Category Archives: Career Advice
Last Chance to Submit Nominations for IMPACT Awards
Indiana INTERNnet, managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, is a statewide organization focusing on talent retention through increased work-and-learn experiences. Over a decade ago, Indiana INTERNnet began the tradition of celebrating internship excellence by launching the annual IMPACT Awards program. Each year, the program continues to grow in size and success.
The IMPACT Awards, presented at an annual luncheon, honor three categories: Interns of the Year (high school, college and non-traditional), Employers of the Year (for-profit and not-for-profit) and a Career Development Professional of the Year. Indiana INTERNnet will celebrate its 11th group of awards, nominees and winners on February 8, 2017. Registration will be open soon.
Olympic gold medalist and Womenās National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star Tamika Catchings will be the keynote speaker. Before finishing her final season with the Indiana Fever, Catchings interned with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in New York as part of a program …
Chelsea Kulesa: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesā successes.
These are their stories.
Chelsea Kulesa completed a person services internship with Ontario Systems before graduating from Ball State University this year.
Indiana INTERNnet: How was your people services internship with Ontario Systems?
Chelsea Kulesa: It was phenomenal. The whole human resources team (I might be a bit biased as I was their intern) was so organized and they really, truly cared about making the experience as fulfilling as possible for all of us. They wanted to make sure we were able to do realĀ purposefulĀ work, and that we gained what we wanted/needed from the experience.
IIN: Did your internship experience prepare you for a career?
CK: Absolutely. You learn a lot in college and …
Learning While Teaching
Johnny Slivka is an HR/Business Development Intern with Milliner & Associates. He will graduate from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business this year.
Going into my summer internship, I believed this summer would be full of learning, strictly learning. What I soon discovered was far from only learning, I was teaching. Immediately, I was introduced to Jobs for Americaās Graduates (JAG), and started learning and teaching. JAG, a program that before this summer meant nothing to me, has now ingrained itself in me. It has also really been an eye-opening experience.
Before I dive into why this program is so important to me, I want to describe it in a little more detail. JAG is a state-based, national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among young people who are most at risk. JAG’s mission is to keep young people in school through graduation and provide work-based learning experiences …
Job vs. Career: The Choice is Yours
The path to finding a career winds through many twists and turns, before it brings passionate and successful purpose into your life. Everyone sets out on this path with a distinct plan about how they envision their future. But to their amazement, where they end up is far from where they started. Maybe you didnāt get your dream job right after graduation and didnāt move across the country like you planned. Donāt give up! Remember that your journey is your own. Different opportunities will present themselves along the way, maybe in the form of part-time jobs or a chance to volunteer. Itās important to know how these different jobs can help you realize your full potential and lead you to a fulfilling career, no matter how laboring it may seem. You should know when to move on and challenge yourself for something greater. There is a distinct difference between a …
Job-Ready Prep for College Students
Whether you are a bright-eyed freshman or a senior counting down the days until graduation, itās never too late to learn the best techniques to prepare for the real world. And by real world, I mean the world outside of your dorms, where meal points disappear and your class schedule turns into a full-time work schedule.
When itās time to transition from campus to career, students should understand that although a college degree can boost your earning potential and improve your resume, it is only a small part of the employment equation. Hiring managers look for applicants who not only have the skills necessary for the job, but also whether the applicant would be a good fit in their company culture. They look for professionalism, confidence, self-motivation and willingness to accept challenges. Many of these qualities arenāt a pre-requisite for your diploma, but are learned through practice and experience. Internships, …
Sarah Post: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesā successes.
These are their stories.
Sarah Post will graduate from the IU Kelley School of Business-Indianapolis this May.
Indiana INTERNnet: What are some of the projects you did for the Office of Student Employment?
Sarah Post: I came up with content such as pictures, videos, etc. and posted daily on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. I did this mainly to draw attention to our office and get more students to realize there is an office on campus that will help them find part-time work while they’re in college, and also to advertise all the free services that are available to students, such as resume/cover letter building, job searching, mock interviewing, etc. I really loved …
Career Ready: Strengthening Indianaās Talent Pipeline
Indiana INTERNnet, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and Purdue University joined forces to coordinate a session during the HR Indiana Annual Conference. The session, Career Ready: Strengthening Indianaās Talent Pipeline, occurred on Wednesday, the final day of the conference. Indiana INTERNnet was honored to share the podium with brilliant minds who are shaping and strengthening Indiana’s talent pipeline for career readiness.
A few of Indianaās esteemed influencers in the world of education, public affairs, workforce policy, and business shared their insights on plans to help Indianaās economy grow. Teresa Lubbers, the Commissioner for Indianaās Commission for Higher Education (CHE), discussed invaluable strategies that CHE is pursuing to ensure Indianaās post-secondary education system is aligned to meet the needs of students and the state. She addressed key values of career alignment, competency and completion that will carry CHEās goals to the fullest extent of success in our community.
The Indiana …
Intern to Employee: I Said Yes to Success!
Many students have the same goal, to obtain full-time employment following an internship — whether that be transitioning from intern to employee with the same organization, or bringing their experience to another organization. In my case, it was a modified version of transitioning from intern to employee.
In January, I started my first college internship as a marketing intern with Indiana INTERNnet. The next few months I learned about the marvels of internships, while gaining first-hand knowledge and experience. As the end of spring semester approached, I was offered the opportunity of interning for the summer. I decided to decline the offer and explore full-time employment opportunities elsewhere. Little did I know, opportunity would soon knock again from Indiana INTERNnet.
Once my internship ended in May, the search for a full-time career was in full swing. Let me tell you, it is tough out there for a recent graduate. In …
Doās and Donāts: How to Make the Best of Career Fairs
August is slowly creeping around the corner.
Instead of being bummed out about school starting, get excited for what lies ahead! For students, this is prime-time career fair season. During the fall months as you prepare to head back to campus and get situated, itās important to iron your blazers and dust off your networking skills.
When I was in school at Indiana University, whether I was a freshman or senior, I took advantage of career fairs every semester. I learned about job opportunities that were offered in my community and made valuable connections. A few even landed me a part-time job on campus.
Whatever you are looking for, career fairs are a great place to start. Here is a rundown of some doās and donāts to keep in mind:
DO:
Your research! Look at what companies are attending the career fair first and narrow your options down to maximize …
Alumni Relations & University Career Services: The Perfect Match
āSo, what are your plans after graduation?ā
This is easily one of the most dreaded questions college graduates try to avoid answering once they walk across that stage and finally receive their diploma. After four (perhaps more) years of grueling hard work, packed extracurricular schedules, exams and a few parties here and there, graduates are expected to jump into the job market and pursue their passions they developed on campus. But finding an answer to that question doesnāt have to be worrisome. It can be quite exciting and fulfilling! Take it from me.
The best resource I found that helped me answer this question was right there under my nose. Thanks to the IU Career Development Center on campus, they served as a supportive portal for students of every major. Their recourses stretch across numerous services including career advising, facilitating internship and job fairs, tips on cover letter and …
Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills: What Matters the Most?
Throughout our young adult life, weāve experienced many victories ā from years in formal schooling to tribulations that come along with navigating between different jobs, friends and personal strategies of success.
These countless learning experiences began at a young age with critical decision making and problem solving in the classroom. We grasped these understandings over time and their effects rippled throughout our adolescence and beyond, shaping our perceptions and personality. When the time comes to enter into the real world and search for a job after graduation (and it will come soonerĀ than you think), you will be called upon by future employers to explain what skills and assets you possess naturally or those youāve picked up along the way.
As students, many of us tend to focus on the hard skills we possess that correlate with our natural capacity for intelligence, our chosen degree or academic accolades. We willingly …
Intern-to-Hire: Christina Heberer
Christina Heberer recently earned her masterās degree in Wellness Management from Ball State University. After a semester-long internship with the Wellness Council of Indiana, Christina was hired as the full-time program coordinator. The Wellness Council is an affiliated program of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in wellness management?
Christina Heberer: I get asked this question a lot since many people have not heard of this field! I was attracted to wellness management because of its blend between health and business and thought this would give me a solid foundation for impacting the health and wellbeing of employees. I was also drawn to the wellness management program at Ball State because they looked beyond exercise and physical nutrition and indicators of health and considered how an individualās community, financial situation, social support systems, and lifeās purpose impact a personās wellbeing.
IIN: Why is …
The True Value of Internships
As spring semester is coming to a close, reality is setting in. Graduation is near (or has already passed for some of you), and the stress is overwhelming. School-project deadlines are approaching, upcoming final exams, and the biggest struggle of all: job searching.
If you havenāt started searching for jobs, do it now! For months I have been stalking Indeed, CareerBuilder, Charitable Advisors and various organizationsā websites for available positions. The biggest issue Iām having is a lack of experience/education.
Iāve started thinking maybe Iām just picky or aiming too high. A position of Assistant Director could be a leap for a recent graduate, but it somewhat matches my ideal job description. Could there be a person in a level below the assistant director who could be promoted and Iād take their spot?
My biggest regret in college is only participating in one internship. If I had known I would …
Interview Preparedness Guide
An interview can cause stress and panic. You may spend hours on Google searching for what to wear, what to ask during the interview or what to do after the interview. Hereās a guide to help you prepare for an interview and reduce your stress level.
By preparing your interview outfit in advance, you can help ease the morning stress of worrying about what youāre going to wear. Also, this gives you the opportunity to iron, hem, sew on buttons or lint roll your outfit. What youāre wearing to the interview should correlate with the organization youāre interviewing at. A corporate law firm is going to have a very professional dress code and you should wear a neat suit. However, for a more relaxed organization you may consider losing the tie. If youāre unsure about what the company dress code is, do some research on its web site …
Thomas Smith: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesā successes.
These are their stories.
Thomas Smith is a senior at Ball State University planning to graduate in December 2016.
Indiana INTERNnet: Why did you pursue the construction industry for a career?
Thomas Smith: I think it is awesome how a facility can go from someone’s thought on paper to a life-size, fully-functional building.
IIN: We understand you ran a few bids during your internship. How was that experience, and how did you manage the stress of that project?
TS: It was a great experience and one that I know I will use again. As for the stress, I just had to keep myself calm and get the job done. As I ran more and …