them what they do for other people; there was silence; she looked down and was reminded of a South African reformatory that she spoke at. She mentioned to the members of this society that they should go out and help them. It is important to be involved socially and emotionally in things and help others.

Barbara then talked about her experiences teaching at BYU Hawaii and how she learned that it is very important to make a good first impression by how you dress and act. She shared how a return missionary got a job that a thousand people applied for because he was dressed in a suit. She explained that we need to realize that people make an impression about us within 30 seconds. In 30 seconds they make an assumption about our educational level, our personality, our trustworthiness, social heritage, our career competence, our level of sophistication, and our humor.

Appearances count in so many things, she said 55% of the communication people receive comes from our appearance. She also said that you need to know proper etiquette. Barbara ended with a saying that her husband always shared with her, that life is 80% good and 20% not good, and we just need to choose to look at the good in life instead of the bad.

 Barbara's Suggestions:
1. Find joy in the journey, there is no station.
2. Recognizing there's a higher power will teach you humility and give you strength.
3. You need to have balance in your mental, physical, spiritual, and social areas of life.
4. First impressions are very important, in 30 seconds people will make a lot of assumptions about us.
5. Life is 80% good, and 20% not good. Choose to look only at the 80%.

Wednesday March 20, 2013
Scott Lazerson's 7 Laws of Connectivity

Global Media strategist and CEO of Interface Foundation Scott Lazerson spoke at UVU to the CareerPassport Club on Tuesday March 5^th about the seven laws of connectivity. Scott started off by handing out a blank piece of paper; he asked the audience to write down one person’s name that they would like to connect with professionally.

Scott then went around the room and asked students who they wrote down and why. The names people put down ranged from NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, Tony Horton founder of P90x, comedian Brian Regan, and author Steven Covey. He asked the students what they know about this person, do they know where they live, have they already tried to contact them, and do they know their team. For those students that didn’t know who they wanted to connect to, Scott asked them about their interests, and what they wanted to do for a living, he would then give them ideas for people who they could connect with.

Scott then went on to talk about those people he has connected with starting by working for Larry King. The way he has built these connections, Scott explains, was by following the seven laws of connectivity.

The first law of connectivity Scott explained is “you win, I win.” He said in networking it has to be a win/win situation for everybody in order for it to work. The second law he taught was “it’s not who you know, but what you know about who you know.” He said you need to know your persons’ team of people, what they’re all about, and what their passions are in order to connect with them. The third law he mentioned was “drinking from a higher cup,” meaning that who you hang around with and what you do is who you are, so act accordingly. The fourth law he talked about is to “meet the team.” Scott said you really need to know the circle of influence around those with whom you want to connect. These are the people who are willing to help you because they too, have gone through a similar process to be involved, and you’ll have an easier time connecting with them. The fifth law he talked about was, “make a famous friend.” The word famous is relative, he explained, but having a famous friend can be a great connection for you and can open doors for you as well. The sixth law he mentioned was to “introduce your two most powerful connectors to each other.”  Great things can happen when you do this. The last law he talked about was “living beyond nine to five.” He said a lot of great things can happen after five, and you don’t want to miss an opportunity because you ended your work day.

The concept of networking and building your professional network is something the CareerPassport Program can help you develop. Having contacts can be a great source to you in obtaining a job, to use as a reference, and much more. Check out the CareerPassport Program to accelerate your networking opportunities.

Join us on Tuesday April 2^nd when Barbara Barrington Jones will speak to us. She’ll share her story about how she got to where she is today, and how you can prepare for the career of your dreams.

The Seven Laws of Connectivity

1.      You win, I win

2.      It’s not who you know, but what you know about who you know

3.      Drinking from a higher cup

4.      Meet the team

5.      Make a famous friend

6.      Introduce your two most powerful connectors

7.      Living beyond nine to five

View the video of Scott’s presentation here
 

Patrick Combs—Major in Success

On October 16, 2012 the Career Development Center hosted Patrick Combs, an inspirational speaker and comedian, presented “What to do with my life? Major in Success.” Mr. Combs indicated that to major in success, you have to first find what you are passionate about. While you are in college, now is the time to try new things. Ideas are everywhere from different kinds of music to potential career ideas that you never would have thought of.

Patrick Combs acknowledged that the leading stumbling block to students living their passions is—fear. For most students, they fear not making enough money after graduation. If this is one of your fears please research your dream industry before you graduate. Mr. Combs reminded students that it doesn’t really matter how much you make right out of school, why would you measure the success of your career at the beginning? Depending on your findings, you may stay on your current path or you may choose to adjust. Whatever your dream, “What counts most is what students do in college, not who they are, or where they go to college or what their grades are.” Once you have identified your passion make it a reality.

Take the steps while in college to make your dream a reality. Before closing Patrick played a game with the audience. The rules of the game: I, Patrick Combs, am a potential employer. I have one job opening and hundreds of people have applied. I will interview about six of you. Good luck. (If you were in the audience, everyone was asked to stand. If you answered no to any of the questions below you were “out” and were then asked to sit down.)

1.      Have you completed an internship before graduation?

2.      Within the last year, have you served as a student leader in an organization?

3.      Are you a member of the professional association related to your dream job?

After playing this game with students across the country, from two year institutions to Ivy League schools, the game has never failed to leave more than ten students standing. How long would you last? Remember, “What counts most is what students do in college, not who they are, or where they go to college or what their grades are.”

Chase after your dream and always remember the CareerPassport Team is here to help you on your unique journey to success. The CareerPassport Program, like a road map is one of many tools to help you find your way. It can help guide and find you a mentor so you don’t have to take this journey alone.

To watch Patrick Combs entire speech, go to http://www.uvu.edu/uvutv/archive/ and scroll to Student Success & Retention then click on Patrick Combs—What to do with my life.

Lasting First Impressions: Job Fair Edition

In the professional world, being prepared is highly valued. When attending a career or job fair it is important to display your forethought. Remember you only have one chance to make a first impression.

Most students believe that the only reason to attend a job fair is to hunt for a new job. There are more reasons to go, especially while still in school. If you have yet to decide on a major, this is an excellent time to explore. It is would also be a great time to practice your networking skills.

Here are some questions that can help you prepare for a job fair:

·         What is your goal for the fair?

·         What does your “Me in 30 seconds” sound like?

·         How will you present your resume?

Before going to a career fair take time to update and edit your resume. Look at the list of employers attending. If you research the companies attending, you can focus your time and energy at the fair. From recruiter’s eyes, if you research their organization you demonstrate initiative and genuine interest in their organization. Students may struggle with confidence when presenting their resume, so practice with recruiters and gage their reactions.

As college students we always hear instructors and professionals emphasizing the importance of elevator pitches. Why is this important? It is a way to demonstrate your confidence in the information you want to share. As you practice sounding genuine rather than rehearsed. If you have done your research, you already have an idea of recruiters are looking for.

In the United States there is not a set ritual for exchanging business cards or resumes. Though, in business settings an introduction, firm handshake and brief relevant conversation is customary. If the conversation continues longer that is great, but keep an eye on their body language if they start communicating that your time is up, thank them for their time and move on. The more confident you are the more comfortable everyone will feel.

Participating in the career preparation track will help you develop and position your professional tools, including attendance at career fairs. But for now, use these tips and make sure to attend these valuable experiences on campus.

As always, happy travels,

Heather and the CareerPassport Team

Recruiters Tell All

If you missed the “Recruiters Tell All” event, sponsored by the Career Development Center, it was informative, smart and fun! They invited a recruiter from Adobe and Fidelity. Below are a few pointers they mentioned when applying for a job. Here are three things to take-away from the event:

1.      What is the condition of my resume?

2.      Is the corporate culture an environment I can be successful in?

3.      Am I prepared for the interview process?

Resumes need to be both current and clean. The definition of a successful resume is one that will secure you the interview. If you are using an older format of Word, your spacing/margins may become distorted when sending digital copies. Turning your resume into a PDF will ensure formatting is maintained and prevent people from making changes to your document. It would be wise to customize your resume toward the position you are applying for, one technique would be to add key words from the job description.

During the interview process it is important to come across as genuine, honest and professional. When applying to Adobe, you may be asked, “If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be?” If you apply to Fidelity, you may be asked, “What is your biggest weakness?” He made it clear that he was looking for a honest answer. Not the answer we use to turn our strength to a weakness. These are clues that help you decided if you are a good fit for their corporate culture. As I have talked to my peers, many don’t realize that the interview is their place to decide if this work environment is a good fit for them.

Corporate culture is very diverse and important to individual success. For example, the traditional business world requires employees to dress up. Today, many, not all, companies are more relaxed when it comes to their dress code. I have talked to some alumni that have wished they had done more research before the interview so they would have known not to wear a suit and tie. However, if there is ever a question, it is better to dress up than down. This is just one of many examples.

Hopefully, you will think about these things while preparing for the Career Fair happening Tuesday, October 2^nd from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

As always, happy trails,

Heather and the CareerPassport Team