Over on one of the BNET blogs, Matthew Rothenberg sums up some recent stories from the New York Times and TheLadders.com highlighting job seekers whose volunteer work has led to full-time paid employment. Rothenberg's conclusion:
The key, all these eyewitnesses agree is to find the right combination: a cause you can support that offers a role that fits your skills and exposure to decision makers who can help you achieve your professional ambitions.
We want to know, what do you think? Would you be willing to try to find a job through volunteer work? What kind of volunteer work do you see that could fit with your skills and interests?
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Fall 2009 Electives
Current Students: Still looking for an elective to round out your schedule? Check out this list of possibilities (be sure to check with your advisor to make sure a course fits with your degree plan)
- Presentation Media COM3483 (CRN 1605) TR 4:20-5:35 p.m. Prof. Gullen. Prereqs: Speech, WPE; Coreqs: Tech & Prof Com. Description: The systematic design, productions, and use of presentation media. Emphasis on developing business-oriented presentations using posters, overhead transparencies, slides, crystal display, and multimedia. Why take this? Build your professional presentation skills and impress your colleagues and your future boss!
- Document Design COM3473 (CRN 1606) R 5:45-8:25 p.m. Prof. Nunez. Prereqs: Tech & Prof Com; WPE. Description: Emphasis on layout and design of technical documents, documents for publication, presentation support materials, and electronic media. Why take this? Knowing how to create eye-catching and easy-to-read documents is an important part of communicating an any field.
- We hear about our "global economy" all the time. If you've been thinking about learning a foreign language, Lawrence Tech offers courses in German and Spanish (and even a Minor in Spanish). Check out LLT2613 (German 1) or any course in the "Spanish" subject in Bannerweb.
- New Ventures & Managing Entrepreneurial Operations MGT3013 (CRN 1750) T 5:45-8:50 p.m. Prof. Mills. Prereqs: Accounting 1 or Macroeconomics or Microeconomics. Description: An intensive course that focuses on the skills and knowledge necessary to design, launch, and manage a new venture. Practice is accomplished through team projects, case studies, development of a business operating plan for a new venture and meaningful field assignments. Why take this? If you've ever thought that business ownership, or running a small business with partners, might be for you, this is a great opportunity to learn the practical side of getting things done.
- Media, Communication and Society MCO1003 (CRN 1163) MW 9:30-10:45 a.m. Prof. Levine. Prereqs: None. Description: Electronic mass media and their functions: legal, economic, psychological aspects the media broadcasting and production are discussed. A survey of race, gender, and multicultural issues with regard to the media are also addressed. Special focus on the ethics of media communications professionals in problem solving. Why take this? If you have room for a general elective in your degree plan, this course allows you to discuss and debate the role of media in our society. All professionals should understand how the media works.
- Social Media MCO3633 (CRN 1887) MW 11:00-12:15 p.m. Prof. Helterhoff. Prereqs: Must be a junior or senior. Description: reading, research and writing intensive course in which students will create and maintain a carefully crafted blog throughout the semester with a strong civic component. Students will also research and analyze wikis, viral media, podcasts, virtual communities, RSS (real simple syndication) and other communication platforms. Why take this? No doubt about it -- the social web is an increasingly important means of communication for businesses in all industries. Knowing how to use its tools well -- and how to adapt to new tools that arise -- will help you better use this medium to the advantage of your company.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-7
With mixed emotions I find myself back in the mitten I call home having come in off a flight on Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed my experience in the city- both at work and out on the town and its something that I wouldnt trade for anything in this world. I learned a lot in the office, like how to do HTML coding for websites and how to upload website content. I also was able to get some presentation experience towards the end of my internship when we had to give our final presentation. I was surprised at how easy it was for me to get up in front of a room of such distinguished people [the president of our company included]. Speaking to the group about college and our experiences both with their programs and while in the city was a phenomenal opportunity and I believe that it gave them a better understanding of what their clients [student useres especially] are looking for in a social networking site. With so many of them out there these days, sites have to be competitive, not only with content but with their image as well. We also discussed with them the importance of what their generated e-mails look and sound like, and how to make them more student-friendly and personal. Outside of that, we spent a lot of time discussing what it's like to be a college kid using multiple networking and electronic grading systems, and how we manage to keep track of several e-mail addresses, our Facebooks, and Blackboards and all of the other sites we're expected to check and keep updated on a daily basis.On the same page, we discussed how online communication has eliminated the apparent need for "real-life" communication and how rare it is to actually speak to someone on the phone or in person, and even further how rare it is to get a card from someone as opposed to getting an e-card in your e-mail. Which is something that my networking also tought me- that face-to-face communication is so rare that it is valued so much more than anyone realizes.Overall, in and out of the office my experience in the city taught me many life lessons that I know will be extremely beneficial in throughout the rest of my life. The trip, the people, and the city are things that will always hold a special place in my heart now and I can't wait to go back one day!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-6
Heyy all!
Highlights-
Last Thursday…Lunch with Sandra!
Sandra treated us to lunch at a Thai food place not too far from the office and we were able to tap into all of her fabulous networking experience. She gave us lots of helpful advice concerning networking tactics, keeping in touch with people, and even shared her past experiences at various employers, how she got there, and her tips for success on the job.
This past weekend…Liz!
My friend Liz came to visit and we spent the majority of the weekend in city, shopping and wandering, taking pictures, and exploring. Overall, successful, relaxing weekend. =]
This week so far…=]
So on Monday I went to visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Manhattan and after talking to Gail for a few minutes got the opportunity to meet with a few new people as well. First on the list was Jay, Director of Corporate and Strategic Alliances. Jay handles most of the foundation’s fundraising and even shared with me some of the research he is currently doing on cultivating donors and exploring what their capacity to give is. On a more personal note, Jay also shared with me his story about getting involved with the foundation. Jay’s twin brother was a wish child when the two were much younger and ever since experiencing the joy that the Make-A-Wish Foundation brought his family and the impact they made on his brother’s life. It inspired him so much that he started to volunteer for the Foundation, and kept up with it regardless of what city he was living in at the time (mostly Boston and NYC). Years later, after various other Public Relations and Non-Profit jobs, Jay started what he described as being his “dream job” at Make-A-Wish. He shared with me some of his tips for handling the stresses of a fundraising job especially in non-profit. He also shared with me his personal experiences in having trouble landing jobs because of a lack of experience, which was something I had not heard from many other people. Everyone else I’ve talked to gave the impression that who you know is either equally or signifcantly more important than what you know. Jay however had quite a different experience, and was actually not hired the first time he applied at Make-A-Wish because he didn’t have enough experience, regardless of the fact that his brother was a wish kid and he had himself been volunteering for years. This began to worry me a bit, considering that I don’t have much experience, and knowing this I knew I would need to get some fast if I wanted to land my dream job at Make-A-Wish.
Amy Epstein, the Foundation’s special events manager shared with me that I could get that kind of experience much like she did, by doing freelance special events. She was able to give me good insight on the Special Events end of the job at Make-A-Wish, which is where I would love to end up. Amy also shared with me that she had gotten involved with the foundation because she was a former wish kid, which was very touching and inspired me even more to work towards pursuing my dream job. I found that Amy and I had a lot in common and that she was very easy to talk to.
Overall my experience at the Make-A-Wish office was very successful.
Today…We had our presentation!
Presentation went EXCEPTIONALLY well. We talked to the employees at EdDy about our experiences with their various programs, what it’s like to be a college student today, and how technology dictates everything we do with our lives both in an academic and social atmosphere. Everyone loved our presentation and said that it had taught them a lot. Overall, very successful.
Bike ride along the Hudson tonight, followed by outing with work friends.
=]
Only 4 days left!
Friday, July 10, 2009
New Honors Society on Campus: Sigma Alpha Phi
Up to now, the chapter of National Society of Leadership and Success in Lawrence Technological University is almost founded. I have found several Executive Board members, Michael Dalessandro, who is the Vice President, Christina Minta, the Chair of Fundraising and Ireli Xhani.
To introduce our organization to the campus while checking the responds of potential members, we decided to hold our first informal introduction meeting on campus. This is our fist time to “sell” and test our organization to the market. After settling the time and location, another crucial tip is to make our product more attractive. During the discussion, Christina mentioned that it would be more attractive if we could offer some free food. Since everyone likes free food, it will be easier to introduce the organization to someone after he accepts the benefit we offer. It is always easier to sell a product when you have free gifts attached.
Then we decided to buy some pizza from Hungry Howie’s. As the Student Government does not operate in the summer, we can not apply any money to cover our costs. However, all the E-board members are generous so we decided to pay the pizza together. As the president, I feel so happy that all the members take responsibility, and it shows that their personality fits for Executive Board members.
We set a table in the atrium, putting some pizza on it to attract students to our group. At the beginning, we found that it was a tough task to invite strangers walking by to come. Some people just ignored us, which is rather embarrassing. Actually, the first stage of communication is relatively hard since people tend to be hesitating to talk to people who they don’t know. However, no one will reject a smiling face. If one is really enthusiastic and honest, the other one will be influenced. Then, the purpose of communication is achieved.
Then we changed our attitudes quickly to become more warm and talkative to students, inviting them to have free pizza first and making jokes to make them feel comfortable. While we talked to them, we tried to affect them how important leadership skills are and how our organization can help them to achieve their expectation. Also, we collected information about what aspect they are interested in our organization, and what potential problems they concern.
This two day introduction turned out to be rather successful. We asked students who are interested and might become a member to write down their contact information. The list finally contained about 50 students, which is impressive in the summer semester. The goal of this activity, which is finding out the number of potential members and what this organization should offer to students, was reached by our hard work.
I always believe that communication skill is the fundamental requirement for successful management. The activities and meetings of this internship make me confirm how important communication skill is. Since information is the primary element in today’s business world, how to transmit the information to make it clear and understandable for listeners, how to make sure the information is transmitted correctly and in time through different channels. All these tasks are related to communication, and they play important roles in management.
To introduce our organization to the campus while checking the responds of potential members, we decided to hold our first informal introduction meeting on campus. This is our fist time to “sell” and test our organization to the market. After settling the time and location, another crucial tip is to make our product more attractive. During the discussion, Christina mentioned that it would be more attractive if we could offer some free food. Since everyone likes free food, it will be easier to introduce the organization to someone after he accepts the benefit we offer. It is always easier to sell a product when you have free gifts attached.
Then we decided to buy some pizza from Hungry Howie’s. As the Student Government does not operate in the summer, we can not apply any money to cover our costs. However, all the E-board members are generous so we decided to pay the pizza together. As the president, I feel so happy that all the members take responsibility, and it shows that their personality fits for Executive Board members.
We set a table in the atrium, putting some pizza on it to attract students to our group. At the beginning, we found that it was a tough task to invite strangers walking by to come. Some people just ignored us, which is rather embarrassing. Actually, the first stage of communication is relatively hard since people tend to be hesitating to talk to people who they don’t know. However, no one will reject a smiling face. If one is really enthusiastic and honest, the other one will be influenced. Then, the purpose of communication is achieved.
Then we changed our attitudes quickly to become more warm and talkative to students, inviting them to have free pizza first and making jokes to make them feel comfortable. While we talked to them, we tried to affect them how important leadership skills are and how our organization can help them to achieve their expectation. Also, we collected information about what aspect they are interested in our organization, and what potential problems they concern.
This two day introduction turned out to be rather successful. We asked students who are interested and might become a member to write down their contact information. The list finally contained about 50 students, which is impressive in the summer semester. The goal of this activity, which is finding out the number of potential members and what this organization should offer to students, was reached by our hard work.
I always believe that communication skill is the fundamental requirement for successful management. The activities and meetings of this internship make me confirm how important communication skill is. Since information is the primary element in today’s business world, how to transmit the information to make it clear and understandable for listeners, how to make sure the information is transmitted correctly and in time through different channels. All these tasks are related to communication, and they play important roles in management.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
IT internship, part 2
So these last couple weeks have been pretty busy.
We're migrating a lot of things from a company we just bought, which means we have to generate a lot of router scripts. Being that this would take a few centuries to do it manually, we have a script to generate the configs for us. It looks at an excel file to pull its information, so the task is just making sure everything in excel is right. This can be done by scanning over it yourself (time consuming and room for error) or by entering in really complicated formulas to do it for you. So that task fell to me, and I came up with some formulas (with help from an Excel forum to get me started) to make it easier. So now the configs are generated, which makes everything considerably easier.
We got a new network analyzer, so I've been poking around with that. And I can say I've worked with Network General Infinistream software, which is always a plus.
Next week I have Xng training. I don't remember if I mentioned this, but Xng is what we use to create work orders and it's also a database to track how things are physically connected together. That should be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes.
We're migrating a lot of things from a company we just bought, which means we have to generate a lot of router scripts. Being that this would take a few centuries to do it manually, we have a script to generate the configs for us. It looks at an excel file to pull its information, so the task is just making sure everything in excel is right. This can be done by scanning over it yourself (time consuming and room for error) or by entering in really complicated formulas to do it for you. So that task fell to me, and I came up with some formulas (with help from an Excel forum to get me started) to make it easier. So now the configs are generated, which makes everything considerably easier.
We got a new network analyzer, so I've been poking around with that. And I can say I've worked with Network General Infinistream software, which is always a plus.
Next week I have Xng training. I don't remember if I mentioned this, but Xng is what we use to create work orders and it's also a database to track how things are physically connected together. That should be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-5
So yesterday was the big day. April and I met with Gail Monaco, the Director of Donor Cultivation and Major Events at the Metro New York Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation for coffee in NYC. The meeting was a success from the very beginning. Gail was super friendly, and very open, and willing to answer anything we had questions about. Her persona made it a lot easier than I had expected to feel relaxed around her, even though she has such a prestigious position within the foundation. We found that she had only just gotten involved with non-profits after working in insurance and real estate for numerous years. She started off as a volunteer for United Way, an opportunity which eventually turned into a paid position within the company. After being there for 6 years, she moved onto the Make-A-Wish Foundation where she has been for the past 13 years.
We learned about the process involved with granting a child's wish, and how every wish is made possible. The interviewing is actually done by volunteers which was something that surprised me. However, many of the employees at Make-A-Wish also volunteer for the foundation and get the opportunity to go out and meet the children and their families to find out what the child really wants as his/her wish. Gail said she has had the opportunity to do this several times, and though it can be tough, is a rewarding part of the experience. She also told us several wish kid stories, which were really inspiring to hear. Gail also mentioned that she still maintains contact with many of the wish kids after their experience with the foundation and gets invited to their weddings and other special events.
Overall, the meeting was definitely a rewarding experience and has further convinced me that working for Make-A-Wish is going to be my ultimate goal after school. I plan on getting involved with the Detroit chapter as soon as I am able to once getting back to Michigan. I would really like to intern with them at some point in time before graduating college to get a better feel for the industry in general, as well as the foundation specifically. I'm not sure what I would want to do within the foundation specifically just yet, however after listening to Gail yesterday, the foundation seems to allow you to "wear many hats" as she continuously described it. One day she talks to donors and plans budgets, the next she plans major events, other days she talks to the kids...every day is different and that aspect of the job definitely appeals to me.
In addition to meeting with Gail, I have an appointment with one of the employees in our office tomorrow to talk about his experience working with handicapped children. I'm also meeting with a woman who works in NYC at the Alliance for Lupus Research office as the Special Events Manager next Wednesday after work for coffee. I also received an e-mail response from another Make-A-Wish employee and will hopefully be meeting with her some time next week to get a feel for her position within the foundation and her experiences.
So goal #1 is going wonderfully and my networking is well under way!
More to come!
Krysta
We learned about the process involved with granting a child's wish, and how every wish is made possible. The interviewing is actually done by volunteers which was something that surprised me. However, many of the employees at Make-A-Wish also volunteer for the foundation and get the opportunity to go out and meet the children and their families to find out what the child really wants as his/her wish. Gail said she has had the opportunity to do this several times, and though it can be tough, is a rewarding part of the experience. She also told us several wish kid stories, which were really inspiring to hear. Gail also mentioned that she still maintains contact with many of the wish kids after their experience with the foundation and gets invited to their weddings and other special events.
Overall, the meeting was definitely a rewarding experience and has further convinced me that working for Make-A-Wish is going to be my ultimate goal after school. I plan on getting involved with the Detroit chapter as soon as I am able to once getting back to Michigan. I would really like to intern with them at some point in time before graduating college to get a better feel for the industry in general, as well as the foundation specifically. I'm not sure what I would want to do within the foundation specifically just yet, however after listening to Gail yesterday, the foundation seems to allow you to "wear many hats" as she continuously described it. One day she talks to donors and plans budgets, the next she plans major events, other days she talks to the kids...every day is different and that aspect of the job definitely appeals to me.
In addition to meeting with Gail, I have an appointment with one of the employees in our office tomorrow to talk about his experience working with handicapped children. I'm also meeting with a woman who works in NYC at the Alliance for Lupus Research office as the Special Events Manager next Wednesday after work for coffee. I also received an e-mail response from another Make-A-Wish employee and will hopefully be meeting with her some time next week to get a feel for her position within the foundation and her experiences.
So goal #1 is going wonderfully and my networking is well under way!
More to come!
Krysta
Friday, June 26, 2009
LTU + Social Entrepreneurship: 2 Iowans Offer Their Take on Detroit
Over at another blog, two students from Grinnell College in Iowa are talking about their impressions, thoughts and ideas about the City of Detroit. Through the Detroit Social Innovation Project, a joint venture between Lawrence Tech's Center for Nonprofit Management and Grinnell College, Mickale Haile and Beth Miller are spending 9 weeks working to create socially innovative internships that will bring other students to the area to discuss and find creative approaches to Detroit's social and economic problems.
Check it out, make some comments, jump into the dialogue!
We have some great things going on right next door, and rather than becoming discouraged or feeling like we need to flee the state, it just might pay off to stop, look around, and see how we can use our creativity to make the world around us a little better.
Some other great resources on talking about Detroit:
Links to each of the Grinnel students' individual posts:
Check it out, make some comments, jump into the dialogue!
We have some great things going on right next door, and rather than becoming discouraged or feeling like we need to flee the state, it just might pay off to stop, look around, and see how we can use our creativity to make the world around us a little better.
Some other great resources on talking about Detroit:
- Metromode, a local online magazine featuring all things Detroit, is launching the Metro Detroit Talent Retention Program, in which it will feature young professionals from around the area who have chosen to stay, live and work in metro Detroit
- Intern in Michigan connects Michigan employers and student interns to make the most of the wealth of talent we have right here
- Positive Detroit is a blog dedicated to highlighting the good news about things that are going on in the Detroit area
Links to each of the Grinnel students' individual posts:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-4
So while in the Big City, I’ve decided that it would be a good idea to set some goals to obtain by the time I leave here to make sure I’m making the most of my experience.
1. Network like crazy!
I want to get ahold of and meet with AT LEAST 3 non-profits before I leave here. So far I’ve gotten thru to the Director of Donor Cultivation and Major Events at Make-A-Wish Foundation, and today i started collecting contact information for the UNICEF headquarters.
2. Master the Subway/Transit System
It’s harder than it sounds. It is SO easy to get all turned around and end up in multiple bureaus without even meaning to!
3. Get to the gym 4 times/week.
We walk everywhere, but it seemes like everyone in this city works out like, all the time. So call it peer pressure but…=]
4. Go to at least one Broadway show.
I think this is just a NYC must. Who goes to NYC and doesn’t go to Broadway?
5. Visit the art museums: Guggenheim and MoMA
Stuff like this is always so much fun and super interesting.
UPDATES
This week is going even better than last week, and I'm learning more and more each day. I've learned a ton about HTML and Wiki formatting, which is proving to be a very useful skill, and will definitely be another super beneficial skill to add to my resume. Tomorrow the director from my department is giving a presentation about presentation skills, what to do, what not to do, etc. I've always considered myself to be a pretty decent public speaker, however I'm hoping that this will make me even better.
One of the other things that I've rediscovered since getting here is my love for working with non-profit organizations, especially those that work with kids. This weekend one of the interns and I are volunteering at a barbecue in Central Park for Harlem school kids, which is sure to be an eye-opening experience. I have also been talking to the people in my office who I have discovered to be my best resource as far as finding networking opportunities go. Later next week I'm having lunch with one of the guys in our office (Rob) to talk to him about his experiences, and we're going to see if we can set something up with some of the non-profits he used to work with. Also, after meeting with Josh H today I discovered that his girlfriend works for a non-profit in the city so I will hopefully be meeting up with her soon too.
Overall, things are starting to go extremely well in the way of networking currently, so I'm hoping that that continues to go uphill. Despite a little bit of homesickness at the beginning of the week I'm continuing to enjoy my time in the city and can't wait to get paid again so we can do some more exploring in NYC.
-Krysta
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
IT internship, part 1
Taking a cue from the other intern who's posting, I'm going to give all my posts the same title with different parts, so it's easier to follow.
Okay, so I have really been slacking in the posting department, and that's because I've been studying for my CCNA exam. If you don't know, that's Cisco Certified Network Associate, and it's a really good cert to have if you're going into the networking field. I enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy last year and after that just studied for a good month and a half. Even at work, because they are awesome enough to understand that this cert would be beneficial to both me and them. My test was on the 18th and all spare time (well, most) was spent studying, thus I really didn't get to update much. But it paid off! I passed! I'm a CCNA!
Anyway.
The company is possibly the most laidback company I've ever worked for. Not in terms of getting things done, because everyone gets their work done, but dresscode wise (most of my coworkers wear jeans), and stuff like that. I have a very hands off manager, and in fact most of my work comes from the guys I work with. And there is no shortage of it, which I definitely enjoy. Recently I upgraded a Sniffer Infinistream, which was a more lengthy process than I expected. Sniffers analyze packets that go through a router and are invaluable in figuring out an outage or a problem. I can also generate router configs, which was actually very good practice for the CCNA because they use cisco routers. I've troubleshooted, installed hardware, done work orders, configured things, and basically, finally in a position where I understand what's going on and I can apply what I learned in class, and learn some more. I know a lot more about cellular traffic than I did when I first came in, and how things connect and how packets travel.
The other thing is that everyone is awesome. My group jokes around with each other a lot, but we all get everything done and in on time. I really actually hope that I can extend this to the fall or actually work there permanently.
I promise to update regularly now, probably once a week or so :)
Okay, so I have really been slacking in the posting department, and that's because I've been studying for my CCNA exam. If you don't know, that's Cisco Certified Network Associate, and it's a really good cert to have if you're going into the networking field. I enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy last year and after that just studied for a good month and a half. Even at work, because they are awesome enough to understand that this cert would be beneficial to both me and them. My test was on the 18th and all spare time (well, most) was spent studying, thus I really didn't get to update much. But it paid off! I passed! I'm a CCNA!
Anyway.
The company is possibly the most laidback company I've ever worked for. Not in terms of getting things done, because everyone gets their work done, but dresscode wise (most of my coworkers wear jeans), and stuff like that. I have a very hands off manager, and in fact most of my work comes from the guys I work with. And there is no shortage of it, which I definitely enjoy. Recently I upgraded a Sniffer Infinistream, which was a more lengthy process than I expected. Sniffers analyze packets that go through a router and are invaluable in figuring out an outage or a problem. I can also generate router configs, which was actually very good practice for the CCNA because they use cisco routers. I've troubleshooted, installed hardware, done work orders, configured things, and basically, finally in a position where I understand what's going on and I can apply what I learned in class, and learn some more. I know a lot more about cellular traffic than I did when I first came in, and how things connect and how packets travel.
The other thing is that everyone is awesome. My group jokes around with each other a lot, but we all get everything done and in on time. I really actually hope that I can extend this to the fall or actually work there permanently.
I promise to update regularly now, probably once a week or so :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-3
Hey all!
So one of the things that I have been advised to do being so close to the Big Apple is to network, Network, NETWORK. Where better to make business contacts than in the big city where there are so many successful business owners, entrepreneurs, and people who have essentially climbed to the top of their corporate ladders.
One of the things I knew I always wanted to do after college was to work with non-profit corporations, and since coming to New York I have made it one of my goals to meet with at least three representatives from big non-profit corporations to get a better idea of what their line of work is like and what they had to do to make it to the top. First on my list is Make-A-Wish Foundation. So far I have sent individual e-mails to several of their Wish Coordinators, as well as their Special Events Manager, and just recently sent an e-mail through their information request link to the entire staff at Make-A-Wish NYC. I made it clear that I was not looking for a job, but only for an opportunity to do some networking, and some learning as to what it takes to obtain a position like theirs within such a huge national corporation. I have already received a response, and will hopefully be setting up a meeting time and place with their Special Events Manager sometime in the near future.
In addition to Make-A-Wish, I am hoping to get into contact with the March of Dimes and Children's Miracle Network, and perhaps even several other smaller foundations if I can find a way to make it work. I think that ultimately, I would love to work for a non-profit that helps children, so what better way to get into that industry than learning from those who are already in it, and using them as contacts later on to locate positions in the field?
In addition to contacting the non-profits I have set up a profile on linkedin.com to try to make some more contacts, receive recommendations, and essentially advertise myself to have a better chance of getting a job after school.
More to come soon [from the city where it NEVER stops raining...]
Krysta
So one of the things that I have been advised to do being so close to the Big Apple is to network, Network, NETWORK. Where better to make business contacts than in the big city where there are so many successful business owners, entrepreneurs, and people who have essentially climbed to the top of their corporate ladders.
One of the things I knew I always wanted to do after college was to work with non-profit corporations, and since coming to New York I have made it one of my goals to meet with at least three representatives from big non-profit corporations to get a better idea of what their line of work is like and what they had to do to make it to the top. First on my list is Make-A-Wish Foundation. So far I have sent individual e-mails to several of their Wish Coordinators, as well as their Special Events Manager, and just recently sent an e-mail through their information request link to the entire staff at Make-A-Wish NYC. I made it clear that I was not looking for a job, but only for an opportunity to do some networking, and some learning as to what it takes to obtain a position like theirs within such a huge national corporation. I have already received a response, and will hopefully be setting up a meeting time and place with their Special Events Manager sometime in the near future.
In addition to Make-A-Wish, I am hoping to get into contact with the March of Dimes and Children's Miracle Network, and perhaps even several other smaller foundations if I can find a way to make it work. I think that ultimately, I would love to work for a non-profit that helps children, so what better way to get into that industry than learning from those who are already in it, and using them as contacts later on to locate positions in the field?
In addition to contacting the non-profits I have set up a profile on linkedin.com to try to make some more contacts, receive recommendations, and essentially advertise myself to have a better chance of getting a job after school.
More to come soon [from the city where it NEVER stops raining...]
Krysta
Monday, June 15, 2009
Career Summit for Women in IT -- Connect, Lead, Succeed
On June 20, 2009, the Michigan Council of Women in Technology is holding its 4th Annual Technology Career Summit! If you can't wait to register, here's the link up front: https://mcwt.cuveventreg.com/register/?event_id=8&mode=reg_session&job=login
The keynote speaker is Rhonda Walker, WDIV-TV anchor, who will speak about her professional journey. The remainder of the conference will include interactive workshops and a great panel discussion.
If you are thinking about a job in the IT field, this is a fantastic chance to network with other students and established professionals.
If you attend the event and want to blog about how it went, just e-mail kevans [at] ltu [dot] edu -- it would be a great way to let others know what you learned!
The keynote speaker is Rhonda Walker, WDIV-TV anchor, who will speak about her professional journey. The remainder of the conference will include interactive workshops and a great panel discussion.
If you are thinking about a job in the IT field, this is a fantastic chance to network with other students and established professionals.
If you attend the event and want to blog about how it went, just e-mail kevans [at] ltu [dot] edu -- it would be a great way to let others know what you learned!
The Adventures of a Big City Intern-2
Hey all!
So I had my first weekend in the city, and it was definitely a blast. =]
Friday night we did a lot of exploring and wandered around Hoboken to get a better feel for the local scene and nightlife. Saturday was spent catching up on all the sleep we had lost throughout the week, and doing a little bit of homework. However, that night we got to go out and have some fun exploring the New York public transportation system and met all kinds of interesting people along the way.
Sunday morning we took our first real tourist trip, and went out to Governor's Island. Along the way we got out first real taste of street performers, and scam artists who tried to charge us $10 for taking a picture with him because he was dressed up like the statue of liberty [pictures to come soon, promise].
We finally made it to the island and walked around, exploring the coastline and taking loads of pictures of the sailboats, ferries, and the Statue of Liberty. The statue was even more amazing than I could have imagined...and the view of the water was phenomenal. =]
After walking the coastline we went and checked out the River to River Art and Music Festival that the island hosts each year. Artists bring their pieces to the island and they are set up for public viewing. Most of the pieces were unconventional which made the festival even more interesting.
One of my favorites was an exhibit that featured hundreds of flowers that people had hung from a tree. The public was invited to take a flower and to it to a branch and make a wish. The exhibit originated from a part of Indian culture, and was just one of many exhibits that displayed the diversity of the artists at the festival.Another cool exhibit that we visited was an audio art experiment inside the walls of Fort Jay. There were sound waves that were controlled by the number of people inside the walls, how close together or spread out they were, and they way they moved. The experiment was designed to give the allusion of being "in charge" of the sound waves.
After the festival, we headed back into the city for dinner and did some shopping on canal street, through Chinatown and Little Italy. We made it back to the apt. without getting lost ALL DAY, which was a record for us...we were pretty psyched.
Tomorrow it's back to work at the office, which really isn't as bad as you would think. All of the employees are young, and super friendly, so it's a great working environment for a college intern. I'm learning a lot and experiencing a lot of super cool things.
more to come!!
So I had my first weekend in the city, and it was definitely a blast. =]
Friday night we did a lot of exploring and wandered around Hoboken to get a better feel for the local scene and nightlife. Saturday was spent catching up on all the sleep we had lost throughout the week, and doing a little bit of homework. However, that night we got to go out and have some fun exploring the New York public transportation system and met all kinds of interesting people along the way.
Sunday morning we took our first real tourist trip, and went out to Governor's Island. Along the way we got out first real taste of street performers, and scam artists who tried to charge us $10 for taking a picture with him because he was dressed up like the statue of liberty [pictures to come soon, promise].
We finally made it to the island and walked around, exploring the coastline and taking loads of pictures of the sailboats, ferries, and the Statue of Liberty. The statue was even more amazing than I could have imagined...and the view of the water was phenomenal. =]
After walking the coastline we went and checked out the River to River Art and Music Festival that the island hosts each year. Artists bring their pieces to the island and they are set up for public viewing. Most of the pieces were unconventional which made the festival even more interesting.
One of my favorites was an exhibit that featured hundreds of flowers that people had hung from a tree. The public was invited to take a flower and to it to a branch and make a wish. The exhibit originated from a part of Indian culture, and was just one of many exhibits that displayed the diversity of the artists at the festival.Another cool exhibit that we visited was an audio art experiment inside the walls of Fort Jay. There were sound waves that were controlled by the number of people inside the walls, how close together or spread out they were, and they way they moved. The experiment was designed to give the allusion of being "in charge" of the sound waves.
After the festival, we headed back into the city for dinner and did some shopping on canal street, through Chinatown and Little Italy. We made it back to the apt. without getting lost ALL DAY, which was a record for us...we were pretty psyched.
Tomorrow it's back to work at the office, which really isn't as bad as you would think. All of the employees are young, and super friendly, so it's a great working environment for a college intern. I'm learning a lot and experiencing a lot of super cool things.
more to come!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Adventures of a Big City Intern
Well I finally made it! After getting through months of anticipation, and a delayed flight, I have finally made it to I had my first day of work yesterday, and as nervous as I was, I ended up having an amazing experience…which isn’t so hard to do when you can see the
After getting acquainted with my new team, we were treated to lunch by one of the VP’s and then attended our very first full office meeting where we came up with a theoretical design for a chat application for the websites they use here, one of which is geared towards incoming freshman (which is the one LTU uses), and the other called FYRe, which is geared towards first year students with the goal of keeping them at the university. I immediately assumed that as an intern, and not to mention, the only person under-20 in the entire office, that I wouldn’t be addressed much, if at all, and that if I were to speak up, anything I were to say would be ignored.
WRONG.
All four of us quickly discovered that we were just as responsible for brainstorming and participating as any full-time employee in the company. We all began to speak up, throwing out ideas and giving input that the VP running the meeting seemed genuinely interested in hearing, and quickly added them to the developing list for the chat application. Towards the end of the meeting we switched into smaller groups and based on the collective group input, designed a chat box for the application, and when everyone was finished it was time to present. When it got to our group, I was the one who ended up presenting the project which was both scary and exciting at the same time.
Once that meeting was finished, the other interns and I met with the Vice President of design to discuss a new project his team was working on: developing a mentor/protégé website for another university. Again, we discussed the features we wanted to see, and came up with designs for what we felt the page should look like, as well as how the selection process would be implemented, etc.
Overall, my first day was a whirlwind, but I could not ask for better. After work we headed back to our apartment, and did some grocery shopping and just hung out for the night.
Oh, yeah, roommates, almost forgot. I’m living in an apartment in the city of
So far the experience has been amazing, and tonight we’re planning on going to a charity run in
More to come!!
Krysta
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Management Summer Internship
Greetings, fellow students and faculty/staff members! I'm Carrie, a senior in the Information Technology program (where does the time go?!) and I'll be periodically posting about my internship with Verizon Wireless this summer. I'm working in the Network group, and thus far I've become familiar with the hardware they use, the way the cell phone traffic is forwarded through various sites, and generated router configs. Also done lots of troubleshooting. It's definitely the best application of what I have learned thus far I can think of!I'll be blogging in more detail as the summer progresses!
Stumble It!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Going Global: Exciting Opportunities for LTU Students
LTU Business Management and IT students have some exciting opportunities to study abroad. In an increasingly global business world, it is important for professionals to have as much experience interacting with other cultures as possible. Listed below, you will find brief descriptions of these exciting opportunities, along with relevant dates and other important information.
Junior/Senior Elective in Paris
Take your junior/senior Core Curriculum elective beneath the Eiffel Tower this summer!
Deadline to register: March 31, 2009
Dates: May 13-July 10 on campus, July 21-August 11 in Paris
Requirements:Junior standing or above (by 5/09) with 3.0 or better GPA
Contact: Alice McHard in A116 (mchard@ltu.edu)
A Full Semester in England
Through a partnership with Harlaxton University, LTU students can study for an entire semester, or even an entire year, and earn LTU credits. Harlaxton is about 40 minutes outside of London, England. Business course and humanities courses are offered there, with selections varying from semester to semester.
Deadline to register: Varies depending on the semester you wish to start at Harlaxton
Dates: Fall and/or Spring semesters
Contact: Melissa Grunow, Leadership Programs Coordinator (mgrunow [at] ltu [dot] edu)
Teach English in China
During the summer, you can spend time with fellow LTU students teaching English to Chinese students. Quest credit is available for this opportunity, which can carry funding possibilities.
Contact: Melissa Grunow, Leadership Coordinator
Opportunities also exist in Germany, South Africa and more. Check this website for details: http://www.ltu.edu/leadership/studyabroad.asp
Take advantage of these opportunities to see the world that lies beyond our front door!
Junior/Senior Elective in Paris
Take your junior/senior Core Curriculum elective beneath the Eiffel Tower this summer!
Deadline to register: March 31, 2009
Dates: May 13-July 10 on campus, July 21-August 11 in Paris
Requirements:Junior standing or above (by 5/09) with 3.0 or better GPA
Contact: Alice McHard in A116 (mchard@ltu.edu)
A Full Semester in England
Through a partnership with Harlaxton University, LTU students can study for an entire semester, or even an entire year, and earn LTU credits. Harlaxton is about 40 minutes outside of London, England. Business course and humanities courses are offered there, with selections varying from semester to semester.
Deadline to register: Varies depending on the semester you wish to start at Harlaxton
Dates: Fall and/or Spring semesters
Contact: Melissa Grunow, Leadership Programs Coordinator (mgrunow [at] ltu [dot] edu)
Teach English in China
During the summer, you can spend time with fellow LTU students teaching English to Chinese students. Quest credit is available for this opportunity, which can carry funding possibilities.
Contact: Melissa Grunow, Leadership Coordinator
Opportunities also exist in Germany, South Africa and more. Check this website for details: http://www.ltu.edu/leadership/studyabroad.asp
Take advantage of these opportunities to see the world that lies beyond our front door!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Like Winning $? Check Out These Opportunities
Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation is seeking scholarship applications from women who are studying information technology or a technical field. Visit www.mcwtf.org for details on this scholarship, along with laptop grants and scholarships for high school students.
Feeling the urge to blog yet? Get jump started with some cash -- The Talent Buzz is offering a $1,000 Visa Gift Card for a winning blog post. Details here:http://thetalentbuzz.com/2009/02/the-1000-blog-post-contest/
Feeling the urge to blog yet? Get jump started with some cash -- The Talent Buzz is offering a $1,000 Visa Gift Card for a winning blog post. Details here:http://thetalentbuzz.com/2009/02/the-1000-blog-post-contest/
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Upcoming Event on Campus: Invention2Venture
Invention to Venture (I2V) Lawrence Tech 2009 is February 27, 2009 -- and is the day for you to win money, network with notable entrepreneurs, discover how to turn an innovative product idea into a new venture and more!
This event is open to LTU students and anyone else in the community who wants to learn more!
Here are the details:
This event is open to LTU students and anyone else in the community who wants to learn more!
Here are the details:
- Date: Friday, February 27, 2009
- Time: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PMLocation: UTLC Gallery, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI
- Presentations will focus on venture capital, marketing, intellectual property, business plans, and related topics. Guest speakers are experts drawn from the region.
- FREE for all students who register; $25 for faculty and staff at universities/colleges; $25 for LTU Alumni; $50 for the general public.
Want even more information? Want to register? Visit http://www.invention2venture.org/ltu2009/
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