Calling all undergrads and recent grads: kickstart your career with Kohl’s! Finding the right path after college can be overwhelming, but Kohl’s offers internship and trainee programs that prioritize your growth and leadership development. 

Kohl’s has developed leadership programs that are a launchpad for a meaningful career, allowing self-motivated and inspired individuals to grow, both professionally and personally. Ideal for college students and recent graduates, the Kohl’s Store Leadership Internship and Store Leadership Trainee Program are both designed to give young professionals the tools needed to grow into great leaders. 

For current college students, the Kohl’s Store Leadership Internship is an interactive, 8-week paid structured training program created with development in mind. Interns are given a peek behind the scenes at running a $10 million to $20 million dollar Kohl’s store. More than just hands-on experience, interns are also invited to exclusive networking events and curate their own individual development plans with their mentors. The Store Leadership Trainee Program is designed for leaders ready to jump-start their careers. Over the 12-week paid program, Store Leadership Trainees (or SLTs/Leaders in Training) develop the skills and experience needed to become a Merchandising Manager at Kohl’s. With direct experience in store-merchandising, sales, and human resources, it is a program built with development in mind. 

WayUp was able to speak with some impressive individuals who have completed the Kohl’s Store Leadership Internship and are either working towards becoming a Merchandising Manager or currently succeeding in the role.

One key takeaway from our conversations is that the true strength of these programs is the people. Both professionals mentioned that their favorite part of work was the team they are a part of and how supported they feel. Whether they grew up shopping in the store or strolled by the booth at their college career fair, the connections they made with this brand go beyond what a typical internship offers.

Additionally, both individuals applauded Kohl’s for their dedication to development.While many internships provide a summer experience, Kohl’s programs are designed to not only provide a summer experience but one that provides hands-on experience and develops leadership skills. At Kohl’s, these programs are designed to enhance your leadership skills so you come out the other side as a Merchandising Manager. 

From networking events to assigned mentors who help map out career paths, it’s evident from our conversations that Kohl’s is committed to developing the next generation of leaders. These programs are ideal for any current college student or recent grad who wants to kick start their career in the right direction.

About the Leaders in Training

Shiyan Reed is someone who knows how to set goals and get after them. As an aspiring intellectual property attorney, Kohl’s was not yet part of her long-term plan. But, after speaking with some Kohl’s store managers at a Texas State University career fair, it was clear the Kohl’s Store Leadership Programs were where she wanted to grow as a leader. Shiyan completed the internship and trainee program at the Pflugerville, Texas location before stepping into her current position as Merchandising Manager at the Leander location.

As a current Store Leadership Trainee, Sandy McGlothlin has her sights set on her path ahead. Upon completion of her 12-week program, she will step into the role as Merchandising Manager in San Diego. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Marketing from the University of Arizona, her analytical mindset helps her find solutions to problems in an efficient and effective manner.

Q: What originally brought you to Kohl’s, and what keeps you there?

Q: How has Kohl’s fostered and supported your development?

Q: What are your career goals at Kohl’s?

Q: What’s one piece of advice that has stuck with you through your career that you would also give to someone newly joining the workforce?

When it comes to starting your career off on the right foot, making the first step can feel overwhelming. What Kohl’s offers in their leadership programs goes beyond a resumé–it’s an experience that jump-starts an impactful, meaningful career.  

Want to learn more about the Kohl’s Store Leadership Internship and Store Leadership Trainee Program? Head over to Kohl’s WayUp profile to learn more about the company and browse open roles, upcoming events, and more.

The post The Launchpad for Leaders: How the Kohl’s Store Leadership Programs are Setting Up Early Professionals for Success appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Early career opportunities vary from summer internships and externships to entry-level positions. When exploring possibilities in the beginning of your career, rotational programs offer a unique opportunity to gain diverse experiences and to learn how to work with multiple teams – all within one company.

Synchrony, a Fortune 200 financial services company, inspires career growth from day one. Synchrony is at the heart of many U.S. financial transactions that are made every day and is committed to providing hands-on experiences for its early career talent. The company has a robust early career development program that aims to identify, attract and develop the company’s future leaders.

Synchrony’s driving force is to be essential to people’s everyday lives by making it easier for the tens of millions of people who rely on us to access their essential needs and everyday wants with consumer financing that works for them – from their first credit card to a lifetime of flexibility. The company is recognized in the industry as a top employer, recently named by Fortune as one of the nation’s top five best companies to work for.

The Business Leadership Program

One of the programs that makes Synchrony stand out is its Business Leadership Program (BLP). These early career development programs are designed to accelerate the careers of tomorrow’s leaders.

The summer internship program is a 10-week program for rising juniors and first-year HR graduate students. As a BLP intern, you will work on projects and participate in meaningful work in your desired field while experiencing the support of the team, mentors, and Synchrony’s award-winning culture. If you are interested in the summer internship program, learn more here.

The Full-Time BLP program is a two-year, rotational program for graduating university seniors designed to facilitate your career growth across three different disciplines. If you’re still undecided on what you want to pursue professionally, a rotational program could be a great opportunity for you to explore after graduation.

The Synchrony BLP program has more than 10 different tracks, from sales and relationship management, finance, data analytics, and other areas across the business. The program includes community service, networking and social events.

The BLP program helps transition graduates into the working world by offering experiences similar to what students had with student clubs and organizations. The participant-led committees include Development, Wellness, Recruiting, and Engagement, providing real-world opportunities for new grads to grow in their communication, planning, and leadership skills.

Beyond the leadership development gained through the committees, the BLP program also helps accelerate individuals into positions of leadership.

Creating a Fast Track for Leadership

One of the top appeals of the BLP program is how it offers early career candidates access to leaders within the organization and helps to advance opportunities for leadership for themselves personally.

Due to the nature of the program, you gain diverse work experiences across multiple teams and practice areas and are steps ahead of your peers as it relates to career growth.

Wyatt Craig, SVP Digital Finance – PayPal, who was in the first cohort of the BLP rotational program shared that the biggest differentiator is the support from leadership. Leaders and mentors help you define what you want to do in your career and suggest experiences to help you achieve your goals.

The investment from leaders continues long after the program ends. Wyatt mentioned the value of the alumni network, which provides mentorship to BLP participants. To help recent graduates transition into the corporate world, these alumni provide guidance on what a career path post-BLP could look like.

Synchrony continues to invest in its employees and offers ongoing learning opportunities, including tuition benefits, which was essential for Wyatt when he decided to pursue post-grad education.

Cultivating a Culture of Flexibility and Well-Being

Through its people-centric culture, Synchrony co-designs programs and initiatives together with employees. The company offers flexible work options, allowing employees to work from home, in the office, or both in a hybrid work environment while redesigning its workspaces to encourage meaningful connections.

Josh Mugabe, a HRBP BLP, described the company’s emphasis on flexibility and choice.

Josh also shares how purposeful engagement provides valuable ways early in your career to meet and interact with people in the office. The Synchrony “hubs” or workspaces also provide a collaborative atmosphere to build relationships.

Synchrony also prioritizes employee well-being in the workplaces, providing comprehensive wellness programs and benefits. For example, the company provides a psychologist onsite and employees can have up to 12 sessions per year at no cost to them personally. The program was built with everyone in mind, including interns.

Angela King, Sales & Relationship Management BLP, was the first BLP to lead the BLP’s Wellness committee.

Initiatives include physical activities like intramural sports, the Brooklyn marathon and ice skating in Bryant Park as well as stress reduction and wellness programs including a cooking class, financial literacy, and virtual monthly conversations.

Gaining Real-World Career Skills

Angela shared how fast the two years went by and how much she accomplished and grew during that time. She learned about Synchrony and business acumen and increased her confidence, gained insight into her own strengths and weaknesses, and developed leadership skills.

A rotational program offers tangible work experience that could help you solidify the direction for your career. The program dedicates time for you to explore your interests and learn from different roles and leaders. As you consider possibilities for your life after graduation, we encourage you to look into Synchrony’s rotational program. If you don’t have plans to graduate yet, then you can learn more about the summer 10-week internship program.

You can learn more about the company here. If you’re interested in starting your career at Synchrony, visit us here to find out more about the internship program, the rotational program, and other early-career opportunities.

The post Inspiring Career Growth at Synchrony appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

You’ve found the dream job or internship. Whether or not you know someone at the company, it’s in your best interest to invest time in connecting with folks working there; it could be a difference maker in landing a new career opportunity. 

Chiara, a recruiter for Capital One’s Students & Grads Programs, is here to help you connect and build relationships by sharing her three tips for networking. 

Take a strategic approach

It’s absolutely crucial to do your research! You want to connect with someone through a common interest or a mutual colleague or friend. Of course, LinkedIn can be a great place to start, but consider finding people through other platforms.

Capital One’s Business Resource Groups (BRG)—voluntary, associate-led groups for cultural celebration, community service and professional development—are great ways to expand your network. Many BRGs sponsor and attend career fairs and student conferences, so be on the lookout for them! 

National organizations and societies are also great for meeting people. Connect with groups that share your identity or professional interest, like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Rewriting the Code—both of which are Capital One partners. The groups are like your secret weapon for networking, finding resources and getting tailor-made support for your academic and/or professional journey.

Have a plan

First things first: Use the “S.E.E.” method when meeting someone. That stands for smile, eye contact and enthusiasm. The S.E.E. method can help set the stage for a great conversation prior to giving your elevator pitch. 

As for the elevator pitch, think of it as being three parts. Say what you do, what makes you unique and either how you can help them or how they can help you. Practice your pitch beforehand to ensure it flows smoothly and feels natural.  

As that initial conversation is wrapping up, be sure to get their contact info so you can send a personalized thank you email or LinkedIn message referencing something specific from the conversation. Lastly, follow up with them periodically, whether it’s sharing relevant articles, inviting them to events or simply checking in to see how they’re doing. 

Be authentic

Remember, being yourself is the key to building meaningful connections. 

Don’t try to impress by pretending to be someone you’re not. It can be easy to get caught up in the job or internship search and force yourself to pursue an opportunity that doesn’t feel true to you. You should be building relationships that last beyond one meeting. It’s easier for someone to mentor you or be your advocate when they truly know you and your passions.

People are more likely to remember and connect with the real you.

Head over to Capital One’s profile to learn more about the company and browse open roles, upcoming events, and more.

The post A Capital One recruiter’s 3 networking tips for students appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you have not heard of Arup, you have likely seen their firm’s work firsthand without realizing it. As a global collective of designers, consultants, and experts dedicated to sustainable development, they use technology, imagination, and rigour to shape a better world. The firm has a 75-year history of commitment in producing meaningful and socially useful work.

Working for Global Impact

Sustainable development encompasses a variety of aspects, including regeneration, biodiversity, conservation of resources, stable economic growth, and social value. Arup has a collaborative approach where architects, engineers, and consultants come together to work towards the shared goal of shaping a better world.

In line with Arup’s purpose, they work to provide a greater impact on the world around them. Arup has committed to achieving net zero emissions across their entire operation by 2030, covering everything from the energy used in offices to goods and services purchased. From 2019 to 2022, Arup reduced their carbon footprint by 14% to help them get closer to their goal of net zero.

As a global organization, Arup’s members work across a myriad of departments, which they internally call “disciplines.” These disciplines range from engineering departments – such as Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Structural Engineering – to more specialized groups such as Sustainability, Acoustics, Energy, and more. Additionally, Arup has a business services team that includes roles within Marketing and Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and more.

Launching Early Careers

No matter what career path you’re pursuing, there are countless opportunities to explore at Arup. Their firm provides exposure to various disciplines throughout the internship, which helps to foster curiosity and awareness of the types of career path available to them. As an employer of choice, Arup serves as a launching pad for passionate young professionals who are looking to start their careers with meaningful work.

For those looking to start their careers or gain knowledge as they pursue their early careers, Arup’s internship program offers an impactful experience. The acclaimed summer program offers a paid, 10-week internship for full-time undergraduate and graduate students.

The internship program is divided into three categories in a 70/20/10 framework:

• 70% real work experience
• 20% internship program events
• 10% for ongoing learning opportunities

Providing Meaningful Work Experience

Much of the time, about 70%, is spent working alongside professionals and contributing to the success of real-life projects. The internship program equips interns with hands-on experience across disciplines working on active engineering, design, and consulting projects.

During the internship, interns are immersed in project site visits, team meetings, company meetings, and client meetings. Additionally, interns regularly engage with leadership and develop relationships with colleagues through project meetings and attending social events. The program offers a diverse experience and positions students for success within their desired career path.

Fostering Relationships and Networking Opportunities

During the internship, 20% of the time is spent engaging in internship program events such as regional events, local events, and a project review assignment. Regional events allow interns to engage with peers across 16 offices, attending workshops about sustainability, Employee Resource Groups, leadership, and other topical events.

The local events foster intentional networking opportunities through site visits, connecting with office leadership, and a graduate panel discussion. These events also provide opportunities for interns to meet and engage with colleagues across disciplines at Arup, helping to expand their knowledge about the firm. Additionally, some of the events offer insights from members early in their career to interns about to start their career.

The project review assignment groups interns into multidisciplinary teams where they work together across different office locations. Interns are tasked with completing a knowledge review and creating a value story on a recently completed Arup project, allowing interns to explore how a project was delivered with quality. The final outcome is a presentation that interns give to their teams, peers, and leadership, which provides them with meaningful exposure to the organization.

Offering Continued Education and Development

Finally, the last 10% of the internship is set aside for ongoing education and professional development opportunities. Interns are encouraged to spend time pursuing additional trainings to advance their skills and knowledge, which highlights how Arup invests in early career talent.

The hiring managers identify a mentor, or what Arup calls a “buddy,” that will be partnered with interns. The objective of this mentor system is to assist interns in acclimating to their new environment, learning about the organization, and integrating into the culture and work at Arup.

A Thriving Company Culture

Arup deeply cares about its culture and how it represents the mission and vision of the organization. In addition to their values, Arup strives to champion Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI), and engages with communities across the globe. The firm values how the best creative work draws from a range of human experiences, viewpoints, and ideas. Arup is committed to DEI and its efforts shape the firm’s work and culture.

Interns shared how they were able to get involved in Employee Resource Groups and support work that aligned with their own long-term goals. From exposure to the diverse leadership at Arup to networking with other offices, interns are integrated into the life and culture of the organization. They also spoke about opportunities of attending conferences or other events to support their own professional development and expand their interests outside of project work.

Wondering what a typical day-to-day looked like for Arup interns? For more insight, watch the below videos to see what it was like to intern at Arup from 3 Arup interns at the Houston, TX office, New York City office, and Boston office!

Timothy Dang’s day in the life as a Mechanical Engineering intern at the Houston, TX Office

Sarah Cole’s day in the life as a Software Development rotational intern visiting the New York City office

Kelly Perymon’s day in the life as a Sustainability intern at the Boston, MA office

Pipeline for Future Job Opportunities

It’s no secret that Arup’s internship program provides a funnel of potential candidates. At the end of the internship, interns are evaluated and considered for full-time or return internship opportunities.

Arup employs individuals from all different degrees and backgrounds. They assess candidates holistically and place a focus on their technical skills and experience that align with the position. They look for innovative thinkers with a passion and drive to join an extraordinary collective and create a future with purpose.

Internship Application Process

For those interested in applying for an internship with Arup, you must submit an application. After passing the resume review, candidates will be shortlisted and invited to complete the pre-screen step and assessment. After passing the pre-screen, candidates will be set up for a video interview with the hiring manager for the role.

Arup looks for students who are passionate about their field of study, curious about the professional world, and eager to shape a better world through sustainable development. It is important for candidates to be self-motivated, have strong communication skills, and be willing to be part of a community.

For more information about the internship program and the application process, check out Arup’s page on WayUp here.

The post Help Change the World by Interning at Arup appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Depending on your age and where you are in life, odds are you use social media for one or two reasons– entertainment purposes, to keep up with your friends and family, or to share moments of your life. 

When it comes to social media and finding a job, most people elect to keep those two worlds separate. But what many of these people fail to see are all the ways you can use social media to help you get a job. 

As a company that specializes in helping people get jobs, we have identified various social media tips and tricks that can lead to employment. Today, we want to share them with you.

In this career tips article you’re going to learn about the following:

1. Using your profile as a digital resume
2. Networking on social media
3. Social media as a job
4. Using social media for education
5. Learning about employers using social media

As a Digital Resume

For better or worse, social media is a great way to understand what someone is like. And as many of us know, employers use this perspective to gain a better understanding of potential employees. For this reason, many people elect to keep their social media pages private. 

But those same people are missing out on the opportunity to show employers a more personal side of them. Employers want to see a candidate who is interesting and impassioned about life, someone who has hobbies and meaningful interests.

Social media is a great way to show the company you’re applying for that you’re someone who can get excited about things and someone people like to be around. So when you’re thinking about what pictures you should be posting or whether or not you’re profile should be private, keep this in mind.

Networking on Social Media

If LinkedIn showed us anything, it’s that networking on social media is very lucrative. But with so many social networking platforms in the world, why use only one? Every single day, people use the big three – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – to establish connections and help them find jobs. 

While you can use social media as a means of contacting people directly, you should also use it as a way to interact and engage with them. For example, say the CEO of a company gets interviewed and he or she reposts it on their feed. Why not comment on it with an intelligent thought? 

Or say someone from a company you want to work for posts something about an objective they met. Why not use that information to follow up with a question? The more you come to understand social media, the more ways you will be able to use it to establish meaningful connections and maybe even score a job.

Social Media as a Job

While LinkedIn showed us how to network on social media, TikTok and Instagram showed us how social media in itself can be a job. Even before the days of TikTok, people were using their knowledge of social media combined with their creativity and other skills to pursue careers in social media marketing and brand representation. 

Whether it’s as simple as being an influencer for a company and posting a picture wearing their clothes or as advanced as running an entire social media marketing operation, the market is littered with jobs in social media.

Depending on your knowledge of social media and the skills you have, you might be the perfect candidate for a job in social media. Browse tons of social media positions on our job listings page today.

Social Media for Education

With all the garbage that exists on social media, there are still several outlets and pages you can follow to stay educated on job tips, career advice, and more. For starters, if you like a company, follow them on social media. More often than not, they will make a post when they have open positions.

When searching for job tips and information on how you can get a job, social media becomes particularly useful. You can find tons of pages that provide information like resume tips, advice for interviewing, ways to dress, and plenty more.

Our totally unbiased and personal favorite page for career advice, job tips, and updates on the job market is WayUp. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook if you haven’t already!

Learning About Employers Using Social Media

After using WayUp to find current job openings and discover companies that are hiring, take to social media and find the company’s profile. Get a feel for their branding, their voice, and their message then see if it aligns with a company you see yourself working for.

Are their pictures of company culture? Do they promote similar beliefs as you? All of this and more can be better understood by examining a company’s social media profiles and presence. Just make sure the companies you’re looking at are hiring!

Using Every Tool in the Shed

While social media is a great way to help you get a job, we recommend using every tool at your disposal to help lock down that contract you’ve been looking for. At WayUp, not only are we a tool that helps students and recent graduates find jobs but we also talk about it on our blog.

So no matter where you are in the job search process, whether you’re just writing your first resume or you’ve been searching for a job for years, we’re here to help. Register with WayUp for free and start getting matched with employers today.

The post 5 Ways Using Social Media Can Help You Get a Job appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

We hear from students time and time again that finding opportunities that will actually help you develop professionally can be extremely challenging at times. That’s why when Lola and Johnny heard about L’Oréal USA’s Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship, they knew they had to apply! 

The L’Oréal USA’s Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship launched in Spring of 2020 when L’Oréal USA wanted to create a new way to support students of diverse backgrounds in their career journey. 50 USA based students across all majors and schools are selected every year for this unique, year-long, immersive program where Fellows, as participants are called, receive unparalleled business knowledge, gain mentors, and are fast tracked for prestigious summer internships at the world’s #1 Beauty Tech company, L’Oréal.

To give you an insider’s perspective into this program, we chatted with current Fellows Lola (Chemical Engineering major at Louisiana State University) and Johnny (Global Business major with a concentration in Global Marketing with Consumer Insights at Fordham University) who reflected on all of the amazing opportunities they had during their Fellowship. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.

Education and Resources

When Johnny and Lola first started their Fellowship, there was an immediate emphasis on learning, development, and upskilling. In fact, when asked to describe the L’Oréal Fellowship in three words, Johnny chose educational, eye-opening, and rewarding. “Educational for sure, with the eLearnings and monthly sessions where we talked about L’Oréal and the beauty industry, eye-opening because it helped me realize my career goals, and rewarding because it has led me to a summer internship with them,” said Johnny.

Throughout the course of the Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship, Fellows engage in monthly topic-based seminars given by leaders from across different business areas. This allows Fellows to deep dive into a specific function, see project management in action, and understand the importance of cross-functional team working. 

Fellows are also given exclusive access to L’Oréal’s eLearning platform, as Lola described, “L’Oréal has been gracious enough to give us some of the eLearnings that even their company members watch as well.” She explained that L’Oréal’s eLearnings are interactive activities that help Fellows develop skills on topics like project management, team working, and leadership styles. 

“One e-learning I truly love was about figuring out what type of leader you are, and how to adapt and work in different groups, that truly helped me. I’m in my junior year now, and we’re working in groups. I realized I am a personable leader, but I am also dominant so I would like things done at a certain time. I learned how to better communicate, and better respond to people to get the desired results,” said Lola.

One on One Mentorship

A key part of the L’Oréal USA Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship program is that all Fellows are assigned individual mentors to work with during the duration of their Fellowship. Mentors go through a pairing process to make sure they are able to meet their mentee’s needs and they are often members of L’Oréal USA’s employee Think Tanks, also known as employee resource groups.

“One of the things I truly loved is the fact that we have one on one mentors. My mentor is Ms. Balanda Atis—she’s a revolutionary scientist for brands and products made for diverse people,” Lola shared with us. Since Lola has a goal of being a makeup formulator one day, a mentor with a similar background and functional expertise made her a perfect match. During past networking experiences, Lola has had a hard time finding out how people made it to their roles, so her mentor’s openness was refreshing and beneficial. 

Both Johnny and Lola mentioned how valuable transparency was in the relationship they have with their mentors. As Johnny noted, “I felt like I could be open with him, and at one point we talked about the importance of mental health and work-life balance.” 

Johnny’s mentor has been a constant and supportive presence throughout the Fellowship. “In practice and in a learning environment, my mentor helped me a lot with communication. He helped me write important emails and phrase things in a professional context. He was there to answer any questions I had for him,” said Johnny.

Reimagining Career Goals 

Before the Fellowship, both Johnny and Lola were struggling to figure out how their majors and interests would help them in their careers. Through meetings with their mentors and programming, “The Fellowship has helped me figure out what I want to do,” said Lola. 

As a chemical engineering major, she wasn’t sure how to translate that into a career in the CPG world until participating in the program. “I want to be a formulator, but I also want to be some sort of scientific communication. I want to be the centerpiece of explaining the science piece to non-science people.” 

For Johnny, the Fellowship gave him a new point of view and ultimately led to a shift in his overall perspective. “My career goals changed with the fellowship, I was committed to marketing or advertising agencies, but being in the Fellowship made me realize that I wanted to explore marketing inhouse,” said Johnny. “It led me to apply to and ultimately land a summer marketing internship at L’Oréal. My goal is to secure a full-time job at L’Oréal after the internship.”

To help Fellows achieve their career goals, L’Oréal provides personalized advice and career coaching from recruitment experts to prepare for interviews at L’Oréal and beyond. No matter your major or background, L’Oréal’s Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship Program can help you narrow your career goals, give you access to a network of peers and mentors, and help with your professional development while pursuing your education.

Why You Should Apply

Johnny’s and Lola’s stories aren’t uncommon at L’Oréal, because of the company’s commitment to supporting diverse, entrepreneurial, rising college talent. Whether you’re interested in creating the future of beauty tech like Lola, want to revolutionize and create disruptive marketing campaigns like Johnny, or are seeking career advice and guidance, there’s a place for you in L’Oréal USA’s Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship. 

Applications for the Fellowship program are open usually from November – February, so make sure to check L’Oréal’s company page to see if applications are open now!

If you’re interested in joining this year’s class of Fellows click here to apply. 

BONUS TIP: Here are some quick tips from Lola and Johnny to help you navigate the application and interview process.

“Be honest, be truthful, be raw—write your heart,” said Lola. 

“Be yourself, L’Oréal wants people for this program who embrace who they are,” said Johnny.

The post This Diverse Future Leaders Fellowship Will Accelerate Your Career Path—Here’s How appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

School’s back in session and it’s not all classes and books. The fall semester is also the biggest time of year for recruiting—especially when it comes to the most competitive, sought-after jobs for business, accounting, and finance students.

1. Be Excellent

Now if this one seems kind of obvious, then just hear us out. Big 4 Accounting Firm jobs and internships are incredibly competitive. Preparing for them can take years of school, clubs, and other accomplishments. If you’re a sophomore and you’re finding yourself a lackluster candidate compared to your peers, it’s gonna be hard to beat them in the process without some sort of miraculous, stand-out trait (and the ability to prove it). You can take a semester (or even a year) to beef up your application just in case it doesn’t get accepted the first time around.

All that’s to say, make sure you’re at the top of your game before you apply to one of the Big 4 accounting firms (or even other top accounting firms). There are thousands of would-be accountants and consultants all over the world hoping to secure a spot in one of the top global internship programs in professional services. You should be a leader among leaders, an ace in the classroom, and a dedicated worker.

But just being excellent isn’t always everything…

2. Show Them That Excellence, Stand Out

But if you’re here, chances are you’re ALREADY excellent. So let’s talk about how to make that really count: Show it on your resume and in your application.

For example, let’s say you’re the President of the Accountants For Good Club at your school. It’s a club that combines charity with the magic of accounting. Sounds pretty good, right? Even something as relevant and impressive as this should be properly showcased, though, if you want to get the proper mileage out of it.

Here’s why.

Being the President of the Accountants For Good club is great, but there are a ton of club presidents at a ton of great schools. Some might even have experience more relevant than an accounting and community service club. So, in order to stand out among stand-outs, you’ve gotta know how to translate that club experience into working experience, right there on the resume page.

It’s all about how you say it.

Take that accomplishment and explain why it matters. For example, under “President of the Accountants For Good Club,” list out some of the things that happened under your leadership. For example, “raised $15,000 for victims of Hurricane Irene in Puerto Rico.”

This can be followed up with some relevant business skills, too. One example: “Executed transfer of funds to charity.” You could also try, “managed collections of funds,” or “created a system for tracking funds.”

Basically, that’s everything that has to happen with every club fundraiser, but you just said it in a way that translates it perfectly into actual skills. And it doesn’t have to be about accounting, either. This can be done with leadership skills, management skills, event-planning skills—really anything you can think of that’s done in a club or organizational setting.

Let them know that your activities and experiences are preparing you to work for them.

3. Pursue Your Passion (At The Firm)

The Big 4 Accounting Firms (and many of the other ones, too) are massive corporations with tens of thousands of employees. Their people work in all different departments and offer a ton of different services (that’s why most of them prefer to be called “professional services firms,” rather than just “accounting firms”). They offer clients assistance in the form of business management, tax, accounting, IT, and even human resources consulting.

These accounting firms are full of all stripes of business brainiacs. It’s fine if you’re interested in one of the less traditional routes. It can actually be an advantage for you to have unique interests. If you’ve got a classic business background in school, but an extracurricular interest in technology, then you could be the ideal candidate for someone specializing in business technology.

There are a couple ways to leverage this. First, you can see if the department that interests you the most is available directly through the application. Then, just be sure to optimize your resume toward that department and check the right box on your application. Another way is to actually ask a recruiter about it: either in person or over email. Let’s say you really are the President of the Accountants For Good Club at Your School University. You could ask a Big 4 recruiter whether there are openings in that department and how to apply.

4. Be Professional, Very Professional

All joking aside, this is truly the key to impressing your recruiters: Be professional. You should remain prompt, polite, prepared, and personable at all times. It’s okay to be nervous. But even with nerves, try to show them what you’ve got. Send flawless emails, arrive on time for interviews and events, and be prepared for the interview.

Qualities like these mark leaders and otherwise excellent candidates. While you can still get the job without them, it sure makes it a lot easier to stand out in their memory (or at least not stick out negatively) if you’ve flawlessly executed the simple responsibilities and details of the recruiting process on your end.

A few things that could make the difference: Researching the company, position, and department before your application and interview; answering any phone calls with a polite and professional, “Hello, this is ___.” instead of just a “hey;” following up within 24 hours of the interview thanking them for their time and letting them know you look forward to the next steps.

Now, Go Get Your Dream Job

There’s a place for all types of talent at these (and many other) illustrious accounting firms. They’re a great way to start a career in so many fields, because you gain exposure to the inner workings of not just one company, but all the clients that you’ll handle.

Ready to start your dream career in consulting or accounting? Recruiting season is in full-swing and all the best accounting firms are hiring right now on WayUp!

The post Get The Interview: How To Pass The Recruiting Process At A Big 4 Accounting Firm appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

For a lot of the most exclusive companies, it’s recruiting season. That means coming out to Career Fairs, Job Fairs, panels, networking events, coffee chats, and way more. Top companies are doing everything they can to get on campus and meet with top talent.

But there’s only so much time to look for great talent—which is why you have to make yourself easy to find.

Here’s how to stand out at a Career Fair, networking event, or any other in-person, professional opportunity.

1. Research, Plan, Strategize

One of the best ways to succeed at a Career Fair or networking event is to do your homework. Here’s some of the stuff you’re going to want to find out:

• Who’s going to be there
• Basic info on the companies showing up
• What sorts of roles they hire for

This info will help you make your top ten or top five list, which is a good way to set goals. For example, I’m going to put my resume in—at least—the hands of recruiters from eight of my top ten companies.

Learn a little bit about each company: what they do, how big they are, and what kinds of roles they hire for. This way, you can know whether or not they’re right for your experience, skills, and long-term goals.

2. Come Prepared

You want to look cool, calm, and collected at a Career Fair (or any other event), so pack and dress accordingly.

In terms of dress, you want to look nice, but not naive or tactless, so dress accordingly (check out the “Networking Guru” outfit in this interview/event style guide). Make sure you follow event-specific dress codes (if there are any). You don’t want to be uncomfortable or overly sweaty, and given that these usually take place in crowded conference halls or gymnasium-type places, that can be a risk when wearing a heavy suit or jacket. So, avoid the three-piece, wool suit and opt for a “smart casual” look instead. A nice button-down or blouse and dark jeans are usually entirely acceptable.

Don’t bring too much to a Career Fair or networking event. You’ll look silly carrying around an over-stuffed backpack or a pulling a resume out of a huge bunch of papers. Just bring a small bag (if any), a folder or leather folio containing copies of your resume, and yourself.

3. Make The Transactions

You want to make a genuine connection with your interviewers, but at the end of the day, going to a  Career Fair or networking event is all about the “next steps.” And the only way to move on to the next phase of the process is to take action while you’re there. Here’s what you need to do:

After making a polite, enthusiastic first impression, listening to their spiel, and telling them what you’re passionate about, give them a copy of your resume and ask for a business card. Let them know you’re going to follow up and you look forward to connecting and learning more. If they give out any other next steps (like “go to this website” or “submit an app through our system”), then be sure that you do that before you reach out.

It’s great to connect with recruiters as a fellow human being, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be hard for them to really remember each person they’ve talked to and what they’re about. That’s why you need to get your resume in their hands and their business card in your wallet.

The same goes for you: You might not remember the details of every conversation at the end of the event or the day, so make sure you take notes somewhere about the important details, conversational highlights, and any specific actions you need to take. (Pro-tip: Don’t take notes while talking to the recruiter, rather, use their business card as a place to jot down key talking points to help jog your memory later on.)

4. Follow Up With Action Items

After you’ve successfully completed the above three steps, you’re going to want to follow up with the recruiter you spoke to at the event. Be sure to touch on anything specific you may have noted like a personal detail you remember about them or a website/application they told you to check out.

Things to do in your follow-up:

• Thank them for their time
• Tell them it was nice meeting them
• Include an interesting personal detail to stand out
• Let them know you submitted an app and look forward to hearing from them
• If there’s no app, try to ask an insightful question or for specific advice to establish a rapport

Avoid doing stuff like this:

• Sounding like a template (if it reads like a generic response, it is and they won’t care about your follow-up)
• Being awkward, unprofessional, or try too hard to be funny (it’s a business transaction)
• Asking them questions that you can easily have answered on their website or Wikipedia (it’s okay to ask some questions, but you don’t want to seem unintelligent or unresourceful)

The follow-up email is an excellent touch of professionalism, which is one of the few traits you can actually demonstrate in this type of limited interaction, so don’t waste this opportunity.

One Small Step For You, One Giant Leap At A Career

None of these steps take much effort on your part. However, any one of them can end up being a major signal to recruiters that you’re a person who is prepared for the working world. One of these tips could help demonstrate that you’re ready for the big leagues of a major internship or full-time, post-grad gig.

So, be thoughtful about your next Career Fair or networking event, and you might just end up with a job that starts an amazing career.

For more recruiting, interviewing, and application tips, check out the WayUp Guide.

The post How To Stand Out At Career Fairs And Recruiting Events: 4 Steps To An Interview appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Unilever isn’t your average company.

On any given day, 2.5 billion people use Unilever products. For some perspective, that’s one-third of the Earth’s total population. But that’s just its reach.

Unilever employs more than 161,000 people. And when it comes to hiring, it does things entirely its own way.

The Unilever team threw out the old school resume and phone screen formula so that they could start finding modern talent in a modern way. They now use a digital process that’s fast, fun, and authentic.

Here’s how it works. You’ll start by applying online. Then you’ll play games that assess your skills, personality, and potential. After the games, you’ll complete a video interview. Finally, if you pass those rounds, you’ll go in-person to a Unilever Discovery Center to meet your peers and potential co-workers, and to see what life is like at Unilever. Shortly after that, you’ll (hopefully) get an offer!

Here are five tips from the recruiting experts at Unilever that will help you nail the interview process and land a job at one of the world’s top companies.

1. There Are Games—Have Fun With Them

When you apply to Unilever, you’ll be asked to build a digital profile. Part of that means playing 12 games to test your personality, skills, and hidden potential. This isn’t a hazy or hush-hush process, either. After every game, you’ll get direct feedback, and they’ll tell you what they think they found. There’s no right or wrong answer; they’re just looking to see how you play.

That’s why it’s so important to have fun with the games. Don’t stress about winning or doing things a certain way. Do it how you would do it—and have fun with it. Play calmly and confidently, without stressing about doing it “right.”

And above all remember this: It’s about who you are and how you play, and NOT about winning or losing.

2. Make Eye Contact With The Webcam

The digital interview is a real interview. Though you record your answers on your own time, treat it like there’s someone sitting in front of you.

Even though the questions are pre-recorded, there’s a real person on the other end who thought about those questions and wants to know your answers. So, sit up straight, look the camera in its metaphorical eye (the lens), and speak like you normally would to any interviewer. You can even re-record your answers a few times, so it’s potentially even less stressful than an in-person screening.

But that’s just how you’re speaking. The next three tips will help you make sure WHAT you’re saying is just as good as the presentation.

3. Know The Brands

Unilever is a megabrand. It has thousands of products under a ton of subsidiaries around the world. If you only do research on Unilever, you’ll be missing out on a ton of the important (and genuinely interesting) info about the company’s past, present, and future.

So, know your region’s brands (like Ben & Jerry’s, Dove, Axe, and Lipton). That way, you can speak with confidence about your experience with the products, your perception of them, and what you can contribute to the mission of the company that makes them. You’ve almost definitely used a Unilever product, so draw on that experience to bring insight to your interview. That will really help you get to the next round.

4. Know What You Want, But Be Open To New Experiences

So many of Unilever’s jobs and internship opportunities are in different locations around the country. They’re also spread out across departments and sectors you might never have imagined for yourself. So, even though it’s important to know what you want going into an interview, being flexible will make hiring you all the easier.

Plus, if you’re open to something you might not have expected, then you can discover your dream job! New experiences almost always teach you something valuable about yourself. Think flexibly, and you might find yourself with an amazing new job or internship!

5. Learn About Its Values, Especially Sustainability

It’s always important to learn about a company’s values beforehand and think about how the work that you want to do for them can engage with those principles.

One of Unilever’s most important values is promoting a healthy relationship to the environment with their Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. This ambitious project aims to double the company’s growth and halve their environmental impact by 2020. Think about why this matters to you and how you’ll act on and support the effort.

Pro-tip: It’s really important to use concrete examples when talking about something high-minded like values. Translation: Don’t forget the specifics.

For example, if diversity and inclusion are values of the company (like they are for Unilever), and you’re applying for a Supply Chain Management job, you could talk about how ensuring you work with diverse, high-quality suppliers would be a priority for you. Concrete examples like this show that you did more than just Google “Unilever company values.”

Now Go Get Your Dream Job

Now that you have the inside scoop on Unilever’s recruiting process, there’s nothing stopping you from getting your dream job at one of the world’s most successful companies.

If you want to join the mission of making people feel good, look good, and do good, check out internship and co-op opportunities from Unilever on WayUp right now!

The post These 5 Tips Will Actually Help You Get Hired At Unilever (A Hiring Manager Told Us!) appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

Career Fairs are a thing of the past!  Employers don’t want to waste time and money attending them!  Students are not interested!

Well, I’m here to tell you that none of that is true.  Furthermore, career fairs provide students with the easiest possible way to make connections with people who might well end up hiring them one day.  (Networking!)  Picture this: an on-campus location where there are dozens of representatives from all sorts of companies just sitting around waiting to talk to YOU, the student!  Some of them are looking for full-time, entry-level hires but many are looking for interns.  How easy it is for you, the student, to initiate a conversation with an employer, hand over your resume, ask some intelligent questions, and end up making a great impression!  Maybe the recruiter will decide that next time they are hiring, you will be invited to interview.

Here are some of the questions I hear frequently from students at my college, with my responses:

Do I have to dress up?

It certainly helps if you dress appropriately, which means business casual, at the very least.  Is wearing a business suit overkill?  Not if you want to stand out for all the right reasons!

My resume’s a bit of a mess – does it really matter?

It sure does!  Your resume is the piece of you that employers will take away with them at the end of the career fair and it should be as good as it possibly can be.  Plan ahead and use your career center for help.  Go to a resume workshop or meet with a counselor and have your resume reviewed, allowing sufficient time to make any recommended changes.

Do I need to do any research before the fair?

Only if you want to make a good impression!  Recruiters hate it when a student sidles up to their table and says something like, “So what does your company do?”  If you are interested in interning or working for a company you know will be at the career fair, find out everything you can about it beforehand – and then impress the recruiter with your knowledge.

Fall and spring are the main career fair seasons and recruiters rack up impressive miles traveling around attending a series of fairs.  They will be talking to hundreds of students at many universities and colleges, and some of those students will end up being employed by them.  With a little bit of effort you can maximize your chances of being one of them.

The post Career Fairs Are Awesome! appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

If you haven’t begun to do so by now, networking can make your career. It truly pays to know people. Who knows, your next boss could be your childhood friend, which leads to you becoming a Creative Director, which leads to your dream job and also, dream salary.

All dreaming aside, networking is one of the best possible things you can do in the beginning of your career hunt. Attend those job fairs, volunteer seminars and student days that cost thirty dollars to get in. that thirty dollars could be the best money you’ve ever spent. Chances are too it’s tax deductible for all you penny pinchers out there.

When networking, it is important to stay true to yourself and what you would like others to think of you. Don’t inflate your previous experience merely to impress your colleagues, or potential employer. This inflated version of yourself will come to an end once they realize you really aren’t what you made it seem to be. Set expectations for yourself when going into job fairs. Push yourself to hand out more resumes, business cards and mingle with anyone and everyone.

Some advice when networking and attending seminars:

• Be approachable
• Don’t share too much about yourself. It’s great you can chug a tall-boy in ten seconds, but does your future employer need to know that?
• Eating? Remember your table manners!
• Make a bulleted list of relevant extracurricular activities you were a part of.
• Have your portfolio ready! Include business cards, resumes and previous work that can be easily transported and is aesthetically pleasing.

Being professional doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy a two piece suit, slick back your hair and refer to yourself as Mr. or Mrs. Employers are looking for people that they are willing to allow be the face of their company or organization. This face needs to be able to reflect their goals and values at all times. This may mean that you need to be able to stay poise when in sticky situations and allow yourself to be composed when faced with angry clients and catastrophes.

However, it wouldn’t hurt if you still had that suit on hand.

The post Connections, Impressions and Professionalism appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Christopher Dela Cruz for Student Stories. 

Los Angeles, the city of dreams, or is it, the city of crushed dreams?

It is especially difficult to establish yourself in LA when you are fresh meat, still in college or just out from graduation. It takes thick skin, persistence, passion, and originality to start establishing yourself as the individual everyone wants to be.

When it came to making a name for myself, I didn’t know where to begin. I went from model to actor to dancer to PR Rep to stylist to reality star to producer. I interned with big companies such as NBCUniversal, Kitson LA, and small PR boutique companies.

I do not regret making these job transitions because it allowed me to meet so many people, some who are still to this day, good friends. However, I do regret not taking the time to think twice about my career trajectory.

Therefore, the first step in making it in LA is to figure out what you want to be. This sounds obvious of course, but it is crucial to your overall personal brand. Once you start labeling yourself as a commercial director, it may be hard to find jobs as a stage actor.  No matter what you choose, make sure that it is who you are and who you want to be. I learned this the hard way

As I mentioned earlier, I learned that modeling and acting were not for me. I then moved on to reality television, since I figured it’d be an easy way to make money, get “famous”, and make a name for myself. From working for shows on Bravo, Playboy, and Food Network I had found my calling. Not going to lie, once I put my pride aside that I wasn’t going to be the next Brad Pitt, things slowly started to work its way up.

Then one day, I made the decision to make business cards. The positives of making business cards and playing the cards right is that you will get offers from companies big and small. Only after years of hard work, climbing up the ladder, and networking in LA, can you establish a name for yourself.

After I had my business cards in hand, I got busy networking. There are numerous networking events in LA that any industry professional can attend whether you are starting off or are already established. Always remember to dress to impress and hold yourself in a professional manner. Personal image and first impressions are huge in the entertainment world.

Get advice from everyone you meet and get to learn their stories. Learn about who they are, how they’ve accomplished their goals, and how you can learn from their personal journey. Regardless of your experience level, there is the term fake it until you make it. There are a couple key words one should never say, “I’m just a…” This not only downgrades your abilities, but shows to the other person that you are not confident in yourself.

Being confident is another key to making it in LA. No matter what others have to say, ultimately in the end, you know how you want to be portrayed. Never compare yourself to others, especially to the infinitesimally rare overnight success stories. Rather, always ask how you can take yourself to the next level.

The best things to do in LA or any city as a matter of fact, is to not let fear take over your dreams. Put yourself out there and step outside of your comfort zone. No one has ever made a name for himself by being complacent in his routine.

As you start to make a name for yourself in LA, the next step is to choose your inner circle wisely. Differentiate your professional co-workers from your best friends, your love affairs from your casual acquaintances. Learn that some of your friends, the ones that love to party and have fun, will have to be let go. It is not ideal, but from experience, trying to give due time to all these relationships, while trying to succeed in LA, never works out. Surround yourself by those who understand your career ambitions and who will push you to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Have I established a name for myself? Yes…finally. Having no focused career trajectory I wondered from position to position, prolonging my success in LA. I have met people my age who have established themselves at a much quicker rate. They knew what career they wanted, and stuck with it, through the sleepless nights and lonely meals.

Succeeding in LA is not easy. No one ever said it was. If they did, they’d be lying. However with determination, passion, and the will to push yourself outside your comfort zone, you are on the right track to making it in LA.

About the Author:

The post Making It Big In Los Angeles: Struggling Dreams Of The Entertainment World appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

December 21, 2012: the day the world would end. Millennials approached the Mayan-predicted doomsday with a mixture of humor and paranoia, neglecting responsibilities and of course, igniting the Twitterverse with farewell tweets.

But recent college graduates have much more than the destruction of civilization to worry about. Impending student loan payments, the pressure to find a decent job with a well-paying salary –– it seems post-grad life is far more troublesome than any apocalypse.

How can recent grads successfully navigate today’s disastrous job market?

The answer is simple: seek a mentor for the end of the world.

Socrates taught Plato everything he knows. Fabulously wealthy investor Warren Buffett credits much of his success to economist Benjamin Graham. And Oprah counseled just about every famous talk show host in the last decade.
Once hailed as a necessary component in the transition to the working world, mentors have a unique and varied position. They encourage career aspirations, often guiding entry-level candidates to achieve their professional goals. They listen, they teach; they’re introducers, educators and cheerleaders.

But in today’s hyper-connected world, the role of a mentor has changed dramatically. The trusted advisor is now called upon to serve as a networking guru, a master at introducing millennials to someone among their 500+ connections on LinkedIn. Grads request that mentors pass along resumes and “put in a good word”. It suffices to say that the demands placed on mentors today are, well, not very demanding.

In addition, there are countless training seminars, courses, webinars, advisory blogs and podcasts that tech-savvy grads rely on for coaching. It’s not surprising that seeking a bona fide mentor has dropped to the bottom of professional priority lists.

Despite this shift, there are people out there who genuinely want to help others succeed, and go above and beyond to do so. These people have a natural inclination to develop personal relationships and nurture professional growth. Post-recession grads can benefit immensely from these types of mentors, because they’re the ones best outfitted to help others survive a barren (or in this case, jobless) wasteland.

How does one find this kind of mentor? Establish the ideal mentorship in 4 easy steps:

1. Make a list

Compile names of potential mentors, and keep in mind that they don’t have to be related to your career goals. Focus on people you know and admire that may have a desire to work with you. If you’re already employed, check with HR for any mentorship programs. Consider looking outside the office (i.e., community leaders, coaches or pastors), and use your alumni network to get the most out of your college investment.

2. Reach out

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, think about how you’ll approach them. The days of the formal mentorship request are over – keep things conversational and start by simply asking for advice on a specific problem. Much like networking, its important to cultivate the relationship slowly. Build up your questions over time so the mentorship feels like a natural progression.

3. Meet regularly

When you form the mentorship, stay consistent by scheduling meetings on an ongoing basis. These can be anything from informal coffee chats to phone calls or touching base via email. They key is to not only keep your mentor up to date with your career progress, but also to communicate effectively what you want out of the mentorship.

4. Be appreciative

Always, always show gratitude. Saying “thank you” is imperative, but do one better and find ways to make the relationship mutually beneficial. Offer to assist your mentor with research for a big project, organize his or her contact database, or make phone calls for an upcoming fundraiser. An added bonus: doing some extra work will demonstrate other skills your mentor may not have known about.

The seemingly catastrophic post-grad experience becomes much less intimidating with a reliable mentor by your side. Hollywood may have capitalized on the world’s imminent doom – the titular film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World was released in 2012 – but with these steps, recent graduates can also capitalize on all that mentors have to offer.

About the Author:

Suzanne De Vita is an online editor and content producer. Exceptionally vocal, she’s often found belting “The Star-Spangled Banner” or chanting “Roll Tide!” at her television. Her greatest loves are The Temptations, barnyard animals and cajun cuisine. She’s contributed to Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans, and received her BA from Quinnipiac University.

The post Seeking a Mentor for the End of the World appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.

This is a guest post by Gabriela Szewcow for Student Stories. 

When I graduated from college a little over a year ago, I was resistant to the idea of networking.

Sure, I knew how to do it and I knew it had to be done. But it made me uncomfortable. Why had I worked so hard and been so involved if none of it would matter unless I knew someone who knew someone? Eventually, I got over this notion and realized that I simply had to play the networking game. It didn’t happen right away, but I eventually got to play it my way, and this is how it happened.

I finished up classes a semester early, but hung around to spend time with friends and make some money while applying for jobs. I had a few freelance jobs, but I spent most of my days nannying for a nice couple who adopted two young girls from Guatemala. We spent our days eating snacks, doing Spanish homework and watching lots of My Little Pony. Over time, I discovered that their father Mark was the VP of a PR Agency in the area. He offered to look over my resume and cover letter and to connect me with people he knew in the communications industry. He was extremely helpful and I will forever be grateful for the time he took to help me out. One day, he off-handedly mentioned that the President of my university had a brother who was the CEO of a great agency in New York City. Mark mentioned that I should talk to President Lambert about his brother. I thought, “Sure, Mark, let me just drop a line to the President of my school.” But that’s exactly what I did.
At a small event a few weeks before graduation, I found myself in a circle of a few students, chatting with President Lambert about studying abroad. I seized the opportunity to talk to him about his brother and his agency, and followed up a few days later with an email. The President was instantly responsive, and even provided me with his brother’s contact information. I set up an informational phone call with President Lambert’s brother, Luke. At that time, I had no idea what I was talking about. I’m sure I asked him naive and juvenile questions on the phone, because I was so shocked that the CEO had taken the time to speak with me on the phone.

After a writing test, a handful of interviews and lots of nagging phone calls and emails, I am now employed at that agency as a Junior Account Executive in New York City. Come June, I will have been here for one year. Moving to New York is a story in and of itself, and I’m so grateful for the people who have made the move possible. I would not have moved here without the security of a job, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Mark, President Lambert and Luke. I’m still blown away that three busy guys took the time to help me in my search for a career.

Networking can be uncomfortable if you aren’t willing to sell yourself and ask for help. It’s not a fun or easy game to play, unless you bend the rules a little bit and make it work your way.

About the Author:

Gabriela graduated from Elon University in 2013, where she studied Print and Online Journalism. Today, she resides in Brooklyn, New York and works in Midtown, Manhattan at a PR Agency. You can follow her on Twitter.

The post Play the Networking Game, But Play it Your Way appeared first on Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More | WayUp Blog.