Danielle Garrison

Danielle Garrison has been working in the Career Services office at Elmira College for the past four years. Danielle completed her undergraduate work as a Business Administration and Human Services double major and is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Corporate & Community Education at Elmira. While a student she was actively involved in student government and the Circle K Club, which she has co-advised for the past two years. In her free time Danielle loves to bake. She is truly looking forward to getting started at Elon!

Rayna Anderson

Louisiana native, Rayna Anderson, realized and embraced her passion for working with college students soon after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Most recently, Rayna completed a Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Higher Education & Student Affairs from Louisiana State University. During her matriculation at LSU, she completed an internship in academic advising and a one-year assistantship with the Job Search department of LSU Career Services. Rayna is currently pursuing designation as a Certified Professional Career Coach and brings with her a passion for career development, positive psychology, and the transitions of underrepresented populations into college. Rayna is a member of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Rayna and Danielle will begin their time at Elon in July 2013!

Wait. It’s over already?

Like Katie said, the time here at Elon simply flew by. I can easily remember back to the phone interview I had last year with Marianne and Ashley, the on-campus visit, and the phone call I got from Ross on commencement day offering me the position. I was so excited to walk across the stage with the opportunity to be a part of something as appealing as the Career Fellow program at Elon.

When we first started, part of our training was a coat of arms, which on part of, we drew a representation of our goals. My drawing was of a seed getting watered and growing into a tree. Additionally, we were given welcome plants to symbolize our growth over the year. While my plant hasn’t grown significantly (probably because of the tiny pot in which it resides), I feel like I have grown exponentially as a professional.

Javier — my office plant — alive and well.

Some of my specific goals were:

1. Increase experience with one-on-one advising.
2. Become proficient in the administration and interpretation of at least one career assessment.
3. Improve comfort with public speaking and presentations.

• I’ve met one-on-one with over 250 students. Many repeats, and many who have been kind enough to report back to me with good news     about jobs and internships. Check!
• Katie and I went through the first level (CSS100HE: Strengths Educator) of StrengthsQuest training and have conducted group interpretations both together, and separately. Additionally, I now feel very comfortable with the administration and interpretation of the STRONG Interest Inventory. Double check!
• Now, public speaking is still not my favorite thing but I am SO MUCH BETTER with presenting and speaking in front of others than I ever thought possible. I presented over 50 different times over the course of five months including: facilitating classroom workshops, teaching sections of Transitions Strategies classes, representing the SPDC at an Admissions event, and presenting at a regional professional development conference. Check!

This is just a sample of some of the professional goals that I have met during this academic year. In addition to my work with the SPDC, I have found my work with the MCC as Program Coordinator for the SMART Mentoring Program, to be invaluable. I was able to work with a wonderful group of professionals and of students. It gave me the opportunity to have a more “student affairs” experience than I think working with the SPDC alone would have provided.

In addition to all of that, however, I have also found that I have built what I hope to be long lasting relationships with Ross, Katie, Ashley, and other professionals in North Carolina. Elon has been incredibly good to me and I cannot thank everyone who has made this experience so invaluable enough. I hope to see this program continue and grow over the years.

As for my next steps, I will be joining the team in the Global Education Office at Vanderbilt University as a Study Abroad Advisor. I’m excited for this next step and I hope to be able to integrate the things I’ve learned at Elon into my work there. I have worked with this team previously, as a Graduate Assistant, and know that they will provide the environment in which I can continue to grow, professionally. I also have the added bonus of an established social network from graduate school.

Thank you again to everyone who made this fellowship program possible and successful.

Elon University Love School of Business

As we suspected it might, ten months flew by. Less than a year ago, I first pulled up to Elon University, the place that would become my new home. I expected that my time as a Career Fellow would provide me with greater experience in working with students and seeing new and different aspects of a career office. I expected to meet a couple friends and build connections that would help me secure a permanent position the following year.

I did not expect to truly love my time at Elon. I did not expect to find incredible friends in Mikki, Ashley, and other colleagues. I did not expect to meet with 300 students and I certainly did not expect to build high-quality relationships with many of them. I have seen a number of students all the way through the process of securing an internship or job and am so excited for their opportunities. I have co-taught classes and have built lasting relationships with multiple faculty members. Elon has been a community that has provided me exceptional challenge, friends, colleagues, and plenty of food.

My time at Elon helped me to grow as a young professional, learning my profession and building my skills. I finish this year more knowledgeable, confident, and connected than I was when I began. I am a better speaker, a better resume writer, and a better career advisor.

I am excited to have accepted a position at Duke University, were I will serve as an Assistant Director for Career Services for STEM Industries. Specifically, I will be working with undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. I will have the challenge of building upon existing relationships with faculty members and starting new ones. I will see how a different office operates and will have continued opportunity to learn, grow, and improve myself as a professional. Of course, I will also have the added bonus of working with our former supervisor, Ross Wade.

My time at Elon has been a fantastic experience and I am thankful to everyone who has contributed or supported me in any way. Thank you!

Duke University

]]> http://eloncareerfellows.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/next-up-duke-university/feed/ 0 ksmith258 koury_center Image http://eloncareerfellows.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/ncace-conference/ http://eloncareerfellows.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/ncace-conference/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 20:07:39 +0000 ksmith258 http://eloncareerfellows.wordpress.com/?p=1583 […]]]> Created by: Katie Smith, 2012-2013 Career Advising Fellow

Our 10 months are wrapping up quickly; Mikki and I cannot believe that we’ll be done with the Career Fellow positions in just under two weeks!

Unfortunately I don’t have pictures to show (we were too busy learning, networking, and presenting!), but last week Mikki and I drove out to Blowing Rock, NC for the annual NCACE (North Carolina Association of Colleges and Employers) Conference. At the conference we met and reconnected with career professionals and recruiters from across the state. We attended socials and sessions on topics such as experiential learning, skill-based career programs, serving underrepresented student populations, and more. Additionally, we presented our own session on Onboarding through Networking, sharing the relational training approach that made our own onboarding experience so efficient and powerful. Through presenting, we were able to generate conversation about effective practices and gave attendees strategies for training new hires and proactively building relationships in their own roles.

Elon’s own Jane Mehringer served as Conference Co-Chair, coordinating logistics and leading the event for nearly 130 attendees. At the conference, she was officially named President-Elect for the organization.

As part of our own training on our first day of work at Elon, Mikki and I each established our goals for the year. At the time, I had little idea of what I was in for. I had set a goal of meeting with three students and giving seven presentations. Three hundred student appointments and 50 presentations later, I’ve far exceeded those goals and they seem almost silly in retrospect. I had hoped to attend at least two conferences and better understand our office’s assessments: MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, and StrengthsQuest. Mikki and I attended three conferences (and, of course, even presented at one of them), received internal training on all three assessments and external training and certification for the first level of StrengthsQuest, a topic that we now comfortably and frequently present for classes and organizations.

The NCACE Conference and my accompanying reflection about gives me an opportunity to look back and recognize how well this year has challenged me and helped me grow. I have learned a great deal through Elon and am excited to take my experience forward to my next step, leading way for next year’s Fellows. More on that later.

Last week on Friday, I participated in a special Eighth Grade Career Fair at Hawfields Middle School in Mebane, NC. Caroline Smith, Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher (and Elon alum), and Cheryl Williams, School Counselor, had reached out to me to ask if I would be interested in participating. Of course, I was excited to do so.

Mikki Hornstein at the Hawfields Middle School Career Fair

As I prepared for speaking with the students, I tried to think back on my days as a middle school student – flashbacks of braces, acne, and awkwardness came to mind, along with remembering how carefree that time was. I DEFINITELY wasn’t thinking about college or careers yet. But, according to Ms. Smith, the Hawfields students had been learning about careers and different “career clusters” all year long.

In addition to having me represent Career Advising, other occupations that were present on Friday included: EMT/EMS, Police Officer, Biomedical Engineer, Forrest Ranger, Pet Groomer, Veterinarian, US Military – Air Force, and more. I have to say, I was a little nervous because the representatives of these careers had some cool equipment to show off to the students, whereas the majority of what I do involves talking. I mean, the Pet Groomer brought a poodle with her – how was I supposed to compete with that?

Well, I certainly tried my best. I started each presentation by telling the students that since I didn’t have any equipment to explain or things to hand out to them, that we were going to start with an activity. Then, I ran through a values exercise with them that we sometimes do with Elon 101 classes. All of the students had to stand up while I read off parts of a “job description” to them. I instructed them to sit down after they heard me say something about the job that no longer made them interested in it.

1. You will be famous and people will respect you
2. You will have to wear a uniform
3. You will be on-call 24/7 (I had to explain exactly what on-call was)
4. Your work may place you in danger
5. You will not be paid

This is not the exact description we usually use in classes, however, I decided last-minute to do this and I couldn’t remember everything we usually include. Most of the students ended up sitting down by the last piece of the job description. They had some good guesses as to what career I was describing (US military, volunteer workers, missionaries, etc) and when I revealed that the job description was for Superman, they seemed entertained. I explained to them the purpose of the exercise. Did they want to have the freedom to choose what they wear to work every day? Did they want to have stable work hours? I explained how these were some things that they might want to think about as they explored different career options.

The rest of the presentation went smoothly. After telling the students about my own career path and how I got to my current role as a Career Advisor, I walked them through the responsibilities, a typical work day, what they needed to do in high school and college to prepare (and that graduate school was required), and the job outlook for the field (which took a little extra explanation). The students were attentive, well behaved, and asked some well thought-out questions. It was a great experience and I’m so glad that I was invited to participate in the Career Fair. As soon as I am sent photos, I’ll update this post!

This past Tuesday night, at The Elon Network, Katie and I staffed a table where students visited us to order business cards. The Elon Network (not to be confused with the Elon Job Network) is an event held for the past three years that is “created for students and run by students.” Unlike how one might envision a typical networking event, the workers at The Elon Network are dressed in t-shirts and the attendees are encouraged to come dressed casually. The workers’ t-shirts are color-coded to provide an easy visual to guide students toward representatives from different industries/career paths.

The Elon Network

Completely student run, this event promotes students talking (re:networking) amongst themselves, as well as networking with alumni and professionals who are invited to the event. The SPDC was present just to help out by providing some additional services (such as the business card table and free professional photos).

I was excited to be present at The Elon Network as I had worked with some of its key players to plan a pre-event for the SMART program participants. Welsford Bishopric and Jessica Petrillo were key in planning a Networking 101 session in March in which the SMART program participants were invited to come and learn about networking. Facilitated by myself, Jan Pagoria, Pam Brumbaugh, and Tom Vecchione, students learned the correct side of the shirt on which to place their nametag, practiced their elevator speeches, and “networked” with representatives from The Elon Network who were sitting at each table. The Networking 101 was a huge success with over 60 students in attendance. I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of these students at The Elon Network on Tuesday.

SMART Networking 101

SMART mentor, CJ Moore with Alex Bohannon, Freshman Class President (and SMART participant) speaking with a Brooks Brothers representative at The Elon Network

Thank you to the students who helped out for the SMART Networking 101 and congratulations to The Elon Network for another successful year!

Created by: Katie Smith, 2012-2013 Career Advising Fellow

Deloitte Professionals Congratulate Elon Students for their Work

Last Friday, in collaboration with the Student Professional Development Center, eight Elon alumni from Deloitte Consulting visited the Elon campus to lead and judge a Case Competition for current students. Six interdisciplinary undergraduate student teams wrote proposals, analyzed business challenges, and designed innovative solutions to present strategies in a simulated real-world client scenario. The featured case focused on the current financial challenges of the United States Postal Service and teams presented unique and creative solutions that included privatization, kiosk services, more efficient delivery strategies, reward programs, and more.

Case competitions give students an opportunity to practice their analytical, teamwork, and presentation skills under the observation and support of consulting professionals who can, in turn, provide advice relevant to working with actual clients in the professional realm. While case projects and competitions are common to in business schools, the Deloitte Case Competition challenged students to build teams across schools and majors and to take an interdisciplinary approach to creating solutions for a looming national issue.

The winning team, a team of four undergraduate students, will move forward in the competition. The team will travel to Washington DC and present their case solution to Deloitte executives in competition with other undergraduates from across the country.

Winning Team Members with Deloitte

Like Mikki’s service trip to New Jersey, last week I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to advise an alternative spring break trip to New Orleans.

The alternative break trips are coordinated through Elon’s Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement and are planned, coordinated, and led by student leaders. Economics faculty member Greg Lily and I advised the trip, assisting our student leaders with logistics, handling money, and managing finances.

Greg and I, along with 12 students, drove 15 hours to New Orleans where we experienced a lively city full of life, culture, yet still rebuilding from the Katrina hurricane 8 years ago.

As a group we toured the French Quarter, enjoying pralines, beignets, gumbo, and po’boys. For the first two days, we walked the busy streets and watched artists and street performers, took a ferry, and visited the Presbytere Louisiana State Museum which featured artifacts, information, and a wide range of accounts regarding the controversial hurricane years ago.

The French Quarter, featuring the St. Louis
Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America

Group reflection and bonding activities!

For the final three days of the trip, we worked in collaboration with a nonprofit organization, Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, to help rebuild a house that the organization will eventually sell at a low rate to a New Orleans teacher. Together we measured, cut, reinforced, painted, screened and installed permanent window screens for all house windows, a step necessary for the house’s inspection. We sanded and stained, built an outdoor hot water heater holder, and tore off a tin roof, added support beams, and put up new tin. Students (and Greg and I) measured, cut, sawed, hammered, painted and worked hard to help improve the house during our valuable time in New Orleans. We also went on a tour of the city and saw the 9^th ward, spots where levees had breached, high-tech Brad Pitt houses, and visible remnants of the hurricane: empty lot and houses spray painted by police and FEMA.

Pulling out nails on the old tin roof

The trip was an incredible opportunity for all of us to learn about and experience a city rebuilding itself. While conducting service, we reflected and bonded as a group, discussing factors that contributed to the disaster and how it has affected the city, our country, and our society. The trip was not only one of service, but one of knowledge and learning. In short, it was a wonderful way to spend a spring break.

Group picture in front of the house we worked on with YRNO

I’ve found myself talking about resumes and cover letters a lot lately. I presented on the topic last weekend for the 160-member sorority chapter of Phi Mu, on Monday for the Math and Statistics Transitions Strategies course that I am currently co-teaching with faculty member Lisa Rosenberg, and yesterday for the Leadership Transitions Strategies course taught by Steve Mencarini and Janis Baughman. Many students are working on these documents as they apply for on-campus opportunities such as the coveted University Guide position in the Admissions Office and in preparation for the upcoming spring break. Further, Mikki and I are currently in the midst of reviewing the resumes and cover letters of Career Fellow candidates for the 2013-2014 academic year, and lastly, the two of us continue to polish our own documents as we prepare for our next steps.

Although a well-written resume and cover letter are crucial to a job search, many students do not learn how to create these documents prior to their interaction with career services at the college level. In reflection of the conversations that I have most frequently on these topics, I wanted to share some general resume tips for students:

• Be sure to not only list your experiences, but also to provide details (typically in the form of bullet points) describing what you did at the job/internship/leadership role, your accomplishments, and the skills that you gained.
• When recounting experiences on your resume, be specific. Compare “assisted with fundraising” to “assisted with the creation and execution of a campus-wide philanthropy event, raising over $2,000.” The second phrase is more specific, and much stronger.
• Resume formatting should be consistent and clean.
•  Sections should be arranged to highlight your most relevant experiences at the top of your resume.
• Undergraduate resumes should be kept to one page.

For cover letters:

• Try to address the letter to a specific person. If you cannot find a person’s name, addressing the letter to the company or department you are applying to is typically better than “To Whom it May Concern.”
• Your cover letter should focus on how you will benefit the position and the company instead of how the position will benefit you.
• Each cover letter should be different and catered to the company, the position, and the job description.
• A cover letter is not a duplication of a resume. Instead, it should highlight a few of your most relevant experiences, providing additional detail and drawing direct parallels between past experiences and the opportunity to which you are applying.

There are, of course, probably one hundred more tips that I could list above for each, which is why it’s a good idea for students to visit the Student Professional Development Center early and often. It is our hope that first year students will use our services, establishing a strong foundation for continuing to build experience and articulate skills in a professional manner. Additionally, students who use our services early in their academic careers still have time to consider how they want to shape their time at Elon. What do underclass students want their resumes and cover letters to look like once they are seniors? How can they get there? We’re happy to work with students to answer any of these questions.

While reviewing resumes and cover letters is a crucial part of our job, a great deal goes into preparing students for opportunities related to their professional interests. Establishing an excellent resume and cover letter is just the start.

Mikki and I would like to congratulate our supervisor, Ross Wade. This week, Ross started a new position at Duke University as Assistant Director of Career Services for Master of Engineering students in the Pratt School of Engineering. Ross has been a fantastic mentor and, although we miss him already, we are truly excited for him and his new position. Duke is lucky to have him!

Check out this excellent article written in the Elon student newspaper, The Pendulum: http://www.elonpendulum.com/2013/02/ross-wade-leaving-position-at-elon-to-become-career-adviser-at-duke/