The semester isn't over...yet!

What were people thinking? Give us a nice long Thanksgiving break and then making us come back. If you are like me, your brain is now confused. I did absolutely no school work over the break, which left me feeling like the semester was over. Now that I am back in my routine I have to keep reminding myself to stay focused because we still have two more weeks of classes.

So, I would advise taking a day to get really organized. It's never a good idea to wait until the last minute. Plus the sooner you can get things completed, the sooner you can relax. Plan and write out all of the papers, presentations, and projects that are due between now and the end of the semester. Also, make sure you know the days, times, and locations of your upcoming final exams. Having all of this planned out will help lessen the stress that comes with the end of every semester.

As far as exams go, start studying now. It's a great idea to set aside a half hour every day. If you do that this week and next, you will have studied for 5 hours before finals week even starts!

This is also the time to tie up an loose ends. Get your parking pass for next semester. Make sure your room and meal plans are set. Pay any fines or fill out any necessary paperwork before the semester ends. No one wants to deal with these annoying tasks over winter break.

Most importantly, try to relax and enjoy any free time that you have. Take a break from studying to go Christmas shopping or hang out with friends. Working all day and night with no sleep or food will only make the coming weeks harder!

Choosing the Perfect Job For You

In 5 short weeks I will be a college graduate! I am so excited to graduate, get a job, an apartment, and really "start" my life. I always used to assume finding the perfect job would be easy and that as long as I found one I'd easily be able to live a comfortable lifestyle. Well, I am learning there are many uncertainties. But, I truly believe that everyone winds up where they are supposed to be.

I have realized that there is no such thing as a universal "perfect dream job". What you might consider to be your dream job could be another person's worst nightmare. It is very important to really look at the things you value when searching for a job.

I want a job that I am passionate about. I want to look forward to going to work each day, instead of dreading Mondays and constantly counting down the hours until Friday. Life is too short to do a job that you don't enjoy. I have been fortunate enough to have a few people in my life who absolutely love their jobs. They have been a huge source of inspiration for me. Seeing how happy they are makes me want to push hard to find the perfect job for me.

So, how do you determine what your perfect job would be? We learn through our experiences. So, throughout high school and college, try new things. Working different jobs and doing different internships will help you realize what aspects of work you enjoy and what you hate. Do you want to work at a computer all day? Do you want to be working outside of an office environment? Do you want to wear a suit to work everyday or do you feel more comfortable in a casual setting? Do you feel money and job security are more important that personal satisfaction? These may seem like unimportant factors but in my opinion they are the most important.

I am so thankful for each of the jobs and internships I have done. I have loved some and hated some, but I have learned so much about myself through my work experience. I know now that I need a job where I am interacting with and helping people. I also know that I would be unhappy at a job where I sat at a desk and spent most of my time on a computer. While some people may really enjoy this, I've realized that I am not one of them. I have a type B personality, meaning I'm laid back and don't really let the little things bother me. I enjoy working in situations where people are relaxed. I would die of stress working in an environment where you can't make any mistakes and where every situation is treated like it's a "life or death" decision. I almost feel bad for people who "take work home with them" every night. Now, with computers and blackberrys, some people never escape from work.

So, don't be afraid to try new things in college. Areas that I am most interested in are things I didn't think I'd like before I tried them. Most importantly, fight to find your dream job and don't settle for something you hate!

Job & Internship Fair

THE JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIR IS TOMORROW FROM NOON-2PM IN THE UNION BALLROOM.

DON'T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND HAND OUT YOUR RESUME. REMEMBER TO DRESS TO IMPRESS, MEANING WEAR BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE.

BRING EXTRA COPIES OF YOUR RESUME.

EMPLOYERS WILL BE LOOKING TO HIRE FOR FULL TIME, PART TIME, AND INTERNSHIP POSITIONS.

FOR A LIST OF EMPLOYERS ATTENDING VISIT:
WWW.BROCKPORT.EDU/CAREER

HAVE FUN NETWORKING, SEE YOU TOMORROW : )

On Campus Recruitment (OCR)

On Campus Recruitment is one of our upcoming events. But, it is so important that it deserves it's own post.

Between now and October 30th submit your resume to gethired@brockport.edu. Helen, one of the fantastic and helpful secretaries at Career Services, will look over your resume. Once it's approved you will be added to the OCR group on Angel.

Next, you go into the Angel group and put your resume in the drop boxes for the companies you wish to interview with. Employers look at the resumes and select which students they want to interview. Then, in November interviews are set up on campus. So, you could land a job or an internship without having to leave campus to apply or interview.

Some of these employers will also be at the Job and Internship Fair in November. So, you might have the opportunity to introduce yourself and do a little networking before your actual interview.

Good Luck!!

Have you done an internship?

This is just a little side note. Have you done an internship, particularly through the Brockport Career Exploration Course (BCEC)? If you have, then you should be a part of my video internship project. All you have to do is come into the Career Services office once for about 10 minutes. I'll ask you a few things about your internship, what you learned, how you found it, etc. and then the video clips are being posted on the web for other students to watch and learn from.

If you are interested in participating you can send me an e-mail at Arobi2@brockport.edu

Thanks!

Extraordinary Events

There are some great events coming up in the next two months, hosted by Career Services. Everyone should attend! If you are graduating this year, you should be there to network, hand out your resume, and hopefully secure a job for after graduation. If you aren't quite ready to think about graduation, plan ahead for grad school or for an internship!

All of our events are listed on our website-which is www.brockport.edu/career. We have posted fliers all over campus too. Or if you spend a lot of time on FaceBook, while procrastinating doing your homework, join our FaceBook group to learn about the events that way. With all of these ways to get information, if the event passes and you didn't know about it, you must be living under a rock.

So, hopefully you know all about what I'm going to write about.

What: Graduate School Day- come learn about grad school and talk to reps from different schools
When: October 21st from 11am - 1pm
Where: The Union Ballroom

What: On Campus Interview Program- between now and October 30th submit your resume to gethired@brockport.edu. We look it over, employers look it over and then in November, employers come to campus to conduct interviews with selected students. Very convenient!
When: Submit resume by October 30th, Interviews held in November

What: Lunch and Learns- free pizza while you learn about different career paths
When: October 14th at Noon in the Career Services Office (101 Rakov)- call 395-2159 to reserve a spot; November 10th at Noon in Room 228 in the Union

What: Disney Info Sessions- learn about internships at DisneyWorld and DisneyLand!
When: October 26 & 27, 5-7pm
Where: Room 119 in the Union

What: Job and Internship Fair
When: November 4th Noon-2pm
Where: Union Ballroom

The glory of the Career Services website

Have you visited the best website for any Brockport student? It belongs to Career Services (obviously). www.brockport.edu/career

There is information that can help every student. I would assume that we are all in college because we hope to find a job after college. So, why wouldn't you frequently visit Career Services. There are regular events designed to help you find a job and career counselors on hand every day to help you prepare for interviews, update your resume, or help guide you on the right path to achieving your career goals.

So, what useful things can you find on our website? For starters, we have all of our events listed on the calendar. We have some great events coming up this month, lunch and learns, grad school day, health career fairs, and many others.

The website also has all the information you need about JobShop so you can earn a little spending money in between classes, or save it for after graduation if you like to plan ahead.

The Discover program is also linked to the website. This is a career guidance tool, you answer a series of questions and the program will look at your interests and give you suggestions on types of careers you might enjoy. Discover has other useful features as well, you can even search the specifics for a job title or industry to find out what the work environment and salary usually is.

You can also use the website to link to our blogs, facebook page, optimal resume, and career-related articles.

If I haven't already given you enough reasons to check out the website here are a few more: there are tips from employers about what they look for an interviews, information on writing cover letters, and information regarding different careers.

So, go do yourself a favor and get a jump on your search for the perfect job!

Portfolios

An important tool to have, especially when interviewing for jobs, is a portfolio. Everyone should have one. I used to think portfolios were only for people like photographers who needed visual samples of their work. I have since realized how easy it is to put together a portfolio regardless of the type of work you want to do.

First, find the thing you want to use as your portfolio. A small three ringed binder works perfectly. The first thing you should put in it is a few copies of your resume (updated, of course). It is always good to have copies of your resume handy, incase you unexpectedly run into someone and have an opportunity to network.

You also should keep your reference letters in your portfolio. Potential employers may ask for references, so always bring them to the interview. Don't wait until you are asked to provide a reference to ask someone to write one for you. At the end of an internship or job, ask your supervisor if they feel that they could write a good reference for you. This way you can keep them on file and use them as needed. Professors and co-workers can also make good references.

Supervisor evaluations and job descriptions of work you have previously done are a nice touch to your portfolio. This enables your potential employer to see how past employers have viewed your work and the types of responsibilities you have held.

Now, onto some really important things. A portfolio isn't a portfolio without samples of your work. Cater this to the types of jobs you will be applying for.

Samples of your writing are always a smart idea because writing is such an important aspect of many career fields. Have you ever written an article for the school newspaper? Or, perhaps, kept a blog for work? Are you interested in working in tv and happened to have saved your old scripts from classes? These all make good writing samples. Just don't add your ten page term paper from last semester's class and expect that your interviewer is going to want to read it.

Other work samples can include: outlines of big projects that you've completed through classes, work, or internships, demo reels, or anything else that shows responsibilities you've had and the positive outcomes of your work.

There are many websites that have suggestions as to what should be in your portfolio. As many jobs these days require the use of a computer, you may want to include a list of all of your computer skills. Even though you have specific reference letters, it's smart to have a list of your references, their job titles, and phone numbers. Potential employers may want to speak directly to a few of your references. Just be sure to ask permission before adding someone as a reference. You don't want them to be caught off guard when they get a call about you. You also want to be sure that they have positive things to say about you.

Putting together a portfolio is a very simple task. It gives you a tool to take with you to interviews as proof of what a great addition you would make to a company or organization. So, go start putting together your portfolio and use it to your advantage!

Interviews

What part of my fall job search am I really not looking forward to? If you said 'interviews' you are correct! Working at Career Services has made me realize how important the interview is and how much preparation they require!

The good thing is that there is a science to interviews. There are plenty of websites and books that talk about how to prepare for an interview. Career Services also offers events where you can come and do a practice interview. Or you can always come to our drop-in hours everyday from noon-2 to get help preparing for an upcoming interview.

I have learned that interviews require a lot of preparation and reflection on your past experiences. You will be asked questions. There are some standard questions that are good to practice responses too. You'll be asked questions that could deal with your weaknesses and a time when you overcame them or a challenging work situation and how you dealt with it. During your preparation you should make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Think about what type of work you enjoy doing and the environment that you work best in. Reflect on your past work and internship experience and think about how those experiences prepared you for the job you are applying for. Be aware of the skills that the employer is looking for and then think of things you have done that prove you have those skills.

Don't get too wrapped up in yourself though! During your preparation make sure that you research the company! Their website is a great place to start. Many interviewers ask questions about their company to see if the interviewee has done their research. Also, come up with a few good solid questions that you can ask the interviewer. Towards the end, they will ask if you have any questions for them. The correct answer here is YES! Show you are interested and intelligent.
Here are some good questions:
Do you have any doubts about my abilities to be a successful part of this organization? -Asking this gives you a chance to reassure them about any doubts they might have
Where do you see the company in five years?
What are the top 3 priorities of this job?

On the day of the interview make sure you are dressed appropriately. Avoid trends and stick to a conservative outfit. It is better to be overdressed than under dressed. Even if it is a casual work setting you don't want to look casual for the interview. Arrive a few minutes early and introduce yourself to the secretary or receptionist. Bring your portfolio which should include a few copies of your resume, writing samples, references, and anything else that demonstrates your skills or work experience. Address and introduce yourself to everyone who will be interviewing you, stay calm, and be confident!

Back to school

I've always hated that phrase. "Back to school" brings up less than fond memories, no more sleeping in, lots of late nights full of homework, tests, stress, and so much more.

At least my schedule this semester seems pretty nice so far. I am planning to graduate in December so this is the final stretch for me! I loved my summer internship in San Diego and although I didn't leave knowing exactly what career path I want, I did learn more about the types of jobs I would like.

This semester I am doing an internship here in the Career Services office. I am focusing on event planning and some PR work. My current project involves filming past interns in hopes of creating short video clips that will be up on the Career Services website.

So, what will I blog about during the next 15 weeks? Probably my job search and my projects at my internship. You can expect to see a post about any and all upcoming Career Services events, job fairs, lunch and learns, etc. (There are some great networking opportunities coming up!)

This fall I am working on putting together a portfolio, perfecting my resume, obtaining letters of reference, and searching for jobs. I am guessing it will be similar (but more stressful and time consuming) to my internship search last year.

Even though it's only Tuesday, my semester is off to a good start. I hope you are getting settled into your new schedule and hi to all the new freshman : )

Have a great week!

Loving Summer

I have just returned from a nine week internship in sunny San Diego. I interned at an agency that represents models and actors. During my time there I kept a fashion-related blog. I focused on counterfeit sales of designer label fakes and knock-offs. I learned A LOT about the business of talent representation and about the fashion industry.

I also enjoyed every minute of being in Southern California. The scenery is beautiful and the Pacific Ocean is about 5 miles away!

I had quite a few mini "revelations" throughout the summer about my future. It is starting to become reality that in December I will graduate college and (hopefully) find a job. I realized that there are so many benefits to doing an internship in an unfamiliar area. I learned so much just through my hours at the agency. But, I also learned a lot about my new environment. I quickly realized that I had to become aware of "San Diego lingo" in order to succeed at my internship. I familiarized myself with surrounding cities and communities, big companies in the area, and certain political aspects of San Diego. Surprisingly, knowing all of these things helped me at my internship.

I participated in the BCEC program to receive credit for my work in California. One of the course requirements is to fill out and evaluate your skills at both the beginning and the end of your internship. When I filled out mine, after I had completed my internship, I realized that some of my skills (ones that I did not use during my internship) had improved! An example is my persuasion skills. I am horrible at negotiating or standing up for myself. I didn't have to do these things during work but there were situations that I encountered outside of work where these were important skills to have.

So, what's my point? Well, for starters, doing an internship will benefit you in more ways than you expect. I was lucky to be able to devote my last two months to this experience. Everything I did was new and exciting. On my days off, I explored new areas and drove to new places. In my spare time, I found a local theater and volunteered, helping the Costume Designer get ready for an upcoming production. So, I came home with much more experience than if I had completed an internship in a familiar place while juggling other tasks like school and a paying job.

Be brave and try new things! I wasn't sure I'd be interested in working in fashion, but exploring new things might lead you to an interest you didn't know you had!

Your major doesn't determine your career path

I love the person who first came up with this idea! I am slightly envious of the people who graduate high school knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. I was not one of those people.

During my last two years of high school, I started to think about what I wanted my major to be in college. For a while, I seriously considered becoming a nurse. After that idea fizzled out (which was shortly after my AP bio class took a field trip to see a gross anatomy lab and I passed out on the floor) I wasn't sure what my career path would be. Everyone told me to just pick a major that was interesting and that it was ok to change it once I started college. People said that once I started taking college courses I would realize what I was really interested in. Well...I've been in college for 3 years now and feel like with maybe another 3-4 years I would know what I want to do. Taking that first job out of college seems scary, what if you accept a position that you aren't really interested in, but it's a job so you take it, and then get stuck in that career for the next 40 years. Kind of depressing, right?

Internships and jobs have really helped me narrow my interests. By working in different jobs you start to realize the types of environments and types of tasks you like and dislike. Internships obviously are a great experience because they allow you to work in a particular field for a short period of time to "get the feel of the job".

In reality, not every job requires you to have completed a specific major. Many positions are open to a variety of majors or to anyone who has a degree. People switch careers at different times during their lives. No one expects that by the time you are 18 or 22 years old you will have your whole future planned out.

Summer Goals

I can't describe the amount of excitement I will have when classes are over this week. Why must professors make our lives so stressful? They must think its funny, which I assure them, it's not.

It hit me the other day that in December, I will be graduating, which is a very scary thought. I still really have no idea what I want to do with my life. My professors drill me with this question and act shocked that an almost college senior wouldn't know exactly what my career path will be. I did feel a little relieved last summer, when my 50 year old aunt, who has a very successful job and happy lifestyle, told me "Anne, don't feel bad, some days I still don't know what I want to do with my life."

So, my new theory is that maybe knowing what we want to do with our lives isn't a very important question. It will probably change many times based on new or unexpected opportunities that arise.

At my internship (starting in San Diego in under 4 weeks which I am VERY excited about) I will be learning about casting, representing models, and using the web for social marketing purposes. So my goal for this summer is to forget about "my career" and "life after graduation" and just find out if any of these fields interest me or if I hate any of them.

My advice is to not get too hung up on figuring out the future and just keep looking for the opportunities that pop up along the way.

Four More Weeks!!

I would just like to take this opportunity to say that there are four more weeks of classes, something that I am extremely happy about. This semester has been my hardest and most stressful by far. What was I thinking when I registered for classes last fall? Since Spring break I have been counting down every day and can't wait to finish. At a family Easter dinner last weekend, my cousin and I were commiserating about our stress and how much every college student hates the end of the semester.

So...what are some ways you can ease your stress and get through these last few weeks without having a mental break down? Here are a few suggestions:

-Plan out these last few weeks, make weekly goals and make sure that all deadlines and due dates are clear

-Pick one or two projects or papers and get them done now, waiting until the last minute to finish everything at once is too stressful

-Add some fun time: don't get so caught up with work that you forget to leave a little time for fun and relaxation

-Sleep: the worst idea ever invented was to use your sleep time to get work done. Try to keep your regular sleep schedule, this will help you stay healthy and more alert so you are more productive during the day. So, don't pull too many overnight study sessions at the library.

-Exercise: Believe it or not exercise is a huge stress reliever. It helps you think more clearly and will make your "to do" list seem not so overwhelming.

So, good luck getting through the next four weeks. Soon enough, we will all be done and be able to start enjoying our summer plans!

Albany Semester Program

As I'm sure you already know, internships are a common theme in my posts. For this particular post I'm going to give you an overview of the Albany Semester Program-one of the internships offered through Brockport's Career Services Office.

You must be at least a second-semester sophomore to participate, and must also have a minimum GPA of 2.00. This internship can take place during the fall, winter, spring, or summer semesters. The program is based in Albany however you can complete it in local offices as well. The Albany Semester Program is a state government internship, so students interested in government and politics should apply! You can earn 15 credits if completed during the fall or spring semesters and 12 credits if completed during the summer months. Some of these internships are paid!--which is not common.

Some past students who have participated in the Albany Semester Program interned at the DMV in Albany, the local office for the Attorney General, and local school districts.

There is a program fee. A breakdown of cost, requirements, overview, and a course syllabus can be found here:
http://www.brockport.edu/career/aoverview.htm

Be "The Jack of All Trades"

Here is a lesson I have learned this year...In today's changing world you can't be skilled in just one area. More and more employers want to hire people who have been exposed to a broad range of things and who are familiar and skilled in different fields.

Another thing I have learned (and I'm not thrilled about this one) is that having strong computer skills adds A LOT to your resume. I like my phone, iPod, and having internet access whenever I want it, but I don't like technology. I don't have the patience and often get frustrated trying to learn how to use new technologies. But, through my applying for many many internships, I noticed that almost all of the employers wanted interns who were familiar with many computer programs as well as web design and internet research.

So, I would suggest branching out when chosing your college courses. Take a computer or web design course to learn the basics. It also might be useful to take some elective course outside of your major or minor. Having a wide range of knowledge will benefit you in the future!

"Keep the blinders off..."

This was the overall theme of the talk Drew Lachey gave on campus last night...

BSG (who is being extremely generous and bringing a lot of great performers to campus this semester and charging us next to nothing to attend) sponsored a talk given by Drew Lachey. Drew, as you probably know, is a former member of 98 Degrees, winner of Season Two of Dancing With the Stars, and a two time Broadway performer (Rent and Spamalot). This was a dream come true for me...I remember being in middle school when all of my friends and I were obsessed with 98 Degrees...

I thought I would be completely star struck when I saw him, but was amazed at how "normal" he was. The small audience made for a relaxed and casual setting. Drew walked in wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, took his phone and wallet out of his pocket and tossed them on the stage behind him, stood on the ground in front of the stage, and started talking about what he had just read in The Stylus. He spoke about his career and how he had gotten to where he is today. What struck me the most was how humble he was. Fame and spotlight haven't gotten to his head, and he made it clear that the "Hollywood lifestyle" isn't what he lives by, saying that your family and friends are what life is about, not your career.

So, I know it's taken me long enough to get back to relating the title of this post to my rambling. The most influential part of his talk dealt with setting goals while keeping an open mind. Drew noted that the most successful parts of his career (98 Degrees, Dancing with the Starts, etc) were opportunities that arised while he was pursuing other goals. He asked us to "keep the blinders off" and too not get so focused on planning everything out that we miss the opportunities that arise. Drew even quoted John Lennon by saying, "Life is what happens when you are busy planning other things".

I think this is a lesson we can all learn from. Sometimes we get wrapped up in making plans and setting goals, thinking that we need to be proactive in order to get opportunities, that we neglect to see the opportunities around us. The little insignificant things we do or interactions we have could lead us to the biggest opportunities...

So all in all it was a very successful and enjoyable night for me. I got my cd (that was a birthday present about ten years ago) autographed, a picture with Drew, and some really great advice for planning my career and accomplishing my goals.

Job and Internship Fair

Spring will be here (officially) in two days...Thankfully, that means that the weather should be getting nicer and that our semester is half over!! But, it also means that job and internship searches should be well underway.

Lucky for us, Brockport Career Services is always looking out for us! They have planned a Job and Internship Fair. Dozens of employers will be in the Union Ballroom on April 8th from noon until 2 pm waiting to talk to you and take your resumes! All of the employers attending are looking to hire students for internships or jobs.

So, this all means that you have about two weeks to polish your resume and get ready for the J&I Fair. Online at www.brockport.edu/career you will find a list of the employers that will be attending. Look through the list before April 8th and do a little research on the companies that you want to talk too. That way you'll impress the employers because you'll have your resume ready to go, you'll be knowledgable about their company, and of course...you'll be dressed appropriately and professionally!

Optimal Resume

I agree that the title of 'Optimal Resume' can be misleading. I have had a few people ask me if there is more to the program than just resumes. The answer is YES! Optimal resume can help you create a sparkling cover letter to keep your resume company. It also has the capability to post your resume on a private website so employers can access it directly on the web...it looks pretty snazzy too!

I will admit that I have been using Optimal Resume to perfect my resume since September, but just used it to format a new cover letter about a month ago. I was amazed with how professional it looked. I had been content with my previous cover letter...that was until I saw the one I created using Optimal Resume. The program also gives you a brief description of the kinds of information that you should include in each paragraph.

Play around with the website feature as well. As you create your website there are little sidebars, where you can add additional information that will be placed on your web version. This is useful so when employers click on the links, they are given more details about you and the positions you've held.

Who knew formatting resumes and cover letters could be anything but a dreadful task...

Network, network, and then network some more...

Network...upon arriving at college, this word is one that we hear over and over again. For me at least, the idea of networking is a little awkward and uncomfortable. How do you network? What should you say? Who should you network with? Why should I ask someone I barely know for help or advice?

When professionals are asked how they landed internships and jobs the answer is often through networking. One contact leads to another.

Thankfully, this whole process is becoming easier for me this year. I have begun to network without even meaning to. So, if you are new to this whole process, just start small. Think about the position or opportunity you are looking for. Then contact one person that you know in a related field...they may not be able to help directly, but could lead you to someone else. For example, last Spring I realized that I needed some contacts in the Entertainment Business. My dad contacted the daughter of one of his colleagues, she had majored in Film, to see if she had any advice for me. She happened to work with a local Film Festival, so she put me in contact with the woman in charge of the Festival, who put me in contact with the Volunteer Coordinator, who wants me to intern in the office this spring! See, pretty easy!

In another post, I talked about my most recent project designing costumes for a play in Tower. The professor in charge of internships in my department put me in contact with an alum who advised me to contact the costume designer in the Theatre dept. From that, I was asked to work on the play, and have since been able to meet a bunch of new contacts.

If you don't have any personal contacts, that's ok too. You just need to be creative. Facebook and the internet can be a good tool here! Last week I was searching for theatre groups in the Rochester area to see if there were any volunteer opportunities. Facebook linked me to one company's website where I found out that two of the co-founders have ties to Brockport. So, just doing some research can put you ahead.

Professors are willing to help...so ask, even if you don't know them directly. If they see that a student is reaching out and taking charge, they'll probably do what they can to help.

One last thing to remember, if you are given the name of another person to contact, mention the person who directed you to them. If a person knows you were personally referred to them, they may be more likely to help you!

Festival of Ten

Midterms are, unfortunately, almost here...which means for the next week we are going to be stuck inside studying...or out feeling guilty because we know we should be studying.

But, make time this weekend to go to Tower and see The Festival of Ten. The performance is a collection of ten plays, each ten minutes long. They are funny, serious, and full of emotion. You'll be glad you went! There are performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 7:30.

So, don't let midterms get in the way too much. Take advantage of all of the different events on campus.

Rethinking My Minor

Why do I always do this? I make a decision, then when it comes close to being too late to change my mind, I change my mind. I am set to graduate next December, my plan is to do an internship this summer and then again in the fall, when I only have 3 classes to take. For the last 3 years, I have been anxious to graduate and get "a real job". But now that it is approaching, I'm thinking how I would like to pick up a Theatre minor, delay graduation...or even go to graduate school...

Recently, a Broadcasting alum advised me to go to Tower and volunteer to get some theatre experience. So I did, and I got involved right away designing costumes for a show, and found out that I love theatre! Brockport is lucky to have a number of very talented professors who have backgrounds in acting, producing, designing, and directing.

So, I am regretting that I did not transfer schools earlier because I may have found out sooner that a Theatre minor would suit me better than my current minor (which I never intend to use.)

I have always had a little "stalker" side in me when it comes to finding available resources on campus. It usually turns out good for me, but is probably annoying to the professors I bother. For example, in a few weeks when the show is over, I plan on hunting down theatre professors. They all seem excited to work with students, so maybe they can lead me in the right direction for pursuing my new theatre interest.

So a little advice.....If you have any doubt that your major/minor isn't really right for you, then go out and get involved, so hopefully you'll find your real interests earlier than I did : )

A little background information

It occurred to me that I kind of jumped into this whole blogging thing and forgot to give a little background information about myself.

I'm 21 years old, I grew up in Medina. I spent two years at SUNY Purchase but then transferred to Brockport. My older brother lives in Virginia, he is the chief of staff for a county supervisor. My sister is a freshman at Medialle College. I love to shop and I hate animals! I've had a lot of different jobs over the last few years. I was a lifeguard and summer camp counselor in high school. At Purchase I worked in a Performing Arts Center. Before I even started classes at Brockport I was offered, and accepted a job as a student office assistant in career services.

Most of my blogs this semester will probably be about internships, because looking for one is all I am doing in my free time right now. After I graduate in December, I want to move to New York City or Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry. I have always been obsessed with Hollywood and celebrities...sad I know... I know I either want to do production work, and work on the "behind the scenes" stuff or work in a casting office. This Spring I am really trying to get involved in some extra things that will boost my resume. Right now I am designing the costumes for a play that will be performed on the main stage in Tower at the end of the month. After this project is over, I am planning to volunteer for the Rochester International Film Festival.

Making the most of winter break

By the end of the fall semester, I am usually exhausted and looking forward to a month of sleeping in, staying out of the freezing cold, and catching up with old friends, before another semester begins...but that can get old after a couple of weeks. I'd like to have more to show for a month off besides laziness, watching 2 complete seasons of 24, and spending hours a day stalking my friends on facebook.

For some reason (hopefully I'm not the only one who this happens too) I always worry about the future over winter break. Once the holidays are over I panic about whether or not I'm going to find a job after graduation. As I've said before, I want to work in the entertainment industry...not an easy field to break into. I know that an internship is the only way I'll get my foot in the door. So, it's the same thing every winter break. I stress over the fact that I probably won't get the summer internship I want in a busy Los Angeles or New York studio, then I won't get hired for any jobs in this business, so I'll have to settle for some boring job and dread Mondays for the rest of my life. Thankfully, I won't let those depressing thoughts ruin my break, so I always find an optimistic side and think of ways to use my break that will help me reach my career goals.

So this year, I decided to first update my resume and cover letter. Then I went online and found a couple of different websites that post internships in the Entertainment business. I decided that over the next two months I would apply for tons of internships, any that I could find. The internet has made applying for jobs very easy! Optimistically, I am thinking that if I apply to, say 100 internships, I'm bound to hear back from maybe 7 or 8, and have a chance of landing 1 or 2. Having a month off gave me plenty of time to research different production studios in LA and NY, I found that some companies have internship programs listed right on their web page. So far, I have applied for 20 positions, a number that will keep growing in the next 2 months. Last week I heard back from the Late Show with David Letterman, so hopefully I'll get lucky and have something to show for my winter break!

Transferring Colleges- Is it Worth It?

About this time last year, I was preparing for the end of my Junior year at SUNY Purchase, a small liberal arts college just north of New York City. I had been a student there for about two years. In High School, I took a few AP classes and some other classes through a community college so I was a year ahead when I got to Purchase in the Fall of 2006. As any college student knows, when you get to about your junior year you start to realize that the "real world" will be starting all too soon. Though it is an exciting time, it is also scary to know that in a short time you will be looking for a job that will start your career, along with a place to live, and you will have to forfeit many of the comforts of college and home life.

For about a year at Purchase I had tried to land an internship in New York City. Unfortunately, I had little luck. The college encouraged students to find internships on their own which in the entertainment business is a difficult thing to do. There were a number of other things that made me start to wonder if a transfer would be a good idea for me. Brockport was a lot closer to where I grew up and I had heard they had a great Communications program. So, I met with a few professors in the department and eventually decided to transfer. Brockport offers students a lot of internship opportunities and hosts job and internship fairs throughout the year.

Any student who has transferred knows it is not an easy decision and can make for a stressful few months. My first semester at Brockport went much better than I had expected. The people were all great and helped me get to know my way around the college. One of the hardest things I encountered were the little differences in grading, how things show up online, different terms used by the college, getting credits transferred over, and little things like that. I was very confused the first couple of weeks when everyone kept referring to my Angel account and DARs report. What was that?-I kept asking myself. What really helped make my transition from Purchase to Brockport easier was getting a job in the Career Services office. Working with the career counselors in the office has helped me learn a lot about the college and how everything works at Brockport. I have easy access to knowing about what career events are coming up on campus and where I can go to find help with my resume, interview tips, or where to find a job or internship for the summer.

Transferring is a hard but rewarding process. There are still days, usually when I'm on the phone working to get my last few transfer credits processed correctly, that I wish transferring were an easier thing to do. But, overall it was a great decision. The opportunities that I am getting at Brockport and the hands on experience in the tv studios and in my Broadcast classes will definitely benefit me in a year when I'm looking for a job. To any student who has transferred schools, I would encourage you to get as involved as possible with different areas of the campus. Get to know the students but also try to make contacts in different offices. Your professors and other professionals at the college can help make your transition easier and will be good contacts for you to have in the future. Also, be proactive! Map out your classes for this and future semesters and get to know your major requirements, so you don't get thrown any surprises later on!