Career Connection

careercorner

 

Career advice from across Owl Nation.

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The Small Steps Matter

/ PSTIPPICH - KSU Alumni Guest Writer
The small steps we take matter.  They don’t matter right away, but they matter over time.  It is eery how many times I have not only heard this phrase, but experienced it personally over these past few weeks of March.

I listen to multiple podcasts and it seems that in each one of them they alluded to this simple fact, the small steps we take matter.  I was even in church on Sunday and they talked about how the small steps matter as it relates to creating legacy.  Now I wasn’t oblivious to this fact before, but when it is being shoved in my face from one million different angles I feel that I need to share it with others.

One point that Gary Vaynerchuk brings up when talking about the small things, which I think others allude to but don’t specifically say, is that you hustle and take the small steps for years, and then you look up.  The reason he says this is because all along the way we will experience nay sayers and maybe even doubts from the worst side of us, but he encourages us to keep on pushing through.  Only after we have been taking these small steps for a long period of time can we get the proper perspective to see if they amounted to anything and if what you thought would happen would come to fruition.

Legacy is created over time and has a far reaching impact beyond what you could ever know.
It takes time and perspective to be able to tell who was right, you… or the naysayers.  I know for me personally I am in a season of taking a lot of small steps by building relationships, having conversations, creating and putting out content, working with a handful of people and companies all for the purpose of helping young professionals refine their leadership.

I know right now that if I looked up and measured my success, the scales may seem tipped to the side of the naysayers, but I know and see that as opportunities are lining up, the scales are about to start tilting towards my way.  This isn’t about winning… well it’s not all about winning, this is about helping other young professionals not have to go through hell and trials just to find work they can excel in and grow their leadership.

Whether you listen to the sweet sultry voice of Chris Hogan, the humorous stylings of Jon Acuff, or the in your face wisdom of Gary Vaynerchuk, remember the small things matter.  The small things matter and it will take time for you to get the appropriate perspective and to see if what you are doing is really working.

About the Author:

PS Image for Summer 2018 Career Corner Article

Paul graduated from KSU with a bachelor of science in communication and has over half a decade of leadership experience from working at companies like Chick-fil-A, Tip Top Poultry and other non-for-profit companies and schools. 

 

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When was the last time you updated your Resume?

Below is expert content from KSU career professionals for three types of alumni: recent graduates, alumni getting back into the job market, and alumni going for a promotion.

Want more information? Contact our office today and schedule an appointment with the Department of Career Planning and Development, 470-578-6555.

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Social Media & Your Job Search: 6 ?'s to Ask

Social media plays an integral part of a candidate's job search, allowing candidates to have many online interactions with employers. As the number of online interactions increase it is important those postings, messages, and comments reinforce one's brand as a relevant potential employee. 

The power of using a social media network increases exponentially as the number of people goes up. For candidates, those that post with a thought out intention and purpose produce more positive traction in their online job search. Here are six questions to consider when becoming more intentional in using social media during a job search.

Question 1: What social media platform should you be using?

- Make a list of all the social media platforms you currently use.

- Rank them by how much you use each one and why you use them.

- Deciding which platforms you use is the one thing that is controllable in the world of social media

Question 2: How much time are you willing to spend using these platforms?

- Keep in mind that social media will help maintain one's brand as a relevant potential employee through intentional quality postings and interactions, not simply a high quantity of untargeted postings. Put in the time it takes to produce quality content.

Question 3: How do you make your brand distinctive, relevant, and consistent to your targeted industries and employers using social media?

- Distinctive - Does your online professional personality match your real-world professional personality? And do you highlight your unique skills and experiences?

- Relevant - Are your postings and interactions targeted to the employers and industries you are interested in?

- Consistent - Are the tone and content of your postings consistently presented across personal and professional platforms and predictably posted?

Question 4: How will you measure the strength of your brand in your social media platform of choice?

- Don't be shy to ask your peers how they perceive your presence on your social media platform of choice.

- Determine what level of interaction you are expecting to receive so you are able to evaluate the success.

Question 5: Who should be a part of your social media network?

- Be very judicious when deciding to add a "friend" or "colleague" to your network.

- Don't hesitate to disconnect or ignore connection requests when necessary.

Question 6: How will you defend your content or online comments?

- Make a difference by taking an extra 10 seconds to proofread before submitting your content online.

By answering these questions candidates are able to becoming more intentional with what they post online, who they connect with, and in the end have a positive impact on their brand as a relevant potential employee.

Want more information? Contact our office today and schedule an appointment with the Department of Career Planning and Development, 470-578-6555.

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 Informational Interviews: Tips to get started 

Informational interviews are an important tool for your professional development where you are able to gain insights from industry professionals by asking questions on best practices, career strategies, and company culture. 

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Informational interviews are a great way to learn about a career but also to network. Check out Chris Griffin's('13) experience. She graduated with her Master of Science in Conflict Management and participated in our Owl Alumni Career Club.

".... I took your advice and set up an informational interview with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. I interviewed them about their jobs and the paths their careers had taken.... Several months ago a job posting for Hearing Coordinator in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion popped up and it looked perfect for me. I applied for the job and, viola, several rounds later, I am the finalist for the job! I could not be more excited! None of it would have happened if you had not suggested the informational interviews, something I had never done before. "


- Chris Griffin

Her story illustrates the importance of using informational interviews as a part of your job search and professional growth. Below is an example of verbiage to use when reaching out to fellow alumni and industry professionals. Don't forget that there are over 100,000 KSU/SPSU alumni out there to connect with.

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Below are questions to use during your informational interviews:

questions

 

Want more information about informational interviews? Contact our office today and schedule an appointment with the Department of Career Planning and Development, 470-578-6555.

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Michael Dutcher | Assistant Director of Campus Engagement | mdutcher@kennesaw.edu
Department of Career Planning and Development - Alumni & Student-Athletes
Kennesaw State University

MJD

 

 

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