More Than Just Bullet Points!

More Than Just Bullet Points!

A common problem our students face is that they doubt their skills set and accomplishment statements.  With only their college experience, it can seem to them that their resume is the same information over and over again.  Maybe they’re accounting students, who completed two internships, but they did tax accounting at both places.  Or they’re communications students who write for every publication on campus.  “But there’s only so many ways to say that I write!” they point out.  It’s a very valid point.  This article from Careerealism can be extremely helpful for many students who are facing that issue.  Your resume, as with numerous other things in life, is a point where quality is better than quantity. You can write for five different newspapers and magazines, but what qualities did you gain from each of them? What challenges did you face, and how did you solve them?  What accomplishments did you gain at the magazine versus the newspaper?  Your resume is more than just listing skills.  Use your resume to show growth and how you stretched your boundaries!

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Community Service in the French Riviera

Bonjour!

Living in Antibes has probably been the greatest experience of my life. With just a little over a month left, I am really trying to do everything I haven’t been able to. With trips to London, Rome, and Barcelona at times it becomes difficult to juggle so many things at once. After all, I still have school to take care of.

As the first winner of the Beall Scholarship, I have embarked in an unforgettable journey. Not all has been fun and games here. While some might describe the French Riviera as paradise, even in paradise there are those who are less fortunate. For two months now I have been working with the Red Cross located in Antibes. The first month, I would join them Tuesdays and Thursdays for about 3 hours. Unfortunately, there was a schedule change and I can only attend on Thursdays.

It has been life changing to be able to touch the lives of those that need it. My duties vary from week to week. There are many things they do at the Red Cross, from counseling to a laundry service. I work in the food distribution. There is a small bodega, full of everyday essentials such as pasta, rice, cheese, bread etc. The beneficiary, who has already been registered in the system is given things that they might need. Whatever they receive depends on their living status, their family size etc. At times I simply greet the people entering, offer coffee and maybe some brioche. Other times, I work on the registration of goods available and what is being given out.

It is truly inspirational to see the work others put into making this program work. The first Saturday of the month, we go out to local markets and stores asking for donations. They are very generous most of the time. Soon, we will also be going around Antibes providing the SDF, or homeless with blankets and coffee. I am very excited about it.

I encourage anyone going abroad to take part in community service. It is truly amazing. Also, no one speaks English so I am forced to practice my French. I can say, I have gotten fairly better thanks to them. I will truly miss working here, it has only made my time in France more enjoyable.

Au Revoir ❤

But I Don’t Like to Talk About Myself!

But I Don’t Like to Talk About Myself!

Networking can be difficult.  We get that.  Next week we will offer students an opportunity to practice networking during our “So You Think YOU Can Network?”   Networking can be frustrating because you don’t know what to share with a professional.  On top of that, you’re supposed to introduce yourself through the use of a elevator pitch- a 20-30 second statement all about you without using um, uh, or like.  This article from Careerealism is particularly relevant because it addresses your elevator speech and gives you direction on where to start.  And of course, you can find other networking resources on our website under Guides and Tip Sheets as well as our CareerSpot videos.  To get started, read through the scenario in this article.  If you were Chris, what else would you have considered sharing?  Now, put yourself in Chris’s shoes.  What would YOU say about YOU?

The Water Slide

Sometimes, standing at the top of the water slide can be scary. You think to yourself things like “But I’m so high up!” or “What if I get stuck?” or “But I can’t see all the twists and turns!” That’s normal! Everyone has those thoughts because fear is normal! But unless you push yourself, you won’t have the accomplishment. You have to go for it, otherwise, you’ll never know what it’s like to have that success. So remember what Tina Fey says (and really, who doesn’t love Tina Fey quotes?) and push yourself to stop thinking and just go for it!