Studies show that lucky people increase their chances of being in the right place at the right time by building a “spider web structure” of relationships that catch information…. Success is social: all the ingredients of success that we customarily think of as individual-talent, intelligence, education, effort, and luck are intertwined with networks.
- Wayne Baker, Achieving Success Through Social Capital
Source comerecommended
Reblogged from comerecommended
Tuesday Tip: What’s Old is New Again
During the era of mass e-mails and text messages, personal connections are making a comeback. A handwritten note, a coffee invite, or a small token of appreciation is a sure way to leave a positive impression and stand out from your competition.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard Ho, a current undergraduate student who is pursuing a career in finance and consulting. Richard recently gained career experience through a summer internship at KPMG, a “Big Four” audit, tax, and advisory services firm, and was offered a full-time position upon graduation. (Go, Richard!) He was kind enough to share his internship experience with Career Pioneers and advice for other students pursuing finance. Check out his interview below:
Hey, Richard! Tell us about yourself!
I’m a current student at UC San Diego and I’m pursuing a B.S. in Management Science, a B.A. in Psychology, and a minor in Accounting. I’ll be graduating in June 2012 to pursue a career in consulting. I was born in San Diego, I lived here my entire life, and I want to travel throughout Europe and Asia right after I graduate. I love to watch and play all sports - I follow professional football religiously and I’m currently playing in three different fantasy leagues.
Awesome! How did you get interested in KPMG?
I sort of stumbled into KPMG, I didn’t really know what the company was… I just knew it was one of the Big Four accounting firms. I participated in the Meet the Firms event at the UCSD Career Services Center in Fall 2010 and met a recruiter at the event and found out more about the lifestyle as well as the Advisory practice which had similar roots to consulting. What really drew me in to apply was the advisory professional who was volunteering her time to recruit students; I knew next to nothing about the company but I handed my resume in after chatting with her for over 30 minutes and just prayed…
“Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.”
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Discover your career!
By Katasha C. Kalonji
As a former peer counselor, I’m frequently asked questions about career goals. For example,
“I’m a Political Science major but don’t know what career I want. I could be a lawyer, but I’m not sure. What should I do?”
My answer, without fail, is to get internship experience.
First, getting experience will help you explore your options. Within Political Science, for example, there are infinite career possibilities; many of them are not explored from within the classroom. You can be a lawyer, an online journalist, a politician or a non-profit organizer; the list is endless! You will never know the potential of your major until you actively explore it.
Second, getting experience will help you decide your likes and dislikes. So you wanna be a computer scientist, huh? Until you gain experience within the field, you cannot know if computer engineering is a fit. Perhaps, instead of writing code, you enjoy the idea of innovation. Product design might be a better fit. Or, you may prefer working directly with people. Consulting could be right for you. You will never know your likes (or dislikes) until you try.
Finally, gaining internship experience will show employers and graduate schools that you are committed to your field. Imagine sifting through ten thousand business school applications, all with similar majors and career aspirations. How does one choose the perfect student?
Make their job easier. Gain experience. Your internship with McKinsey & Company or KPMG, for example, will demonstrate to admissions committees that you are prepared to take on the stress of business school. Your professional experience - and the skills you gain from it - will set you apart from the crowd.
So, what do you do now?
Visit your career center to learn how you can gain internship experience NOW!
Welcome to Career Pioneers, an online guide to discovering your dream career!
I understand you may feel concerned about your career path. Trust me, I’ve been there. After five years of college, six changed majors, and three professional internships, I still don’t have all the answers!
However, as a career peer counselor, I learned it’s okay to be unsure. By communicating with career counselors, alumni, and employers, I’ve gained numerous strategies which helped me to develop a career path. Through Career Pioneers, I wish to share this knowledge and experience so that you, too, can find the perfect path for you.
Each month, CP will feature:
It is my wish that Career Pioneers will encourage you to ask questions, get experience, and find your passion. I look forward to working with you to reach your career goals.
Are you ready?
Discover your career!
Katasha C. Kalonji
So, you’re a social media guru, huh? Check out this interactive CV from Graeme Anthony!
Source Mashable
