I Don't Wanna' Grow Up, I'm an LSU Kid

Getting What I Came For...a JOB!

2008-12-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

A week ago yesterday, I accepted a job offer from my current employer. Effective Janurary 6, I will be employed as a full-time public relations coordinator. Even as I type the words I feel a sense of relief! The search is over and three and a half years of hard work have paid off.

The system has served me well. Get involved, network, seize internship opportunities (regardless of pay!), accept the grunt work humbly and determine what it is about your field you like and excel at doing. These mantras have led me down the road thus far. I suppose now I must begin looking for the next set of life lessons, for first job do's and don'ts.

Although I have been with my company for almost a year now, the transition to a full-time employee will undoubtedly bring about new scenarios and challenges. I look forward to putting my skills to the test and keeping you posted in the mean time. From top-of-the-world senior, to low man on the totem poll is sure to be quite the adjustment!

Till next time,
LSU Kid

And So...the Countdown Begins

2008-11-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

Nine days of class, three exams, two group projects and a paper stand between me and a diploma. In the home stretch to the finish line, procrastination and laziness are proving themselves to be my super fans! I believe they call this senioritis. As someone who has always thrived on staying busy and multitasking, I am taken aback by the overwhelming urge to do...NOTHING. I think in a way I am telling myself that if I don't do anything to quicken the process, perhaps I can actually prolong it somehow. I can't advise yet how to kick this syndrome, but I can recognize the danger in it. Granted, the last few points in my GPA won't make or break my job hunt, but if this attitude carries over into that hunt...I am hopeless!

In reasoning for staying on top of schoolwork and going out with a bang, I keep coming back to a high school soccer mantra...finish strong. Our coach would shout it at us in his thick Trinidadian accent as we pushed through the last round of sprints, or minutes of a practice or game. So whether you think of graduation as an end, or as a new beginning, it is important to take the last steps towards it with purpose.

I hereby challenge myself (and you!) to go to nine more days of class and ace three exams, two group projects and a paper.

Finish Strong,
LSU Kid

All Your Eggs in One Basket?

2008-11-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

After an initial discussion three weeks back with my current boss regarding my post-graduation work status, things were looking up! It seemed as though I would be able to remain in Baton Rouge and be fully-employed in the public relations department of the agency come January. I kicked back thinking it was a done deal but had been waiting to announce my verbal full-time job offer until I had seen an actual set-in-stone offer...I am still waiting. All good things come with time, but should it not pan out I would be back to the drawing board with a college degree and my own bills in tow.

As the panic starts to set in again, let the lessons be lived and soon learned: Nothing is final until it is final. It is essential to be assertive in expressing what your realistic wants and needs are from your potential employer, and realize that they can't always meet them. Continue your search until you have signed an offer and be active in seeking out opportunities.

It is time to jump back into the searching process! If I can heed my own advice I hope to have good news for you in the next month or so. In the mean time I'll be following-up with my employer, heading back to the job search boards and putting my resume in with contacts I've established around town. I'll be stumbling through the mistakes and successes and you'll be the first to know about them.

Spreading out my eggs,
LSU Kid

Service Learning at LSU

2008-11-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

In working with my capstone public relations class, I have had the opportunity to experience service-learning for the first time. Up until this semester I was unaware that such classes existed on campus or of the opportunities they provide students. My group is planning and implementing a public relations campaign for the Big Buddy Program of Baton Rouge, a local non-profit youth services agency that provides positive role models and quality learning experiences to over 3,000 disadvantaged youth weekly. Working hand-in-hand with an actual client has provided direct, field-related experience and portfolio-building opportunities. Our project has even gotten me media exposure on WBRZ's 2une In program and Cox's Game of the Week!

The coolest part is that what we walk away with from the project will put us a step ahead in competing for jobs AND help out the community. If you have any flex room in your class schedule before graduating I would strongly recommend looking into signing up for one. It goes without saying, the more you can show a potential employer that you have done work that directly relates to your field, the better.

The LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership notes that, "Service-Learning offers an exciting kind of 'hands-on' learning in which you apply what you learn to make your community a better place. While helping others, you gain knowledge that’s directly connected to the learning goals of the service-learning course you’re taking." You can find out more on their Web site http://appl003.lsu.edu/slas/ccell/studentinfo.nsf/Index

Check it out,
LSU Kid

Considering Graduate School?

2008-10-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Graduate school is not an option that I personally am exploring in my search for post-graduation happiness. I may consider it down the road, but at present it is not something I have put much thought into.

However, for those of you that have or are considering it, be sure to stop in TODAY at the Graduate and Professional School Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the PMAC. Save your self some Internet browsing time and stop in to actually talk with recruiters first hand and pick up information about schools you may have not considered. If you catch my post too late, or can't make it to the event don't fret! You can check out Career Service's Web site (http://appl003.lsu.edu/slas/career/careerweb.nsf/index) to find information about who attended the event, etc. AND it's not too late to catch the last event in their Grad School Application Success Series, "Winning Personal Statements" to be held Thursday, November 6 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in 152 Coates Hall.

Just because it's not for me doesn't mean it's not for you. If you are still searching, this could be the road to the post-graduation happiness we are all looking for!

'Till next time,
LSU Kid

Food for Thought: Graduation and Insurance

2008-10-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

The sense of urgency that surrounds finding a full-time job after graduation is often heightened by the risk of being without benefits, primarily health insurance. For most of us, this is something we have never considered because we have had twenty something years of coverage under our parents.

In researching the subject I came across the article "Health Insurance for Twentysomethings" on Kiplinger.com (Kiplinger has been a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice for over eight decades). The article provides insight into the options available for students and links to additional insurance databases.

Click here to check it out: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2008/st0409.htm

Best,
LSU Kid

The Million Dollar Question: What Do You Want?

2008-10-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

As if midterm week wasn't unpleasant enough as is, for soon-to-be graduates like myself it is yet another reminder that the "real world" is coming...and faster than we'd like! In the face of finding a full-time job, prioritizing and completing menial school tasks (i.e. cramming for midterms or writing last-minute papers) seem to plummet in importance. We are charged with looking ahead to January, while still focusing on living day to day; scanning the horizon for what the future holds, while still being aware of where the sun is rising and setting today.

In riding this emotional roller coaster, I am stumbling on pieces of advice that are much easier heard than learned. One simple tidbit I heard today that speaks to the heart of the job-search process is, "You really just have to decide what it is that you value: family, money, prestige, etc." If it could all be that easy right!?

What I've taken from this piece of advice and what I will leave you with is a question that is pounding in my head, heart and gut these days...what is it that you want? In the end, we have to realize no parent, friend, mentor or future employer can answer this question for us. And while this again is easier written than lived, I believe finding the answer will bring me one step closer to finding a job that I can succeed in, is meaningful and...pays the bills. When I do, you will be the first to know!

Yours in frustration,
LSU Kid

Informational Interviews: Thoughts?

2008-10-07T20:13:00.001-07:00

"Honesty is a hard attribute to find when we all want to seem like we've got it all figured out. Well let me be the first to say that I don't have a clue. I don't have all the answers, ain't gonna' pretend like I do." -Lifehouse

That being said, the farther I get into the job-search process (frightening and stressful as it is!) I am constantly being advised to, "Go on informational interviews." Heck, I've even set one up. But truth be told, I don't have a clue what they entail! I am still researching the concept, arranging additional ones and preparing for the ones I have set up.

At this point I can give no advice....thoughts?

Best,
LSU Kid

The Value in Working for Free

2008-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are light years above my last post and have successfully conquered the art of networking, congrats! Now allow me to fast forward and advise those of you successfully (or unsuccessfully) moving in the direction of your first internship. In beginning your internship search you may find yourself faced with a notion you never thought you would even consider: working for free. This notion is also known as an unpaid internship. I know, I know...sounds crazy right?! But as I learned in four humbling months earlier this year, there is substantial value in the experience.

Last January I was faced with two potential internships. On paper, Internship A was: on-campus (aka within walking distance from my apartment), paid and would provide me with lots on hands-on, field-related experience. Sounds perfect right? Internship B was: off-campus (about a 15 minute commute, complicated by my no-car situation), unpaid and I would be working under another intern who would have first choice of the hands-on, field-related experience. The choice seems obvious right?

In making the decision however, I had to look beyond these black-and-white facts and ask myself, "What am I looking for long-term in a career, and which one of these beginnings is a step in that direction?" In answering this question, the choice WAS obvious. Internship B would provide me with experience in an agency setting, which is where I wanted to be long-term. My first four months at Zehnder Communications were an integral step in that direction.

As it was, my four months of unpaid work did in fact provide me with invaluable experience. Even when I wasn't the one doing the most exciting and important work, I was in and among those who were and was contributing to their efforts. I learned to appreciate the tasks I was given, and do the best I could at them; this never goes unnoticed! When the head intern left last May, I was promoted and....PAID. My tasks became more demanding and to this day I take great pride in every one I complete.

The moral of the story is, it's not about what you are or aren't getting paid. It is about the experience and the role it plays in your future. As with so many things in life, what you put into an unpaid internship is what you will get out of it. As fake and phony as that may sound, let me be your proof. Looking back on last January, I don't regret my decision for a minute!

Best of luck in the search,

LSU Kid

The Nitty Gritty of Networking

2008-09-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

As I referenced in my last post, two staples of almost any field these days are getting an internship and networking. And let me tell you, there is nothing like an afternoon of e-mailing to remind you of the importance of networking!

I can't say for sure where I heard it first, or if I'll ever stop hearing it, but let me be a testament to the advice, "Network, network, network!" If you can't take my word at face value, hopefully my last three jobs will prove it.

To save you the month-by-month account of how I successfully turned three random meetings into a summer internship and two jobs, I will provide you with some tips I have found helpful in effectively networking.

When you meet potential employers, be sure to introduce yourself with confidence. Eye contact and a firm handshake are MUSTS.
Always have your résumé on hand, and a business card if available.
Take their business cards, and when you get home label it with the date and where you met them.
Follow up immediately! The sooner the better; I try to e-mail them the same night and the next day at the latest.
In doing so: remind them where you met, mention something distinctive you discussed, thank them for their time and mention your intent to stay in touch with them.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM! I try to contact my usual group every month, or at least once every two months. If you find you have slipped in your routine, find an opportunity such as the end of a semester or completing a big project and use that as a starting point for an e-mail. Another ideal and impressive topic of conversation is when the company does something big (wins an award, etc.). This shows you are keeping tabs on them and have a sincere interest in being a part of their team.

While I have reaped the benefits of these tips, what works for me may not work for you. The key is being assertive and consistent. If you want something, be it an internship or a full-time position, don't expect it to find you...find it! Where to start? You guessed it...NETWORKING!

Happy e-mailing,
LSU Kid

Carpe diem...and its opportunities!

2008-09-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

As I walked among the hundreds of students gathered in the Parker Coliseum yesterday for the Career Expo, I couldn't help but think back to my first expo over two years ago. A lot has changed since that point, but looking back, I wish someone would have given me a complete list of "Things You Should Know in College." One thing I would put at the top of my list is GET INVOLVED, which would be immediately followed by TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!

Club soccer was the extent of my involvement freshman year. I was an undeclared major with no clue what I wanted to do, or whom I needed to talk to in order to figure that out. I never went to any of the events on campus (other than the football games of course); I even skipped the hall meetings in my dorm! I was quite a ways away from the over-involved, opportunist I consider myself to be today.

It wasn't really until my sophomore year, when I was accepted into the Manship School of Mass Communication and began working at Career Services, that I really learned what I had missed out on freshman year. The following year I continued to play club soccer but also: joined a student organization in my college, became an officer of an honor society on campus, made a résumé, had my résumé reviewed and opened my ears to two great pieces of advice I had been hearing over and over again. Does anyone ever tell you to, "Learn to network," or "Get an internship?" LISTEN UP BUDDY!

Realizing I can't spill all of my wisdom at once, I will expand on those two notions later. For now I leave you with this...whether it be taking a career assessment to help you pick a major, joining the Ultimate Frisbee Club at LSU, signing up for a student government position, or simply attending an on-campus event you never thought you would...carpe diem! Seize the day, and the plethora of opportunities the University has provided you.

It may not all happen at once, but for me I found that once I took the first step and started engaging myself, I almost couldn't stop!

'Till next time,
LSU Kid

Hurricane Gustav: Déjà vu and a Little Lagniappe

2008-09-07T23:17:00.000-07:00

Many of you fellow seniors probably had an icky feeling when you heard the news of Gustav's impending course - they call that feeling déjà a vu! For me, it seemed like just yesterday that I was a mere freshman settling into a new city/school/routine when Katrina came rummaging through, breaking up any sense of normalcy. Those feelings now resonate with the freshman class of 2008.

Gustav, however, has impacted all of our lives with a little, or (more correctly) a large amount, of lagniappe. Katrina brought us no class and no football; but Gustav has added no power and an immense amount of damage and debris.

As I watched the story of Gustsav unfold from a safe distance, 12,000 miles to be precise, I was nostalgic in a sense. As I clicked through photos, videos and news stories, it all seemed so familiar. Flying back into the great city of New Orleans, devastated only three years prior, I was thankful it was spared and looked forward to heading back to my home sweet home.

With my friend the Internet back and enemies Katrina and Gustav under my belt, I can knowingly tell you: hurricanes DO hit Baton Rouge, summers DO get extended, and you can plan, plan, plan all you want . . . but in the end, you have to learn to take life one day at a time. And at the end of the day, give thanks always.

Wishes that you and yours survived safely (and that Ike stays the heck out of here),
LSU Kid

Decisions, Decisions, Decsions

2008-08-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

While I will save my in-depth introduction/biography for my next post, for now you should know that I am a senior in the Manship School of Mass Communication, hoping to earn my degree in public relations come December . That being said, you should know that even if I was an incoming freshman or a middle-of-the-road sophomore, the first week of school would be chock full of that big, often scary, nine-letter word...decisions! Whether it is where to go for food in the twenty minutes you find in your day to eat, or what class/extra-curricular you simply cannot fit into your schedule this semester, we all have to make them. Lately, I have been finding out the obvious-- it's not always fun.

Long sagas aside, I have learned something in the past two weeks that I want to share...sometimes it's ok to say, "No!" Sometimes you have to learn when too much is TOO MUCH and when, for sanity's sake, you have to cut something out. It may be hard, it may be a huge relief, but knowing when it must be done is what really counts. And in the wise words of my boss, "Sometimes it can even be empowering."

Rememeber, breathing is essential. And when you find yourself too crazy to breathe...just say no!, with a smile of course:)

'Till next time,
LSU Kid