Week Six

This week’s blog question challenges us to come up with three things that are “non negotiable” for our first job out of college. At this point in time I still really have no idea what I want to do out of college; so I guess this is about as good a way to narrow it down as any. Still though, since I don’t know what I want, I don’t really know how to narrow it down… Leaves me no choice but to leave these standards as broad as possible

1) I don’t want to live in the South, therefore I cannot take a job in the South. Not because I don’t like the people, the way of life or anything like that, I honestly hate hot weather. Heat is just not for me. I would say my ideal day is high 50’s and cloudy.
2) I think I would want to work in an environment where there are other fresh grads around. Especially if I move to a place I am unfamiliar with, I would like to be around and work with other people around my age.
3) I want to work in a friendly/fun/energetic work environment, I am still getting used to sitting at a desk for eight hours a day, and I don’t think I could do it if everyone around me was low energy and kept to themselves.

So that is what I have so far; I want a job that hires other recent college grads, who have energy, not in the South. Not that limiting really, but I guess I got to start somewhere. It appears I really need to sit down and do some thinking in the next couple months about all this.

Week 6

As we summer scholars are all entering our last year or two of college—and as some of us will commence job-searching in what is really just a matter of weeks—having superior interview skills is invaluable. At last week’s Lunch and Learn, however, Julie taught us that succeeding in an interview can mean little if one doesn’t truly want or won’t enjoy the job in question. I’d like to keep an open mind when it comes to my first veritable job, and I’ve always thought that I’d end up grabbing at whatever I’m able to get, so long as it pays enough to cover the essentials (and, maybe too idealistically, my college loans…). Yet Julie stressed the importance of maintaining certain standards—to not immediately submit to any potentially less-than-appealing opportunity that arises simply because it’s a job. And if sticking up for what I want means being a little more pleased with life during whatever that fated first out-of-college job is, then perhaps I can be a little more choosey than I had anticipated.

I don’t know if my stipulations are actually non-negotiable; flexibility is something I’d like to maintain, and if a trade-off existed in which one or two of my “requirements” were fulfilled in addition to some supplemental, un-thought of benefit, I might be equally pleased. Still, I do think I’ve discovered a few things that would make me truly happy as I finally step into the real work world. A high-energy, people-oriented environment in which I can collaborate with others and in which we can share our thoughts and feed off each other’s ideas; a relatively young group of co-workers so that we can relate to each other—help each other out—as we embark together on the journey and adventure that is real life; finally, an urban location, because I’ve dwelled in suburbia for 21 years now and am itching to experience the hustle and bustle of a city. As I begin my job search this fall, I’ll be sure to keep these characteristics in mind; for now, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Week Six

I recently came across this article, called "The Start-Up of You," by Thomas Friedman:

http://http//www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/opinion/13friedman.html?_r=4&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

The article discusses how our generation has to be innovative in forming their jobs, as opposed to taking the conventional approach to job hunting that our parents did. Most jobs are not as defined now as they have been in the past, which is both inspiring and intimidating to think about as a student graduating from college. There is no longer a cookie-cutter, linear progression of steps that post-grads "should" take to be successful. That being said, it is important for us pending seniors to be proactively thinking about what we are looking for because the "obvious" path is no longer so obvious...

In trying to find a starting point in my job search, there are a few factors I will keep in mind. Firstly, I really enjoy working with people. Most of my engineering classes have been structured around working with a team, whether it is to solve a problem set or work on a group project. I have come to appreciate and even thrive on the dynamic that evolves when being an integral member of a team. In particular, I love working on teams that have people with diverse areas of expertise, which brings me to my second important consideration. I would like a multi-disciplinary job. I have always been a curious person. Working with people from different professional backgrounds and working on projects that require a broader focus are opportunities to learn about areas outside of my studies. I chose my major (Manufacturing and Design Engineering) in the first place because of how it incorporates mechanical, industrial, and design engineering. I would be most stimulated by a job that requires a variety of skills and fosters the opportunity to learn. Another important consideration for me is commuting time. Last summer, I had an internship that required me to take 5 means of transportation to and from work, taking about an hour and a half each way. Though I did view my morning commute as an opportunity to wake up, I was incredibly frustrated by the evening commute. Regardless of how good my work day was, my happiness was frequently sub-par by the time I got home, particularly when delays would extend my commute to 2+ hours. I have decided that if the job is worth it, I will be happy to relocate. With these thoughts in mind, I will be able to approach my job search with more direction and creativity.

Week Six

When mentioning the job search that awaits me this fall, I have been met with many a pity shrug, eyebrow raise, and squeaky wishes of “good luck.” With such enthusiastic responses, I have been conditioned to think of my needs and interests as secondary, always behind those of the employee who is gracious to hire a recent grad in today’s job market. However, Wednesday’s panelist Julie Jacobs reminded us of the importance of being a little selfish in the job search—keep me in mind when looking for a job. This approach, she explained, will not only help us in narrowing down our application prospects, but it also ultimately will lead to greater success once on the job. Convincing enough? I think yes.

So, that in mind, I have started a little Christmas list of first job wishes, one written to the all-powerful and oh-so-generous Santa of the job world today, also known as my future employer. It goes something like this:

Dear Mr. Claus,

I know you have been quite busy these days, but I have been on my best behavior the past four years and hope you have a bit of time to review my wish list. I am not asking for too very much, but if I find the job package described below under the tree, I will be the happiest girl in the world.

This package does not need to be big, shiny, or perfectly wrapped. Instead, it is only the contents that will bring a huge smile to my face. There, inside the box, I hope to find an entry level job with a program or position perfect for a recent grad seeking to gain a broad understanding of business. This program will offer guidance, great training, and support from more experienced employees, and it will give me those skills most useful and applicable to the business world. Secondly, this supportive environment will come with other recent grads ready to work on a team. We will learn together, grow together, and succeed as we tackle a variety of projects. Finally, while ideally this job will start in an urban U.S. city (no offense to the North Pole), it hopefully will include a global component, one that allows me to uphold my dream to work in France. Whether a European assignment lasted 8 weeks or 2 years, such an opportunity would fulfill my passion for travel and all things French. Together, this package is both practical and idealistic, and if granted, would provide me with all I need to launch a successful and happy career.

Thank you for reading this list, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Sarah

Week Six Reflection

Wednesday's lunch and learn introduced you to the process of preparing to interview and job search. What are the 3 things you feel are non- negotiable to you for your first role after graduation?

Scholars and managers walk along the dock of the Chicago Architectural Tour.

2011 Scholar Outing

Five Scholars and their managers enjoyed a day 'lunch and learning' in Chicago this past Wednesday! After an informative and beautiful architectural boat tour on the Chicago river, the group headed to Millennium Park to explore the grounds and enjoy lunch at the Millennium Park Grill. With the sunny sky, sparkling river, beautiful buildings, and tasty food, all left with smiles on their face and a greater appreciation of Chicago. Scholars, which building impressed you the most?

Week 3

During last week's Lunch & Learn, current CFO Mike Dost shared his experiences in the White House and his transition into the private sector. Mr. Dost spoke of the excitement of working with the President and the importance of execution. A CFO of not one, but seven companies, Mike Dost is required to execute countless plans, and as they say, "things are easier said than done." Therefore, when Mike Dost continuously reiterated his role in bringing people form A to B, from planning to actionable results, I was curious about how he managed through so many layers of people necessary for success - how does one man ensure that numerous people stay on task and execute accordingly? In response, Mr. Dost summarized his leadership style with one word, "micro-interest" as opposed to "micro-manage." The distinction between the two words separates an efficient and focused leader from an overbearing or time-consuming one. Having been searching for an answer to this question for some time now, I have never heard a better and clearer answer than that of Mr. Mike Dost.

While Mike Dost certainly has had impressive and unique experiences, it was "how" he spoke, not "what" that resonated most with me. While it is no surprise that Mike Dost is extremely well-spoken, having worked with some of the most powerful people in this country, I began to realize that some of the most valuable talents we gain from our experiences are those that are subtle and unobvious. "Soft" skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork are seldom taught and develop gradually. When I assess the possibilities of my future, I will always keep in mind the importance of these skills and search for opportunities to improve upon them.

Week Three

Homer knew a thing or two about making work interesting when he launched the opening pages of both the Illiad and the Odyssey in the middle of action, or in medias res. Thanks in part to this technique, Homer has experienced a rather thriving career, if 2,800 years of fame count for anything.

He clearly knew the value stemming from keeping work interesting, and so does Chief Financial Mike Dost, who sites “being in the middle of things” as the most exciting aspect of his work. He helps every manager, department, and company make big decisions, as no one can function independent of the budget. This aspect of a finance career has kept his work dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving, from his days in the White House to his time here as CFO.

While I am no Homer or Mike Dost at this point in my career, I found myself relating to some of Mike’s interests, observations, and skills. I too am pursuing a liberal arts degree that teaches the value of asking interesting questions. I too hope to develop the analytical skills necessary to answering those questions. And, I too enjoy learning by “running with things” and “being in the middle of the action.” This quality explains my satisfaction these past three weeks here, as working for Fairway Talent has allowed me to see the workings of all departments across the seven organizations. Whether I pursue a career in Finance, HR, Marketing, or another, I will continuously seek to place myself in the middle, in medias res. I guess Homer knew what he was talking about after all.

Week 3

I first met Mike Dost during my first week at LR when introductory meet 'n greets were still the daily norm. We had a casual conversation - actually, I awkwardly nodded my head and listened to Mike Dost and my manager Mike Alm talk about golf, a sport I knew little about. At the end of the convo, Mike Dost and I exchanged pleasant "nice to meet you's," and I took away from the conversation that this man has an immense passion for golf.

Mike's conversation at the Lunch and Learn shifted gears a bit and focused on his experience working in the OMB in the White House and his career path thereafter. The general atmosphere reminded me of Week 2's Lunch and Learn - the summer scholars listened to Mike's story and once again we felt reassured that career changes are okay and these instances signify a moment of evolution rather than regression or defeat. Throughout the conversation, it became clear that Mike's career triumphs were attributed to his keen ability and experience in problem-solving and critical-thinking. It also became clear that Mike did not arrive at these plateaus without the unwavering support of his wife - "I have a great wife" - who fueled his highs and, most importantly, cushioned his lows.

I take away a valuable story about finding a sense of balance. Love the work that I do, but have an unwavering love for something else, too. For Mike, his family and golf are the something else's that color his life and create a peaceful harmony between his professional career and personal life.

It's not hard for me to know what I love; I've found it in my family and friends and my affinity for fashion. However, similar to many career-driven college undergrads, I'll need to keep these things near my heart and to remember that the little and simple things in life are as equally important as those that are greater than me and beyond my immediate control.

Week 3

Some five or six years ago, I found myself entranced for the first time by Almost Famous, a movie that introduced me to the idea, as dreamily exclaimed by Penny Lane (or was it one of her friends?), that “It’s all happening!” At fifteen, I didn’t give much thought to the implications of such a statement and merely accepted the words, enjoying them for their brevity and simplicity—their ability to fully capture the seemingly loose, carefree world in which the movie’s flower children basked.

When asked at Wednesday’s Lunch and Learn what the most rewarding aspect of his job is, CFO Mike Dost, after a moment’s contemplation, provided his answer: “making things happen.” As CFO, he has the power and knowledge to set the company’s world—an extremely real world that is far less unencumbered and far more worry-filled that of the fictional Almost Famous—in full motion. In hearing Dost’s response, a chord was struck within me, and I was instantly reminded of the movie and the quotation mentioned above. The notion that “It’s all happening” contrasts vividly with the notion that one is “making things happen.” Passive but comfortable, the former thought intimates that one is standing still as the surrounding world ebbs and flows as it pleases, pushing and pulling here and there. The latter perspective is more intimidating; it implies an active existence in which one does his or her best to exert influence, to understand and control (when possible) the movement of the surrounding world in order to create something new, something better, or simply to maintain a status quo. After listening to Mike Dost acknowledge and describe the invaluable capability of “making things happen,” I hope to better adopt that latter, active perspective both here at Fairway Talent and beyond.

Week Three

I found Mike Dost’s lecture really interesting. The path he took from college to graduate school straight to the government was a very different route than any of the other speakers we have heard in previous weeks. The concept I found most interesting was how apolitical he needed to be when working for the government. To work for one cause for eight years and then with a change in president, completely take up the opposite side must take a remarkable amount of discipline, especially if the change goes against what you personally believe in. His job is to take the sect of government he was working for from A to B and to do it in the most efficient way possible, regardless of his individual beliefs.
That apolitical attitude, while extreme in that government role, can be carried over to most aspects of business. The vast majority of people are obviously not the CEO or CFO, and a part of work requires accepting the ideas of your employers even if you personally think differently or think you could do it in a better way. Sometimes your job isn’t about making choices, its just about helping the company accomplish them; and that’s a lesson that will stick with me from Mike Dost’s lecture.

Week 3

This week, we spoke with the company's Chief Financial Officer Mike Dost. He gave us a comprehensive overview of his role as CFO, his educational background, his career path, and his progression and thought process as he made big decisions regarding his career. One of the most interesting topics that he covered was about the relationship between a CFO and a CEO. Both of these roles require leadership and decision making that trickle through the company, and ultimately, affect everybody within the company.

I asked a question to see how he balances his responsibilities with Rick's (the CEO) responsibilities. Mike said that conflicts about the means, not ends, can be muddled through. I thought that this was an important distinction to keep in mind in any and every work setting, regardless of who is involved in the conflict resolution. He noted that an important part of the CFO/CEO relationship is being in alignment (not necessarily agreement), which I also found to be insightful. Mike spoke about his leadership style. He often looks at the end goal, relying on the people he overlooks to figure out the particulars on how to achieve that goal. Mike acknowledges that people might have a different approach to a problem, which is why being in agreement is not always crucial when dealing with conflicts. As long as everybody is 80% aligned with the ultimate objective, the company can continue to run as a well oiled machine.

Learning from the CFO

Chief Financial Officer Mike Dost provided us with wealth’s (pun intended) of advice and insight at this week’s Lunch and Learn. As he recounted his experiences as a student, as a government employee in the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, and here, as the CFO, he highlighted some of the most valuable skills and aspects of his work.

He is in the “change” business, likes to be in the middle of things, and reminds any future business people that “cash is king.” Among his interests, experiences, and advice, which resonate with you the most and could help you in future endeavors?

Week 2

Day 11, the start of week 3 here at ETA/Cuisenaire

While many people, like those on the panel for last week's Lunch & Learn, have those oh-so-rare-but-necessary-and-eye-opening epiphanies about what they want in life, I have yet to experience such an "a-ha" moment. But, if I were to take anything away from these past two weeks, I think my timing is just fine. In fact, I've had a different kind of realization.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a team meeting, a department meeting, and a vendor meeting. These meetings exposed me to anything from financial numbers to new marketing campaign ideas to new creative designs. Little by little, I'm beginning to understand the pieces and intricacies that, together, make and run this company. Each day, a little "a-ha" is going off in my brain, and I am constantly impressed by how many moving parts make up a company. I can only hope that I will be able to walk away from my 10 weeks here with some initial understanding of how a company operates. Until then, I look forward to all those little "a-ha" moments that better my understanding of business and marketing here at ETA/Cuisenaire.

Week Two

Say "aha" ten times fast and find yourself out of breath, feeling like you just completed an uphill sprint, iron man competition, or, more realistically, an impossible Peter Piper, Sandy SeaShells, Dr. Seuss tongue twister. The breathy sound may require enthusiasm, effort, and strong lungs, but its implications demand even more. That is, with each and every ‘aha!,’ the familiar world falls down to reveal a new road of surprises, challenges,and potential.

For the panelists at Wednesday’s Lunch and Learn, this journey posed many twists and turns, from
unhappy parents and boring jobs to new skills and supportive mentors. The road may have seemed downhill at times, but after a climb that involved more schooling, new jobs, and altered interests, all panelists seemed to find themselves on top, swapping the "aha” with an excited “woohoo!”

As I prepare to enter the seemingly mountainous journey ahead of job searches, interviews, and career reflections, stories like these ease my nerves and allow me to catch my breath. And let me say, after at least 6 big “aha!” moments and inter-school transfers (Liberal Arts, Comm, and now, Social Policy), I welcome any and every reassuring story of success. And that’s exactly what these past two weeks have given me—a chance to let out a big sigh of relief “ahhhhhh.”

Working here with successful people has made me realize that neither majors, minors, first jobs,nor
even the next few jobs determine the rest of your life. As CFO Mike Dost noted wisely, “[success] is about getting things done.” Other leaders and mentors here have echoed this sentiment and have shown me that career satisfaction is also about being happy, working for a mission, and doing what you love. So, my take away from the past two weeks is this: If I can get up every morning (be it at 6am..), get things done, and do those things with a smile on my face, life and career decisions won’t be so hard after all. Cue the sigh of relief, “ahh.”

Week 2

Each year, there are certain questions that people inevitably ask you regarding your progress in school, college benchmarks, and academics. Starting from "Are you excited for college?" to "Are you excited for Study Abroad?," with about 97 questions in between. To me, most of these questions were simple to answer because I knew exactly how I felt or where I stood. About three weeks ago, my uncle asked me what I wanted to do after college. About two weeks ago, I admitted for the first time, that I was going to be a senior.

I always found the progression from high school to college somewhat amusing in that I was always told that I didn't have to pick a profession yet. However, looking at schools required having a general interest in a major. I picked engineering. After taking all of the basic classes in engineering my freshman year, I had to pick a major within engineering. I bounced around a few majors and landed in Manufacturing and Design Engineering. Towards the middle of sophomore year, it was time to plan Study Abroad. I picked Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon my return, it was time to find an internship. I picked Heathrow Scientific. Throughout all of these decisions, I still felt the "wiggle room" that goes with knowing you still have a few years left of college and that it was possible to go back, and reconsider my decisions. However, I am now entering the final stretch.

Though picking a profession and career has always been looming in the back of my head, I always found comfort in the fact that I am still "undifferentiated." I can mold myself into any shape I want or go in any direction, in any plane. Somehow in the past few weeks, I have seemed to stumble upon these two realizations that 1. I am a senior and 2. it's time pick a path and run. My initial fear was having to acknowledge that all of the decisions I have made in college, both academic and otherwise, have cumulatively differentiated me and put me into a trajectory, and that now, I just have to keep the momentum going.

Thankfully, this Lunch and Learn, which focused on the role of your major in your career path, was a pleasantly surprising awakening in that everybody had had multiple careers in multiple areas. Most of the people on the pannel started in a profession that fell under the umbrella of their major, but then slowly deviated away from the narrow focus of their college studies. Though I have heard similar stories before, hearing them at this particular juncture in my life has been incredibly reassuring. Their skills and knowledge have snowballed over the years and across their jobs, and that is now my new source of comfort. After hearing them speak, I started my job search. I found myself googling cool springboard jobs, as opposed to long-term, end-goal careers. Thanks to the Lunch and Learn, I had no qualms in doing so.