Work Hard to Exceed Expectations...and Be Ready for the Consequences

After working hard to land my first part-time internship, my next  goal was to turn my small position into a full-time summer job. I put in 8-9 hours three days a week and stayed  late most days to make sure I completed everything I was assigned. I asked to take on more responsibility as I became more comfortable with my new work environment and worked my butt off trying to impress my co-workers. The day finally came when I was called into my bosses office, a little under three months after starting, and was asked to come on full-time for the summer. Of course, I immediately said yes. She responded, "Are you sure your ready to work full-time for the summer?"

For just a moment, I saw the summer I wasn't going to have flash before my eyes. Weekdays at the beach with friends, going to the gym or yoga class after I woke up around 10 or 11 every morning, and all the late nights of hanging out followed by sleeping in. The teenage part of me wanted to say, "Now that your asking, I think sticking to three days a week might be just fine." The driven part of me said, "Yes, I've really been wanting to become more involved."

The first week was rough. It had taken almost a month to get accustomed to waking up at 7am three days a week. Now I had to wake up at 7am five days a week. The idea didn't sound so bad until I realized that I had been on college schedule for the past two years. The last time I woke up early was in high school and even then I tried to sleep in until the last second. Now I had to hop out of bed quickly to have enough time to make my self look semi-presentable for the professional world.

Having so many more hours in the day to complete tasks is helpful, but it also makes for some boring what-the-heck-am-I-supposed-to-do-with-myself time. My co-workers are still getting used to having me around everyday and don't always have a ton for me to do. Then there are days when I feel like the hours are slipping by far too fast and I'm flooded with work. Taking it day by day and not letting yourself get overwhelmed is key. Keep your calm and know that there is always time in the day to complete a task. You may have to stay late or give up more of your free time, but anything can be accomplished! After working hard to become a part of the team, I have been asked to attend and participate in a huge industry trade show. Not only will this be a great professional experience, but a chance to travel to San Francisco, California for 5 days! I couldn't be more thrilled and excited.

My next goal....juggling 5 classes and an internship while trying to hold together some sort of a social life in the Fall. If you can set a goal and stay focused, there is no reason why you cant meet or succeed the bar you set for yourself.

- Brit

Do ONLY What Makes YOU Happy

Going into college I had my heart set on being a doctor. Looking back I'd have to say my main motivations were job security and the high salary. I worked so hard through advanced science and math classes and was burning out. I became so unhappy with my life and at one point had no motivation to attend classes. I wasn't failing and was actually pulling out A's and B's, but I knew I had to take a step back for a moment and make some adjustments. I could have sat in undergrad for two more years and struggled my way to a Micro & Molecular Biology degree then moved onto numerous years in graduate school. I think I even could have made it out passing my classes and earning my degrees. I may have become a doctor or physician's assistant one day and made the type of money I worked so hard in school for, but after careful consideration I gave it all up. I gave up the type of job security that comes with a career in the medical field. I gave up the almost guaranteed $70,000 + salary. I gave up the prestige of having an MD precede my name.

I did this all because I wasn't fully happy down to my core and deep inside my heart. I felt as though I didn't want to let people down because everyone seemed so ecstatic about me becoming a doctor. I had to just forget about what everyone else wanted and expected and choose a different avenue. One that was custom fit for me. I love to write, talk, give advice, be creative, and diffuse problems. My traits are best suited for a career in public relations and that is the path I am on now.

Don't ever let the fear of letting others down, giving up a high salary, or just simply changing things up get in the way of your future. You may not want to stick around another year taking undergrad courses because you're so close to graduating, but it's your whole life that you will be stuck with the decisions you make now.  What's an extra year in college if you can spend the rest of your life waking up to a job that doesn't feel like a job. When I find my niche in the public relations industry and wake up everyday excited to go to work, I'll know changing my major to something I'm deeply passionate about was the best decision I've ever made.

Tackling the Cover Letter

Step 1: Resume 
Step 2: Social Media Overhaul 
Step 3: LinkedIn     (See my last 2 posts for steps 1-3) 


Step 4: The Cover Letter: 

You've created a resume and have purged your social media network. The next part may be the least exciting but it is required by many applications and, if not required, can be a great way to make your application stand out. Standing out is THE most important element to think about when applying for any job. You can stand out through your experience, the way you present yourself, or hopefully both. However, so many college students struggle to feel that their work experience is enough to be competitive. DON'T WORRY! Every position I have received, including my paid internship, I was not completely qualified for as far as "work experience" goes. I made sure I spoke with someone who was a decision maker in the company and sold myself as a product. Don't just settle for dropping off an application with an employee. Ask to set up an appointment with a hiring manager. Make the employer feel as though by not hiring you they are doing an injustice to the whole organization.

Anatomy of a Cover Letter:

• Headings 
• Greeting
• Paragraph 1: 
• State your intent
• Background of experience 
• Related is best 
• If not, discuss how your experience or skills can relate. (The cover letter example I will give below shows how to tie in an unrelated job)
• Paragraph 2:
• Compliment the organization
• More about you 
• Conclusion 

Their are many online sites to help with phrasing statements and additional examples. I used a book called "Resumes That Knock 'em Dead" by Martin Yates. It gave great examples for all different types of cover letters and what type of wording worked best in certain situations.

 Here's my example that perfectly follows the "cover letter anatomy" (by the way, you'll see that you can form a professional cover letter without an ounce of directly related experience):

Brittany Szafran

Phone: 407-555-5555

February 22, 2012

Bob Smith -Senior Account Executive

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am very interested in the internship position presented during the presentation on social media tools in Professor Hobart’s class. I am a second year student at The University of Central Florida and employed as a Server and Server Trainer for a restaurant in Lake Mary. I have worked for this establishment for the past two years and have always been complimented and recognized by management for my hard work and professional attitude. This has led to my role as a trainer for new employees. I enjoy working with the public and building relationships with my customers. One of the most important elements of my position is creating lasting connections with the people I serve to draw them back into the store as regulars. I present top-notch customer service and strive to give my patrons an experience that is above and beyond the standard.    

I am eager to begin an internship for a company like yours and believe my abilities can contribute to your firm’s goals.  I have always valued my capability to connect and form relationships with people and believe my skills and talents are best suited for a position in the Communications field. My experience in public speaking and my research and writing skills qualify me for the internship position at your firm.  

Please find enclosed my resume showing my education, experience, and background. Thank you for your time and consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, 



Brittany Szafran

Social Media Overhaul & the Amazing World of LinkedIn

Step 1: Organize a Resume (see my last post)

Step 2: Social Media
    Before handing your resume over to any employers take a look at all your social media sites. Employers DO  look at your Facebook/Twitter to find out what kind of person you and if you are the right fit for their company. Most students refuse to believe this and deny that a future employer will have access because they have profiles set to private. WRONG! Within the past few months I have heard from two company top dogs that the first thing they do after interviewing a prospective intern is check them out on Facebook and Twitter. One woman, a past Vice President of a communications co. and now Managing Partner for a prominent Orlando PR firm, said she hired an intern and promptly fired her one week later after coming across her Facebook profile. Employers are looking for red flags including:

• Posts relating to partying, drinking, drug use, and profanity
• Pictures showing underage drinking
• Tweets with alcohol related content and hashtags (#sodrunk), especially if your underage
• *These all include pictures /posts you are tagged in so watch out*

Pictures: You went to the party, you had a great time, and you may have drank a little too much. The Internet world doesn't need to know about it. If you are serious about working in the professional world one day it is important to keep inappropriate pictures off of social media sites. I sometimes even have a hard time letting go if a photo is great but there happens to be a drink in my hand. Every now and then I go through my photos and delete anything I have to pause and think about as being inappropriate. 


Step 3: Linked In
 If you've never heard of LinkedIn, it's basically the professional version of facebook. You set up an account and your profile is your resume. From there you can search through an endless amount of companies and other business people who also have LinkedIn pages. From there you choose to form a "connection" with them. Almost like friending someone on facebook. You can find companies positing about job/internship positions all over the world. You can also email people directly from their LinkedIn page inquiring about any openings they may have. THE BEST FEATURE: anyone you "connect" with shares their connections with you. I have a connection with a one of my  college professors and through him I now have contact to 500+ professionals that he has done business with all over the world.

Check out my LinkedIn site for an example:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brittany-szafran/46/179/361 

Get Yourself Out There and Onto Your Dream Track!

It's time to take a short step back from Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Take a moment to think about where and who you want to be in 5 years. Not 10 years or 20 years but just 5 years down the road. I want to be a hard-working, professional business woman, active traveler, and an overall happy person. No matter what you see yourself as the bottom line is BE PROACTIVE! Don't wait to go after that perfect internship, don't put off putting that resume together, and don't blame others (parents,friends,boyfriend, job, and even school) for not being on your "Dream Track". Not the perfect track or the right track. Your "Dream Track". Having a dream for your life can be an amazing motivator and when you accomplish that dream you can set your sights on a new one. Life is about fulfilling your dreams and it's never too soon to start on your journey.

Step 1: The Resume

School advisors, friends, and parents can all be great tools when putting together materials such as your resume and portfolio, however, the internet can be quite the tool itself. Start simple and don't stress over the small details at first. I am continuously working on my own resume (especially since I'm not extremely design savvy). Stick to including professional experience only. If you wouldn't want the CEO of a respected company browsing the information then DONT add it. I've included a sample below of my simple resume. With just a few important points such as education, experience, and skills I have successfully been hired by a great company for my first internship. I was even offered a paid position! You don't need fluff, frills, and expertise in graphic design to create a classy, elegant, and functional resume. 

Brittany Szafran

Work Phone: 407-555-5555 Email: szafranbrittany@knights.ucf.edu

Address: 555 Cherry Lane Sanford, FL 32771

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brittany-szafran/46/179/361

Objective 

To obtain an internship position where communications, public relations, and advertising skills can be utilized.

Education           

University of Central Florida             Orlando, FL                                     Graduated: expected 2014

BA, Advertising & Public Relations

Minor in Psychology  

Work Experience

Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Restaurant & Pub, Lake Mary, FL                        March 2010 to current

·       Server/Trainer

·       Creating a pleasant dining experience for guests

·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Knowledge of the restaurant's food and beverage items


·       Handling cash and credit card

·       Delivering drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert in a timely fashion


·       Complete knowledge of wine and alcohol inventory

           

California Pizza Kitchen, Waterford Lakes, FL                                    August 2010 to May 2011           

·       Hostess/Trainer


·       Greeting and creating a pleasant dining experience for guests

·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Running/organizing the seating chart and wait-list

·       Handling phone calls/take out orders

·       Knowledge of the restaurant's food and beverage items

·       Delivering drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert in a timely fashion

                                   

Hut No. 8 Clothing Store, Sanford, FL                                                August 2009 to January 2010

·       Sales Associate


·       Handling cash/checks/debit and credit transactions


·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Facilitating returns

·       Exhibiting exemplary customer service

·       Creating window displays for store

·       Organizing merchandise

·       Assisting customers in making purchases

Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital & Specialty Clinic, Orlando, FL         October 2010-March 2011

·       Administrative & Activity Volunteer

·       Creating new patient charts/ updating current charts 


·       Sending and receiving faxes and organizing paperwork


·       Facilitating crafts/activities for patients and families in waiting rooms

·       Directing patients to their proper rooms

Skills & Achievements

·       Experienced in Mac, PC, Microsoft Office, and online communities

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·       Public speaking and organizational experience

·       Deans List- three semesters