Careersparx

Today’s interview was written and compiled by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

After graduating from the University of Montana, Jennie landed an extremely competitive internship at a very well known marketing firm in Seattle, Wash. Today Jennie Morrison is the assistant account executive intern with Ruth: Edelman Integrated Marketing. Managing client projects from intake to completion, writing up project requests and briefing the creative team on the client’s situation and goals of each project, is only just the beginning of Jennie’s daily tasks. If you’re looking to make it in the marketing or advertising world, read on for her advice-packed interview!

1) Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you attend school, and what did you study?

I went to the University of Montana, which is in Missoula, Mont., and graduated from the School of Business Administration with degrees in marketing, management information systems and international business.

My favorite things to do when I’m not working include golfing, fly fishing, visiting Glacier National Park, floating the river and spending time with close friends and family. I also enjoy being a part of intramural sports teams because I enjoy the competition and the team atmosphere. I’ve made a lot of great friendships through playing on various teams.

2) How did you find your current position and why did you choose to apply?

After graduating last May with three degrees, I still did not have a job lined up. I was beginning to feel discouraged until I spoke with a University of Montana alum, Mario Schulzke. I sat down with him and his girlfriend, Amanda, and told them my concerns. They shared their right-out-of-college moments with me and also gave me extremely valuable pieces of advice.

This conversation with them began to change the way I looked at getting a job. Instead of sitting on my computer and searching for various positions, or expecting someone to come to me with a job, I decided to move to Seattle and start pounding the pavement. Mario was generous enough to connect me with his friends and former colleagues in the Seattle area and I was able to set up informational interviews with them. They were all more than happy to meet and chat about their job, what they are passionate about, where they got their start, as well as answer any questions I had about where to live and what activities and groups were available for people my age.

I am happy to say that not only did I learn a TON of valuable advice from all of the informational interviews, but I also got an internship out of the whole thing with a great advertising agency, Ruth: Edelman Integrated Marketing. I have been interning with this agency as an assistant account executive for more than 4 months now, and I love it!

3) Could you describe the interview process? How did you prepare?

My interview process was in phases, that together, lasted about two hours. I first met with my supervisor and the traffic manager I would be working with. They were both very welcoming and interested in hearing about my other internship experiences and other activities I was involved in. My interview with them was more conversational and relaxed compared to a rigid, question and answer session. After that, I was interviewed by the account director, as well as the executive vice president/managing director at Ruth. This phase of the interview, although conversational, was a bit more question and answer. They asked more tactical questions to see how I problem solve, deal with ambiguity, distribute tasks, why I felt like I was qualified, and most importantly, why I wanted the job.

In preparation for this interview, I went onto Ruth’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages, as well as the company’s website, to research their case studies, as well as the potential people that I could be working with. I wanted to know as much as I could about the team I would be meeting, as well as the company, so they knew I truly cared about working there.

4) What has been the biggest learning curve you have overcome, or are having to?

The biggest learning curve that I have had to overcome had nothing to do with my internship. It had to do with learning how to live in a big city. I was homesick, I missed Montana, I missed college, and most of all, I missed my golden retriever that I had to leave with my parents. Big city living was definitely a shock to me, and it took me about 3 months before I felt totally comfortable in Seattle.

My biggest learning curve that I have experienced at my internship had to deal with communicating with clients. Much of my work involves client communications and determining what questions need to be asked in order to write up an effective project request that the creative team can understand. In the beginning of my internship, I found that I was not asking all of the right questions and that this was stalling the project because the creative team did not have all of the information they needed. It took me a few projects, as well as a LOT of mistakes, to really get better at being a good account manager.

5) What are your career goals?

My career goals include working for a digital advertising agency and working my way up to manage larger/more complex campaigns. My ultimate career goal is to make sure that I have a job I am passionate about with co-workers who are smart and challenge me to be better.

6) Any closing comments or advice on landing a competitive position?

Network, Network, Network. I know this is everyone’s answer, but it really is the best way to find a job. When I first started networking, it was really uncomfortable for me. Reaching out for help, when I am not an extremely outgoing person, was very challenging. But, I sucked it up and began to reach out to people for help and advice. And now, I actually think networking is a lot of fun! You get to meet new people and hear so many experiences and pieces of advice that you can then filter and use to shape your own career.

I also have found that finding ways to make yourself useful, no matter what it is, is really beneficial at the workplace. I believe that it’s important for interns and other employees to try to find something that they are REALLY good at because everyone appreciates someone who can make their life easier.

Reading Break! Yes, it’s time once again! This week our articles focused on internships: how to transition between them and how to be an awesome virtual intern! If you’re looking for advice to be a killer intern, check out these articles. And remember to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for quick tips to make your job search successful!

WSJ.com ::

Twitter Co-Founder Biz Stone to Advise M.B.A. Students at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

A two-time college drop out is now advising at one of the top business schools in the nation! How can he do that? Well if you co-founded one of the most influential social media channels, we’re sure you could get away with it, too.

Levo League ::

How to Make the Most of “Not-Your-Dream” Jobs

Even if you aren’t at your dream job yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t gain valuable experience and connections at your current position. If you’re feeling frustrated with your current employer, check out this article from Levo League to make the best of it!

AOL Jobs – Career Articles ::

3 Words That Will Kill Your Job Search

With the job search market being more competitive than ever, you don’t want to make an easily avoidable mistake! It’s worth your while to check out these three words guaranteed to hurt you in your job search.

The Ladders ::

10 Good Ways to ‘Tell Me About Yourself’

This is usually one of the first questions you will be asked during an interview and one you may be asked multiple times. The Ladders has provided the top 10 answers that will be sure to impress your potential employer.

Fox Business ::

Five Job-Hunting Tips for Recent Grads

Here is an encouraging article for all recent graduates — employers are hiring based on enthusiasm and potential! You may think those with more experience will always get the job; however, this article proves otherwise. Remember to show how much you really want the job during your interview!

HerCampus ::

Falling Asleep in Class? Skip the Second Cup of Coffee and Follow These 5 Steps

How do you fight the mid-day crash? Make a quick stop to Starbucks or grab a RedBull? Actually, neither are included on this list! Check out five healthy ways to stay alert all day!

Chicago Tribune ::

Find the Top Job For Your Personality type

To be successful at a job you need to fit seamlessly into the position and company, and an important factor in determining this is your personality. So what job do you fit into? Find out here!

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

Virtual internships are becoming more and more popular by both employers and interns. These internships can have the notion that they are more convenient, less demanding and easier. Well, that’s not quite true. Yes, it may be convenient in that you aren’t required to be in an on office eight hours a day and you could work in your pajamas; however, they are no less demanding or easier. Virtual internships allow for an intern to work at an optimal time within their schedule, but this means the intern needs to make time each day to work. So how do you succeed as a virtual intern? Check out the three tips below!

1) Schedule time and stay committed.

With the opportunity to work at your own pace, within certain deadlines, you have the ability to work when you would like! This doesn’t mean procrastinate until the last night before a project is due and only put in half the effort. It means you need to schedule appropriate time to complete each task and stay committed as if you saw your boss each day.

2) Communicate as if you were regularly in the office.

Even though you are only communicating via technology, it’s important to write professionally with your mentors. You don’t need to be cold in your conversations, but keep it professional. It’s almost more important to continually stay in contact and up to date, as technology is all you have!

3) Network with other interns.

If the company shares contact information of other interns, take advantage of it! If you were in the office, you would meet and talk with other interns every day, right? So why not do it when you’re virtual? It also can be fun getting to know people who live across the nation or even seas! It’s a great way to brainstorm and work together on projects as well.

If you’re unable to relocate for a dream internship, take advantage of virtual internships! It’s a great way to learn another side of business and allows you the opportunity to break into an industry. When taking the path of virtual internships, remember the importance of scheduling time to complete tasks and communicate regularly. And as always, remember to network and thank your mentors after completing your time with the company!

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

College students and recent graduates who have the opportunity to intern at multiple companies know that the transition between internships is not always easy. Each company comes with a new set of rules, employees, expectations, values and workloads. With all of these changes and more, adjusting to a new surrounding can provide for a roller coaster ride. However, there are incredible advantages to multiple internships, as well as ideals you should be realistic about. Whether you have a good or not so good internship experience, all help you grow and mature to become a seasoned professional.

• New experience, new knowledge, new power.

They say knowledge is power and the more experience you have, the more knowledge you gain! Working in different companies, and even industries, will give you the opportunity to learn different working styles and management of professional relationships. One of the best things about interning at multiple companies is the amount connections and relationships you will gain! Your career will most likely be dependent upon networking, so nurture the connections! You just never know whom you will run into.

• A whole new learning curve.

Just when you think you have a handle on your surroundings, you need to start over from scratch! Most internships are three months, although some may be extended, and this is just enough time to find your footing. The great part is you found your niche, the challenging and soon rewarding part – it’s time to find your footing, again.

• Don’t let expectations determine the outcome.

It’s in your best interest to only set one expectation going into an internship – to succeed! If you go into an internship expecting something specific and reality gives you a different outcome, it will affect your work. Try to always go into an internship with an open mind and be ready to learn! Each company is very different, even if they work in the same industry.

• Time to shine!

If there was anything you wish you did differently in your previous internship, now is your chance to start fresh! Every experience is a learning opportunity and with a fresh slate, it’s your time to shine! The company hired you for a reason; prove what you’re capable of. New internships lead to new experiences, lessons and connections. All of these lead to a new career and a soon-to-be accomplished professional!

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Are you ready for a Reading Break? We sure are! This week we had the opportunity to interview Jim Hopkinson, author of the “Salary Tutor,” and posted photos on our Facebook page from “A Night With CareerSparx!” If you haven’t tagged yourself in the photos, check it out! And follow us on Twitter; our feed is packed with career advice to help you succeed!

Forbes ::

How To Pitch Anything To Anyone

One of the most difficult tasks to do is to deliver a pitch successfully. This means that the person being pitched actually wants to finish reading the pitch and respond. So to help you out, Forbes has explained the key initiatives to successful pitching.

Levo League ::

How To Network: Your 7-Step Action Plan

Just to remind you how important networking really is (in case you didn’t pick up on that in September) learn how to create your own action plan when networking!

US News and World Report ::

How To Move Abroad and Keep Your Job

With technology changing the shape of the way businesses operate, it’s now more likely than ever to find ways to bring your job with you if you happen to be bitten by the travel bug. This article offers tips on how to approach going about taking your job where you want to go.

Her Campus ::

Grad School 101: Your Guide to Graduate School Entrance Exams: MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE

Thinking about grad school? If so, you know that it’s in your best interest to research and prepare as much as possible before making the big decision of where to attend graduate school. Her Campus has created your first step in preparation — Grad School 101.

New York Times ::

What if the Secret to Success is the Opportunity to Fail?

No one wants to fail, and who would’ve thought successes would be based off your opportunity to fail? If you’re looking for a good read and have a few extra moments for your reading break, definitely take the time to check out this article.

Career Bright ::

5 Ways to Prep Your Career Skills for Social Media Jobs

Just because you can tweet and post a status update, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to make it in the world of social media. But thanks to Career Bright you now have five ways to help you become successful in a social media position.

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Time for your weekly Reading Break! As always, we have compiled the latest career headlines to help you get ahead in your job search. This week we hosted our first-ever networking event, “A Night With CareerSparx!” For those of you who attended, thank you and we hope you had a wonderful time! We had such a great time meeting all of you and hope to hear of your great successes! In addition, we highlighted some of the mentors who interviewed with I Want Her Job and featured a post from our founder, Mario Schulzke. To always stay on top of the job search market, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!

CNN Money ::

McDonald’s Hiring Manager on Landing a Job in a Tough Market

CNN Money sat down with Steve Russell, the senior VP and chief people officer for McDonald’s USA who oversees all hiring in the United States for McDonald’s, to ask the best and worst ways candidates have approached a job search. Check out these tips from one of the most branded companies in the world!

Wall Street Journal ::

Want to Succeed? Stop Trying So Hard

Have you ever worked on a paper for hours and hours only to hit a hard, brick wall … Your eyes glaze over, your fingers stop typing and you cannot think to save your life? You think you have to push through it; however, that could be one of the worst things to do! Check out this article to see how you can accomplish more by not trying so hard.

Business Insider ::

3 Ways to Make Your Job Search Easier

We all know that job searching is difficult, there’s no denying that. However, Business Insider is trying to make it a little easier for you with these three tips.

Levo League ::

Be a Go-Getter

Generation Y has not always had the greatest reputation; however, you can easily be the exception to the rule. In this article, Levo League shares some ways for you to achieve your lofty goals and be known for your hard work!

On Careers / USNews ::

10 Tweeple to Follow During Your Job Search

With many people using Twitter as their main source of information, it only makes sense that you streamline who you follow to provide the most credible and relevant news. Fortunately, US News has already compiled a list of ten people you should follow to help you with your job search (besides us of course)!

Forbes ::

How to Get a Job In the Luxury Industry

Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent … They all sound like glamorous jobs right? Well how do you get your foot in the door at these companies? Check out this Forbes article if you think the luxury industry is for you.

Newsday ::

True Job Search Blunders

We have all heard office horror stories; however, here are some examples of ultimate job search failures that you won’t believe actually happened!

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Today’s post is written by CareerSparx and IdeaMensch Founder Mario Schulzke.

There is a quote and I have no clue who said it but it goes: “It’s not what you know but who you know.”

I believe that quote mostly holds true, even though I’ll show how what I know has helped tremendously with who I know. That being said, having a real network is of tremendous importance. I have hired enough people to know that nothing beats a personal recommendation from someone I respect. The same goes for me and my employers being hired by clients. In marketing, the most important and effective channel is what we call “Word of Mouth.” Friends telling friends to do something, buy something, try something or hire someone. That’s sort of how the world works and the earlier you recognize it, the sooner you’ll both contribute to it and benefit from it.

Therein lies the key, having a great personal network or business network is based one thing and one thing only. What you’re willing to give to it. Not “what can you take,” but rather “what you can give.” So stop thinking about networking being you going to different events where you swap business cards, shake hands, follow up with an email and then immediately land an awesome job because of it. Building a network is about being able to give to it. So the first thing you need to think about is to figure out what you can give.

At this point of my career, my personal network is pretty much self-sufficient as I can give lots of value by simply connecting with each person. That’s ultimately probably what you want to get to. But when I first started out, that obviously wasn’t the case as most of my professional contacts evolved around a business school professor or two, a couple of co-workers and a few graduated college buddies who were still contemplating whether to give up their college bartending jobs. So in regards to contacts, I had little to give to people. But one thing I learned after I graduated college was how to set-up a blog, as I had done so for myself.

Back in 2002, most people didn’t know how to do that yet – especially not the busy senior professionals who I wanted to connect to. So whenever I met someone and they’d express any kind of interest in building their personal brand online, I’d offer to help them set-up their own blog. Whether they took me up on the offer or not, they were always grateful and such usually resulted in to them asking how they could help me. As my career progressed, I also started hosting my own websites which resulted into me being able to pretty much offer a complete package to anyone I wanted to help.

In the last ten years, I have probably set-up upwards of fifty different websites for people. Usually always for free and never asking for anything in return. Over the years my network has come to work for dozens of times, usually by connecting me with wonderful people to further grow my network. But the important thing is that you don’t try to build a network by thinking about what you can get out of it, rather build it by figuring out what you can give to it. Everything else happens naturally.

Ideas you could offer to help people with:

• There are still plenty of people who don’t know how to set-up a website or blog, so help create one for them.
• You could help folks properly set up their Twitter and Facebook presences.
• You could learn how to optimize a website for search engines.
• You could learn how to setup a mobile app.
• You could learn how to buy ads on Google or Facebook.
• You could offer to do online research for people.
• You could offer to do basic writing tasks.
• You could offer to do free design work.

The more you give, the more your network pays you back.

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Today’s post is a feature from  In The Door, a social job search site developed for the Facebook generation.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a speed networking event, you should be aware that the etiquette is a little different than your typical networking event. You really need to have your information clear and concise, because at these events, every second you have with a professional is crucial. However, a speed networking event can provide some of the greatest opportunities to meet successful professionals.

If you haven’t heard, CareerSparx, a site dedicated to helping recent college grads land their dream jobs, is hosting its first speed networking event in Los Angeles Sept. 28, 2011. To prepare, here are five things every great speed networker must know.

1. Do Your Research

2. Come With Questions

3. Dress As Requested and Respect Expectations

4. Be Professional with Contact Information

5. Smile

A key item to remember is to smile. It’s that simple and easy. A genuine smile will help bring people in and put them at ease. By being genuine, positive and smiling, you could make a connection that will change your career.

For ticket information to attend “A Night With CareerSparx” visit: http://careersparx.eventbrite.com

Enter code “InTheDoor” for $5 off your ticket.

Today’s post is written by CareerSparx Managing Editor Kacey Valla.

Networking is a great opportunity for any one of any age; however, it can be an intimidating time for those who are on the shy side. It’s not a bad thing to be a quiet individual, but if you’re going to get the most out of networking, you need to find your voice! How do you find that voice? Well, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you overcome any shyness or fear you may have before attending your next networking event.

1) Those who attend are willing to help.

You need to remember that if people have volunteered their time to attend, they are willing to connect with you. A networking event will only be successful if all people speak up and introduce themselves. At some point networking has been uncomfortable for everyone in attendance, so don’t be afraid to speak up! The experienced professionals will be more than willing to help the conversation along if they see you’re making an effort.

2) Research the professionals.

If you aren’t the best at small talk, and even if you are, you should always research the professionals (or companies) attending and the organization hosting the event. Even 10 minutes researching everyone on Google will make a world of difference if you find yourself in a conversation with them. (And you will.)

3) Set personal goals.

Before you come into an event, set goals for yourself to accomplish. Whether it’s to introduce yourself to three new people, hand out your business card to 10 people, or set an informational interview, know what you would like to accomplish during the event. Of course always be open to changes in your plan, but having an idea of what you would like to do always helps you to get the most out of the event.

4) Talk with your career counselor.

If you have done your research, set goals and still feel a little uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to reach out to your career counselor or professor before attending the event. These professionals have their jobs to help you, and they will be more than willing to give you tips on how to network successfully. After all, their job is based off of networking every single day!

5) Catch up with family and friends.

If you would like to practice networking before attending the event, call up family and friends who you haven’t had a chance to connect with in a long time. These conversations will put you in a position where you need to create small talk and keep a conversation going. Also, it will be easier to have a conversation with these people as they are your family and friends. They want to catch up and talk with you!

6) Be genuine and sincere.

The most important thing to remember is to be sincere when networking with professionals. They will know if you’re at the event only to get something out of them and if you aren’t willing to create a relationship. It’s okay if you’re shy and a little quiet, many professionals will appreciate that you aren’t in their face; however, you should always have a genuine motive entering the event.

7) Just network!

If you’ve checked all these items off your list and you still feel like you’re a wallflower, sometimes you just need to force yourself to go out and network! At the end of the day you just need to take the jump and introduce yourself. At a networking event professionals choose to attend because they are willing to connect with you, so take the opportunity and run with it!

Would you like to make your first professional connection?

Enter code CSXreader for a $5 ticket!

http://careersparx.eventbrite.com

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When you entered college, if you also made the decision to enroll in a sorority or fraternity, chances are it was because you wanted to make friends. Well, those friendships were the seed for what often times turns out to be a lifelong friendship, and even if they didn’t, they can help you in other ways that you may or may not have already realized. One of those ways is in your job search.

Meet Sydney. Sydney is a member of a very large national sorority. Her sorority has alumni groups in most cities in the U.S. as well as abroad. “The thing about sororities is once you’re in, they’re generally willing to believe in you. They believe that you are of a certain caliber, and they are willing to put their money more on you than a random person off the street,” Sydney says.

So, in other words, it’s like a built-in network of opportunities to connect, network and make informational interviews. We always say on CareerSparx that sites like Facebook and LinkedIn allow you to see where your connections work, and in the case of LinkedIn, where your friend’s connections work as well. (See related: “3 Job Search Tips Worth Mentioning Again … and Again”and The Networking Tip That Will Make You or Break You.”) This creates an automatic network for you in your job search. Your fraternity and sorority are no different.

Make a Connection

“When I graduated from school, there was another woman who worked at an ad agency in the same city. She had gone to the same school and been in the same sorority several years earlier,” Sydney says. “She often attended both sorority and college alumni events as well. Whenever I saw her, I’d always make a point to go up to her and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ Because we were in the same sorority, it created an instant connection, and something we had in common.”

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